Denton Corker Marshall has built the new Australian Embassy in Jakarta, adding an assortment of metals mined in Australia and acoustic panels decorated with national landmarks (+ slideshow). (more…)
Seljalandsfoss by Iris_14 La rivière Seljalandsá tombe de 60 mètres en surplomb. Un petit sentier permet de passer derrière la chute.
http://flic.kr/p/fzn6Yg
Steady levels of demand in commercial and retail sectors and a strong multi-family housing market has seen the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) rise to it’s highest point in nearly a year. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May ABI score was 53.1, up sharply from the mark of 50.6 in the previous month. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 60.1, up from a reading of 56.9 the previous month.
“Demand levels are solid across the board for all project types at the moment. Of particular note, the recent surge in design activity for institutional projects could be a harbinger of a new round of growth in the broader construction industry in the months ahead,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.
Regional averages:
Sector index breakdown:
Key April ABI highlights:
As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. Regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the index and inquiries are monthly numbers.
News Via AIA
CITY, NEIGHBORHOOD AND CONDITIONS
The construction of buildings by private promotion which has place in the center of Alicante transforms streets deforming traditional architecture and making her without dignity they had in the past. Example of this is the Calderon street, which had been formly developed with a structure of three-storey buildings and the General Plan condemned to allow the demolition of five-story buildings. When it was done, the street lost its character and for this reason a plane concordance with the environment had any sense. On the other hand, the adjacent public street is fast and very loud due to the intense commercial activity. The shape of the plots, with small façade and a lot of depth that could build, allowed ventilate of few external parts.
GENERAL PLAN AND FORMALIZATION
The Vernacular Architecture of Alicante used glazed balconies to retain solar heat. During the summer, glazed balconies can remain open to provide air circulation.
The facade of the building keep heat in winter and can be fully open in summer protected from the sun by eaves and exterior curtains. Cross ventilation is obtained by a small semicircular patio.
The building “La Serre” create a greenhouse as a transitional space between inside and outside. It works as a filter for the views of neighboring buildings, proposing a garden space between two glass planes as background perspective. Moreover, an acoustic insulation from the traffic is obtained.
HOUSE
In total 5 houses are built. The day areas can be integrated or divided by sliding panels what makes the space flexible and easy to transform. Night areas are located on the back, protecting from aggressive outside noise.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND MATERIALS.
Construction materials: plasterboard, bleached wood, dolomite and oak, cover both humid areas and rooms, so the spatial perception is continuous.
The double parts system is solved by an interior carpentry anodized aluminum and a curtain of glass without carpentry. All the metal carpentry which is presented in construction was assembled before.
Sig Nordal 