Warped gravitational lenses predicted by Einstein are some of the most beautiful – and useful – objects in the sky. We’ve seen a few dozen, but which is the most perfect?
Source: The warps in space that make Einstein’s perfect cosmic accident | New Scientist
A crude oil supply shortage is looming but it may not be upon us till at least near the end of the decade, according to RBC Capital Markets
Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran caps its own output this year, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters
Source: Saudis offer oil cut for OPEC deal if Iran freezes output: sources | Financial Post
The bank has been given the green light to issue up to 5 billion yuan (about $1 billion) in China’s interbank or onshore bond market
The answer depends on what action we take now: and that starts with Theresa May, and the row over Amber Rudd’s company directorships in the Bahamas
Health benefits: Meditating can clear the mind and help regain balance when you’re under pressure of the daily grind. Here’s how to get started.
Source: How To Meditate For Beginners: Finding Balance And Self Awareness In A Fast-Paced World
There have been no previous reports of similar problems with the Note 2 model, first released in 2012
From the architect. If you say Amsterdam, you say canals. Everyone knows the image of the canal houses, lined up side by side, each building with its own character. This streetscape is the result of private customers’ initiative, who had their building designed according to their own taste. In the Amsterdam Houthavens (literally Wood Ports), history is repeated. In the river IJ, seven artificial islands are being created which will offer space to groups of private buyers to design their own dream house at the waterfront. The result: a varied array of facades with eye-catching architecture. From a transshipment port, the Houthaven will morph into the hippest new neighbourhood of Amsterdam, offering space for locals and professionals alike.
CPO De Rede
The building ‘De Rede’, an initiative of Global Architects and Bot Bouw Initiatief, has been developed in Collective Private Commissioning (Collectief Particulier Opdrachtgeverschap, or CPO).
This form of development involves a group of private individuals who themselves retain control of the building process. It all starts with a vision: a group of people organize themselves around their idea of a dream home. Next, they will search for a location, an architect and, in many cases, involve a contractor to mitigate the (financial) risks. This way, CPO is also feasible for people without private funds. Together with this team, the residents will shape their own ideal building. They will determine –within the possibilities of the lot– the price level, architecture, materialization, provisioning, and collective utilities of the building. Together with the architect, each of the participants will also design their own home. The architect is commissioned to convert all these wishes into a progressive design.
De Rede emerged from the desire of the group to build at the waterfront in an exciting new neighbourhood of Amsterdam, and from the wish for an affordable building with a luxurious appeal. Together with the residents, Arthur Nuss has designed a modern canal-side house in which each dwelling has its own character. The mixed programme, with apartments of 36m2 to 160m2, appeals to a wide variety of people. De Rede was delivered as a shell and completed by its residents according to their own taste.
Architecture
De Rede consists of two different buildings that share a number of features: they are relatives. The larger building at the Haparandaweg and the ‘canal-side houses’ at the Houthavens are intimately linked. For the facades of the complex, a solution was sought that ensured both the unity of the building and left room for the private interpretation of each resident. The facade panels, balconies, and conservatories are different for each house, which allows the building to retain its dynamic character within a collective design. The old-time feel of the canal houses is most palpable at the side of Houthavens. The larger building behind it is more minimalist and matches the desire for robust and modern living.
In order to emphasize the port area’s original character, the materials chosen have a raw look. Robust fencing, stucco, large glass panels and rough hardwood give the place an industrial feel.
Sustainability: climate neutral
De Rede is 100% carbon-neutral. A number of applications were instrumental in achieving this: on the roof, photovoltaic panels have been installed for the generation of solar energy. To reduce energy consumption, the houses are well insulated through the use of HR++ glass. The water from the river IJ is used for heat/cold storage so that, in combination with floor heating, little extra energy needs to be added.
These measures comply with the agreements made between the municipality and the developers to turn the Houthaven into a 100% carbon-neutral neighbourhood. Sustainable construction is key to the Houthaven and the entire energy requirement is generated in a sustainable way.
London Design Festival 2016: skeletons and three-dimensional patterns feature in Studio Job‘s new parquet, the first wood products to be released by Italian mosaic brand Bisazza (+ slideshow). (more…)
Santiago Calatrava has unveiled plans for a new office building in the city center of Zurich, Switzerland. The new five-story building will be integrated into Stadelhofen Station, the transit hub and city landmark also designed by Calatrava in 1990.
“This 21st century office building in the heart of Zurich interplays with the area’s streetscape and adds to its vibrancy by encouraging bicycle use and improving pedestrians’ connection to the Stadelhofen Station,” said Calatrava.
Commissioned by Swiss insurer AXA, the new building is envisioned as part of an initiative to expand transit-oriented design in the Swiss city and increase connectivity throughout the metro area. Nearly 80,000 commuters travel through Stadelhofen Station each day, many of whom are cyclists. This has caused the plaza space in front of the station to become overcrowded with bicycles. Calatrava’s design will directly address this problem by including approximately 1,000 underground parking spaces specifically for bikes.
Calatrava was selected by AXA for “his commitment to innovative, functional design and to ensure consistency with the adjacent station’s architecture and appropriateness within the surrounding city fabric.”
The building comes after Zurich’s City Council passed new development regulations on the project’s site of Kreuzbühlstrasse 1, allowing for the construction of “an avant-garde building that would provide bicycle parking for both neighborhood riders and station users.”
Calatrava’s redesign of Stadelhofen Station opened in 1990, becoming the first rapid-transit system to be built in Switzerland. It has since become the country’s seventh busiest rail station as well as one of eight railway stations worldwide designed by Calatrava.
News via Santiago Calatrava Architects & Engineers.
Sig Nordal 