Brexit will have “no impact” on the ability of UK architects and designers to pitch for public-sector commissions in Europe, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects. Read more
Driving along the south coast of Iceland you will find hundreds of waterfalls big and small. Some better known than others but also many hidden gems like this one that you will most likely have all by yourself if you happen to find it
Quebec is known worldwide for its picturesque landscapes and natural beauty – and along the horizon a new technology is disrupting how North Americans are building their homes. At the forefront of high-performance custom homes lies BONE Structure®, a company devoted to designing and building energy efficient steel structure homes.
Situated two hours northwest of Montreal, in the township of Wentworth, this 3,000 sq. ft. home is characterized by its open concept main floor and easy access walk-out basement.
The wrap-around balcony encourages the occupants to step outside and enjoy the natural view of the Laurentians. Indoors, they continue to breathe easy in the completely open-concept main floor. The sense of peace comes from a combination of the open floor plan and the 15’ ceilings above the living and lounge space. The floor to ceiling black aluminum windows allow light to completely flood the social spaces of the main floor and highlight the elegantly simple furnishings of the home. The main floor boasts primarily white furnishings, accented with natural wooden and sandy tones that complement the natural forest outside. Most notably, the kitchen stands out on its own, with its quartz Caesarstone countertop and black walnut natural tone cabinets. The polished concrete flooring that supports this floor is radiant and emits heat as necessary for comfort in the chilly Canadian winter months. The master bedroom has arguably one of the best views in the house and a personal walk-out balcony that allows occupants to completely immerse themselves in it.
Descending into the walkout basement, guests may find themselves seated in the supplementary lounge space or in one of the two additional bedrooms available in the home. The walkout to the outdoors is an excellent complement to the balcony of the main floor. Guests can now venture outside, unrestricted and as far into the woods as desired.
This home would not have been complete without the exterior’s classic finish of wood siding from Maibec, outlined with black metal that gives this home its modern feel.
BONE Structure challenges the traditional construction process with its innovative patented steel construction system, allowing a home of this size to be built and ready to move in within a few months. All BONE Structure homes are pre-engineered to the highest standards with incomparable precision and flexibility; while making it simple and fun for their clients.
Aedas has released its design for Gmond International Building, a representative regeneration project located in the old town area of Shenzhen, China. The 200-meter super high-rise building is inspired by the traditional form of Chinese totem bamboo, which symbolizes prosperity and moral integrity.
With nearly 60,000 square meters of gross floor area, the building will house the headquarters for Tellus-Gmond, Grade 5A lettable office spaces, and a jewelry-trading center.
“The ascending podium massing recaptures a growing bamboo, featuring exterior landscaped staircases, public platforms, eco-friendly rooftop gardens, and an art center that will also serve as a jewelry exhibition venue.”
Additionally, the podium façade resembles large bamboo leaves, and encloses the commercial component of the building, “forming an interesting duet with the blooming tower.”
Gmond International Building is expected to be completed in 2019.
News via Aedas.
San Francisco – California – USA (by Florent Lamoureux)
The project for Lot B1 of the Saint Denis Confluence urban project is located on the south side of the West Square in front of the RER Saint Denis station. It is one of the first projects to be built in this new district, and is a natural extension of the overarching vision of the coordinating urban planners. Thanks to its location, it is exceptionnaly visible from the front square of the railway station. The building takes full advantage of this location on the square, while masking effects and shadows created by inserting the building between the public space and the sun are minimized in order to ensure the highest possible quality of housing.
It is a relatively compact building aligned along the streets, it can be considered from different angles: its urban presence, its multi-functional street level that enlivens the public space, and as the part of a built environment encircling a central interior garden.
A large vertical fault opens a passage out of the north façade, revealing a less massive silhouette from the far end of the square, and allowing the planted, sunny interior of the block to be felt all the way from the station. Light and sun can therefore shine through from the south to the square and diminish the shadows cast by the building. The reflection of light on the interior façades of this passageway add vibrancy and a variable component that changes according to the hour of the day and the season.
Dividing the building in such a way allows for the multiplication of orientations, and maximizes the light and energy provided by the sun. All the landings are naturally lit.
The interior and city façades are in contrast one to another. On the city side, a strict pattern of openings confirms its urban stature. These facades are finished with a dark material (dark plaster) that is in keeping with the urban surroundings. The interior façades, on the other hand, largely exposed to the sun, are finished with a light-colored paint (light metal paint), which reflects the sunlight all the way to the square. A planted, open-ground garden sits in the center of the block.
Office politics is part and parcel of the workplace. Sometimes, you are left with no option but to navigate office politics smartly to fast-track your career.
It doesn’t mean that you need to jump right in and push your agenda. You need to prepare yourself carefully and know a good time to get involved. Also, you need to stay away from things that don’t matter to you.
Here are six ways to navigate office politics and emerge as a winner:
Being an influential personality within an organization is the first step toward winning office politics. An effective means of building your power is to focus on the business objective of the organization.
Try to become the dependable go-to person for certain things. When people ask for help, use this opportunity to make professional friends and alliances in the workplace.
Don’t share your private information with your office friends. However, do share non-confidential, work-related useful information that leaves an impression that you care for people and want to help them professionally.
In politics, perception is everything. So they say! How do other employees view you? The image that you portray is imperative in winning office politics. Our image determines how others will interact with us.
You might have to make small sacrifices to build a trustworthy image of yourself. Also, avoid making promises that you can’t keep. If you are perceived as authentic and reliable, you are almost there.
The best way to create the right perception is to think of yourself as a television; whatever you do in office is being watched by everyone. This will make you responsible and prevent you from doing things that hamper your reputation.
In the case of conflict between two groups in the office, avoid being on any side. Rather, create a platform where both teams can communicate and resolve their concerns. If you can’t do this, then stay away from people who amplify such conflicts.
If required, stand up for the cause you strongly believe in and not for any side. People will see you as a person who can support the right cause. This will help in winning the confidence of colleagues.
Observe others and try to understand their reactions, attitude and behavior on important decisions of the company. All friendly people are not your friends.
Similarly, all those who oppose you are not your enemies. Understanding people is one of the most complex tasks. However, you need to observe your colleagues, bosses, and subordinates who regularly help you in making sound judgment. It will also assist you staying uninfluenced by office rumors.
Office politics can get nasty at times and you may feel angry. Anger may drive you to get personal. Under this kind of scenario, exercising self-control and restraint is critical. Uncontrolled anger may lead you to humiliate others. Moreover, things become uncontrollable once people forget the objective and become personal.
So try to be objective in your communication and avoid personal attacks.
See Also: Keep Calm and Don’t Stress: Recognizing and Preventing Job Burnout
Do not have permanent enemies. Rather mend fences as fast as possible. Do not hold a grudge for long. Build bridges. Try to settle down the conflicts proactively. Never bring ego in the way of conflict resolution. Even if you don’t trust a person or hate a person, there’s no need to tell this to the person or anyone else. Be the nice guy.
Warring factions characterize office politics, and in many instances, you will find yourself drawn into other people’s wars. Therefore, to avoid such kinds of situations, you must define a goal and stick to it. If anything doesn’t help you attain your aim, avoid it. Your goals and career objectives should be above everything. Do what is best to achieve your goals and nothing else.
See Also: How To Set And Achieve Goals For Success In Career – 7 Tips
A strong faith in your abilities is crucial to winning political battles in office. You can’t choose your colleagues and you can’t control their behavior either. However, you can control the way you react to different situations. These reactions will determine how far you go in your career. And, it is not a one-time thing. You need to work continuously on your personality to control your emotions and reactions in hostile situations. In the end, whether you win or lose, never lose faith in yourself.
The post Smart Ways to Navigate Office Politics and Emerge as a Winner appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Mecanoo has unveiled its design to transform The Soestdijk Estate into Eden Soestdijk, “an experimental garden for a sustainable society and a paradise destination for all” in The Netherlands. In an effort to become an educational tool for environmental awareness, the project aims to make a significant contribution to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“The world is facing pressure from increasingly larger and more complex problems when it comes to water, food, climate and energy,” said Anton Valk, chairman of the Eden Soestdijk foundation. “Eden Soestdijk wants to tackle these problems and contribute to a more sustainable society by stimulating and inspiring visitors to change their behaviour in a positive way.”
An architectural greenhouse behind the palace gardens will be the centerpiece of the project, and will house an interactive exhibition focusing on topics like circularity, ecological balance, and social aspects of sustainability.
The existing palace and gardens will be restored to their original character. Chambers within the palace will showcase the estate’s history and residents, and will serve as cultural and business event space, as well as an incubator space for entrepreneurial sustainability efforts. Moreover, the wing chambers of the palace will house multimedia, interactive exhibitions.
“The palace gardens will be restored in full glory. Exciting, educative and fairytale-like gardens and landscapes strengthen the experience of nature. They will each connect with the central theme of sustainability while showcasing a unique individual atmosphere.”
A pedestrian and cycling tunnel beneath the Amsterdamse Straatweg will provide public access to the front square, which connects the palace and restaurant in the conservatory.
“The Palace Soestdijk Estate is one of the most fairytale like surroundings of the Netherlands: the ideal canvas for Eden Soestdijk,” noted Francine Houben, Creative Director at Mecanoo. “The royal family has always cherished the relationship with the surrounding landscape. The plan for Eden Soestdijk responds to this in a beautiful manner.”
From 2020 onwards, more than half a million visitors are expected to come to Eden Soestdijk annually, which is projected to feed 57 million euros back into the regional economy each year.
As a response to the redevelopment competition for the Palace organized by the Dutch government, the proposal is a collaboration between the Eden Soestdijk foundation, Mecanoo architecten, Kossmann.dejong and Royal HaskoningDHV. Development of the project additionally is in dialogue with residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations from the region.
Learn more about the project here.
News via Mecanoo.
Sig Nordal 