From the architect. A well-read, well-traveled couple commissioned this house as a counterpoint to their small apartment in a San Francisco high rise. Their house was to hold their books and collection of artifacts from around the world. The program called for “his and hers” offices at opposite ends of the house, encouraging focus but allowing for interaction around the central kitchen. They wanted a place to read and write in the reflective and inspiring coastal setting.
Sited on a highly exposed ocean meadow lot, the challenge was to provide privacy and sheltered outdoor space while maximizing the sense of openness and capturing the southerly views. The sheltered courtyard separates the main living spaces from the two-story volume of more private uses. The massing of the two simple sheds creates a focal point while blocking the coastal wind and views from the house of the immediate neighbor. A connector joins the volumes with small portal windows at the driveway in contrast to the all glass exposure at the garden and blocks the coastal winds while allowing one to enjoy private ocean views.
The plan is open and informal with the kitchen, dining room, and living room in one space. The interiors are warm and calm with generous windows framing views of the ocean and the forested ridge. The material palette is drawn from these views. The polished concrete floors are sown with local beach sand. The fir used throughout was locally harvested. Indoor and outdoor connections are emphasized by the continuous use of stone from the front walk through the house and out to the central courtyard. Being in the main living space is to be “in the meadow” able to observe the birds and native plants close at hand.
Over the past ten years the development of intelligent construction models, closely tied to energy efficiency, has introduced new materials that have one or more properties modified, in a controlled and partial way, by external stimuli such as radiation, temperature, pH, humidity, wind, and other environmental factors.
As a response to new construction models, Dr. José Carlos Rubio Ávalos of the UMSNH of Morelia, has developed a cement with the capacity to absorb and irradiate light energy, in order to provide greater functionality and versatility to concrete in regards to energy efficiency.
The new smart material developed by Rubio Ávalos was released on October 20, 2015, in an official press release by the Agencia Informativa Conacyt. The researcher claimed that the applications are very broad, and those which stand out most are for the architectural market: facades, swimming pools, bathrooms, kitchens, parking lots, etc. It would also be useful in road safety and road signs, in the energy sector, such as oil platforms, and anywhere you want to illuminate or mark spaces that don’t have access to electricity since it doesn’t require an electrical distribution system and is recharged only with light. The durability of light-emitting cement is estimated to be greater than 100 years thanks to its inorganic nature, and its material components are easily recyclable.
According to the same statement, the essential feature of this new material is obtained by a process of polycondensation of raw materials (silica, river sand, industrial waste, alkali, and water). This process, the researcher said, is performed at room temperature and doesn’t require high energy consumption. The pollution produced in manufacturing is low compared to other types of cement such as Portland or synthetic plastics.
We want light to penetrate the material up to a certain level. In the case of conventional cement, Portland, doesn’t have that capability because when the light reaches its surface it can’t penetrate it, Ávalos explained.
Charging the material using natural or artificial light, it hopes to offer new light and thermal functions to the most used construction element in the world in order to reduce the energy consumption generated by current light and thermal systems.
In addition to its distribution in Mexico, it is expected that investors from Chile, Spain, Argentina and Brazil will commercialize the material for its use in roads and other urban spaces in 2016.
WilkinsonEyre was appointed to design this new swimming pool for Worthing Borough Council following a RIBA Design Competition. The new pool complex includes a six lane, 25 metre pool; a combined learner/diving pool; indoor leisure pools with rapids, flumes and outdoor waters; a health and fitness centre; café; crèche and flexible space for other activities.
This new complex, located adjacent to the existing Aquarena and close to the town centre, is an exciting development on a unique seafront site. The design maximises the potential of the site with ‘ribbons’ of accommodation flowing from north to south to emphasise the connection between land and sea. Each pool has its own terrace, opening up the façade to animate the beachfront elevation and enliven this prominent location in line with the Council’s aspirations for an Active Beach Zone.
Located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is the place to go for solitude. The park is an island of roadless backcountry reachable only by boat or seaplane – making it the least visited national park in the lower 48 states. Photographer Carl TerHaar captured this moonrise from Pickerel Cove, one of the islands’ campgrounds that consists of a narrow ridge accessible by small boat. Full moon photo courtesy of Carl TerHaar.
Once or twice, we find ourselves in a dark place in our life. When this happens, we all know how difficult is to see the light at such times. Everything seems impossible in the midst of these situations.
Here is a list of life-changing tips that can help us achieve a level of happiness and peace. They can help us throughout the dark times and make us stronger and more willing to fight for what we deserve.
Begin with some small, simple positive changes, and later on, make your own life philosophy.
Learn how to prioritize effectively. We need to be deliberate when choosing what we want instead of what we need. All we human beings want is being respected, having enough money, and being healthy.
From the moment we have all these things, we can achieve a level of happiness. We will have the ability to concentrate on other things to improve our life.
We need to have quality alone time for ourselves to identify what makes us happy. We can use our free time just to sit alone with our thoughts and focus on finding ways to improve our life.
We should never be ashamed to ask for help. When it comes to important decisions, we need to make sure we are executing the right ones. Talk to a trusted friend or contact a professional in that area and discuss your feelings and thoughts. A sounding board is always welcome.
No one is perfect, period. Everyone has flaws. We need to face them and embrace them. When we are curious and creative, making mistakes is normal. Those mistakes are the ones we can learn from.
We should never feel bad if we are different. Being different is what makes us special.
See Also: Self-Acceptance: The Key To True Happiness
It depends upon our attitude of how we perceive the universe. Not only do we need to start believing in ourselves, but we need to work on our confidence. We need to establish the things that we love about us and all the skills we have. If we believe in ourselves, nothing can break us.
Social activities are a must. Such activities make us feel like we belong. Be aware that having good friends that care about us is a privilege. If we have some friends we don’t enjoy hanging out with us, we need to approach such issue with positivity.
Eat healthy, fresh and unprocessed food that is good for our mood and wellness. We should enjoy all the pleasures and benefits that healthy food can bring.
Food is not just something we consume to produce energy. We need to start thinking about food as a treat, not just a need.
Make sure that you are able to sleep well and soundly. This tip has an important impact on our overall health and happiness. Quality sleep can make us feel more energized and centered.
The way we present ourselves in front of others is really important. Sadly, not everyone is able to show their real selves to the outside world. Instead, they project an image that is far from their real selves because they are affected by judgmental remarks and what others think.
It’s important to be confident in who we are, love oneself, and be unafraid to present ourselves to others as we really are. If we want others to respect us, we need to respect ourselves first.
Concentrate on doing things that make us happy. We need to concentrate on doing the things we love doing, things that make us more prosperous and more relaxed, and things that make us feel less stressed.
See Also: 10 Things You Should Know About Creating Your Happiness
Such a journey will require strength and courage. We need to find a way to manifest all these life-changing tips to better our lives and become a happier person in the long run. We can, and we all deserve it.
The post 10 Life-Changing Tips That Will Boost Your Happiness appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Cities across the world are full of white elephants – something which ArchDaily has recently explored. In the latest episode of Section D, Monocle 24’s weekly review of design, architecture and craft, the team examine similar cases from the unfinished Palestinian Parliament to redundant projects in Belgrade. This edition also looks at the RIBA’s new International Prize, which was awarded this year to Grafton Architects for their University of Engineering and Technology building in Lima.
Palestinian Parliament Building
Twenty years ago, with the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in full swing, the Palestinians began constructing their first parliament building. But when the peace process fell by the wayside, violence swept the region and the half-finished parliament became an afterthought. Monocle contributor Mary Pelletier went to the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Abu Dis to see why this sandy-coloured monolith is still stuck in limbo.
Belgrade
Belgrade used to be the capital of Yugoslavia. Now it’s the capital city of a considerably diminished Serbia. And that’s left it with all sorts of redundant buildings – everything from banks to army barracks – all designed to serve a much larger country. Campaigners say these places could be repurposed so they’ve called on experts from other European countries with experience of turning white elephants into something more useful.
