Building Architects - Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas Texas, USA

Won the 2008 American Institute of Architects New Jersey Chapter Award, the Irving Convention Center that located at Las Colinas, Texas was designed by RMJM Edinburgh-based international architects to be as efficient and flexible as possible, reducing the footprint and making it appealing to a wide range of organisations. In an effort to avoid the traditional convention center appearance and also utilize natural light as much as possible, the Irving Convention Center is top class convention centres throughout the world that designed as two boxes, stacked and rotated to create cantilevered corners that provide several shaded outdoor areas for visitors to use.

The Las Colinas Convention Center sets a new standard for conference venues and will make the city of Irving the preferred destination for business and leisure tourism. The Las Colinas Convention Centre is one of the most environmentally friendly convention centres in North America that designed with surrounded in glass for natural light and curtained with wrapped in copper cladding facade designed to generate a changing patina for a unique appearance and to reduce the consumption of energy as it ages over time – a striking and timeless icon for a Western boom-town in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.de a convention center.

The perforated copper wrapper facility is designed to serve exhibition, conventions, meetings and a variety of other events for local residents with a cafe and large outdoor shaded deck on the second floor. The building consists of several levels with an adjacent parking garage. The first floor contains the 50,000 square feet column-free exhibition hall that spans approximately two and half stories in height and includes the main lobby. The second level contains 20 breakout rooms totaling 20,000 square feet as well as the atrium cafe which extends to an outdoor, shaded terrace. The third level consists twelve rooms for meetings and classes, along with a junior ballroom that can be divided into eight individual rooms. The site provides views onto rooftop garden terraces in the area and to the Dallas skyline.

Unlike the typical horizontal orientation of most convention centres, the £82m, 275,000 square feet multifunctional facility at Las Colinas incorporates a stacked 50,000 square feet column free exhibit hall, a 20,000 square feet ballroom and 20 large meeting rooms in a vertical interplay of copper, glass and steel. The facility’s highly flexible open interior design affords it the functionality to simultaneously host several different types of events and meetings, while the vertical form maximises useable space in a minimum footprint to foster self-shading and boost energy efficiency

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Building Architects - Busstop Park+Ride Citybus in Hoogkerk, Netherlands

Located in Hoogkerk, Netherlands, the Busstop Park Ride Citybus was designed by Lysbeth de Groot-de Vries, LYVR which offers space for 600 cars, bicycles and offers various options for transfer from county and city buses. Located on the edge of the parking and the bus lane, the waiting room at the brightly coloured Busstop directly offering access to the Central Station of Groningen. The waiting area is a partially enclosed public space that consists of a square and a building with waiting facilities. The triangular square is characterised by a pattern of lily leaves that extends to inside the building. The large lily leaves are a reference to the countryside with many ditches, the area where the building is located. The square is slightly elevated. Handicapped access the square by ramps and fysical guidelines are integrated in the surface.

The main structure of the building is a domed concrete shell that is incised on three sides. The form knows no right angles, but is composed of circles, arcs and spheres. Inside is a triangular metal core which include a disabled toilet, a utility room and a driver room is included. The central core is also part of the main structure that is self-supporting. The shape of the building is a clear striking sculpture in the landscape.

The openness of the Busstop building at the waiting area of Park+Ride Citybus Groningen creates a public safety. Lighting also plays an important role. The recessions are partly filled with glass sections, for which is chosen three different color schemes, which refer to the three directions from where the buses come together. At the same time, these glass walls also give shelter from wind and rainfall. At the evening the building is lit in several ways directly and indirectly so that it looks like a multicolored lantern light. Inside the room round concrete pouffes offer passengers a dry and sheltered waiting experience. The timetable of the buses are visible within and outside the waiting room via an integrated digital information system

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Building Architects - City Centre Campus at University of Wales in Newport, United Kingdom

The University of Wales, Newport commissioned a masterplan to create a new campus for the schools of Art, Media, Design, Business and Technology on the waterfront in the heart of Newport. The University’s vision was to create a new learning quarter integrated with the city centre. The new buildings create a new visual identity, and an inspirational place for learning. The new campus has achieved a 14.5% improvement on Part L and BREEAM Excellent without heavy investment in low or zero carbon technologies.

The main entrance is from the new piazza beside the dramatic masts of the pedestrian bridge. This will form the new civic heart of the city, re-engaging the existing city centre with the river. Upon arrival visitors enjoy views along and upwards to the ‘heart space’ of the building. A ‘meet and greet’ desk is situated within the foyer to act as a control and welcome point. A generous cascading stair leads up to the ‘learning resource’ terraces which form a stepped plateau above the suite of lecture theatres and technical teaching space at ground level.

Access to this suite of lecture rooms is via a glazed exhibition ‘passeggiata’ running along the west side of the building parallel to and looking over the new ‘tree-lined’ Usk way. This ‘passeggiata’ creates an exhibition space suitable for a variety of displays to showcase both the work of the University and to host external exhibitions. An important aim of the design is to allow passers-by to see into the building and to experience the creative buzz of University life. The main performing arts studio also opens out onto a new ‘public’ space which can be used for external theatre performances on the waterfront. The ‘passeggiata’ also leads out onto this external riverside space forming a both a second entrance to the building as well as linking to the ‘technical’ areas within the podium.

Materials have been selected to give identity and legibility to the three distinct vertical zones of the building. The podium is clad in blue brick with random bonding to create pattern and texture. The plateau and winter gardens are glazed to promote openness and visual transparency between inside and outside and the upper level studios are wrapped in horizontally seamed black zinc. The ‘Hot House’ is clad in mustard yellow random patterned wooden battens giving emphasis to the spiritual focus of the building. The over sailing roof creates a distinctive identity for the building in the city skyline. The roof soffit is lined in Oregon pine battens to provide a warm canopy and the acoustic absorption necessary for open collaborative learning environments.

The project was successfully completed within time and budget and represents outstanding value for money. The scheme has delivered 12,500 sq m of state-of-the-art accommodation, successfully achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating. The outurn construction cost was £25,272,916 excluding site preparation and novation fees, equating to £2030 sq m.

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Building Architects - King’s Cross Station in London, United Kingdom

The multi-phase scheme takes a three-pronged approach: re-use, restore, and new build. The various train sheds and buildings across the Western Range are being re-used, the Station’s original Grade I listed facade from 1852 is being uncovered and restored to its former splendour, and an extensive new Western Concourse will be inserted above the London Underground Ticketing Hall.

Arguably the most arresting of the scheme’s attributes is a towering steel funnel which welcomes travellers to the Station through its metal tendrils. Rising 20m from the station floor, the white fluted structure spans the entire 150m width of the Grade I listed Western Range drawing attention to the beautiful heritage architecture beneath which has been uncovered for the first time since 1972.

Chairman of John McAslan + Partners, John McAslan comments: “It’s incredible to watch the reinvention of the station taking shape into a compelling piece of place-making for London. You can already see how the Western Concourse – Europe’s largest single span station structure and the heart of the development – reconnects this much-loved Victorian terminus to its context. It’s immensely satisfying to see the project move forward at such pace and we look forward to celebrating the project’s completion in 2012 for the London Olympics.”

With the official opening date of the station only seven months away, work is really pressing on to hit the deadline. The images to the left show just how much of the funnel structure is now in place, with restoration procedures well underway and large sections of rebuffed brickwork gleaming through the steel columns. The five buildings that form the Western Range are being fully renewed, with the Northern Wing rebuilt to its original design after it was destroyed many years ago during WWII, and the Main Train Shed and adjacent Suburban Train Shed are also being restored and exposed to the public view

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Building Architects -Asmaçati Shopping and Meeting Point in Izmir, Turkey

 Located in the largest city of the Aegean Coast of Turkey, the semi-open Asmaçat? Shopping and Meeting Point represents the lifestyle of Izmir where people prefer to spend time outdoors with respect to the warm climate. Inspired by the climate and tradition of spending time outdoors the facility naturally creates leisure zones between shops; it is not only a place to shop but also an enjoyable public space where people meet and share quality time.

With an extraverted architectural projection that integrates with the street, the concept of spending pleasant time outdoors sheltered in the shade of an arbor has been the originating point for Asmaçat? shopping and life centre project. With reference to the traditional gazebo model, the tops or sides of the structure are surrounded by ivy plants (usually grape leaves in ?zmir (Turkish) ‘Asma’ means both grapevine and suspending).

A semi-covered space was created by using a metal mesh inspired by leaves and ivies on the roof of the centre. In the same manner, emphasis on creating a sense of arbor was supported by elements outside of the building. Open air patios offer a relaxing feel under the shadow and glitters of the bower made up of contemporary material, mimicking grape leaves of the local landscape. In a local understanding that blends traditional and modern, visually and physically meeting with nature, Asmaçat? establishes a unique relationship with its users.

The festive atmosphere fosters natural encounters between diverse people therefore Asmaçat? is expected to be the scene of many interesting moments. Asmaçat?-SMP merge with the city as a contemporary platform located between the sea, the mountain and the road trio; forming a lively ‘rest stop’, a link, between the permanent and temporary.

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Bathroom Design - New contemporary style bathroom sink by Artceram

The bathroom is a room where one can bathe to cleanse her body. Sometimes the bathroom is also equipped with a sink and toilet. The bathroom is a core part of a house. Morning activities start from this place. When we want to build or renovate the bathroom a good, comfortable, and healthy, this is the look of some modern bathroom, an inspiration for you. For those of us who are looking for something a little different for our bathroom, have stepped in with a collection ArtCeram to blow our minds. In fact, these pieces may look more at home in the ceramics department store than in the showroom of your local craftsman bathroom. The lines are unique and bold designs, along with household objects of everyday life, has been enhanced to look for a new home in bathrooms, cloakrooms and ensuites. Basin that resembles a large coffee cup nicely suited to the purpose, with integrated towel rail in the ‘handle’ this section speaks for itself, so the team with an environment that is simple and minimalist wall mounted faucet. Collection of ‘cow’ gives us a herd of four-legged friends for our laundry room, its unique shape is available in a striking black, or true farm lovers pages can go the whole hog with a very cute cow print. If you do not feel so eccentric, alternative wow factor can be achieved with other forms of strong geometric, or organic, wall hugging shape. The ships are clean and smooth into works of contemporary art as stark white tiles adorned with striking black line work and patterns, and the simplicity of the floating sheets of curved glass under the tap clear stunning waterfalls.

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Bathroom Design - Healthy Beautiful Bathroom Design Ideas

In order to appear more attractive, a bathroom must be filled with a variety of equipment that has been designed to meet the needs and tastes. Some of them are attractive bathroom fixtures with colors that lure as a decorative element, as well as functional such as bathtub, sink, closet, bidet, shower and supporting like a mirror, towels, body care devices, ranging from soap, toothbrush, shampoo, and others. Here are some examples of what we think is well done and beautiful design inspiration to rejuvenate the soul. No matter your decorating style, lighting, color, temperature, texture, aroma and scale are all factors that create undeniable warmth of a large bathroom. This defines the modern glam bathroom where the color scheme of eggplant keeps it feminine and warm, and the wallpaper and carpets add comfort texture. This bath and a half hug the wall with windows added to give a sense of familiarity and warmth. Comfortable bathroom gets plenty of sunshine and panoramic views from the outside. Textured stone walls along with tropical plants provide earthy warmth in modern bathrooms. The tub is tucked in a cozy corner where the warm sun shining in making an extra special experience. Green, white and black color scheme create a soothing and relaxing sensual soul. This beautiful bathroom to get dramatic effects with lighting accents. This large-scale bathroom featuring a claw foot tub sprinkled with rose petals elegantly for aroma, exuding a feeling of romance elegance

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Bathroom Design - New Modern Design Bathroom Decorating Ideas

This is the bathroom decor style with attention to detail and a variety of colors and shapes, creating in effect a luxurious bathroom. A new modern bathroom designs from some great designers, each of them has something special. Each tub seems purely metaphorical. Lying in it, enjoying the essence of their hydrotherapeutic, Calgone will feel like you’ve gone. Bak Line by Aquamass conjures images of waterfalls in a tropical paradise. It comes in the form of stand-alone or wall-mounted. Designed by Lim Chin Chia, Würfel or Water Fall Tub brings indoor swimming pool experience. Those who took them to the level of scientific hygiene may prefer like beignets by Japan-based fashion Spiritual. Instead of little old lady who lived in your shoes can be a woman bathing in luxury shoes. SICIS is designed like a mosaic glass shoe. Ron Arad worked with bathroom design Teuco Italian companies to reinvent the square standup shower. Turn the lips while showering or reject it when bathing in beautiful multi-purpose unit. Bathtubs Brezza ZAAFDesign has designed and built out of Corian for Wisdom Sanitary Ware Co, Ltd. The problem is that the form and function. Who is really going to sit next to the swimmer, in Corian? It looked like a glass of spilled milk suspended in time almost makes up for a major design flaw. Maybe a professional diver or even a marine biologist might as fish-friendly as it is required of homeowners who bought this, Moody Acquario $ 14,500. One question remains alive: how to clean a fish tank? Use Utuwa tub, designed by Spiritual fashion to soak from head to toe or just to soak the feet. Italian design company BluBleu is designed like a lie.

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