tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39945749375611354152024-02-21T11:53:53.052+05:30TAIN - Exploring PossibilitiesTAIN is a privately held, globally minded real estate firm whose mission is to provide clients & investors with quality product and services using the best resources available. As a dynamic young firm, we offer our clients, investors & employees breakthrough ideas in an ever changing business environment using our in-depth expertise, creativity, sound knowledge and a wealth of cross-cultural experience.TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-72573609311312910322013-02-18T16:36:00.003+05:302013-02-18T16:37:27.991+05:30Recycled paper bricks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An accomplishment in the field or recycling. The collaboratory efforts of Proffesor Rahul Ralegaonkar and Proffesor Sachin Mandavgane of the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in India </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(VNIT) have developed a way of creating paper bricks from recycling waste! The bricks constitute of 90% recycled paper mill waste (RPMW) and 10% cement. Firstly, the mixture is mechanically mixed, pressed into moulds and lastly cured in the sun. This not only makes this brilliant recycled brick low-cost but also efficient and serves as a good alternative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mandavgane and Ralegaonkar visited a recycling plant in 2009. Later they discovered that 15% of the paper utilized was left to sit as sludge. They decided to bring the slurry back to their labs at VNIT, they experimented on that mixture and concluded that it would make a good building material. Their bricks are made from 90% recycled paper materials. They have been successfully used in false ceilings and partition walls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Blocks made from these cast- off materials are half the cost of normal bricks and are way lighter in comparison. The Indian construction market ( 30% supply deficit) will highly benefit from these inexpensive bricks. Currently their team is working on waterproof coating for the bricks ( so they can be used on housing exteriors) and determining the material's efficacy in earthquake prone areas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">“Recycle Paper Mills (RPM) contribute 30 percent of [the] total pulp and paper mill segment in India. With 85 percent being the average efficiency of RPM, 5 per cent waste (RPMW) is produced annually. RPMW which otherwise is land filled has been utilized to make construction bricks that serve a purpose of solid waste management, new revenue generation and earning carbon credits,” says Mandavgane.</span><br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-3980094184746577422013-02-08T15:21:00.003+05:302013-02-08T15:21:55.038+05:30 The bamboo bridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Locals at Davoa, Phillippines, waited eagerly for their government to help them by building a footbridge to allow them to cross the Matina River. No one coming for their aid, the villagers decided to undertake this task themselves and build it for them and the local community. Utilizing the material that they had at hand - bamboo, they were assisted by several architects, that included bamboo master Andrea Fitrianto. All their efforts collectively resulted in a gorgeous new bridge.</div>
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The volunteers selected Dendrocalamus asper bamboo for building the Matina River's footbridge which grew around the city's outskirts. First they brought the fast-growing canes on site and it was followed by treating the material to create a long lasting structure. Led by traditional Indonasian bamboo carpenters, the construction of the bridge provided local people with new skill sets and a bigger sense of commitment towards their community.</div>
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To make the bamboo even more stronger and long lasting, the main joints were held with bolts while bolts of cement was poured inside the canes. In order to make it grounded and sturdy, reinforced concrete made a good base on each side. The Bamboo Bridge - (Tulay Na Kawayan) Matina River is just an astounding structure made to cross from side to another, it is an example of what togetherness and cooperation can achieve with a hint of craftsmanship. The time frame? Just a month!</div>
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Photo : Andrea Fitrianto</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-15272932927099574532013-01-31T11:13:00.003+05:302013-01-31T11:13:32.641+05:30iGreen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If anyone in China is planning to get rid of their old music collection and discarding their old CDs and DVDs, well they should think twice. Their music collection could now get a second life! MINIWIZ Sustainable Energy Development Ltd recently announced their plans to build the Igreen. It will serve the purpose of an aviation museum featuring a 5D movie theater that will also play the role of the centerpiece to Dream World near Shanghai. At a diameter of 50 meters, iGreen will be one of the largest spherical structures in the world, and it will be constructed using 100% recycled CDs and DVDs. In addition to housing the museum complex, iGreen will create a microclimate allowing tropical plants to grow and flourish. Designed in a way that is will be immune to typhoon-strength gusts, acid rain and UV radiation, the futuristic building is slated to be one of China's most impressive landmarks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Utilizing and recycling trash is nothing new for the company.MINIWIZ has also been involved in projects such as EcoArk Pavilion in Taipei that relied on Polli-Bricks made of recycled PET plastic. Up-cycling poly carbonate and agricultural waste for iGreen is the newest innovation resulting from the efforts of the organization's engines, architects and chemists. Turning waste and outdated into modern materials, MINIWIZ is on it's way to setting standards for sustainable building.</span><br />
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Expected to be completed in 2015, the iGreen will use cutting-edge <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://inhabitat.com/recycled-materials" style="color: #96a411; text-decoration: initial;">recycling</a> technology to turn post-consumer waste into a shining exterior, furniture, ceiling, flooring, and lighting fixtures. Visitors to the sphere will be able to enjoy a 5D flight simulator, coffee shops, and green rooftop. In addition to being environmentally friendly, using recycled materials had the benefit of also being cost-effective.</div>
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“Normally extravagant structures like iGreen come at a steep premium. Using up-cycled materials, modularization and speedy construction we were able to make this a commercially viable effort.” said Donald Saga Head of Project Management.</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-62771018712736330412013-01-28T12:04:00.003+05:302013-01-28T12:09:05.434+05:30Hotel made of snow and ice!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ever dreamt of a hotel made of snow and ice? Well, Canada's ethereal Hotel de Glace recently opened specially for the winter season! Each winter season, this one of a kind hotel is built again with just snow and ice. Guests are specially invited to enter and wander the grounds. Not only that, they are invited to spend a night in the beautifully designed snow suites. Hotel de Glace launched this year with a spectacular display of fireworks, spell bounding all who witnessed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This beautiful hotel has been built since the last 13 years. Hotel de Glace has been transforming a simple field outside of Quebec City into an ethereal winter wonderland for all age groups!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Journey to the center of winter" was the artistic theme chosen by Hotel de Glace. Inspired by none other than Jules Verne himself, it is guaranteed to transport people thirty thousand leagues from their ordinary day to day lives into a frozen fantasy land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Each room in Hotel de Glace is decorated to pay homage to winter. Evergreen snow sculptures are paired with tree shaped cut-outs glowing with LED lights. The hotel consists of forty four winter themed guest rooms that can accommodate couples and families for a warm and cozy night in the special Arctic sleeping bags.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wish to indulge in something fun? People can visit the Ice bar, a place to imbibe from glasses made of ice while dancing and grooving under ice chandeliers to DJs. In the Ice workshop, guests can make their own ice glasses. They also have an option to visit the Old- Time Sugar Shack, where traditional maple syrup is poured onto snow, and spun on popsicle sticks to satisfy their sweet tooth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This majestic Hotel is open for day visitors or overnight guests until March 24th, and it has an array of exciting events on their roster for the entire family!</span><br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-29318417605528538192013-01-17T11:32:00.001+05:302013-01-17T11:32:12.750+05:30Antony Gibbon's Treehouse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Architect Antony Gibbon, master treehouse designer, has yet again come up with a work of art. He is well known for his innovative treehouses. The Inhabit treehouse has a more contemporary form as compared to his Roost treehouses, making it an ideal getaway in the midst of the beautiful surrounding forest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Inhabitat has a very sleek and minimalist design. It also has the feature to be built in a variety of different settings depending on the site. A nature-lover, Antony Gibbon insisted on creating and developing treehouse solutions that have very little impact on the natural environment.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Also giving the feeling of being a watchtower to the surrounding environment, the entrance to this retreat structure is from below. The treehouse can accomodate upto six people depending on the design layout.The structure is wrapped with Cedar Cladding and has large viewing windows, allowing the occupants to watch and appreciate the natural beauty around them. The windows also provide for a large amount of natural lighting. Alas, like the Roost treehouse , this one is still on the drawing board, but we would love to see it get built.</span></h2>
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<em>Images by Antony Gibbon Designs</em></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-68991365243549171502013-01-15T11:05:00.001+05:302013-01-15T11:05:38.598+05:30Jingyue Snow World Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Thousands of visitors travel all the way to China's Jinyuetan National Forest to feast their eyes on the beautiful yet fragile figures made from compressed snow. The "Jingyue Snow World Festival" , which opened a few days ago, is already creating news thanks to its delicate and wonderful ice sculptures. And last the visitors were very fortunate as they saw varieties of architectural designs on display - ranging from an intricately detailed Russian church to a Disney - style castle.<br />
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Jilin Province's annual ice festival opened with a flourish of frosty sculptures in many sizes and shapes. One of the main architectural attractions was a detailed fairy castle with flashes of the Chinese Wall at its foot. A crystalline ice palace is yet another fantastic example of what talented craftsmen can achieve<br />
with the simplest of tools and materials. The carved Russian church and a herd of galloping horses which were created from enormous amounts of ice were also on displayed in the annual ice festival.<br />
It takes immense patience, time and efforts to create these magnificent frozen water sculptures. China's annual ice festival is definitely worth a visit before it melts.<br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-17675413272641719652012-12-21T11:56:00.000+05:302012-12-21T11:56:44.172+05:30Waterbank Schools<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kenya's educational system could revolutionize with this new design for their schools. British architects<br />
David Turnbill and Jane Harrison along with Atopia research designed the WATERBANK school in Nigare Nyiro, which mainly harvests water and eventually stores that in a reservoir on the school property. Not only does this ingenious system provide upto five liters per day to each student, it also enables girls normally responsible for collecting water outside of the home to receive education and attend the classes.<br />
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The school has four classrooms designed to accommodate upto 60 students. Most of the construction was facilitated from afar and on Skype.This modest school has for 200 schools has been built with locally - sourced materials and by the local community. It has also been encircled by a garden wall designed to keep out thirsty elephants.<br />
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The reservoir which is located in the center of the school courtyard stores water-harvested from a catchment system installed on the schools's 600 meter roof. An integrated filtration system ensures that the water is clean and pure. The design team also predicted that depending on the weather, the reservoir could provide upto 350,000 liters of clean water each year.The initiative is produced by PITCHAfrica founded in part by Harrison an Turnbull, who have similar projects in the works in the same region.<br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-70672837915278045262012-12-04T17:16:00.004+05:302012-12-04T17:16:41.990+05:30FDI in Retail Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
FDI in retail is being discussed in Lok Sabha today. The retail sector,one of the largest contributors to the GDP is one of the main topics of discussion currently. Should FDI, also known as the 'sunrise' sectors of Indian economy allowed in retail? This topic continues to be a rage in among the academicians and researches all over the world.<br />
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To begin with, Indian retail landscape reveals to be made up of two sharply contrasting segments - traditional small stores and big chain outlets. It has been confirmed that the Indian retail sector comprises mostly of local 'kirana' shops that being compared with the retail sector in other countries that have low labour productivity. One of the main reasons that attribute to this are low skilled and inefficient supply chain processes. Other than having high labour productivity, big chain outlets are more organized and result in creating more jobs and providing employment to the population in the sector. One of the main conerns that SME businesses in India has is that they might not be at par when the agressive global players arrive in India whose main motive is to capture the Indian market by reducing the cost of goods resulting in a direct impact on the profit margins. On the other hand, government goodwill for SME businesses far outweighs this downside as we look at it today. The investment climate with its complex tax structure and legal framework penalizes large stores that operate across different states while SME businesses are more relaxed in that aspect. Although the cost of goods is lower for large chains, the profit margins of small retailers is higher.<br />
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When it comes to challenges being faced , one of them is establishing global quality standards.Globalization is bringing new challenges to retail-quality-control. With the globalization of production, supply- retailer chains, it is vital to ensure the quality and safety of the products.To be able to participate fully in global markets, exporting countries in return have to acquire the the capability to adhere to globally accepted standards in terms of quality, safety, health and environment.<br />
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Once FDI is allowed in retail, the better buying experience, product choice, quality, adherence to labelling laws are imperative to get the support of Indian consumers. The huge Indian consumer market should not turn into a ground for sub- standard products. It is about time that stringent quality standards emerge.<br />
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December 5 is also when the matter will be put to vote in both houses of the parliament. Emphasizing that FDI in retails would impact shop owners, farmers and small scale industries, Mayawati appealed to the Central Government not to implement the policy in haste. She said that the Congress- led United Progressive Alliance government needs to consider the adverse effects of allowing FDI in retail. According to her, a good FDI deal should be to allow value addition to local produce, which could then be sold in local and overseas markets. "Allowing FDI into India without any condition will not be good for the economy. India needs to identify the sectors in which FDI should be allowed."<br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-4018637301095610882012-11-26T12:28:00.001+05:302012-11-26T12:31:12.169+05:30Solar powered floating schools<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A non-profit organisation callled shidhulai swanirvar sangstha, has a goal to provide year-round education to Bangladeshi elementary students living in the areas prone to flooding due to monsoons. During rains,hundreds of schools get shut down to their detriment. Due to the torrential downpours,some parts are flooded for 3-4 months in a year, becoming an obstacle for people to continue their education.<br />
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Shidulai swanivar sangstha developed solar- powered floating schools to be used during those periods,which travel right up to the mainland to pick-up students. Around 30 students can be accomodated in each boat-cum-classroom and is equipped with an internet-linked laptop, electronic resources, library, providing basic education up to the grade IV level.<br />
With the help of solar energy via panels installed on their rooftops,the computers and overall electricity of the vessels are powered. The use of this sustainable source offers flexible school schedules. After the day is over, students can take home a recharged-low-cost solar lantern, offering them a light source which would help them to continue their studies, while women on the other hand, may continue to stitch quilts after dusk to generate more income for their family.The solar powered lamps are given to families for free providing their children to go to school regularly, and better off households pay only a small monthly fee to receive one of the devices.<br />
Not only for students,but outside elementary school lessons, the boats also act as venues for conducting training sessions for children's parents on such subjects as agriculture, finance, health, hygiene and nutrition.<br />
70,000 children have benefited from this project which was first started in 2002, and is a 2012 WISE (world innovation summit for education) awards winner. It is funded through various resources which includes crops, fisheries as well as conversion of kerosene lanterns into solar ones.Other than education, the venture has also been advantageous in developing solar water farming to safeguard food supplies,improving the nutritional and health status of children,ensuring a year round income for families in flood prone areas.<br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-80152426626822152742012-11-22T14:27:00.002+05:302012-11-22T14:32:44.215+05:30The library design moving away from tradition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is a well known fact that library designs are becoming more and more popular in the interior design sector of the world. Many designers are taking strides to revolutionize the modern design of these builidings as libraries are community spaces which serve both education and communication.</div>
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Instead of simply rehashing the stark, institutional library motif, the 21st century library places focus on collaborative learning, features abundant natural light, inverts institutional design and is founded on a strong basis of environmental responsiblity.</div>
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Located at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, which was recently officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, moves completely away from the traditionalist buildings of the past, demonstrating an incredibly modern aesthetic and ideology. Designed by architectural firm Schimdt Lassen, the 15,500 square metre library will replace the previous library which was earlier built in 1965.</div>
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"The building is a bold and affirmative statement from the University," said University of Aberdeen librarian and director of special collections and museums Chris Banks. "Its says 'We mean business' and it also says 'You are welcome here.'"</div>
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The building's facade consists of a mass of insulated high-performance panels while the interiors are a testament to topology, fluidity and light.</div>
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From the central atrium, aptly dubbed the 'dynamic vortex', visitors - of which there have been more than 700,000 over the last 12 months - can see through thte centre of the entire building, giving a sense of extreme space without being overwhelming to the point where patrons feel disconnected. </div>
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"I'm also delighted that the building has attracted so many more students to use the library and the way in which it provides for both social and formal meeting spaces," Banks said. "It has, for the first time, allowed us to truly showcase our very significant special collections."</div>
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The designers set out to achieve BREEAM certification for the building, a goal they achieved through the implementation of several key sustainable features.</div>
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According to architect Morten Schmidt, the building stands as a modern icon for the university and area, offering all the positive elements that are now commonplace with modern library design.</div>
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"The University of Aberdeen New Library functions as a meeting places and a cultural centre for the students of the University as well as the Aberdeen community." he said. "The facade of the building shimmers during the day and glows softly at night, creating a luminous landmark - a beacon - for the city of Aberdeen."</div>
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Importance of library design being lost on architects? Surely not, with the buildings now becoming more than ever aesthetically pleasing modern community icons.</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-20983358956293157382012-11-20T11:18:00.000+05:302012-11-20T11:18:15.331+05:30Designing the world's greatest stadium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With an intention of fulfilling Japan's 2020 Olympic game ambitions, the Japaneses sports council held an international design competition open for architects from across the globe to redesign the new National Stadium located in Tokyo.The new 80,000-seat stadium will replace the existing Kasumigaoka National Stadium in Tokyo and could become the host for 2020 Olympic Games if Japan is successful in its bid to host the event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKm6so1EmTpz3cTjwbMFf0qs90jO7azqnRumTF1Bw45obmA24qhF-w7plcn9cCAvVKb_chp_OVZDDIDtsVui-Y0RSlwErbBeslayxqsPrRGHl2EYl1YmjI_iLMbfuPV6cUfnKpBO3Cjw/s1600/50a4e099b3fc4b263f000059_zaha-hadid-wins-japan-national-stadium-competition_zaha_japan_national_stadium-528x314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKm6so1EmTpz3cTjwbMFf0qs90jO7azqnRumTF1Bw45obmA24qhF-w7plcn9cCAvVKb_chp_OVZDDIDtsVui-Y0RSlwErbBeslayxqsPrRGHl2EYl1YmjI_iLMbfuPV6cUfnKpBO3Cjw/s320/50a4e099b3fc4b263f000059_zaha-hadid-wins-japan-national-stadium-competition_zaha_japan_national_stadium-528x314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The arena is also earmarked to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup and will be offered to FIFA as a possible venue for future World Cup football matches.<br />
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Zaha Hadid Designs won by their modern interpretation of the sporting arena. According to the lead competition Tadao Ando, the modern aesthetic and cultural significance of the UK firm's designs earned Zaha Hadid the win. A foreign designer to Japan, her win is more impressive as the site is of big significance to Japanese history. Runners-up included Australian architectural firm Cox Architecture and Japan's Kazuyo Sejima of SANAA and Nikken sekkei.<br />
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"I have worked in Japan for 30 years. Our three decades of research into Japanese architecture and urbanism is evident in our winning design and we greatly look forward to building the new National Stadium, "says Hadid. "The design is both light and cohesive, seamlessly connecting the stadium's different elements to create a silhouette that intergrates with the city."<br />
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The new building will also feature a retractable roof and is scheduled for completion in 2018.<br />
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-78365818364942677332012-11-08T17:48:00.001+05:302012-11-09T14:52:42.020+05:30Concrete that heals itself!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now here’s an invention that could revolutionise
construction technology as we know it and set your home repair requirements
back by years! Doesn't that sound like good news all round?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scientists in the Netherlands claim to have created a
bio-concrete blend that allows concrete to …yes! Heal itself! Anybody who’s in
the construction industry or has ever tried to repair cracked concrete knows
what a nightmare it can be. Dry and cracked concrete can begin to disintegrate
and be messy and nearly impossible to repair. Which, of course, is why this new
technology is so exciting! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Inhabitat.com reports that the Dutch scientists have
created a bio-concrete blend with built-in bacteria that patch up on small
holes and cracks in concrete. The bacteria basically feeds on the food provided
in the concrete when activated by water to combine calcium with carbon dioxide
and oxygen. What would be the result is essentially limestone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In order to find bacteria that could survive in the high-pH
environment of the concrete mix as well as lie dormant for years, the
scientists looked especially in the soda lakes of Russia and Egypt. Fortunately,
the bacteria they found were the perfect match. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Newcastle in UK
have actually created a new type of bacteria that release glue that can mend
concrete! There is, however, no news yet on when these bacteria will be ready
for commercialization but the hope is it will be sometime soon.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-41153894928891824822012-11-08T17:46:00.000+05:302012-11-08T17:46:36.601+05:30Mo' mo' store!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLOC3mDRHJVpzcxCDMaqPuYZiIPnUvXRgqpEvyltSHfYHVvG15QDe_iZUNutlEPxGQXGYTOzbMn1zZB1xMgll9-_ZzU_rMsPmleehdH8QcYftI26rGtHEwrl-xUNMerPxcMUwTk9m-7Q/s1600/momo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLOC3mDRHJVpzcxCDMaqPuYZiIPnUvXRgqpEvyltSHfYHVvG15QDe_iZUNutlEPxGQXGYTOzbMn1zZB1xMgll9-_ZzU_rMsPmleehdH8QcYftI26rGtHEwrl-xUNMerPxcMUwTk9m-7Q/s1600/momo.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is definitely one way to advertise. Let your store speak for itself. And the MOMO Shop, a pop-up store in the atrium of a busy shopping mall in Hong Kong definitely seems to be making use of that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDFk5lv380_vLMiDlDf7dxK0FGBHOSI8_Ty-lKbAhVqwfEwtkpmnTh9CTimMxTSeD3L1wdMaq90VAiU6ESR5lS_VlWqvgBkJMRk1pbVMGFPYB3UWeSxGa_kRvZK6QFoycFDc4ed0otX8/s1600/momo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDFk5lv380_vLMiDlDf7dxK0FGBHOSI8_Ty-lKbAhVqwfEwtkpmnTh9CTimMxTSeD3L1wdMaq90VAiU6ESR5lS_VlWqvgBkJMRk1pbVMGFPYB3UWeSxGa_kRvZK6QFoycFDc4ed0otX8/s1600/momo+1.jpg" /></a></div>
Designed by Andy Tong, the glass-encased store is made entirely of recycled materials, with its glass exterior seeming to be a coming together of multiple windows. The result, however, is ingeniously eye-catching. Resembling a misshapen childhood fort, the independent store stands out from all the regular box stores and boutiques surrounding it. Put together with MDF board, wood and bubble wrap, the tent-like slanting exterior of the structure is made of dozens of variously sized disused windows, while t-shirts doubling up as funky lamps hang inside. The store has also been designed to be easily disassembled and pop up at its new location!<br />
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The shop has no sign announcing its name but we're sure its eye-catching enough to not need one, while its many entrances make visitors feel like they just happened to discover the store. We're sure it would be hard to walk out of there without buying anything!</div>
TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-75032597896408756472012-11-07T11:39:00.002+05:302012-11-07T11:42:23.416+05:30Cars of transparency - 007 style!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's something definitely 007-ish about this technology. Perhaps, because it's so reminiscent of the invisible car chase scene on a frozen lake in Iceland from the Die Another Day franchise. While this technology being designed in Tokyo doesn't quite allow you to shoot down your arch enemies with sophisticated weapons. However, if you have trouble parallel parking, this might be exactly what you've been looking for.<br />
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The idea behind the technology as we understand it is to make the driver feel his car is transparent from the back by providing him a panoramic view and allowing him to see the lay of the land, literally, right behind his car. It could include children in the way or a boulder or anything else that might hamper the movement of the car.<br />
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How it works is, apparently, two camera fitted to the back of the car capture a full view of the scene behind it and combining it, reflect it on to the back seat of the car, making the driver feel as though the car's transparent from the back. The technology has reportedly already been tried in a Toyota Prius. If the technology works as well in real time, it could prevent thousands of accidental deaths that take place around the world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">007 ice chase scene</td></tr>
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Here's hoping for the best and a little more Bond-ishness. </div>
TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-58295948863256788102012-11-06T12:16:00.000+05:302012-11-06T12:16:40.139+05:30Inspired design!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WK2WB0CNNrA6lPjQiSCgk2uTkZ5J_WZKXloWB1UPS2a6kdFhGRZaSKH99XGKNZBDUr_TJxROvhtmn7UPzU_Q9vANiJEyQfg7XG_7V2rnOHN-V3oMlyHUv50LXQKf5YQWaQobm-9mRFg/s1600/free+chapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WK2WB0CNNrA6lPjQiSCgk2uTkZ5J_WZKXloWB1UPS2a6kdFhGRZaSKH99XGKNZBDUr_TJxROvhtmn7UPzU_Q9vANiJEyQfg7XG_7V2rnOHN-V3oMlyHUv50LXQKf5YQWaQobm-9mRFg/s400/free+chapel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This place of worship is inspired and inspiring in more ways than one! In an attempt to bring all 27 Latin American Virgins together under one roof, the Fernando Romero EnterprisE (FREE) has proposed a spectacular design for a chapel in Miami, USA. It's unsurprising that they won the competition. Designed to resemble the folds of the robe of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Roman Catholic image of the Virgin Mary, the soaring structure of the chapel is awe-inspiring. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJMQJbQnlXzpCdcFGNGZBU4xcQbgNPzhn0mYYtc2-r3GTul9K4FC2A7z0tyNW9yWXF2mK8NAHuDg7svYbFyVXt_i4BkZuxwixGg2JPApS2oNYoZaLdar0sRE-pT1hIyodtT2b7Omqs_k/s1600/free+chapel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJMQJbQnlXzpCdcFGNGZBU4xcQbgNPzhn0mYYtc2-r3GTul9K4FC2A7z0tyNW9yWXF2mK8NAHuDg7svYbFyVXt_i4BkZuxwixGg2JPApS2oNYoZaLdar0sRE-pT1hIyodtT2b7Omqs_k/s1600/free+chapel+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With the 27 Virgins accommodated in the niches of the billowing concrete structure and forming a ring of sanctuary around the congregational space with one central figure in the presbytery, the idea, says FREE was to invite all the Latin American cultures to be part of the creation. A twisted tower will provide a spire over the chapel’s altar and will feature a stained-glass skylight decorated with an image of the Lady of Guadalupe which will be projected around the chapel according to the directions of the sun. The soaring form will also act as an acoustic filter. The structure is rotated towards one corner and designed to flood the interiors with natural light.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Additional rooms will be located beneath the seating areas which will feature the offices, library, sacristy, changing rooms etc. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-19607700073304433572012-09-21T20:31:00.002+05:302012-09-21T20:31:37.297+05:30Renaissance Architecture - Types of Architectural Moldings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you enter a home or business that has been creatively trimmed with tasteful architectural molding, it would give you the feel of having entered into a world of timeless elegance and grace. Architectural molding has been the distinguishing highlight of finer homes throughout the world. However, in recent years, wide variations in new home styles have made architectural molding less common. But for those who still long for the stately beauty and grace of traditional homes from America's past, few can deny that adding the right combination of architectural molding to an otherwise plain room can easily add stature and style, transforming the room into a place seemingly built for royalty. There's nothing that can transform a plain drab room, or an entire home, from average to awesome like architectural molding. Finishing your home with a high quality trim molding is an investment that you will enjoy day in and day out for as long as you live in the home. It may be enjoyed for generations, so it is well worth taking the time to make sure you choose a product that you will love living with for a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Architectural molding is available in many different styles and many different materials, from metal to Styrofoam. Often made of wood or plaster, interior molding defines a space, hides unsightly wall seams, and adds visual interest to otherwise plain walls. You can install molding along walls, on the ceiling, around the floor, around fireplaces, around windows and doors and in all those special places that you can create in your imagination. While there are many types of molding, the most common types found in homes today include Crown molding, Dentil molding, Base molding, Shoe molding, Door and Window Casing, Chair Rails and Panel and Base Caps moldings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whatever your taste, you can usually find just the right molding to give your home the exact look and feel that you prefer. However, until recently there was a distinct gap in the decorative molding market. Between the traditional look and the castle look, there was a need for a decorative molding that was classier than traditional, but did not make a home look like a medieval castle. What was missing was a decorative molding that gave a look and feel of true elegance without arrogance. Imagine, if you can, a molding so elegant that it grabs your attention the moment you walk in the door and takes your breath away when you see it for the first time. Imagine that the feeling of elegance lingers with you long after you've seen it and that you tell everyone about it. This may be difficult to imagine, because such a molding never existed until now. A new line of architectural molding has been developed that gives you that pulse-quickening feeling of elegance when you see it installed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This new product is called Renaissance Architectural molding. It is unlike anything else available and it is just now being introduced to the market. Not only is Renaissance stunningly elegant, it is a solid hardwood product enhanced with a special proprietary compo formula that produces beautifully detailed 3-D relief patterns that are an integral part of the molding. This special molding is not brittle, will not crumble and can be cut and installed on site as easily as if it were plain wood. Unlike traditional decorative molding made from plaster, Renaissance needs no special handling, so it saves time and money during installation. Installers love this new product due to its ease of handling, workability and easy installation. Homeowners love it because it is very elegant, it costs much less than most other decorative molding and is available in beautiful matching collections that enhance your surroundings from floor to ceiling.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-82301578811988920842012-09-21T20:27:00.002+05:302012-09-21T20:27:49.801+05:30A Touch of Technology to Your Shopping Spree - Online Shopping Trends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In this age of information technology, the growth in the trend of online shopping among the upper and middle class has received an immense boost. The concept of online shopping gained popularity with the ever increasing access to the Internet. Instead of shopping for your necessities at a mall or store, you can avail a range of products delivered at your doorstep. The advent of online shopping made the task of shopping easier and hassle free. A range of associated services makes online shopping a favorable option for both men and women.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The trend of online shopping started gaining popularity in the 1990s. Initially, the online shoppers were the higher middle class who had enough money to spend and knowledge and access to the Internet. The search engines on the Internet help you in finding the products you are looking for from the online stores. The online stores advertise their products and also offer catalogs of their products for easy search. However, the word of mouth publicity of online stores is the best way of popularizing the products on sale. Online shopping gives you the freedom of selecting from a wide range of products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The most popular items of purchase among online shoppers are books. You can also buy other objects like clothes, accessories, bags, cosmetics and so on from online stores. With time online shopping has also encompassed shopping for groceries, nutritious products, medicines, and such others. You can also purchase unique antiques and jewelry from online boutiques and shops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whilst online shopping gives us convenience of shopping at home, the advantages to retailers may not be so obvious. Marketing costs for online sales are generally higher than for store or catalog sales. This is because the retailers need to spend higher on promoting their products to attract more customers to do online shopping. There will be a lot of discounts and bargain prices to be offered to customers so that they are willing to shop online. Nevertheless, with the rapid development of technology and much easier availability of broadband throughout the world, online shopping will spread onto the world of shopping in future.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-61906904515301963292012-09-21T20:23:00.002+05:302012-09-21T20:23:31.780+05:30Updating Visual Appeal of Your Home - Enhancing the Look with Windows and Doors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Updating your windows and doors can make a dramatic difference in the exterior design of your home and can greatly enhance your curb appeal. In addition to this, an update can also significantly reduce your monthly energy bills by improving the efficiency of your home and reducing heat loss from your current rickety and old casements. There are many different styles of windows and doors in Milton to choose from; therefore it is worth investigating several options in order to decide which choice is best for you and your home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Exterior front doors can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, steel and glass. Wood front doors offer an elegant and traditional appearance to your home and are one of the best options currently on the market for energy efficiency. The natural properties in wooden doors both insulate the home and cut down on the heat loss and air transfer that can occur along the joining seams of doors made from other materials, including steel and glass. Wooden doors however require maintenance in order to preserve their natural beauty and structure. It is best if wooden doors are sheltered from precipitation and harsh elements, by either a covered porch or recessed entrance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Outer doors made of steel are very durable and can withstand the harshest of temperatures and climates. Unlike wooden doors, steel does not run the risk of dry rot or damage. However, unlike wood, steel has a high probability of heat and air loss, resulting in low energy efficiency. Steel doors can be custom fit with windows and wrought iron to create a whimsical and romantic appearance. Steel can also tolerate oil or acrylic paint, without chipping or peeling. Doors made of glass, such as sliding doors or French doors make a beautiful entrance to your home, or addition to your living room. They allow for natural sunlight to pour into your home and create an open and airy feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Glass can be customized in a wide variety of designs and styles, including beveled, stained or inlay with wrought iron grilles. French doors feature panes of glass, separated by wood or steel and unlike most others, have two doors that open inwards, requiring a wider passageway and allowing radiant natural light to fill your vestibule. Sliding doors are the perfect solution for areas that lack adequate space for a door to swing outwards. These doors are cleverly designed so that one pane of glass slides along a track in front of the other pane, saving precious space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sliding patio doors also offer superb protection again precipitation, as the glass is double paned and extremely durable and the surrounding casing is made of hard wearing vinyl. There are many different styles of windows and doors to choose from; therefore it is worth investigating several options in order to decide which choice is best for you and your home. Updating your windows and doors can make a dramatic difference in the exterior design of your home and can greatly enhance your curb appeal and energy efficiency.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-63271816617721802992012-09-14T21:35:00.000+05:302012-09-14T21:35:03.438+05:30Temple for the Lord of the Sky - Ambernath Temple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Located by the bank of Vadavan (Waldhuni) river, the Ambernath temple is a towering structure surrounded by a fenced wall. Richly carved and decorated out of a single black stone, the intricate carvings are inspired from Hemadpanti style of architecture. The name Ambernath literally means Lord of the sky. Ambernath is the site of a very old temple, the ancient Ambreshwar Shiva Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the construction of which dates back to 1060 AD in the 10th century.</span></div>
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One belief suggests that the temple was constructed by the Pandava brothers of the epic Mahabharta fame for taking a night refuge during their period of exile (vanvaas). They could not complete the structure which is reflected even today in the missing roof directly above the main sanctum area (Garbha Griha) of the temple. It is also said that there is a km–long passageway which was used by the Pandavas to escape which lies shut and locked today. There is another official version that advocates that this temple was constructed by Shilahara king, Chittaraja and later rebuilt by his son, Mummuni. However, the saddening part is that a historical monument like this with such an exquisite past is gradually decaying with some of the sculptural carvings falling off due to neglect and poor maintenance by the authorities.</div>
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Inside the temple, the main sanctum housing the Shivling is situated at a slightly lower level and one has to descend a few of steps to take the blessings of Lord Shiva. There are a couple of other smaller temples too in the temple premises that you will come across around the place. One can’t help but marvel at the beauty of the religious place of worship which not only opens the window to the state’s rich past but also brings alive the time-honored stories from our ancient texts. And then, whichever way you may deem these stories to be, true or false; one can’t deny the peace and calm and the sense of spiritual energy that one is filled with when one visits such places and that also outlines one of the prime reasons to pay a visit to.</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-36327583620931061502012-09-14T21:30:00.002+05:302012-09-14T21:30:05.764+05:30Home.... Sweet Home! - Choosing the Right Gift for House-warming Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nothing is as exciting, or as exhausting as moving into a new home, and the perfect house warming gifts are the ones that allow the new movers to have a quiet moment of reflection. Many times, you want to give a house warming gift to someone moving in next door, or to someone you love who is moving away. While not expected, traditionally it is proper etiquette to arrive at a housewarming party with a thoughtful gift as a token of appreciation and warm wishes. A house warming gift, however, can be elevated to a higher level with just a little bit of thought.</span></div>
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Buy gifts that are practical and useful for the one you are giving them too. Hence it is also important that you know what type of people they are. It will be useless to buy them a muffin tray if neither one of them bakes. You want to make sure that your gift will be put to good use. The closer you are to the new homeowner, the easier it becomes to make just the right selection.</div>
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If you're purchasing for a childhood friend, a favorite photograph of the two of you as kids is perfect for framing in a beautiful silver or ceramic picture frame. If you're looking to memorialize and celebrate the first home for newlyweds, you might consider locating a candid shot of the two of them together on their wedding day and placing in a frame. Better still, you can go for candid photos and choosing a frame with multiple slots. Another idea for newlyweds as they move into their first home might include baby pictures of the two of them in side by side frames.</div>
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Planning, packing, moving and unpacking can be an exhausting process and the housewarming party concludes that process with a much-needed celebration. The most important consideration to remember when selecting a housewarming gift is the recipient. Taking the time to be thoughtful and sincere will result in a housewarming gift that is long remembered and appreciated. If you can keep in mind the goal is unique house warming gifts, recognizing the many ways to personalize your choice and keeping the recipient's tastes and lifestyle in mind, you might see that you've enjoyed choosing it as much as the homeowner will enjoy owning it.</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-77296290150934225572012-09-14T21:25:00.002+05:302012-09-14T21:25:50.455+05:30Cooking in Style - Designer Kitchens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Designer Kitchen speaks about who and what you are depending on the styles and design you choose. Since it's a designer's or your own idea- you still cook in style. There are a lot of kitchen designs that you can think of but, there's one that you really wanted and is an extension of your character and personality. Redesigning, rebuilding or a new one still requires rigorous planning to come up with a kitchen that you can not only boast of but is actually making your life easier when working in your kitchen. As how much you love cookery so is your desire to couple your skills with a nice and functional kitchen - inspires you even more.</span></div>
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Outdoor kitchens much the same as indoor only here you have a lot of fresh air and natural lighting and I would say easier to clean plus the fact no unwanted fishy odors inside the dining area. Typical outdoor cooking uses a grill with or attached to worktops for easy reach of utensils and there's a table for plating the food and the usual spice racks. You may also have proper installation of electrical lines and fittings to run gas. You may also include storage for cooking equipments as well as entertainment system.</div>
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Modern Kitchens uses modular's or ready made fixtures and it creates a minimalist look. Often geometric in style and not much decoration. Materials range from laminates, frosted glass, chrome or lacquer, concrete and stainless steel. Old world design uses natural materials. Think of the Mediterranean, Tuscan or an Italian Villa - medieval things or look where you usually see big pots and not as organized as other kitchen styles. This type of kitchen usually has those big cabinets and uses big hooks for hanging cooking equipments. Traditional kitchens brings you back to the Early American Times, neo-classical where antique fixtures are what you see even the appliances. It has a formal feel and is elegant. Think of dining and cooking in a Victorian home and see if the colors and fixtures suit your taste.</div>
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Transitional kitchens has the combination of traditional and modern like wood and concrete together and this is where you start to think of how it complements the appliances as well as the finishes. Rustic kitchens often resemble a log cabin. Very American - a characteristic from the regions of the South, Mountain West or Pacific Northwest. Here warm rich shades of earth colors are used and high ceiling beams. Country kitchens are mostly bright and have that homey feel. It resembles a garden as mostly handcrafted designs like woven baskets and floral motifs are all over. Like a farmhouse cottage where you'd see cheery colors and panels and is very much into moldings.</div>
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Your kitchen is the heart of your home don't forget to consider each of the family member's opinion and ideas as to how they would want the kitchen to look and work for the family.</div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-78151547992153658792012-09-13T15:09:00.003+05:302012-09-13T15:09:57.332+05:30MIT to the rescue!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The planet is afire. Well, not literally. Not yet, anyway. However, with all the things that are constantly going wrong all over the world, perhaps, that day isn't far. And what we need more than anything else right now is a way to undo things.<br />
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In that light this new technique developed by MIT to magnetically separate oil and water is going to go a long way to help in the cause of our oceans that are suffering from increasing amounts of oil spill every year. The team claims their method to be so efficient that the oil can even be reused after separation. There has, of course, been a good deal of research that has been undertaken in the field before. However, this team contends that while the research so far was good, it would be unlikely to work in situations of oil spills in oceans etc as they fundamentally depend on the concentration of the ferrofluids remaining constant and being known in advance which is likely to differ widely in an oil spill. <br />
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The new method developed by the scientists from MIT which uses magnets to separate the ferrofluids, by their contention, sounds much simpler just as its meant to and promises to be a lot more effective. They also contend the method can be implemented on a larger scale and employed at sea for days or weeks even in places where there's no electricity and no maintenance available.<br />
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And we can almost hear the oceans sigh in relief. </div>
TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-14209287551526307622012-09-07T21:06:00.001+05:302012-09-07T21:06:21.851+05:30World of Chlorophyll - A conceptual Building by an Egyptian Architect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">World of Chlorophyll, a project by IAMZ Design Studio, is an idea for a conceptual skyscraper containing the form of residential units in the near future. Their main concept involves the units taking the form of leaves, stemming mainly from the columns, based upon all residential units. This way, the building mimics nature, and in conformity with it, also makes for an easy configuration. With the main functions of the project including commercial, residential, administrative, hotel and entertainment, they also made sure to implement environmental considerations. These features included natural ventilation with the penetration of sunlight through the units and the creation of indirect lighting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Egyptian architect's concept, a mixed-use building called "World of Chlorophyll," features individual units stemming from central columns that "imitate the ‘branch and leaf’ structure" of plants, according to the architect. Just as a plant's chlorophyll would utilize sunlight for photosynthesis, the unique design of Elseyofi's building would harness the elements to power his experimental edifice. Each level of the building would include 10 residential units, and each unit would contain five floors, according to Elseyofi. The staggered, leaf-like orientation would maximize exposure to sun and wind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the architect did not go into detail about the types of systems his building would employ, Elseyofi's comments seem to indicate the use of passive environmental design elements. Passive solar design, for instance, seeks to trap and use energy from the sun to heat and cool buildings without the utilizing active mechanical systems. Passive solar design as a key component of creating affordable, zero-energy housing in cold climate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This conceptual building would be including residential, commercial, administrative, hotel, and entertainment spaces and incorporate eco-friendly features like natural unit ventilation, direct sunlight exposure, and the creation of indirect lighting.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-46188200343145445922012-09-07T21:00:00.000+05:302012-09-07T21:00:02.247+05:30Settling For The Right Settee - Choosing A Settee For Your Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Choosing settees and sofas can be quite a tricky prospect nowadays with a large array of styles colors and fabrics to choose from. There are a number of things that you might wish to consider when selecting settees and sofas. The vast selection of settees and sofas that are offered in the shops and on the Internet may be fairly daunting therefore it is increasingly vital that you plan properly for the purchase. Whatever style you decide on it will be important that the settees and sofas you opt for is likely to last and suit your family's needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will need to think about the space that you have available to you for your new settee or sofa. You should be aware of the sizes available to you and how they will look in a room. To be certain you should always get the sizes of any settees and sofas you are interested in and take them home with you. You can then produce a floor plan with pieces of paper and place them on the ground just like a map. This will give you the visual representation you will need to see how far the settees and sofas will come out into your room. This tip is also useful if you're changing from a traditional three seat sofa to a corner settee as it will help you visualize how it will interact with your room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The selection available nowadays is phenomenal and there are style and colors to accommodate every possible taste. You will want a settee or sofa to last a long time, so it is worthwhile considering that you may change your decor in that time so its worth choosing a design which is appropriate for different styles. It'll be rather costly to change sofas and settees every time you decorate but a luxurious settee is worth an awe from the guests visiting you!</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3994574937561135415.post-30526771536629161182012-09-07T20:56:00.002+05:302012-09-07T20:56:16.321+05:30Saving Energy at Work Place - Designing An Eco-friendly Office<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Out of all the energy produced by a country, almost a fifth is used up by industrial buildings and offices. An office which is designed according to the purpose of utilizing energy in a resourceful way would not only be able to decrease its impact on the environment, but would also be able to improve the bottom line of the business over the course of time. An eco-friendly office design happens to be a combination of a number of factors such as equipment, location, building features as well as usage. Energy-saving procedures may even be implemented in order to make the cleverest use of effective tools.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When designing an eco-friendly office, it is better to begin from the top. You need to weigh the pros and cons of setting up a green roof which conceals the top of a building with a living deposit of grass, plants or other kinds of foliage that functions similar to an insulator. These roofs adjust extreme outdoor temperature during the summer season and allow the warmth present inside the building to be retained during the cold winter. Installing green roofs can prove to be more expensive, but you need to keep in mind that by decreasing the use of energy throughout the building they are actually able to recover their price and turn out to be profitable in the long run, depending on the climate and the building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can achieve the same effect by installing modern shades and windows which are actually much more cost-effective than green roofs. In summer, they successfully prevent the outdoor heat from streaming into the building while they prevent heat from escaping in the winter. Choose the features of your window after considering your climate and requirements. South-facing windows are usually known for admitting the greatest amount of outside heat. Shades may be employed to regulate the access of light and heat during the workday. Different sorts of windows prove to be advantageous for various locations in an office building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Better climate control features are always welcome in an office. You can install variable thermostats in order to allow executives and staff members to manage temperature settings according to the time of day and the room. The atmosphere in vacant areas like empty offices or conference rooms need to be switched off or lessened or monitored. You should also set the climate control system to shut itself down during the night and at other times when the office building remains bare. You should always make a note of the Energy Star certification when fixing new climate control gear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Energy saving computers are a great way to ensure that your office is eco-friendly. Computers should come with the Energy Star label. You should also be careful to install them in such a manner, that they function capably. Make use of the power-management settings so that the monitors are ready to turn off after extended periods of idleness. All desktop systems should be placed in hibernate mode after the day is over. Smart power organization allows you to save a considerable amount of money every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You could also try and install smart lighting in your office. There are now automated systems available in the market which are able to initiate lighting according to necessity right through the workday, while switching the lights off when not required as well as when the rooms are clear. Fluorescent bulbs are preferable to regular incandescent. Natural daylight can also be used to your advantage. Offices which are outfitted with windows can diminish their dependence on man-made lighting during daylight hours.</span></div>
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TAINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04436312094594418965noreply@blogger.com0