in the Laurentians, a dense forest on a slight hill downturns into the expansion of a small river. Through the trees, the body of a black building is divided into three blocks linked by glass passageways. Three blocks of a home, mid-level from each other, are all in direct contact with the earth. Three blocks of proper identity, offering intimacy ...

CERA, the sanitaryware manufacturer has introduced a new innovation - Cleopatra, a whirlpool with integrated water-proof LCD television, offering luxury combined with leisurely bathing experience. Cleopatra, apart form the 17" touch screen LCD TV, also comes with chromotherapy to ensure that while you have luxurious bath, you could watch your favourite TV soaps while the chromolights will soothe your mind. ...

ZAK Group in association with Saint-Gobain Gyproc India will host the nation's first integrated building solutions expo on "innovative, Lightweight, Faster and Sustainable Building Construction Technologies" between 30th Sep-3rd Oct 2010, at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The expo will comprise an elaborate exhibition with live demonstrations for visitors and mock-up scale models intend to provide a unique look at the ...

Art Makers, Circa 2010 a two-part show was recently displayed at Exhibit 320, an experimental art space in Lado Sarai, Delhi. At the show, different art practitioners shared common link of issues. Participating artists included Bhrigu Sharma, Muktinath Mondal, Pratibha Singh, Pranati Panda, Priti Vadakkath and Sachin George Sebastian. The artists created works on personal/critical issues and used imagery they ...

The new British Embassy building has created an elegantly composed focal point for cultural, political and commercial contact between Britain and Algeria. It is unquestionably the first example of truly contemporary 21st century architecture in the city. Innovative in terms of design and the way its details have been crafted, the Embassy is also the first building in the country ...

This article examines the relationship between any 'built form' and the 'culture' that nurtures and sustains it. Various definitions of 'culture' and its many layers and components are discussed, with special attention to the understanding of architecture and the built form in general, as a cultural artifact. The study stresses the absolute need to treat the socio-cultural factors that determine ...

Grohe has introduced a new Eurosmart Cosmopolitan range of bath fittings. The faucet sports modern and clear design. The conical transition from the faucet body to the lever handle conveys refined from without sacrificing solidity. The lozenge-shaped lever handle, crafted from solid metal in Grohe StarLight chrome finish, is pitched at an angle of seven degrees for comfortable handling. The ...

It is good to witness Indian architectural practices focusing on environmental and sustainable issues right at the inception of the projects. Morphogenesis is one such contemporary practice which has evolved over a period of time with the belief that, as they put it, "the widening scope of sustainability is all inclusive; to include social, cultural, financial, technological and environmental sustainability. ...

Schneider Electric has announced EcoStruxure architecture for integrated energy management solutions. This approach aims to unite its unique expertise in power, datacenters, process and machines, building control, and physical security to enable solutions for customers seeking to optimize energy efficiencies across multiple domains of their business. EcoStruxure is able to connect these five domains of expertise within an open and ...

Kyoorius DesignYatra, the annual two day design conference was recently held in Mumbai. The conference featured a number of Dutch speakers, who shared their experience and expertise with the Indian creative industry. The programme included several big names from the Dutch creative industry like typographer Peter Bilak (Typotheque), graphic designer Gert Dumbar (Studio Dumbar) and trend watcher Li Edelkoort.In an ...

Situated in Hill End, inner Brisbane, Australia, the Hill End Ecohouse, a private residence was built from recycled materials, using 95 per cent of the salvaged material from the 19th century house that originally occupied its narrow riverfront site. A painstaking deconstruction process resulted in just two small skips of non-reusable materials being discarded.All additional materials were locally sourced and ...

Architecture is no longer merely a vocation in India today. It's become an envoy of the society we live in. Buildings are no longer only four (or a few more) walls that provides a roof to their inhabitants; they are perceived as 'spaces' that can talk and promote certain lifestyles. Flashy accountrements can't represent good architecture; the conceptualism, the narrative ...

The house that is only an hour's drive from the city is much more than just a regular habitat. It becomes a much needed pause amidst today's hectic fast paced professional life in the city.The house is the manifestation of one's idea of a simple, sustainable living in the lap of nature. It acts as an energy refueling and recharging ...

The house is like a deconstructed cuboid that is tilted and suspended over the ground, which binds the split masses and appears to simultaneously 'float' and 'flow' down the hillThe site for this home is a hill in Alibaug, one which enjoys a stunning view, not only of the rolling contours surrounding it, but of the sea and the skyline ...

Manit RastogiThe landscape witnessed in Dubai sometime back has inscribed disturbing images vis-a-vis architecture today. Myriad cranes, thousands of them, poised mid ways, as through fossilized in space - buildings, hundreds of them sitting in various stages of abandonment. Exposed in their vulnerability, they bring to fore the tenuous times for architecture today. Whilst Dubai is an exaggerated event, independent ...

Jotun Powder Coatings has launched the 'Cool Shades Collection', a new collection of energy-saving and environmentally friendly powder coatings formulate to reduce the temperature of aluminium building components that are exposed to the sun. the unique range is based on heat management pigment technology that reflect the infrared energy from sunlight and keeps coated surfaces much cooler, while still absorbing ...

A stacking system to develop the identity and corporate ideology of transparency in the workplaceThe office design for the corporate office for India Glycols embodies the issues concerning the workplace today, and explores the paradigm of the office space as a social activity. Sited in a non-contextual suburban area of Delhi, the setting led to the development of an introverted ...

The Delhi Art Gallery is an endeavour to create a simplistic space to retail the best of contemporary art in India, while positioning itself in the new Indian contemporary art retail paradigm. The architecture aims to generate a new genre of art retail; a calm and introspective retail store conducive to the appreciation of art in a gallery-like environment for ...

BuildMat 2011 - the International Construction & Interior Fair is being organised at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, Coimbatore from Feb 3rd-6th, 2011. the organisers of the event are Builders' Association of India, The Indian Institute of Architects and Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (I) - Coimbatore Centre.>>For details, log on to www.buildmat.in or e-mail: buildmat2011@gmail.com

The winners of the Civic Buildings WAN AWARDS 2010 were recently announced. The quality of entries for this year's Civic Buildings category was so high that even the long list of 25 had to be expanded to 32 to accommodate judges' requests. There were two joint winners and one highly commended.The Civic Buildings Unbuilt category are Hariri Pontarini Architects' Baha'I ...

Greenply Industries Ltd, which has always been at the forefront of demonstrating socially and environmentally responsible practices in the market place, has been recently certified for Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody and Controlled Wood certifications for its manufacturing facility located at Pantnagar, Uttrakhand. The Greenply products certified are plywood, block board, flush door, particle board, medium density fibre board (MDF), decorative ...

Helsinki Design Week 2010 is offering design professionals a unique opportunity to showcase design expertise and diversity and allows all those involved to be a part of the story telling event. The verbalizations and visuals created by the author Kari Hotakainen and the design studio Ahonen&Lamberg; unravel the meaning of design in people's everyday lives and speak to the power ...

Designed for three generations living under one roof which is a common experience here, the house of pavilions is an attempt at exploring the emerging conditions. The three generations also implies an accretive attitude that allows slow accumulation or addition of things which makes it their home eventually. Being located in a gated community on the edge to the city ...

Valchromat, organically coloured wood fibre board from Investwood, Portugal, was recently launched in New Delhi by their Indian partners, Ventura. Valchromat, a Portuguese innovation of durable, eco-friendly organic wooden fiberboards comes in nine different range of colours and is used to provide a sturdy, resilient as well as beautifying look to walls and home-interiors. Valchromat wooden fibre boards are uniquely ...

Fenesta has come out with two unique monsoon-proof features (in the Fenesta Series 3000) - a ' Hurricane Bar' that withstands 245 kmph winds and a 'Rain Track' that prevents the ingress of rainwater. Fenesta has also innovatively designed giant slider windows rising from floor to the ceiling. Insulation in Fenesta windows is further improved by the use of sealants ...