Showing posts with label construction trend forecasts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label construction trend forecasts. Show all posts

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Trends From the 12th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Interior Designer Antony Todd's Scoop on the Show's Hottest Home Innovations
 
[New York], March 31, 2013 - It's the mecca of inspiration for the home...and we caught up with interior designer Antony Todd for some of his favorite finds....


"I think what I found so special this year about the show is how many artisans are here showing their products. Be it more sort of authentic design or whether is something let's say high-geared and technical like Jenn-Air. It's a wonderful mix of form and function all mixed into one, These kitchen appliances look more like luxury design pieces," says Todd.



Jenn-Air General manager, Steve Brown tells us, "The brand has always been a pioneer in advanced ventilation systems. From the introductions of the first down draft cook tops to parametric ventilation, which hangs on your wall like a flatscreen TV to our latest the Accolade. It's beautifully handcrafted in stainless steel and glass and it's got this beautiful curved shape so when it comes up it puts the ventilation power closer to the actual source of the cooking. Not only is it very efficient but its also beautiful and sculptural on your countertop and then with a press of a button when you're not using it, it just elegantly disappears into the countertop."

Brown also talks about their latest in steam ovens..."It's self-contained so it doesn't need a water line running to it. Cooks fish and vegetables beautifully but its also a traditional convection over so you can do roasts in there as well. So its like a supplemental oven to your main one. It also has functions for bread proofing and even a function for making your own yogurt at home."

Todd's other favorite hot spots, furniture company...Karkula. "I think their style is good, it's still contemporary but classical and therefore has a timeless appeal to it."

And good lighting Todd says is one of the most important touches in a home...and one of his favroties is Fiyel Levent Atelier. "It's the key to everything it makes people look good. It lights, it personifies beauty. I mean lighting I think is the key to any design, " says Todd

But the finishing touch to any home...great textiles. Todd likes Hiro Kota Kata, "They have a beautiful sense of textiles that are so soft and so manageable. People are really living and breathing, and loving the work."

For more information please visit:antonytodd.com
www.archdigesthomeshow.com
www.facebook.com/ADHomeDesignShow

Monday, November 5, 2012

Heimtextil Trends 2013/2014 "Being"

The Heimtextil Trends 2013/2014 offer you an in-depth view on influential developments in the area of home textiles. Reflecting the spirit of the times, they relate to the complex lifestyles of contemporary consumers. We present the current trend themes using four representative personalities, each with his or her own hopes, desires, aspirations and ideas:: the historian, the eccentric, the inventor, the geologist.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

New Vision for Thames Airport Revealed


The world's largest floating airport would be faster and cheaper to build; London Britannia Airport could provide the UK with its first 24/7 airport within the next decade.


[London], September 5, 2012 - Today global design firm Gensler reveals its concept for a new London aviation hub. 

London Britannia Airport (LBA) would position the capital as the global gateway for Europe in what would be the world's most innovative infrastructure development this century - whilst reducing environmental impact, cost and disruption to London.

Providing a further endorsement to the Thames Estuary as the preferred location for London's new airport, Gensler have designed a unique solution creating an entirely new approach to modern airport design and construction with a clear focus on convenience and accessibility.


The proposals also envisage a new future for Heathrow as the largest urban expansion project in Europe with the development of an eco city - Heathrow Gardens - on the former airfield that can utilise the existing infrastructure to provide additional homes for 300,000 people and employment for over 200,000.


Chris Johnson, Gensler managing principal and the creative director for the airport said "This is a once in a century project that will build on the capital's reputation for innovation and creativity and provide a new symbol of national pride. This is a fantastic opportunity to rethink the problems created by a redundant 20th century airport model and provide a genuine 21st century airport that creates a new standard for the world, minimising nuisance and maximising environmental benefits."

Ian Mulcahey, Project Director "This will be a 'national' infrastructure project that can inject new pace and dynamism into our economy. The airport can be quickly manufactured in the ship yards and steel works across the UK and can be floated by sea and positioned in the Estuary. This isn't a London Airport it is a Global Airport, designed, manufactured and built in the UK."


Environmental Benefits

The relocation of a UK hub airport to the Thames Estuary will provide a state of the art facility that will transform the quality of life for millions of Londoners and will provide London with the space and infrastructure to grow and thrive over the next century. The marine location not only minimises noise disruption to existing communities whilst enabling 24hour passenger arrival and departure, but it also avoids any demolition of homes.

Building upon the UK's capability as a world leader in marine construction, London Britannia Airport includes four, five kilometre, floating runways. To minimise environmental disruption the runways are tethered to the sea bed and to the final departure concourse which provides access to the marine rail tunnels that connect directly to central London and the European High Speed Rail Networks.

The design's inherent flexibility creates a platform whereby runways can be floated in as required and taken away for maintenance in the future. The concept allows for future expansion to accommodate 6 runways when required.

By floating the runway and its associated hard standing it is possible to avoid the negative effects of land reclamation in the sensitive estuarine waters of the Thames. The location of the airport can then be optimised to avoid the key feeding and migration areas between high and low water.

London Britannia will have a sustainable access strategy with unparalleled accessibility to the UK and Europe through a combination of rail, ferry and jetfoil connections. Vehicular access will be dispersed to three new land based Departure/Arrival terminals, two located north and south of the estuary, and a third Central London terminal proposed between Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.

The airport has also been designed to generate much of its own power from marine turbines situated within, and adjacent to the floating runways.


About Gensler
Gensler is a global design firm networked across 42 locations on five continents. Consistently ranked by international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm, Gensler leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries across the globe.

For more information, please visit www.gensler.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

HBA Designs the Living Room – a Bar & Lounge Exclusively for Grand Hyatt Dubai

Reflecting the Energy and Vibrancy of Dubai, the Newly Designed Lounge Provides Guests with Living Rooms of Unique Culture and Ambiance

[New York], August 14, 2012 - HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates, the global leader in interior design, announces the completion of their renovation of Grand Hyatt Dubai including the Living Room Lounge & Bar.

Dubai, known as the "City of Life,' has become one of the most vibrant, young and dynamic cities today. The harmonious mix of diverse cultures spanning the Middle East, Europe and Asia living and working together in Dubai inspired the Living Room concept. HBA, using their expertise in restaurant and bar design, drew from Dubai's local tradition of luxury to create the Living Room Lounge & Bar which plays off the city's rich, local culture.

Majestically towering over Dubai's historic creek, Grand Hyatt Dubai sets the standard for excellence in a city known for extravagance. The Living Room Lounge & Bar combines cultural interplay, artistry and unique spatial planning creating an energetic and alive environment that could only exist in a city such as Dubai.

"Dubai is such a vibrant and culturally rich city that we did not have to look far for inspiration for the Living Room," says HBA Dubai Managing Associate, Michelle Evans. "In order to design a bar and lounge that offers the ultimate guest experience, we took cues from Arabic rhythms and patterns and fused them with luxurious materials while always maintaining the high quality standards of the Grand Hyatt brand."

With lounge, chill-out, soul and funk music evoking a sensation of relaxation, the Living Room Lounge & Bar is a trendy and stylish venue offering an eclectic and original cocktails and drinks list with an accompanying menu of light bites. The space incorporates elements from local cultures and unites them in a melting pot of styles creating a soothing and exotic atmosphere. The space is made up of four distinct lounges linked together by a series of portals that play into Dubai's see-and-be-seen tradition by offering glimpses between rooms. Each lounge has a different color scheme, although all are bold and harmonious through the use of luxe velvets and leathers to finish the space. The "live kitchen" is a stand out feature, showcasing chefs in their working environment, turning food into art.

Each Living Room has a unique concept and cultural identity, while blending together seamlessly. The Sunken Lounge is the heart of the space. Each of the rooms emanate from this central entry point. The Velvet Lounge takes inspiration from the Middle East's love of color. The space incorporates vivid hues of purples and magenta with a hint of gold along with velvets and richly patterned fabrics. Every detail is thought through, down to the junction from floor to walls - the transition is curved in order to emphasize softness.

The European Lounge has Louis VX chairs upholstered in modern day fabrics and pearlized leathers with black lacquer frames. The architectural colors are white on white, which is carried through in the large oil paintings on aluminum metal by Julia Brooker. The room is punctuated by tones of grey and vivid orange. As guests enter the room through a glowing burnt orange portal constructed in high gloss lacquer, it creates a grand sense of entry. In line with the Louis XIV chair, an entire wall is clad in antiqued mirror and through the wall is the portal that glimpses into the Velvet Lounge.

The Chinese Lounge is bold and strong with vibrant reds and blacks that create a real sense of drama. The space is punctuated with oversized heavily adorned chandeliers in crystal and velvet. The chandeliers were sourced from a local supplier, Petals, known for their flamboyant designs. One wall is attributed to a photographic scene from a Chinese nightclub where the dress of the central figure was colored to match the silk fabrics and panels around the room. The well-choreographed art and interior design program provide a focal point seen from all around the room and create a unique atmosphere unlike anything found in Dubai.

In addition to the The Living Room Lounge & Bar, HBA also renovated two other spaces in Grand Hyatt Dubai - the Ahasees Spa & Club and Al Manzil Residence. All three brand-new lifestyle experiences are set to enhance and complement the luxurious facilities the hotel is synonymous with.

For more information, please visit www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com.

About Grand Hyatt Dubai
Located in the heart of the city, Grand Hyatt Dubai is a perfect blend of a city conference and resort set within a lush oasis of 37 acres of landscaped gardens. Featuring a combination of resort facilities, luxury hotel guestrooms and suites, residential apartments, 14 food and beverage outlets and one of the largest and advanced conference facilities in the Middle East, the hotel is just minutes away from Dubai's shopping, entertainment and business districts and within easy access of the international airport. The hotel also welcomes a new way to meet, mingle and motivate at Al Manzil, a brand-new residential style multi-event venue. This intimately designed space embraces the style elements of Arabic hospitality and architecture, inviting guests into "The Home" for an event of exciting possibilities. Relax and enjoy world-class leisure facilities at Ahasees Spa and Club and connect with the spirit of Dubai through our Trade, Flourish and Evolve treatment programs.

AIA Consensus Construction Forecast



Nonresidential Construction Spending Expected to Increase through 2012 with Stronger Growth Projected for 2013

[New York], August 14, 2012 - The American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation's leading construction forecasters, projects a 6.2% increase of spending in 2013.


Even with the myriad of obstacles preventing a full scale recovery for the overall U.S. economy, the design and construction industry appears to have reasons to be at least modestly optimistic in the coming months and into next year.

A sharp spike in demand for industrial facilities so far this year, along with sustained demand for hotels and retail projects factors into what projects to be a 4.4% rise in spending this year for nonresidential construction projects - up from a projection of a 2.1% increase in the January Consensus Forecast.

"With companies looking to bring back manufacturing jobs from overseas, there has been a sharp rise in demand for industrial facilities, which is leading to an upward revision in projections for future construction spending," commented AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. "Continued budget shortfalls at the state and local level, along with a depressed municipal bond market are holding the institutional market back from seeing similar upticks in spending.

Federal tax and spending changes - the so-called fiscal cliff - that may come into play in early 2013 could upset the economic applecart and prove detrimental to recovery possibilities. We will likely have a better sense after the presidential election what will happen with regards to the Bush-era tax cuts, Social Security payroll tax, extended unemployment, and deficit reduction plans that will have a ripple effect that will extend to the construction industry."


About AIA
Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, over 74,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities.

For more information please visit AIA - http://www.aia.org/

Phone: 202.626.7300 | Fax:202.626.7547
Address: 1735 New York Ave., NW Washington DC 20006-5292 United States