Your Own Home Designer Few Clicks Away

Today, home design and decorating often come hand in hand with technology. Various software programs are currently offered on the market promising to help you in your design project. However, most of these products are either too expensive or too complicated to use.

Fortunately, software developer Chief Architect has created a number of great alternatives. The company is behind the popular architectural home and design software Home Designer 2014 which was developed for both enthusiasts and professionals.

Now Home Designer 2014 titles are available on Amazon.com for 20% off. The products can be either downloaded directly on a computers or ordered as a CD-ROM. In addition, they can be used on devices which run on Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP.

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Abu Dhabi’s grand Vision 2030 in motion at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2013

The first ever comprehensive scale model of Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape, as envisioned in Plan Capital 2030, was first unveiled in 2010 within the Vision 2030 Experience Centre. The UPC’s stand, now in use for the fourth consecutive year, was strategically designed as a modular platform which evolves each year in line with the progress made across the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s (UPC) projects, and the implementation phases of its new initiatives.

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AHEC showcases the ‘office of the future’ at Salone del Mobile in Milan

Adam Khan and Wallpaper collaborate with AHEC to develop a striking timber composition – ‘Octopus’

The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, is showcasing the ‘office of the future’ at the Wallpaper Handmade Exhibition, which opened today (April 9, 2013) as part of Salone del Mobile in Milan. AHEC was invited to collaborate with Wallpaper and architect Adam Khan to rethink the modern workplace and present a radical new vision of how and where we should spend our working lives. The result is a striking timber striking timber composition, ‘Octopus’, which defines, divides and connects various work zones and a section of this is being displayed at the Leclettico Gallery until April 13.

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Middle East’s Dedicated Landscaping And Exterior Show Starts in Dubai

Outdoor Design Build & Supply, presented by Dubai Municipality, to host more than 100 local and international players in outdoor environments

The Middle East’s dedicated landscaping and exterior design trade show will open for the first time today in Dubai, bringing together more than 100 international and regional brands involved in the planning, design and construction of outdoor environments. Read more

World’s Largest Flower Garden Opened in Dubai

Dubai is the epicenter of new, huge developments and super projects where the traditional and modern exist in perfect harmony. The region’s latest attraction is called the Dubai Miracle Garden. As its name suggests, this is the most beautiful, and currently, the largest natural flower garden in the world. Read more

Glass houses bring nature closer, but limit privacy

Glass is popular material in architecture. Over the last few decades, this conduction material is enjoying a lot of love from both architects and regular folks. We are not talking only about large windows and transparent surfaces. Glass is now being used to make a living space more open and airy. In addition, many people include glass elements in their gardens making them look more futuristic and unique. The glass is seen even in bathrooms and bedrooms which are typically the most private spaces in a house. This material is becoming more and more a major element in house and buildings construction.

History

Have a look at this rare and unique photo of the winter garden of Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, which was built in the 18th century.

However, the architectural trend – glass houses – appeared in the beginning of the nineteen century, towards the end of the 1920s. One of the first big glass projects was designed by Ludwig Miles van der Rohe. The name of Rohe’s project was Barcelona Pavillion. However, it included far less glass compared to the modern deigns we see today. Philip Johnson is another famous architect who is a fan of glass constructions. His most famous creation is the Glass House located in Connecticut, the U.S.

Nature Calls

What is characteristic about glass houses is that they are situated in picturesque areas where the landscape has preserved it natural and wild appearance. These houses can mostly be found on the edge of the forest, near the beach or even high on some large rocks. Simply said, they are put in places where no one expects to see them. The modernistic design of glass houses combined with the rough beauty of the natural terrain and landscape make them seem like a window to another world. These architectural designs are not made for the city or its suburbs. They are created to unite the nature with modern lifestyle and design and vice versa.

Characteristics

There are two main types of glass houses and buildings – all-glass and mixed. All-glass houses are made almost entirely of glass. That makes them transparent from every side. However, houses with such exterior are rather rare.

The more popular type is that one that mixes glass with many other construction materials like stainless steel, and white concrete. These homes are more stable and they offer more privacy and comfort than the all-glass ones. The interior of these houses is usually minimalistic, clean and simple. That is because glass exteriors have a minimalistic and contemporary look. In addition, the glass gives a great insight in the house making the interior part of the outside design of the building.

Pros & Cons

Glass houses are very suitable for warm and sunny regions where there is no dramatic temperature drops. The best thingsabout them is that they will allow you to enjoy the landscape and all the natural surroundings. For that reason, they often have an energizing and relaxing effect on the people who live in them.

But these architectural constructions have also many downsides. Although they are perfect for sunny places, they should be located in areas with moderate temperatures. That is because the glass can turn these buildings into hothouses when the temperatures go too high. Also, glass houses do not have the most stable construction that you can imagine and are hard to maintain. However, the biggest disadvantage about them is the privacy issue. There is practically nowhere to hide in these homes. But for some that is not a problem at all. Therefore, it depends on your personality, taste and lifestyle.

Glass houses are a unique way to enjoy the advancements of modern architecture among all the beauties of nature. They give a great sense of freedom, but often at the price of your privacy.

Cosmopolitan cities need to explore shoebox apartment concepts

Building of more small housing units may solve the problem with accommodation shortage in cosmopolitan cities across the world, according to Savills, an international real estate service provider.

In a recent report, the company supports the shoebox apartment concept, saying that small units can be very effective in big cities’ housing market. The realtor claims that tiny living spaces are very much in demand and in use in city centers, where young working people are searching for an affordable accommodation. Read more

INDEX awards Best Contemporary Majlis Designer

Ivan Parati from Uniconsult wins the 4th Contemporary Majlis Design Competition

Winner of People’s Choice Award to be announced on Thursday 27th September 2012

 Ivan Parati took the Jury’s Award, beating five other projects displayed at the show with his Majlis. The People’s Choice Award – introduced for the first time this year – will be assigned on the last day of the show, Thursday 27th September, with the winner selected by visitors at the region’s largest and longest running interiors and design exhibition.

SandPaper, the winning Mjalis designed by Ivan Parati, resembles the appearance of a natural landscape using one of the most sustainable materials available, recycled paper corrugated cardboard. The smooth curves of the dunes are stylized applying a geometrical tessellation directly taken from Islamic pattern construction. The flowing domestic landscape is composed by six different modules that can be rearranged in several ways. The aim of the project is to create a sophisticated yet cheap domestic complete interior with a strong environmental consciousness and clear cultural and traditional values. Read more

Marble – Always Stylish, Never Old

Did you know that…

You may not aware, but marble once was at the oceans’ bottom. That is right! It is a rock that was formed from fossilized tropical reefs. How did this happen? Well, reefs turned into limestone and limestone (but only the ones that were exposed to heating or pressure) turned into marble.

Marble’s history is rich. Ancient Greeks often used it when they constructed their towns and buildings. Later, the Romans also incorporated marble into their architecture. This material was also commonly used in sculpture and decoration. Read more

Architecture Taken Over By Machines

Is this the end of the art of drawing in architecture?

Computers and technology are invading our lives. Architecture is also affected by them. Today the profession is almost entirely transformed by the widespread use of computer-aided design software like AutoCAD and Revit. These tools are able to do a great number of things. They can easily organize and share data, sketch designs or generate a complete construction. However, they seem to be replacing one important aspect of the architecture – the process of drawing. Read more

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