A Brief History of Glass
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Glass has been produced and used by mankind for thousands of years, and its use in architecture has developed significantly with technological advancements in production.
The ‘Architecture’ Category
Innovative New Builds of 2012
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
As this year rapidly speeds by – 2012 is already starting to become a fascinating year for architecture – seeing some of the most influential architects complete various projects across the globe.
New Builds with Olympic Standards
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
As London steadies itself ahead of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympics Games, construction of the much-anticipated sporting village is now well under way. The new builds are set to bring some stunning new additions to the capital’s already iconic skyline, promising to excite its visitors by delivering technologically advanced sporting venues that not only perform well, but also showcase the very best in 21st century architecture.
Future Architecture for Combating Environmental Changes
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Creative architects and designers have been dreaming up futuristic architecture for decades. And although our idea of the future and our definition of futuristic architecture changes with every generation, there are a few similarities; every design seems to help us adapt our surrounding habitats to suit the ever changing environment and climate.
At present, with the effects of global warming and an aging population, future architecture concepts are now looking to provide long term solutions. Forecasts from the GIEC (Intergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate) recently revealed that sea levels are predicted to rise by 50 cm during the 21st Century due to global warming. As a solution to this alarming prediction, architects have begun planning for the future, looking for designs that incorporate this increase as a resource.
Vincent Callebaut, believes that the world’s population will ultimately, desperately seek shelter from the devastations of climate change. He hopes his self sufficient, truly amphibian – half aquatic and half terrestrial cities will serve as luxurious solutions to living on water.
Callebaut, a Belgian architect, came up with this eco-tectural marvel that serves as a luxurious future retreat for up to 50,000 inhabitants, seeking refuge from rising waters.
The Lily pad cities’ innovative design include three marinas and three mountains surrounded by a centrally located artificial lagoon that is totally immersed below the water line, acting as ballast for the city. The Lily Pads can be located close to land or set free to follow the ocean and will offer inhabitants all the attractions and amenities expected of a modern a city.
The marinas and mountains would be dedicated to work, shopping and entertainment – containing the world’s largest shopping mall, a college and a hospital, the suspended gardens and aquaculture farms located below the water line would be used to grow food and biomass.
The Lily pad structure, which is directly inspired by the ribs on the leaves of an Amazonia Victoria Regia, would be constructed from polyester fibers, covered by titanium dioxide (TiO2) and would have the ability to react with ultraviolet rays. It would also integrate a full range of renewable energy technologies, including solar, thermal, wind, tidal, and biomass to help produce more energy than it consumes.
Another concept designed by Malaysian architect Sarly Adre bin Sarkum, that plans to accommodate the rise in sea levels, is the innovatively designed ‘h2O+ Scraper’.
The tower, which if built would ‘float’ almost as tall as the Empire State Building, is a self sustaining, liveable floating unit that sits only two stories above the water. The tower itself, kept upright by a system of ballasts, squid-like tentacles and balancing tanks, carries its own amenities, including, its own small forest, positioned above water, as well as living quarters, positioned below the water.
The squid like bioluminescent tentacles not only provide underwater wildlife a place to live and congregate, but they also provide the floating city with energy through kinetic movement.
The Scraper, similar to Callebaut’s Lily Pad, is completely self-sufficient, generating its own power through successful optimisation of wave, wind, current, solar and biomass energy. It cleverly generates its own food through farming, of both aquaculture and hydroponics nature.
Futuristic architectural designs likes these would require a combination of some of the most innovative and technological advanced materials to help it withstand the pressures of our turbulent oceans. Here at Pilkington we have a busy research and development department that is always looking to the future when developing new glazing solutions – and, as these architectural concepts show, underwater windows might not be that far off!
For today’s buildings however we offer Toughened Glass which is the same thickness as ordinary glass but five times as strong and can be used in applications such as areas with high pedestrian traffic, in doors, shower and bath enclosures, balconies and barriers amongst others.
For a full overview, as well as its benefits please click here.
The self build trend
Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Last year only one in ten new homes in Britain was self-built. Plots are difficult to find, and finance and mortgage products are becoming more difficult to secure, while regulations and planning permissions are onerous. Faced with bureaucratic hurdles and frustrations, many potential self-builders abandon projects, sometimes after months of planning.
However, these restrictions may start to ease, as the government is planning to invest £30 million in the hope it drives the development of 100,000 homes over the next decade, after identifying the main barriers to self builders – lack of land, limited finance and mortgage products, restrictive regulation, and lack of impartial information.
The investment, which was announced on 21st November, is an integral part of the new ‘Laying the foundations’ housing strategy that looks to provide short-term finance to the self-build sector, that will have to be re-paid.
In addition to committing the £30 million of funding, the government is aiming to ‘kick start a revolution’ in which local authorities will, for the first time, be required to take self-build seriously. The scheme is asking councils to establish the demand for self-build housing in the local area, making efforts to allow builders access to state-owned land once released, as well as promoting its ‘build now pay later model’.
It is a different story in many European countries where the self-build trend is flourishing, as 50 per cent of all homes are self built.
The Homeruskwartier district in Almere, Netherlands, is a shining example. The city, built on reclaimed polder land, has a population of 180,000 and is the first self-build project attempted on truly large scale. Since 2006, self-builders have successfully erected 800 homes; with thousands more on the way. The scheme operates with the local authority drawing up a suitable street plan, then making plots available at a standard commercial cost. Local people, freed from any further planning restrictions, can then design and build homes specifically tailored to their individual specifications.
Homeruskwartier has received mixed reviews; enthusiasts call it a model of sustainable development, a Grand Designs for the average man, whereas critics describe it as ersatz city, a soulless architectural Legoland.
Building costs in Almere vary depending on how much the buyers do themselves, on average from €800 per sq m to €1,800. That’s around £72,000-£160,000 for someone wanting the same floor space as the typical British three-bed semi (around 105 sq m).
Keeping homes affordable is key to the Homeruskwartier project, which means creating plots for self-build flats as well as houses. One group of 25 individuals built a block of flats. The cost of each flat including the plot and building was just £69,000 without any subsidy. Cutting out the developer’s profit – helped to considerably reduce the overall cost, as there was no need for expensive marketing campaigns and showhomes.
Here in the UK, ministers believe there is ‘huge untapped potential’ for self build, despite the noted restrictions, there are already examples of successful self-build schemes in Britain, within large towns and cities. In Ashley Vale, Bristol, an action group succeeded against the odds to self-build 26 detached and semi-detached homes in 2001. Six further flats were completed last year, which won a CABE Building for Life Award.
Today, many think that self-build properties are cost-prohibitive, but as Ted Stevens, chair of the National Self-Build Association (NaSBA), recently stated: “Most people think building your own home is very expensive. In fact the vast majority of self build homes cost less than £150,000 to construct – and for that you can comfortably build an attractive, energy-efficient, custom-designed three or four bedroom home. We believe the actions taken by this new self build group could potentially make it much easier for people to build thousands of new, affordable homes each year.”
Pilkington Building Products has an extensive range of products including thermally-efficient glass, ideal for self-builders, for further information on our product range visit here.
Innovative New Builds of 2012
Thursday, January 26th, 2012As this year rapidly speeds by – 2012 is already starting to become a fascinating year for architecture – seeing some of the most influential architects complete various projects across the globe.
New Builds with Olympic Standards
Monday, January 23rd, 2012As London steadies itself ahead of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympics Games, construction of the much-anticipated sporting village is now well under way. The new builds are set to bring some stunning new additions to the capital’s already iconic skyline, promising to excite its visitors by delivering technologically advanced sporting venues that not only perform well, but also showcase the very best in 21st century architecture.
Future Architecture for Combating Environmental Changes
Monday, December 12th, 2011Creative architects and designers have been dreaming up futuristic architecture for decades. And although our idea of the future and our definition of futuristic architecture changes with every generation, there are a few similarities; every design seems to help us adapt our surrounding habitats to suit the ever changing environment and climate.
At present, with the effects of global warming and an aging population, future architecture concepts are now looking to provide long term solutions. Forecasts from the GIEC (Intergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate) recently revealed that sea levels are predicted to rise by 50 cm during the 21st Century due to global warming. As a solution to this alarming prediction, architects have begun planning for the future, looking for designs that incorporate this increase as a resource.
Vincent Callebaut, believes that the world’s population will ultimately, desperately seek shelter from the devastations of climate change. He hopes his self sufficient, truly amphibian – half aquatic and half terrestrial cities will serve as luxurious solutions to living on water.
Callebaut, a Belgian architect, came up with this eco-tectural marvel that serves as a luxurious future retreat for up to 50,000 inhabitants, seeking refuge from rising waters.
The Lily pad cities’ innovative design include three marinas and three mountains surrounded by a centrally located artificial lagoon that is totally immersed below the water line, acting as ballast for the city. The Lily Pads can be located close to land or set free to follow the ocean and will offer inhabitants all the attractions and amenities expected of a modern a city.
The marinas and mountains would be dedicated to work, shopping and entertainment – containing the world’s largest shopping mall, a college and a hospital, the suspended gardens and aquaculture farms located below the water line would be used to grow food and biomass.
The Lily pad structure, which is directly inspired by the ribs on the leaves of an Amazonia Victoria Regia, would be constructed from polyester fibers, covered by titanium dioxide (TiO2) and would have the ability to react with ultraviolet rays. It would also integrate a full range of renewable energy technologies, including solar, thermal, wind, tidal, and biomass to help produce more energy than it consumes.
Another concept designed by Malaysian architect Sarly Adre bin Sarkum, that plans to accommodate the rise in sea levels, is the innovatively designed ‘h2O+ Scraper’.
The tower, which if built would ‘float’ almost as tall as the Empire State Building, is a self sustaining, liveable floating unit that sits only two stories above the water. The tower itself, kept upright by a system of ballasts, squid-like tentacles and balancing tanks, carries its own amenities, including, its own small forest, positioned above water, as well as living quarters, positioned below the water.
The squid like bioluminescent tentacles not only provide underwater wildlife a place to live and congregate, but they also provide the floating city with energy through kinetic movement.
The Scraper, similar to Callebaut’s Lily Pad, is completely self-sufficient, generating its own power through successful optimisation of wave, wind, current, solar and biomass energy. It cleverly generates its own food through farming, of both aquaculture and hydroponics nature.
Futuristic architectural designs likes these would require a combination of some of the most innovative and technological advanced materials to help it withstand the pressures of our turbulent oceans. Here at Pilkington we have a busy research and development department that is always looking to the future when developing new glazing solutions – and, as these architectural concepts show, underwater windows might not be that far off!
For today’s buildings however we offer Toughened Glass which is the same thickness as ordinary glass but five times as strong and can be used in applications such as areas with high pedestrian traffic, in doors, shower and bath enclosures, balconies and barriers amongst others.
For a full overview, as well as its benefits please click here.
The self build trend
Thursday, December 1st, 2011Last year only one in ten new homes in Britain was self-built. Plots are difficult to find, and finance and mortgage products are becoming more difficult to secure, while regulations and planning permissions are onerous. Faced with bureaucratic hurdles and frustrations, many potential self-builders abandon projects, sometimes after months of planning.
However, these restrictions may start to ease, as the government is planning to invest £30 million in the hope it drives the development of 100,000 homes over the next decade, after identifying the main barriers to self builders – lack of land, limited finance and mortgage products, restrictive regulation, and lack of impartial information.
The investment, which was announced on 21st November, is an integral part of the new ‘Laying the foundations’ housing strategy that looks to provide short-term finance to the self-build sector, that will have to be re-paid.
In addition to committing the £30 million of funding, the government is aiming to ‘kick start a revolution’ in which local authorities will, for the first time, be required to take self-build seriously. The scheme is asking councils to establish the demand for self-build housing in the local area, making efforts to allow builders access to state-owned land once released, as well as promoting its ‘build now pay later model’.
It is a different story in many European countries where the self-build trend is flourishing, as 50 per cent of all homes are self built.
The Homeruskwartier district in Almere, Netherlands, is a shining example. The city, built on reclaimed polder land, has a population of 180,000 and is the first self-build project attempted on truly large scale. Since 2006, self-builders have successfully erected 800 homes; with thousands more on the way. The scheme operates with the local authority drawing up a suitable street plan, then making plots available at a standard commercial cost. Local people, freed from any further planning restrictions, can then design and build homes specifically tailored to their individual specifications.
Homeruskwartier has received mixed reviews; enthusiasts call it a model of sustainable development, a Grand Designs for the average man, whereas critics describe it as ersatz city, a soulless architectural Legoland.
Building costs in Almere vary depending on how much the buyers do themselves, on average from €800 per sq m to €1,800. That’s around £72,000-£160,000 for someone wanting the same floor space as the typical British three-bed semi (around 105 sq m).
Keeping homes affordable is key to the Homeruskwartier project, which means creating plots for self-build flats as well as houses. One group of 25 individuals built a block of flats. The cost of each flat including the plot and building was just £69,000 without any subsidy. Cutting out the developer’s profit – helped to considerably reduce the overall cost, as there was no need for expensive marketing campaigns and showhomes.
Here in the UK, ministers believe there is ‘huge untapped potential’ for self build, despite the noted restrictions, there are already examples of successful self-build schemes in Britain, within large towns and cities. In Ashley Vale, Bristol, an action group succeeded against the odds to self-build 26 detached and semi-detached homes in 2001. Six further flats were completed last year, which won a CABE Building for Life Award.
Today, many think that self-build properties are cost-prohibitive, but as Ted Stevens, chair of the National Self-Build Association (NaSBA), recently stated: “Most people think building your own home is very expensive. In fact the vast majority of self build homes cost less than £150,000 to construct – and for that you can comfortably build an attractive, energy-efficient, custom-designed three or four bedroom home. We believe the actions taken by this new self build group could potentially make it much easier for people to build thousands of new, affordable homes each year.”
Pilkington Building Products has an extensive range of products including thermally-efficient glass, ideal for self-builders, for further information on our product range visit here.