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 National Park Service Gets Long-awaited Destination Center at the Blue Ridge ParkwayAfter more than 20 years of planning, Blue Ridge Parkway has a new destination center to orient visitors to the history, culture and resources of the Parkway and its surrounding region.At the same time, in keeping with the National Park Service's sustainable design initiative, the new Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center serves as an exhibit of sustainable, environmentally responsible architecture. Designed by the architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent and targeting LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, the $9.8 million Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center features a host of sustainable design strategies, including an innovative passive solar system to heat the building, daylighting to minimize use of electrical lights and a planted roof to help integrate the building into the site. Located adjacent to the Parkway headquarters at Hemphill Knob near Asheville, the Parkway's greatest point of access, the two-story, 12,000-square-foot Destination Center is the Parkway's only visitor contact station that is open year round. more National Park Service Gets Long-awaited Destination Center at the Blue Ridge Parkway design directory Lord Aeck Sargent Architecture > Architecture Companies added by Levent OZLER |
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 Bright: Architectural Illumination and Light InstallationsThe use of light and illumination in architecture and design is currently evolving and making an increasingly significant impact on various creative disciplines.Today, architects use light installations to create a different nighttime identity for their buildings that allow for additional functions and presentations. Light is also important for interior designers, who use it to give the impression of a room where there isn't one or make a space seem bigger or smaller. Others use light to conjure works of art, forms and images out of nothing or to give entire city centres a whole new look. In short, light is a magical medium for creative experimentation that designers are using to produce a broad spectrum of exciting work. Bright presents a rich selection of these innovative projects that are setting trends in the creative use of light. The included work has been implemented in both a commercial and cultural context around the world. Each designer or design company is portrayed in an eight-page spread featuring both stunning photography and detailed text information. Bright is an up-to-date reference tool for professionals working in the fields of lighting design, architecture and art. The book reflects the role of illumination as a multifaceted and interactive design element. In doing so, Bright sheds new light on the future of architecture and design. more Bright: Architectural Illumination and Light Installations design directory Bright: Architectural Illumination and Light Installations > Lighting Design Books added by Levent OZLER |
 Beam Goes Mobile: International Design Competitionbeam and RIBA announced the launch of a two-stage competition to design an innovative, dynamic and highly interactive mobile facility that stimulates creative engagement, learning and participation.Artists, architects, designers, and creatives - regional, national and international - are invited to submit design concepts for a mobile facility / resource / installation that will enable beam to increase the impact of its work, taking it into public spaces, schools, and communities. The competition has been funded by Arts Council England and CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment), with the support of Wakefield MDC and other partners. beam, a creative organisation based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, is dedicated to the imaginative understanding and improvement of the public realm - our urban and rural streets, buildings, parks, housing estates and public spaces. beam operates nationally, regionally, and locally, offering professional services and programmes in education and training, community engagement, project management, consultancy & research, public art in all media, conferencing and events. Judges will be looking for a unique, innovative, yet practical approach combined with a consideration of the inter-relationship between Arts, People and Places. The jury panel will comprise of experts in the field and collaboration between disciplines is encouraged. competition (ended) current design competitions more info www.arc... (388) design directory beam > Urban Design Organizations added by Levent OZLER |
 A-cero Builds a House in MadridThe house is located on a 3.500 m2 plot presenting a light slope that is used by the access ramp to the garage.The floor plan has the form of a Greek cross, and is delimited by the access pathway and the other properties on both of its sides. The design of this 1.200 m2 compact single-family house is guided by two main concepts: a great functionality in the distribution of the interior spaces and their openness to the exterior to make the most of the views. Both ideas are also present in the interior design and in the selection of the construction materials. Inside the house, the design follows a functional structure evolving around the hall stairs, an central design element that provokes a surprising visual and spatial effect. Another breathtaking space is the double height volume that contains the living room. more www.a-c... (399) design directory A-cero > Architecture Design Studios design database A-cero added by a-cero |
 Increased Interest in Sustainable Materials for Kitchens and BathsRenewable materials and energy-efficient products for kitchens and baths have risen in popularity, while economic concerns among homeowners has resulted in a decline in demand for high-end appliances and features.To accommodate an aging and less mobile population, there is also a greater emphasis on accessibility and adaptability throughout the home. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey focused specifically on kitchen and bathrooms in the fourth quarter of 2007. Residential architects have reported the weakest business conditions in the three-year history of this survey, indicating that the housing market is not poised for a recovery in the near term. "Kitchens continue to be the dominant design area within the home, with dedicated computer work areas or cell-phone and personal digital assistant recharging stations becoming an emerging trend. There is also a growing interest in eco-friendly features for kitchens such as bamboo and cork flooring, and concrete and bamboo countertops," said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. A recent AIA poll of registered voters revealed that 90% of respondents said they would be willing to pay $5,000 more for a house that would use less energy and protect the Earth. more www.aia... (77) design directory AIA > Architecture Organizations added by Levent OZLER |
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