|
|
The Viaduc de Millau bridge in Southern France, the world's tallest cable-stayed bridge in the world, is nearing completion ahead of its December 17th opening.
The bridge was designed by the English architect, Lord Norman Foster.
It is being built by Eiffage, the same company responsible for building the Eiffel Tower.
Over 500 construction workers have contributed to its completion.
Those who travel the 1.5 mile span will drive 885 feet above land.
The initial goal: To get rid of the Millau traffic bottleneck.
The result: It will tackle the Millau bottleneck, create an alternative, fast route to the Cote d'Azur, and add tremendous man-made beauty to the countryside that many call a work of art.
Once opened, the bridge, via the A75 motorway, will enable Clermont-Ferrand to be reached directly from Beziers.
The motorway connects the Cote d'Azur directly with Paris. It connects Paris and Barcelona, Spain and passes through Languedoc.
Construction officially began on December 14, 2001. It was expected to take 39 months to complete.
The company set a deadline for itself to build the bridge in three years, and they are coming in ahead of schedule.
Toll bridge receipts will enable the company to recover the $300 million cost to build the Millau Bridge.
Because the bridge has become a tourist attra
more
www.rug... (6,469)
added by
Levent OZLER
|
|
|
|
In the beginning of the 21st century fusion style, a splendid result of East-West synthesis, leads the fashion of home decor.
Mediterranean motives, middle-eastern accessories, Indian textiles, symbols and religious elements of Chinese and Japanese cultures...Tod ay, exotic aroma and philosophical symbolism of distant lands are combined with European luxury and comfort.
The most important thing: such decor must reflect the taste and individuality of the inhabitant and harmoniously blend with the interior.
Sometimes original additions in the form of a Biblical oil lamp, Moroccan hookah or a piece of Egyptian papyrus can create a brighter and warmer atmosphere than expensive furniture.
Accessories play indispensable role in this design trend, making the interior exquisite, yet at ease. An Arabic pouf, a Moroccan lantern and a drapery from translucent Indian organza can become the essentials of your own chill out corner.
Candles can also impart coziness and romanticism to the home atmosphere and, if placed in a candlestick or a casket embellished with beads or semiprecious stones, can become an original element of interior.
Small shop "Rugs and Art", located on one of the quiet streets of West Hollywood, for 15 years has been specializing in oriental furniture, lamps, candles, various knick-knacks and other works
more
www.fas... (215)
added by
Levent OZLER
|
|
|
|
The new Textile Committee building in Prabhadevi, next to Tata Press might be the only symbol of the bygone days of the mill era in Mumbai.
The new building, designed by architect Hafeez Contractor is in the form of a charkha.
"We wanted the architecture to reflect the tradition of Indian textiles, so the charkha, the atrium is the nucleus of the building which connects to all the different activities in the building similar to the charkha and the fabric emitting out," said Contractor.
The atrium structure is in the essence a steel frame and it is in the form of a crown. It symbolises the charkha with eight spokes and the same is replicated on the floor.
Recalling the way it was installed Pushyamitra Londhe, the associate architect for the project said, "It took two months to install the atrium. It was lifted from 70 feet height and weights 22 tonnes."
With the spokes in the form of black and grey granites place next to each other on the floor it gives a spinning effect to the charkha. The spokes have a thin aluminum wire running through the spokes, symbolising the thread.
The six floor building houses the Laboratory and research centre of the Textile Committee in addition to the administrative, accounts, seminars and conference.
more
web.mid... (179)
added by
Senay TOPCUOGLU
|
|
|
|
The DesignSingapore Council and the International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers (IFI) have inked a deal which will have IFI basing its headquarters in Singapore from February.
The body represents over 35,000 interior architects and designers.
Its projects include promoting good design, setting professional standards and helping young designers.
IFI will receive an annual grant of S$50,000 and have an office at the new National Library Building at Bugis next year.
It said Singapore was the ideal choice since it was easily accessible and had an international outlook.
The Federation said it was a tough decision to make on where to base its new headquarters.
It received over 20 proposals from cities like Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Shanghai and Seoul; but in the end, it chose Singapore.
Said Dr Milton Tan, director of the DesignSingapore Council, "It's about being part of a major network and the HQ is like a major point of contact, a major node in the international network of designers. We expect to find many IFI projects here as well, their meetings, their members coming here for various seminars."
more
www.cha... (0)
added by
Senay TOPCUOGLU
|
|
|
|
To celebrate its 10th anniversary and the creation of the UPPER Research division, UPPER, an Italian company, leader in furniture for offices, announces the international ideas competition "Sky Office", open to architects, engineers and designers and aimed at the conception of systems, technological components and innovative spatial organizations for the office.
Starting with the competition, which will take place entirely online, UPPER intends to give further stimulus to the research and development sectors offering, in addition to the prize money for the winners, the opportunity to realize a series of prototypes of the most interesting project ideas, in order to carry out their industrial production.
The ideal reference for the competition is the typical floor of the skyscraper. More than any other architectural typology for over a century, in the collective imagination, the tower unites and illustrates innovation, technology, style, economy and the symbolic meaning of progress.
Conceiving alternative ways of life and work, for both small and big offices, presents the opportunity to go deeper into the new sociological and anthropological challenges that UPPER wants to dedicate to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who will work in the skyscrapers of the third millennium.
After the reflection following the
more
Sky Office International Ideas Competition (2478)
added by
Levent OZLER
|
|
|
