Building Pyramid in This Era : Experts Opinion
Posted on 17. Jul, 2010 by in Civil Engineering, Experiments & Research
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza without access to so much as a pulley. But while a modern-day pyramid builder has access to all sorts of fancy machines and materials, he or she wouldn’t make much change to the ancient form. It’s already a fairly good shape from an Engineering standpoint.
Lets get the ideas of some experts ( Say -Structural Engineer, Architect, Historian – for building a monument like that: (more…)
Eco-Building- Turn Your House To A Eco Friendly Design.
Posted on 24. Apr, 2010 by admin in Civil Engineering, Human Biology
The old fashioned stereotypes about the furniture design were breaking apart. Lots of people were choosing an apartment building or a condo over a traditional full size house as a place of living. But what to do with the furniture? Customers were racing from contemporary furniture stores to stores in a desperate attempt to find something fitting the size of their new homes and being still attractive (don’t forget functional). However, all they were able to find in the contemporary furniture stores were old style “monstersâ€, which just would not fit in by all ways. But the revolutionary part of it is to use materials that saves the environment. How to make eco friendly furniture by using the new type material to make all that, such as metal frames, glass or plastic or think completely in a new way.
Better start with an example-
An existing barn/workshop from the 1960′s was redesigned into a main residence with full pledged furniture. The design approach to liberate the boxy angular configuration of the existing space in order to allow the space to expand outwards into the environment. Three main alterations to the 1,200 square foot envelope were developed; an square tower-like eating bay at the southwest corner , a double-dormer bisecting the ridge and a large expansive eyebrow dormer & a modern wall units,
The new floor plan & the combination -recombination in the contemporary furniture stores twist and turn creating a sense of motion and reflects the free flowing nature of the outer world. A circular loft room is suspended within the center of the structure and travels through four rooms. Developed as a sacred meditation room its position in the house is representative of the upper chakras of the body. The room is daylight by two custom-built triangular shaped dormer windows furniture as well as a center ridge skylight.
A large sweeping eyebrow dormer opens up the once closed in barn space. A four panel door set open below the arch onto the cantilevered deck. This main living space is also graced with the integration of natural peeled poles/branches into its walls and ceilings capes. A large 500 lb native Oak trunk receives a second life as the main supporting ridge beam. The floor is eucalyptus, reclaimed and remilled from an old warehouse and the baseboard is natural limestone tile. The interior loft windows are artistically composed of recycled bottles and framed by an expressive plaster border.
The reddish chocolate stained redwood reclaimed from old wine tanks provided the front entrance door with a special character. A beautiful salvaged stained glass window and forged iron hardware completed this special element. Adding to this feel a strong rustic entryway was designed and installed. Native peeled Oak timbers, rough sawn roofing shakes, recycled lumber, rustic patio slate and regional fieldstone boulders were the elements used to round out this composition.
SOLAR DESIGNS
Natural building and sunlight go together. The sun is our prime light and energy source. How its energy interfaces with the natural or built environment is vital to all aspects of life. This interplay between light and material is paramount to consider when designing. Solar energy offers warmth, power and health when appropriately channeled within our dwellings.
To re-establish a beneficial relationship between the making of human habitats (architecture) and the ecological world. The elements that surround us affects us. That’s why from many standpoints it is critical to integrate natural materials and sustainable building practices into our dwellings. Biodynamic Transactional Architecture (BIOTA) takes into account how materials are energies and their placement interacts to create environmental conditions.
HOW IT APPLIES TO GREEN BUILDING METHODS
Green Manufactured furniture
Rammed Earth
Stone and Natural Slate
Alternative Insulations
Light Clay Straw
Non-Toxic Materials
Cast Earth
Terratile & Earthen Floors
Thermal Mass Fireplaces
Eco-timber & lumber
Salvaged & Recycled Materials
Bamboo Construction
Hemp Products
Organic Paints
Natural Flooring
This building should be constructed on the roof of an existing urban building. The space served as a personal meditation space as well as a professional massage studio. The rooftop location provided a panoramic view of the city as well as views of the Pacific Ocean.
A passive solar and natural lighting design was combined with green construction methods and nontoxic building materials. A small turret on the east corner forms a cozy window seat area. The interior was softened by using plaster and rounding all the corners into gentle curves. The handcrafted double doors open onto an outdoor roof deck made of re-sawn/recycled wood. Built-in planters with automated irrigation systems provided rooftop gardening.
GARDEN APARTMENT
A passively solar heated and cooled garden studio. Expansive southern glazing was combined with the thermal mass storing capabilities of stabilized earth (Rammed Earth). Two curvilinear earthen walls separated the sunroom from the living spaces of the apartment. The rammed earth walls temper the daily solar gains and store the heat within the earthen mass of the walls (16″ thick) and reradiate the heat during nights and cloudy days.
The clearstory formed a second story spine down the center of the studio gracing the space with natural light and providing natural ventilation. The inverted shape of the clearstory roof acts to collect rainwater and channels it to a small pond on the north side of the building. On the south side, a shade trellis has deciduous plants, which shelter the glazing from the summer sun.
contemporary furniture Stores provides the solution for the materials.
Ecologically harvested regional timber used for all exposed beams, posts and trim.
Excavated earth from the foundation used for the Rammed Earth walls.
Recycled bricks and ceramic tiles.
Cellulose insulation in walls & ceilings.
Plaster ceiling and interior walls; hand finished.
Built-in cabinets using Eco-timber hardwoods.
Natural organic interior paints.
Natural fiber carpet