The Beauty Of Architecture and Design

This is a Guest Post by MIKE SELVON

The Beauty Of Architecture and Design

Blueprints are forms of history. They are pages that can go down in the annuals of history as monuments to the imagination of mankind. The architecture and design stay a part of our lifestyle and mark our civilization. They are markers of our achievements and tell stories of the buildings that stand the test of time and last throughout the ages. They can be homes, churches, office buildings or monuments that mark important people and events.


There is more to architecture than just the outside appearance of a building. Interior design architecture is a huge part of why people find some buildings so beautiful. Granted, the outside is the part that initially grabs the attention, but the interior is what makes the building memorable and functional.

Throughout history there have been incredible works of art created out of stone, wood and metal. The outer portion is detailed and intricate. Move inside and you will see that the intricacies are not limited to exterior walls.

Architecture and design must go hand in hand. From the modern buildings to the classic columns of ancient Roman Temples, the designs are built around function and beauty. A home can be more than four walls and a roof.

It can be a place that stands apart from nature and draws the eye to its beauty and form. By working together, design and architecture make four walls and a roof so much more.

It is more than function. A builder can build an edifice that is functional. It provides space, shelter and protects. But that is not always enough. Yes, one element of man's basic needs is met but the building can be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

A building can be more than just four walls and a roof. It should have great architectural style. As a sentient being capable of appreciating great works, you should demand more in your surroundings. Beauty is more than skin, or wall, deep.

Once more architects begin to embrace architecture and design, you will begin to see a rebirth in the styles and different shapes of buildings. Homes will begin to lose their "cookie cutter" shape and begin to be different.

A drive down a suburban area will see homes that embrace different styles. It will be a world where differences are celebrated and people can do more than simply live in a home. They can own a unique piece of history and it can be a showcase of a living art.

A free architecture audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowldege further about architecture and design. Your comment is much appreciated at our modern architecture blog.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_471325_22.html

Benefits of Using Marble Stone in Construction

This is a Guest Post by Johan Morkel

Benefits of Using Marble Stone in Construction

Marble stone is a metamorphic rock which varies widely in hardness, veining, and color. It is very rare to find two pieces of marble alike. Marbles vary from location to location. Hence, marble stone is exported in large quantity to meet the requirement. This natural stone industry is growing very fast, thereby providing us with various types of marble stones. Common types of marble stones are Carrara Marble, Paper Marble, Limestone, Green Types of Marble, or Cultured Marble to name a few. Varied color range is also available in marbles. Marble stone is very durable.

Uses of marble stone

Marble provides elegance and beauty to our modern era. It can be used in interior or exterior of the houses or buildings. Apart from creating statues from marbles it is being very popularly used in home construction. The marble can be used in homes for furniture, counterparts, flooring, foyers, bars, tables, showers, windows, fireplaces, and in handicraft items to name few. It is very long lasting natural stone. More and more people are using the marble stone in the homes due to the following benefits of the marble:

. Easy cleaning
. Spectacular look
. Importance of marbles in interior decoration

Benefits of Marbles

Marble is a good building material. It has very soft look, and therefore it is very popular with sculptors especially. Various monuments and places have been built using marbles. Ancestors made magnificent architecture which today has become architectural heritage. The best example among the architectural heritage is the Taj Mahal which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Let us look into the benefits of marble stone:

. Durable: Marble is one of the durable stone among all the natural stone. It always guarantees the long life of the items build with marble.

. Heat Resistance: The Marble is one of the best heat resistance stone among all the natural stones. This also ensures the uniform temperature within the home.

. Fire Resistance: Marble being fire resistance makes it ideal for home and office construction. In case of any fire accident in the home, marble ensures less damage.

Although, by using marble in the home and office construction you tend to increase the cost of the construction of the home and office, but brings with it lot of advantages.

Marble Care

Marble products enhance the décor of your home. But you need to take care of the marble. Just by taking little care of the same, you can retain the shining of this natural stone forever. Hence, you should regularly clean the furniture, floors, or other items made up of marble. You can use commercial cleaners available in the market to clean the marble products.

Various marble suppliers are available today, who deal in manufacturing as well as supplying of the marble in the market. KushalBagh Marbles Pvt Ltd. established in 1988 is one of the major manufacturer and supplier of the natural stones. They are specialized in supplying the marble stone to approximately 22 countries.

Johan Morkel is giving web address of natural stones supplier. The Company Kushalbagh is providing best granite and marble stone in best price in international market.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1551737_15.html

How to Select an Architect

How to Select an Architect
  

Author: Nazim Nice

If you are in the process of selecting an architect you've probably read the 20 things to ask an architect article published by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) by now. While this is a good list, there are some additional questions and suggestions that are important to add to your selection process. Some of these suggestions are from insight gained from working in actual offices and interviewing with many potential clients. Other issues arise from knowing how a good office functions and the technology that is used by the best firms. So here's the list:

1. Plan a visit to the architect's office.

An architect's office can speak volumes about their design aesthetic and creativity. Unfortunately many first meetings with a client will be at the project site, so you may not have an opportunity to see the architect's office. Consider scheduling a visit at the architect's office within a few days of the initial meeting.

2. A messy architect's office might be a red flag.

An architect organizes thousands of pieces of information into a coherent project, and a disorganized office might be a big red flag. However, be careful not to confuse artist creativity with disorganization. Architectural models, trace paper and sketches can be a sign of real creativity, but project information is normally stored in binders and filing cabinets. Large piles of paper are probably not a good sign.

3. See if the architect is using 3D software.

The most sophisticated architects use software that creates a 3D Building Information Model or BIM. A house or project designed in BIM is completely or almost completely designed in 3D. In addition, in many cases the software can help eliminate errors in coordination of drawings since the 2 dimensional drawings are all 'extracted' from the 3D model. The software also keeps track of things like sizes of each door and window, and when a dimension is changed in one drawing, it is automatically updated in another. This can be a real help in reducing errors.

4. Education is the foundation of an architect's experience.

While attending a good college or university can help assure your architect has a good foundation to build upon, usually a better indicator is how an architect did in the school they attended. From my experience in school and teaching, only 10%-20% of students are really talented designers and very few students got significantly better as they went through school. To get a sense of how someone performed in school, ask about design awards they may have won or exhibitions they may have participated in.

5. Know who you are going to work with.

If you are hiring a multi-person firm, find out who will be working with you. Sometimes the person you are interviewing with won't actually be doing much production on your project. If the person you are going to be working with isn't in the initial meeting, ask to visit the architect's office (see #1) and be introduced to the people who will be on your team. Ask to see the credentials of those team members as well.

6. Architects communicate with drawings and words.

Take a look at some of the architect's drawings and ask the architect questions about them. It may be difficult to read or understand drawings if you haven't done that before, but if you can't understand them after an architect explains them, then either the drawings are not clearly drawn, or the architect has a hard time communicating - both might be red flags.

7. A set of construction drawings is not complete without written specifications.

Architects communicate with both drawings and words. Bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, decorative finishes, levels of quality and other information that is easier said in words than in drawings are communicated in written specifications. If the architect doesn't write specifications, then you'll likely be answering many questions during construction and may be hit with expensive change orders.

8. Take a look at the architect's website.

A skillfully designed, clearly organized website can communicate that an architect is organized and can assemble information in a clear fashion. If the architect doesn't have a website, this may be a sign they are not up to date with other aspects of his or her practice.

9. How well does the architect work with the various building departments?

When you or your architect submits your permit set of drawings to the building department, they are typically reviewed and a revision/correction notice is issued. A skillful architect can easily get a residential or small commercial project through the building department with no revisions or one round of revisions. Since each round of revisions takes time to pick up drawings, revise, resubmit, and re-review, fewer rounds of revisions means you get your permit sooner. This could hold up construction. If you're trying to get your project framed and weather-tight before the rainy season, this could push the project into a season with unfavorable construction conditions.



About the author:

Nazim Nice is a Seattle Residential Architect at Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC and has many years of experience designing Seattle second story additions and other architectural projects.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_904758_27.html

Occupation: Architect

http://www.motion-space.com

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