Nobody has ever questioned whether concrete can withstand the test of time. As far back as 3000 BC, the Egyptians made a form of it from gypsum lime mortars. The Romans had their own recipe which included Quicklime, pozzolanic ash and an aggregate made from pumice. The proof is in ancient structures like the Coliseum and Pantheon that still attract … Read More
For proof that the future is now, look no further than photovoltaic glass. This cutting-edge technology essentially transforms glass into solar panels that convert light into electricity. Lest there be no misunderstanding, the answer is yes. We are talking about windows that generate their own power. It’s clean, green, and very cool. Photovoltaic glass incorporates transparent semiconductor-based photovoltaic—or solar—cells by … Read More
It looks like a simple monolithic tower but the newest, sleekest, addition to the Seoul skyline is actually an exceptional feat of engineering, comprised of 20 different types of glass. The Lotte Tower, a creation of American architectural firm, Kohn, Pederson, Fox (KPF), rises 1821 feet into the clouds—123 stories—making it the tallest building in South Korea and 5th tallest … Read More
The science of glass continues to expand by leaps and bounds, creating the foundation for a unique, new architectural dimension that is revolutionizing construction and building design. More and more daring buildings, featuring soaring glass facades, arching canopies, delicate footbridges, and other load bearing glass elements, have onlookers shaking their heads in amazement, wondering if glass wall construction is really … Read More
As ubiquitous as it is in our environment, we are barely aware of it. Perhaps that is because its main purpose is to connect us to what lies beyond it. Glass, once thought to possess magical properties, has been a key element in our lives since 3500 BC, when we figured out how to make it. We created windows and … Read More
“You had me at hello.” A classic line from the movie Jerry Maguire, but also exactly the response any company wants the moment potential consumers enter their premises. As the point of first contact, the reception area is like your company’s opening act. If it bombs, the audience may not be interested in seeing the rest, no matter how Tony … Read More
We live in a visual world where daily we are flooded with imagery that both dictates and reflects who we are and whom we should aspire to be. We connect with the symbolism that becomes familiar, absorbing what we see into our brains until it becomes integrated into our cultural identity. Hence the success of branding, which is based on … Read More
Though the word acoustic is derived from the Greek word akoustikos, meaning “of or for hearing”, it was a Roman who officially established the science of architectural sound. In his treatise, dated around 20 BC, architect and engineer Vitruvius describes the ascending seating in theaters as a purposeful means of directing sound waves and optimizing sound quality. Our 21st century … Read More
Can you even imagine living in a house created by a 3D printer? Then again, 30 years ago, could you even imagine ordering a ride home from an app on the phone in your pocket? The future does have an uncanny way of becoming the present. As with any groundbreaking innovation that has the potential to redefine life as we … Read More
The goal: Organizational health. The key: A workspace that promotes and supports the mental, physical and social health of the workforce. It’s as simple—and complex—as that. Faced with the task of creating environments that foster optimal achievement, today’s office designers are forced to think outside the cubicle and adapt to a new, more organic office culture. Pursuant to our deeper … Read More