How to Improve Architectural Education

“Tree house” designed to dissolve into the landscape

What exactly is a Smart City?

Staging your home to sell

Volume 4 - November 20th, 2012

ContentsON THE COVER

3 HowtoImproveArchitecturalEducation(Part2)

6 “Treehouse”designedtodissolveintothelandscape

19 WhatexactlyisaSmartCity?

26 Stagingyourhometosell

ARCHITECTURE

10 HouseatBigHill//

KerstinThompsonArchitects

13 Twenty-tontreehouseunderconstructioninSweden

14 Sustainable&HighlyInvitingTimberFrameHouseinAmsterdam

BUILDING

16 Paarl’sfirstCommercialGreenBuildingtoopenitsdoorsAugust2013

17 IrishfirmstartsSAwind,solarbuild

17 Greenbuildingdominatesglobalconstructionmarket

18 Thetruthofconstruction

PROPERTY

21 Sandton,Rosebankleadthewayonnewpropertydevelopments

22 AlexanderForbestakesupresidenceinitsgreenhome

23 CommercialPropertyMarketremainsstrong,despiteunderconstantpressure

24 Tenantsshouldbecarefulofdealsthatsoundtoogoodtobetrue

25 Woodstockpropertyvalueshaveincreasedbetterthananticipated

DECOR

28 PracticalStorageSolutionsfortheEntireHouse

30 WallMirrorsForYourSmallHomeOrApartment

LANDSCAPING

31 Goodlandscapinghelpstrimenergybills

32 JapaneseLandscapersReclaimLostHabitats

Vol. 4 - November 20th, 2012

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How to Improve Architectural Education

SPECIAL FEATURE

In our last edition we looked at the first six ways to improve architectural educa-tion and why one would want to do this. In this edition we look at the last six ways to improve on education.

7. Speciallectureprograms:Theseshouldshowthebesttalentinbothdesignandbusinesspractices.Balancethem.Ifforinstancethereareeightbig-namelectureprogramsinaterm,insertthepracticemanagementleadersinfrontofthestudents,too.Thelearningobjectiveshouldbenotjusttounderstandwhatthefirmdoesanditsoutputsbutalsohowthefirmdoesitanditsprocesses.Askthefirmstocoverthebudgetsofawardwinningprojectsandhowtheywork.Askthemaboutprofitandiftheyaremeetingtheirgoals.Askthemtohaveacandidconversationwithstudentsaboutvaluemigrationandstrategicplanning.

8. Facultyshouldbeencouragedtoestablishformalroleswithfirms:Thiswouldgeteducatorsintofirmsonaregularbasis.Theprofessionneedstoreachouttoeducatorsonthis—notunlikeaffirmativeaction.Educatorscanbeonthepolicyboard,perhaps,oranadvisorontechnologyorasexperttothefirmonaspecialtyarea

Part 2

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SPECIAL FEATURE

suchasacoustics,lighting,contractnegotiation,ethics,etc.Thereshouldbemoregiveandtakebetweenprofessorsandtheprofessionalpractice.Firmsneedtopayforthesepolicyandadvisoryservicesfromtheeducators.Schoolsshouldsetthegoalthateveryfacultymemberbecomesaboardmemberoradvisortoaprofessionalpractice,aconstructionfirm,aproductmanufacturersoranotherindustryplayer.

9. Everyfirmshouldmakeafinancialcommitmenttothecollegeprogramoftheirchoice:Myownopinionisthateveryfirm—eventhesmallest—shouldcontributeaminimumperyeartohighereducation.Underlyingthisstrategyistheattitudethatthereshouldbemoredevelopmentflowingfrompracticetoeducation.Chairsandendowmentsshouldbemuchmoreaggressivelyestablished.Oncethishappensitwilltendtomakeprogramsstrongerandmorevaluedwithincontextofbuildingtheprofessionforthefuture.Ittakesonlyalittleimaginationtoseehowvaluablethiscanbe,anditcanbearguedthatthefutureoftheprofessiondependsonit.

10. Establishameritocracysystemofrewardswithstaffandfaculty:Itisnottimewellspenttochallengethetenuresystem,frankly,buttherecanbeenergizedleadershipcoachingaroundmeritocracy,highperformanceandpayforexcellence.Thefocusshouldbeonwhatcanbedone.Theprofessionshouldsupportthiswithendowmentsandchairsandgiftswithoutstrings.

11. Facilitiesincollegesanduniversitiesshould,atminimum,mirrorthoseinprofessionalpractice:Gooddesign;goodhousekeepingandthelatesttoolsshouldbeinplace.Spacesin

How to Improve Architectural Education

Part 2

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designschoolshouldinspire,bewelldesigned,wellcuratedandnotbeallowedtodeclineintoananything-goesmess.

12. Digitalanddistancelearningisarealityanditshouldhavealegitimateroleasanoptioninarchitecturaleducation.Setamarketplaceresponsiveroletoenablethenon-accrediteddegreegraduatestocatchupandqualifyforlicensure.

Therewillalwaysofcoursebebetterandworseschools.Thisisalsotrueinpractice.Justassomestudentsgetaninferioreducation,someemployeesinpracticearenotmentoredwell.Thefuturedemandsmoreifwewishforastrongerprofession.Thisisoneofthebiggestopportunitiesforchange.Itcanre-energizethedesignprofessionofthefuture.Respectfordesigneducationcanbeexponentiallyenhanced.Weshouldencourageleaderstosettargetsthattheymaynevermeet.Weareinaracewithchangeandasnewvaluenichesarediscoveredweneedtoseizeanddeploythese.Weneedastronglinkbetweeneducationandprac-ticearoundtheissuesofshifts,foresightandactionsthatcanimprovethefuture.

http://www.archdaily.com/289789/how-to-improve-architectural-education-in-12-steps/

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ARCHITECTURE

“Tree house” designed to dissolve into the landscape

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Thishomeknownasthe“Treehouse”isperchedonasteepforestedhillsideabovetheGreatOceanRoadandBassStraitinVictoria.IndesigningtheTreehouse,architectsJacksonClementsBurrowsdrewonthemodestlocalvernacularof1950’spaintedfibroshacks,byusingcementsheetswithexpressedbattenjointstodissolvethehouseintothesurroundinglandscape.The2tonegreencolourschemeusedfortheexteriorhelpedtomergethebuildingwiththevegetationonthehillsideonwhichitsits.Theverticaltimberbattensonthebuildingareanaturallystainedtimber,whichwillsilverovertimelikethebranchesandtrunksoftreesinthebushsurrounds.Thechanginglightandcoloursthroughoutthedayfurtherengagethehomewithitsbushlandcontext.[PhotographybyJohnGollings]

http://www.designhunter.net/treehouse-dissolve-landscape/

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ARCHITECTURE

“Tree house” designed to dissolve into the landscape

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ARCHITECTURE

This house celebrates the shadow in the making of home. It continues kta’s interest in dark space, the heightened sense of intimacy and mystery for domestic life that this affords and the retreat it pro-vides from the harsh Australian sun.

Triangularinplanitslongsideactsasretainingwallstruckagainsttheslopeoftheland.Adjacenttothisaresidestwoandthree,joinedtoprovidearightangle,acorner.Ifthisrightanglecontainstheinterioranddefinesaclearbound-arybetweeninsideandout,theapexesinsteadbreachthis.Separatedfromtheretainingwallbyfullheightglazedbreakstheyrevealviewsofsignificanttreesanddistantheadlands.Attheseacuteends,insideandoutsidebecomeone.

Elsewherewindowsarelimitedtofixedpictureframeslinedwithtimberandflushwiththeexteriororverticalslots,withlouvresforventilation,appearingasshadowsthroughblack

steelreveals.Theexpressionofthereveal,alsopursuedinthereturnofblockworkwalls,iscriticaltoachievingadepthforshadowandanexperienceofmass.Itcreatesthehabit-ablenicheandrecallstheGriffins’Castlecragbuildings.

Theclients’desireformassisalsometthroughtheuseofconcreteblocksandconcretefloors.Timberhighlightsenrichwhatisessentiallyabrutalistpalette.Incombinationwiththeblacknessoftheformplyceilingtheyintensifythecoloursoftheadjacentbushanddistantseascapes.

ConversationswithPhillipGoadabouttheprojectearlyinthedesignprocessuncoveredaninterestintheuseoftheplatonicformamongsttheVictorianmoderns.Ofthepla-tonicsthetriangle(albeitarightangleone)mostproduc-tivelyalignedwiththeforcesofthesite.

http://www.archdaily.com/292048/house-at-big-hill-kerstin-thompson-architects/

House at Big Hill // Kerstin Thompson Architects

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ARCHITECTURE

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ARCHITECTURE

Architects:KerstinThompsonArchitectsLocation:Lorne,Victoria,AustraliaDesignTeam:KerstinThompson,LynnChew,LaurenceDragomir,JulianPatterson,SophieHerel,MichaelArtemenko,GemmaHohnen,JacquiAlexanderArea:240sqmYear:2011

House at Big Hill // Kerstin Thompson Architects

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ARCHITECTURE

Architect Sami Rintala is constructing a twenty-ton treehouse for Swedish hotel Treehotel.

NamedtheFiveLeafClover,thestructurewilljointheclus-teroftreehousehotelroomsthatmakeuptheTreehotel,whichislocatedamongsttheforestsinHarads,northernSweden.

Rintala,ofFinnishstudioRintalaEggertssonArchitects,designedtheroomtobethelargestoftheTreehotel’ssixtreehouses.Attwentytons,itwillbealmostthreetimesasheavyastheseven-tonCabinroomandconstructionisalreadyunderway.

“AtTreehotelwealwaysstrivetopushlimitswithourenvironmentalwork,architectureandengineering,”saidco-founderKentLindvall.“TheFiveLeafCloverisclearevidenceofthis,asnothingremotelysimilarhaseverbeendonebefore.”

Thebuildingwillbeattachedtosixpinetreesandhoversixmetersabovetheground,sovisitorswillhavetoclimbatwo-story-highstaircasetoenter.

The53-square-metresuitewillcontainthreebedroomsandwillsleepuptosixguests,butcouldalsobeusedasaconferenceroomforuptotwelvepeople.Theexteriorisbe-ingcladinweatheredsteel,whiletheinteriorisbeinglinedwithplywood.

TheprojectisduetocompletebeforeChristmas.

OthertreehousehotelroomsattheTreehotelincludeahugenestwitharetractablestaircaseandasuspendedboxcoveredinmirrors.

http://www.dezeen.com/2012/11/15/twenty-ton-treehouse-under-construction-in-sweden/

Twenty-ton treehouse under construction in Sweden

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ARCHITECTURE

Sustainable & Highly Inviting Timber Frame

House in Amsterdam

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We got used to the uniqueness of each new residential architecture project in Amsterdam and this timber frame family home is no exception. Designed by the creative team at Egeon Archi-tecten, the family villa is located on the Rieteiland-Oost Island in the IJburg residential development and offers a serene living and working space. The three levels of the residence accommo-date the open plan living room on the bottom floor, the private areas in the middle and an office space to literally top it all.

Accordingtothearchitects,thehousewasbuiltwithsustainabilityinmind,having“aheatpumpandlowtemperatureunderfloorheating,naturalventilation,highinsula-tionvaluesofroofwallsandfloor,specialheat-resistantglass,asedumroof,attentiontothermalbridgingdetailsandorienta-tion”.Duetotheextensiveuseofwood,theinteriorslookfriendlyandinviting,withlargewindowsfloodingtheminnaturallight.Thelivingroomisbyfarthemostwelcom-ingroomofthehouse,withitsalluringlakeviews,itscuteguitarsandsometimesevenitsfluffykitten.Sobohemian!

http://freshome.com/2012/11/05/sustainable-and-highly-inviting-timber-frame-house-in-amsterdam/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreshInspirationForYourHome+%28Freshome.com%29

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Paarl’s first Commercial Green Building to open its doors August 2013 Cecilia Square, the prestigious new commercial office development adjacent to the Paarl Mall on the N1, is scheduled to open its doors on 1 August 2013, when anchor tenant BKB GrainCo, will move in to occupy the majority of the development’s first phase.

CeciliaSquareisaphaseddevelopmentconsistingof2buildingslinkedbyaraisedparkingdeck.Thefirstphase(BuildingA)iscurrentlyunderconstruction,andhasbeenboughtbyBKB,withtheirsubsidiary,GrainCo,takingitsplaceasmainanchortenant.Constructiononthesecondphase(BuildingB),whichiscurrentlybeingsoldoff-planinsections,isscheduledtostartinFebruary2013.

Aftermonthsofhardwork,thedesignteamisalsocelebrat-ingtheimminentsubmissionofdesigndocumentationtotheGBCSA,whichaimstoachievea4GreenStarSA–OfficeV1DesignRating.Thesubmissionwillbemadebytheproject’sspecialistgreenbuildingconsultant,PJCarewConsulting,aftertheannualGBCSAconferenceinOcto-ber2012.

CeciliaSquareisthefirstGreenBuildingtobedesignedandbuiltbyLazercorDevelopments,awell-knownprivatepropertydevelopmentcompanyintheCapeWinelands.Attheproject’sinceptionthedirectorsfeltthat,inlightofSAPOAandtheGBCSA’sdrivetogreeningcommer-cialdevelopmentsinSouthAfrica,thepioneeringstepofdesigningandconstructingthefirstGreenBuildinginPaarlwouldbetherightthingtodo.AccordingtoMarkTeuchert(director),Lazercor’sproudtraditionofretaining

partownershipintheirdevelopmentsdemandsqualityandalong-termapproachtorealisingcapitalreturns.Inthiscase,thelong-termpaybackwillbeofbothmonetaryandenvironmentalvalue.

Theprofessionalteam’smainchallengewastofindawaytodesignanenergy-efficientbuildingthatwouldmeetspecificdesigncriteriaonaverytightbudget.Thiswasachievedbyemployingbestpracticeenvironmentaldesignfromfirstprinciples,includinganorth-southorientationandpre-determinedbuildingwidthtoallowforoptimumsunlightpenetration,andtominimisetheneedforartificiallight-ing,heatingandcooling.Buildingmaterialswerechosenfortheirinsulationproperties,includingstateoftheartdouble-glazingonsouth-facingfacades,andconcretecof-feredslabsthatimprovethebuilding’sthermalmass.

Energyisconservedbyusingoptimumlightinglayoutswithefficientfittings,andlighting,powerandHVACconsumptionismonitoredandreportedonmonthlybymeansofanautomatedBuildingManagementSystem.ThebuildingalsoboastsastateoftheartDALIcontrolsystem,whichensuresthatelectricallightingisnotinuseduringhourswhereadequatedaylightisavailable,andthatlightsswitchoffautomaticallywhennomotionisdetected.

Water-savingstrategiesincludearainwaterharvestingsys-temthatcollectsrainwaterfromhardsurfacestobere-usedforirrigationandflushing,low-flowfittingsandwaterme-tersthatmonitorandreportonwaterconsumptionforallofthebuilding’smainwateruses.Cyclistfacilitiesincludelockers,showersandbicyclestands,whiledesignatedbaysareprovidedforlow-fuelvehicles(includingmotorcyclesandmopeds).

http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/business-specialties/environmental-green-issues/5427-paarl-first-commercial-green-building-to-open-its-doors-august-2013.html

BUILDING

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BUILDING

Irish firm starts SA wind, solar build Ireland’s Mainstream Renewable Power announced this week that it was starting construction on solar and wind power projects in South Africa, in a €500-million (about R5.5-billion) investment under a government programme that has ushered in the country’s first large-scale renewable energy projects.

TheDublin-basedcompanyisoneof28independentpow-erproducersthatsignedcontractswiththeSouthAfricangovernmentlastweek,inthefirstroundofaprogrammethatwillseeaninitial1400megawattsofrenewableenergybeingaddedtoSouthAfrica’senergymix,whilebringinganestimatedR47-billioninnewinvestmentintothecountry.

MainstreamRenewablePoweranditspartnerswillbuilda138MWwindfarminJeffreysBayintheEasternCape,andtwo50MWsolarphotovoltaic(PV)parksintheNorthernCape-onenearDeAarandoneatDroogfonteinnearKimberley.Allthreeprojectsarescheduledtobefullyoperationalbymid-2014.

“TheSouthAfricangovernmenthasshowntremendousvisionandforesightincreatingthisnewandsustainablein-dustryforSouthAfrica,firmlyplacingitontheworldmapforrenewableenergygeneration,”MainstreamCEOEddieO’ConnorsaidinastatementonMonday.

“Mainstreamisfullycommittedtoplayingaleadingroleinthedeliveryofthisvision,tobringingsignificantsocio-economicbenefitstotheareasinwhichwe’rebuildingtheprojects,aswellasclean,free-fuelenergytoSouthAfrica.”

AccordingtoMainstream,theprojectsareexpectedtogeneratehundredsofjobsduringconstructionand,onceoperational,theprojectrevenuesareexpectedtobenefitlocalcommunitiesthroughsocio-economicandenterprisedevelopment.

“Theprojectsareexpectedtoproduce635GWhofelectric-ity,enoughtosupplyupto48000householdsanddisplaceapproximately628000tonsofcarbonemissionsperyear,”thecompanysaid.

MainstreamwonthecontractforthethreeprojectsastheleadpartnerinaconsortiumincludingUSPowerCompanyGlobeleqasthestrategicequitypartner,ThebeInvestment

Corporation,localengineeringfirmsEnzaniTechnologiesandUsizoEngineering,aswellaslocalcommunitytrusts.

Theprojectsarebeingco-developedwithMainstream’sSouthAfricanpartner,renewableenergydeveloperGenesisEco-Energy.OldMutual’sIDEASManagedFundisanadditionalconsortiummemberoftheJeffreysBayWindFarm.

http://www.southafrica.info/business/investing/renewa-bles-131112.htm#.UKUaGOPZ-dg

Green building dominates global construction marketGreen building practices and technologies are fast becoming the norm within the global construction industry, according to a major new survey released this week.

Thepoll,found63percentofthearchitects,propertyown-ers,andconstructionfirmssurveyedhavegreencommercialbuildingprojectsplannedforthenextthreeyears,whilehalfhavegreenrenovationprojectsplanned.

Moreover,51percentofthosesurveyedexpectmorethan60percentoftheirworktocomefromgreenprojectsby2015,upfromjust28percentoffirmsthatcurrentlyreachthatbenchmark.

“Thisresearchconfirmsthatgreenbuildingadvancesenvironmentalstewardshipwhileprovidingvaluetothemarket,”saidGeraudDarnis,presidentandchiefexecutive

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BUILDING

ofUnitedTechnologiesClimate,Controls&Security,inastatement.“Italsoconfirmsthatwenowseemorepullthanpushforgreenbuildings.”

Thesurvey,whichpolledGreenBuildingCouncilmem-bersin62countries,alsorevealedthatfirmsaredevelopinggreenbuildingservicesinresponsetocommercialdemands,with35percentcitingclientdemandand30percenthighlightingloweroperatingcostsastheirmainreasonsforinvestingingreenbuildingexpertise.

“Theexistingbuildingmarketisaripeopportunityforgreenbuilding,andweareseeingthatplayoutinthemar-ket.Itisclearthatgreenisbecominganimportantpartofthefuturelandscapeoftheglobalconstructionmarketplace,andfirmswillneedtobepreparedforthattransition.”

Propertyownerssaidtherewasanincreasinglycompellingcaseforinvestingingreenbuildingdevelopmentsandret-rofits.Thesurveyfoundtypicalnewgreenbuildingprojectsweredeliveringmedianoperatingcostsavingsofeightpercentoveroneyearand15percentoverfiveyears,whileincreasingbuildingvaluesbyanaverageofsevenpercent.

Greenbuildingsarealsoexpectedtogarnerbusinessben-efitsforbuildingowners.Fornewgreenbuildingprojects,firmsreportmedianoperatingcostsavingsofeightpercentoveroneyearand15percentoverfiveyears,aswellasincreasedbuildingvaluesofsevenpercent.

“Thisstudyvalidateswhatwe’veexperiencedthepastcoupleofyears–thatthebusinesscommunityhasfullyembracedgreenbuildingasastrategicbusinessimperativethatalsohappenstohaveastrongsocietalbenefit,”saidRickFed-rizzi,president,chiefexecutiveandfoundingchairoftheUSGreenBuildingCouncil.

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2224955/survey-green-building-dominates-global-construction-market

The truth of construction “This is a follow up article to an article by the Department of Trade & Industry bemoaning the lack of black members in the Construction Sector Charter, an article we ran in the Designmind app last week”

The Construction Sector Charter Council is com-pelled to comment on statements made by the De-partment of Trade and Industry and inaccuracies in your article headlined Construction sector charter ‘has failed to take BEE forward’, November 6.

Thecouncilisaregisteredsection21companywith17memberorganisations.Thesecompriserepresentationbyestablishedbusiness,emergingblackbusiness,thegovern-ment,builtenvironmentprofessionalsandtradeunions.

Theauthorofthisarticlemadenoattempttoverifyanyfactsrelatingtothecouncil,whichcanbeobtainedfromthecouncil’swebsite,andchoseinsteadtopublishcom-mentfromthedepartmentandthepastpresidentoftheEngineeringCouncilofSA.

Thecouncilobjectstothesensationalistnatureofthisreportingandthemisinformationtherein.

Themandateofthecouncilisclearanddoesnotincludesolvingtheissuesofaccesstofinanceandgovernmentcon-tractsandlatepaymentsbythegovernment,asintimatedbythedepartment’sdeputydirector-general,SiphoZikode.

Contrarytothestatementthat“thecouncildidnotmeet”,thecouncilheldsevenmeetingsthisyear.

Thecouncilplacesonrecordthatitsmonitoringandcom-pliancecommitteesenteightcommitteememberstothedepartmentonOctober31tomeetchiefdirectorNomondeMesatywatodiscussanypossiblefuturealignmentbetweentheConstructionSectorCodesandthedraftblackeconom-icempowerment(BEE)codes.

MrZikodewasnotpresentatthatmeeting,butisquotedmakinguninformedpubliccomments.

Thecouncilreceivesnostatefunding,butisworkinghardonBEEintheconstructionsector.

GregoryMofokeng,ActingCEO,ConstructionSectorCharterCouncil

http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/letters/2012/11/12/letter-truth-of-construction

Page 19 |

One of the biggest issues with the smart-cities movement is being held back by a lack of clarity and consensus around what a smart city is and what the components of a smart city actually are. In order to improve them, there has been work on a new rubric for smart cities, called the Smart Cities Wheel.

Thismodelhasbeeninspiredbytheworkofmanyothers,includingtheCenterofRegionalScienceatViennaUniver-sityofTechnology,Siemens’workwiththeGreenCityIn-dex,andBuenosAires’“ModeloTerritorial”amongothers.

Mostcitiescanagreethatthereisrealvalueinhavingasmarteconomy,smartenvironmentalpractices,smartgovernance,smartliving,smartmobility,andsmartpeople.Withineachoftheseaspirationalgoals,therearethreekeydriverstoachievingthegoal.Thereareover100indicatorstohelpcitiestracktheirperformancewithspecificactionsdevelopedforspecificneeds.

Let’swalkthroughahigh-levelexampleofhowarealcitycouldusetheSmartCitiesWheeltodevelopandimple-mentasmartcitiesstrategy.

STEP 1: CREATE A VISION WITH CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

Vancouver’sMayorRobertson,andmanybeforehim,hassoughttotakeleadershipinthegreencitiesarena.MayorRobertsonandhisGreenestCityActionTeamengaged30,000+citizensinaprocessdesignedtoestablisha2020goalforthecity.Thecityused“socialmediaanddigitaltechnologiestosparkcitizen-ledpublic-engagementactivi-tieslikekitchentablediscussionsatprivatehomes,onlinediscussionforumsandworkshopsatcommunitycentres,”accordingtoStraight.com.

TheresultistheGreenestCity2020ActionPlan,whichhassetacleargoalforthecitytobecomethegreenestintheworldby2020.VancouveraspirestoleadtheworldinatleastoneofthesixaspirationalgoalsoftheSmartCityWheel(SmartEnviro).

Smartcitieswouldalsomakeuseofthelatesttechnologytoacquirecitizeninput,likeCivicPlus,whichoffersarangeofsoftwareandmobiletoolsforcitiestocommunicateandengagecitizensinadialogaboutcityprojects(CastleRock,ColoradousedCivicPlustogetinputontheplansforanewcitypark).

BUILDING

What exactly is a Smart City?

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STEP 2: DEVELOP BASE-LINES, SET TARGETS, AND CHOOSE INDICATORS

Beforecreatingnumericaltar-getsforachievingasmartcityvision,itishelpfultoactuallybenchmarkwhereyouare.Let’stakeSmartMobilityasanexample.TheSmartCitiesWheelhasthreekeydriversforSmartMobility:mixed-modalaccess;prioritizedcleanandnon-motorizedop-tions;andintegratedICT.

Eachcityhasitsownmo-bilityneedsandchallengesbasedondensity,topography,existinginfrastructure,etc.,andwhiletheycanlearnfromeachother,citiesmustde-veloptheirownbenchmarksandtargetsaroundareasofneedandopportunity.

ItisimpossibletooverlookCopenhagen’seffortstopro-moteandprioritizecycling.In1981thecitydevelopeditsfirstcyclingplanandithasbeenevolvingitscyclingandmixed-modalgoalssince2002.

Beforeestablishingaforward-lookingtarget,citiesmustestablishthebaseline.Copenhagenhasbeenmeasuringcyclingandmixedmodalusefordecades.Nowthecityhasatargetindicator:toachieve50%ofalltripstoworkorschoolbybikeby2015.Thecityhasbeenmakingsignifi-cantprogresstowardsthisgoal,havingalreadyachieved37%in2009.CopenhagenalsorecentlycollaboratedwithMITtocreateTheCopenhagenWheel,ahybridbikewheelthatleveragessensorsinabikewheeltomonitorpollution,trafficcongestion,androadconditionsinrealtime.Thisisanexampleofanactionwithintheothersmartmobilitydriver--integratedICT.

STEP 3: GO LEAN

Onceacityhasestablishedquantifiablegoalsandselectedtheindicatorstomeasureitsprogress,itneedstosnagsomeearlywinswhilealsobuildingplansforlonger-termactions.

Thejourneytobecomingasmartcitywillstallwithoutamajorcommitmenttosupportingefficient,multi-modal

transit.Electricvehiclesandtheappropriateinfrastruc-tureappearinmanysmart-citystrategies.However,fewplaceshavetheresourcesordemandtoinstallEVchargingstationsthroughoutthecity.Itmakessenseforacitytostartwithapilotprojectasawaytogetfeedbackontheirhypothesisthatbyputtingchargingstationsinaparticularlocation,thestationswillbeusedandwillactuallygrowtheamountofEVvehiclepurchasesbycitizenslivingorwork-inginthearea.

Torontojustannouncedapilotchargingstationprogramatacostof$65,000tothecity.CouncillorMikeLaytonrecognizesthebenefitsofthissmall-scaleaction:“Weallknowthatthisisthedirectionthatsingularvehicletrans-portisgoingin,”saidLaytonintheNationalPost.“Whywewouldn’tatleasttryoutsomethingatverylimitedcosttothecity,togetreadyfortherevolutionthatisgoingtohappen,isbeyondme.”

Smartcitiesarenotonesizefitsall.Yet,thesmart-citiesmovementcouldbenefitfromframeworksliketheSmartCitiesWheelthatallowacommonlanguagetodevelopamongstcitizens,citystaff,mayors,andtheprivatesector.

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680538/what-exactly-is-a-smart-city

BUILDING

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PROPERTY

The third quarter saw a slight increase in take-up in space in Johannesburg, driven by demand for prime buildings in attractive nodes such as Melrose, Rosebank, Bryanston and Sandton.

Butolderbuildingsaretakingaknockastenantsmovebetweennodes,leavingolderbuildingsfornewoneswithqualityfinishing’s.

AccordingtothelatestSouthAfricanPropertyOwnersAssociation-InvestmentPropertyDatabankofficevacancyreport,despitethelackofnotablenewcompletionsinthequarter,officestockinJohannesburgincreasedby51,000m²to8.6-millionsquaremetres.TheJonesLangLa-SalleJohannesburgrealestateoverviewforthethirdquarterechoesthesefindings,sayingdemandforofficespacecontinuestobefocusedonprimespace,displayedbyanincreaseinprimerentsthisquarter,withpressureprevailingelsewhere.

Thereportshowsthattheindustrialmarketismoderating,characterisedbyreducedtake-up,primerentreduction,increasedvacancies,minimumadditionalindustrialstockaswellaslackoftenant-drivendevelopments.

BigdealsnotedinthequarterincludesSamsungsigninga6,000m²leaseinBryanston,SoftwareAGtakingupof

2,000minBryanston,Alstomtakingup1,000mofspaceinWoodmead,Tronoxtakingup1,600m²inSandton,aswellasAlanGraytakingup1,000m²inRosebank.

“OneofthebiggestdealsworthnotingthisquarterisErnstandYoung’srelocationfromWanderersOfficeParktoSandton,takingupabout16,000m²,withintendedoc-cupationonlyin2014.”

Newdevelopmentsaredrivenbybigcompanies—notablyStandardBank,ErnstandYoung,KPMG,MultiChoice,CellCandAlexanderForbes—movingtonewandqualitybuildings.Thesefirmstookupthebulkofthenewofficespace.

Someofthedevelopmentsthatareplannedforcompletioninthenextquarterincludethe65,000m²StandardBankbuildinginRosebank,the36,000m²AlexanderForbesbuildinginSandtonaswellasthe22,000m²KPMGbuild-inginParktown.

http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/property/2012/11/13/sandton-rosebank-lead-the-way-on-new-property-developments

Sandton, Rosebank lead the way on new property developments

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PROPERTY

Alexander Forbes in October moved its 2 200 Johannesburg staff into the new R840-million green 36 950 m² eight storey head office at 115 West Street, Sandton.

Accreditedwitha4-StarGreenStarratingbytheGreenBuildingCouncilofSouthAfrica,115Westisbothenergyandresource-efficientandenvironmentallyresponsible-in-corporatingdesign,constructionandoperationalpracticesthatsignificantlyreduceoreliminatethenegativeimpactofdevelopmentontheenvironmentandthebuildings’users.

The52treesremovedtocreate115Westwerereplacedwith151newtrees,integratedintothedesignandworkspacesofthebuilding.Echoingthegreentheme,theatriumisdesignedasaforest-likecanopywithSouthAfrica’smostso-phisticatedretractablesunscreensystemsintelligentlylinkedtowindandsolarsensors.These,combinedwithstateoftheartdoubleglazing,control,conserve,storeandfocuslight,energyandheatsoefficientlythat115Westliterallysaveshundredsofkilowatthourseachday.

Furthermore,astateoftheartgreywatersystemdrawswastewaterfromallshowers,whilearainwaterfilterhar-vestswatertowashthetoiletsandirrigatethegardens,treesand‘livingwalls’thatcreatetheopen,sun-filterednaturalinteriorof115West.

Onthethemeofretainingallthatissacredtothebusiness,115WestStreetisalsoallaboutpeople,transparency,shar-ing,deliveryandservice.“It’sanenvironmentthatphysical-lyembodiesourSERVEmodel,orthewaywedobusiness”saysEdwardKieswetter,GroupChiefExecutive.

Acentralisedcirculationandservicecoreensuresthatthebuildingmaximisesefficiencyandeaseofmovementacrossfourbridgesoneachfloor.Thelifts,withV3Fdriveandmi-cro-processorfuzzy-logic,controlpeopletrafficandneedsaccordingtopositionandnumberofcallsregistered.

AkeyobjectiveinthedesignofAlexanderForbes’newheadquarterswasthehealthandwellbeingofstaffsincethisiscriticalindeliveringthebusinessespromisetoclients.Assuch,usersofthebuildinghaveaccesstoanelegantdiningspace,finishedwithcalmandrestfulstonecountertopsandbamboopanelling,forminganeutralbaseforvibrantdining.

A200-seatauditoriumprovidesspace,inhouse,forevenlargegatheringsandconferences,maximisingconvenienceandreducingstafftravelandcarbonfootprint.Thesamemotivationwasbehindtheinclusionofaworldclass,fullystaffedgymaccessibletoallstaff,inhouse.

http://www.eprop.co.za/news/item/14517-alexander-forbes-takes-up-residence-in-its-green-home.html

Alexander Forbes takes up residence in its green home

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PROPERTY

Commercial Property Market remains strong, despite under constant pressure As 2012 draws to a close, while the commercial property market in South Africa remains resilient despite being under constant pressure, it is appar-ent that the containment of operating costs is an increasingly key priority.

Astheyear(2012)drawstoaclose,whilethecommercialpropertymarketinSouthAfricaremainsresilientdespitebeingunderconstantpressure,itisapparentthatthecon-tainmentofoperatingcostsisanincreasinglykeypriority.Facilitiesmanagementisrapidlyemergingasanimportantfactorwhichisakeycontributortocontainingcostsandachievingsavings–whileenhancingthevalueofcommer-cialproperty,”saysMarnavanderWalt,CEOofExcelleratePropertyServices,whichincludes,amongothers,Exceller-ateFacilitiesManagement,JHIPropertiesandJHIProjectManagement.

“Nowmorethanever,theintegrationofeffectivefacili-tiesmanagementinthecommercialpropertysectorhasanincreasinglyrelevantroletoplay,notonlyinaddressingenergysaving,wasterecyclingandminimisingtheuseandpollutionofwater,butalsoinregardtogreenissuesdur-ingboththeconstructionandusephaseofabuilding.Byreducingoperatingcostslandlordshavethepotentialtoachieveahigherrentalratewhilekeepingthetenant’soc-cupationcostsunchangedandalsohelpingretaintenants,”saysvanderWalt.

CommentingontheindustrialpropertymarketJohannBoshoff,MDofJHIPropertiessays:“Thishasfaredbetterthanmost,withtransportissueshavingasignificantimpactonthechoiceoflocation,andeasyaccesstomajortransportroutesevenmoreimperativebearinginmindhighfuelcostsandGauteng’se-tolls.Thereisanongoingdemandamonglargerusers,mainlyfrom3000upto20000sqm,aswellasademandfromwarehousinganddistributionoperationsseekingmoremodernspace.Certainnodesremainsoughtafterinvariousregions,forexampleinEppingintheWest-ernCape,traditionallyapopularindustrialareawithgoodinfrastructureandaccesstotransportroutes-whereolderbuildingsarebeingupgradedandgivenafacelift.

“Thedemandforlogisticalusessuchaswarehousing,pack-inganddistributionisespeciallyevidentontheEastRand,withthesignificantopeningupofnewdevelopmentnodestothenorthofORTamboandinthevicinityofthepopu-larJetPark,Meadowdale,LongmeadowandLinbroParkstretch–wherethereisgoodproximitytomajorroutessuchastheR21,R24,N12andN3.”

“Intheofficemarketweareseeingatrendtowardslargebusinessesseekingcostefficienciesandeconomiesofscalebyrelocatingfromanumberofdifferentbuildingstooccupyingjustoneproperty,therebycapitalisingonop-portunitiestorelocatewhilerentalsremaincompetitive.Increasingly,theemphasisintheofficemarket,particularlyamongcompanieswithalargestaffcomplement,istowardsbuildingswhichoffersecure,qualityspacecoupledwithconvenienceoflocationforeasyaccessforstaffandclients.Anongoingtrendisinterestfromnationalandinterna-tionalbusinessesseekinglargespaceforcallcentresinmajorcentressuchasCapeTownandJohannesburg.”

Intheretailmarket,althoughconsumersremainunderpressure,JHIProperties’outlookispositive,anticipatingamiddletolaterunonfestiveseasonshoppingattheyearendandintoJanuary(2013).SaysBoshoff:“Ingeneraltheretailsectorhasexperiencedgrowthof6.5percentfromJulytoAugust2012,andingeneralthefastfoodcategoryhasbeenverywellsupportedwithapproximately20per-centgrowthduringthisperiod.ThemarketisstableandcertainlylookingmorepositivethanwasthecasetwoyearsagoandatJHI-managedshoppingcentresvacanciesremainlowandarebeingmanageddownwardsasaresultofsoundmanagementstrategies.Herealsoweareconstantlyexplor-ingenergysavingmethodsinordertocurbcosts.”

Commentingontheyearahead(2013),Boshoffsaysthatastuteinvestorsaretakingadvantageofthecurrenteco-nomictradingconditionstoincreasetheirportfoliosat

JohannBoshoff,MDofJHIProperties

| Page 24

attractiveyields.AddsvanderWalt:“Theemergenceofanumberofnewfundshasincreasedinvestorappetiteforcommercialproperty,wherereturnsarecurrentlyonaveragearound10percent.Andit’snotalwaysthemostattractivebuildingsinthebestlocationsthataffordthebestreturns.Lookingaheadweanticipatelimitedrentalgrowth,sta-bilisingvacanciesandanongoingtrendtowardslandlordslookingtoimplementcostsavingmeasuresandconcessionsinordertoattractandretaintenants.Wearehopingforanupturnin2013,”shesays.

http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/south-africa-commer-cial-property-market/5425-commercial-property-market-remains-strong-despite-under-constant-pressure.html

Tenants should be careful of deals that sound too good to be true While it is a tenants market in the commercial mar-ket sector, prospective tenants shouldn’t just take the lowest offer they can get from landlords; they should firstly rather closely scrutinize the landlord and ensure that the deal is sustainable.

ThisisaccordingtoOrgGeldenhuys,managingdirectorofpropertydevelopmentandmanagementcompany,AbacusDIVISIONS.

“Itmightnotbeagoodideatopushhard-pressedland-lordsfortoomuch.Tenantsmightendupfindingthatthelandlordisunabletomeetthecostsofproperlyservicingthebuilding.

“Additionally,itmightbethatallisgoingwell–onthefaceofit–withthebuilding,but,withinafewmonths,thingsstartdeterioratingbecausethelandlordisbeingsqueezedbyotherpropertiesinhisportfolio.Thiscancreateafoldingcardscenario.So,wheredealsarejusttoogoodtobetrue–becareful.Thelandlordmightbesigningtoomanyofthesedealsjusttotryandpreservecashflowandputbreadonthistable.Ifthisisthecase,theconsequencescouldbedireforthetenantfurtherdowntheline.

“Hecouldendupinabuildingthatneedsurgentthingstobefixed-suchasplumbing–onlytofindthatthelandlordisunabletomeethisfinancialobligations.”

GeldenhuyssaidthatbeforetheGreatRecessionitseemedasiffinancingwaswithineasyreachfornearlyanycom-mercialrealestateproject.Infact,whetherthemoneywasusedfornewdevelopments,renovations,TIsoroperatingexpenses,creditwasnotamajorproblem.Today,however,itisahugeproblem.

“Itisagainstthisbackdropthattenantsmustmaketheirdecisions.Asthehangoveraffectfromtherecessioncontin-uestolinger,anincreasingnumberoflandlords–andtheirpropertyportfolios–arecomingunderpressure.Previouslyunscathedlandlordsarenowfeelingthepinchand,thelongerthesoftmarketcontinues,thesoonermanyfinancialpositionswillbecomemoreperilous.Thereisaheightenedriskthatownerswillbattletostayabreastofcosts,suchasdaytodaymaintenance–forgetunexpectedmaintenance.

“Tenantsshouldbearthisinmind,takeadvantageofthebetteroffers–butmakesuretheirlandlordscanstandthetestoftime.

“Sure,”saidGeldenhuys,“nowisthetimetoroundupasmanybenefitsyoucanasatenant.Thesebenefitscouldcer-tainlyhaveaveryfavorableimpactoncashflownowandinthefuture.Butmakesureyoudosomehomeworkand,asbestyoucan,lookatthebackgroundsandcapitalpositionsofpotentiallandlordsandtheirbuildings.”

http://www.eprop.co.za/news/item/14512-tenants-should-be-careful-of-deals-that-sound-too-good-to-be-true.html

PROPERTY

OrgGeldenhuys,MDofAbacusDIVISIONS

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PROPERTY

CBD regeneration and the development of the frequented landmark Biscuit Mill Development has had a great influence on property values in Wood-stock, Cape Town

Since2008,whenthepropertypricescollapsed,Woodstockhasseena66%increaseinpropertyprices,fromamedianpriceofR695000toR1050000accordingtoCMARe-ports.OnlookingthroughthesefiguresitisclearthatwhilepricesinmanyotherareasofCapeTownhavestagnated,thevaluesherehavestillincreased,andsignificantlyso,saysLaniceSteward,managingdirectorofKnightFrankAnnePorter.

Woodstockhascharmand,becauseofitsVictorianarchi-tecture,ispicturesqueandfullofcharacter.ThishistoricalsuburbisaculturalassetandisoneoftheoldestinCapeTown,growingattheturnofthe19thCenturyfromasmallhamletcalledPapendorpintowhatitistoday.

“NowWoodstockhasbecomesoughtafterbyyoungprofes-sionalsbecauseofitscloseproximitytotheCBD,trainsta-tions,busroutes,theN2highwayandothermajorroutes,”saidSteward.“YouhavetheconvenienceofstayinginwhatisclassedasCapeTowncitybutwithaslightlysuburban,quieterhome.”

KnightFrankAnnePorterhasrecentlybeengivenasolemandatetomarketatwobedroom,onebathroomhomeinWoodstockthathasbeenverytastefullyrenovated,saidSteward.ItisonthemarketatapriceofR1750000.

Thispropertyhasthebonusofhavingtwogarages(quiteunusualforthisarea).Ithasthecharacteristicwoodenfloorsandhighceilings,sashwindows,fireplacesandawell-proportionedopenplanlivingandkitchenarea.

JustalittlewaydowntheroadtothenextsuburbofObservatory,shesaid,itisstillpossibletofindahomeunderR1million.InObservatorypricesofhomeshavenotincreasedasdramaticallyasinWoodstock,butat22%since2008totoday,itisstillasignificantgrowthinvalue.

“AnexampleofthisisonewehaveonthemarketatthemomentatR950000thathasthreebedrooms,onebathroom,aparkingbayand108m²offloorspace,”saidSteward.

http://www.eprop.co.za/news/item/14514-woodstock-property-values-have-increased-better-than-anticipated.html

Woodstock property values have increased better than anticipated

| Page 26

DECOR

In a buyer’s market how do you ensure that your home puts its best foot forward and outclasses the competition? Design Mind shares some helpful hints to make your home more appealing to buyers.

First Impressions Count

Doesyourhomehavecurbappeal?Ifnot,thesalecouldbelostwithoutthebuyerputtingafootinthedoor.Ensurethatyourlawnisalwayskeptneat,youredgestrimmed.Tidyupthefrontbedsandifthey’realittlestark,addsomeseasonalflowersforasplashofwelcomingcolour.Makesureyourwalkwaysarefreeofweedsandthatanyloosebricks,tilesorcobblestonesarefixed.Cutbackanyover-hangingbranchesandshapeyourhedges.

Ifyourgaragedoorsarelookingtired,eithersplashonafreshcoatofpaintorfeedthewoodwithasuitablevarnish.Ifpaintispeelingfromyourdownpipesorburglarbars,sandthemdownanduseapaintthat’ssuitableformetalsurfaceslikeHammeriteDirecttoRustorproductsfromPlascon’sMetalcarerange.RememberFixanyloosefaciaboardstoo.

Intoday’sdayandage,securityisakeyissueforbuyers.Soattentionshouldbepaidtoprovidingapictureofasecurehome.Firstimpressionscount,soasecureentranceareaisvitallyimportant.AccordingtoTrellidoritisalsocrucialtoplacesecurityinthepassagetoyourbedroomstherebycreatingasafezoneinthisareaofyourhome.

Clear the clutter

Amessyhomeisnotappealingtobuyers.You’relookingtomoveon,soit’stheperfecttimetogetthewholefamilyinvolvedinclearingtheclutter.Throwawaybrokenitemswhichwon’tbeofusetoanyoneelseanddonateorselltheitemsthatarestillingoodconditionbutaren’tusefultoyouanymore.

Youwantyourhometolookspaciousandinvitingbutlivedin–it’safragilebalance.Removingtoomuchgivesitastagedlookwhilehavingtoomuchconfusestheeyesandmakesyourhomelooktoosmall.

Packawaytheitemsthatyouwanttotakewithyouinthemovebutthatareaddingtotheclutterinyourhome.These

Staging By Lindsay Grubb

your home to sell

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DECOR

boxesandfurnishingscanbestoredrelativelyinexpen-sivelyinoneofthemanystoragefacilitiesaroundthecountry.Ensurethereisadequatespacetowalkaroundintheroomsandthatpassagesandthoroughfaresaren’tblockedbypiecesoffurniture.

Do a thorough clean

There’snothingmoreoff-puttingthanadirtyhome.Whileonthesurfacethingsmayseemtidy,buyerswillbelookingcloselyatwalls,skirtingandcarpets.Eitherputonyourrubberglovesandgetstuckinyourselforhireoneoftheprofessionalcleaningcompaniestocomeinanddoaseriousclean.Remembertodustyourwallsdownfirstbeforewashingoryou’lljustspreadthedirtaroundanddon’tforgettowashyourwindows.

Let the sun shine in

Tiebackyourcurtainstoletthemostnaturallightintotheroom.Ifit’saparticularlybrightroom,softchif-foncurtainscanbeusedtodiffusethebrightlightandsoftenaroom.Makesurethatallofyourcurtainfittingsaresecurelyfastentothewallsandaredusted.

Clashing Colour

Rememberthatcolourisaverypersonalchoiceinahomeandmoreoftenthannot,buyersmaynotbeabletolookpastyourcolourchoices.Itmightbeagoodideatochangetoaneutralpalletthroughoutyourhomebeforeagreeingtoashowday.

Keepyourpersonalphotostoaminimum–ratherselectafewtastefulartworkstokeepthroughoutthehousetogiveitalivedinfeel.

| Page 28

The space in which you live will never transmit the feeling of home and warmth if it’s messy and busy. No matter how large it is. It’s essential to keep order in rooms with practical storage solutions, if you want to display an organized setting and in good shape.

Toorganizeahousemeanstomaximizetheuseofanyspace.Ifyouliveinahousewherethere’sanacuteneedforspace,themoreurgentisagoodorganizationofthings.Theorganisationdoesnotmeantohidealltheitemstogivetheimpressionofcleanlinessandorder,butjusttoknowhowtomakegoodchoicesregardingstoragecomponents.Today,thereareavailablemanystoragealternatives,someofthemmoreelegantthanbefore,suitableforeachroominthehouse.Theirpurposeistokeepthingsinorder,alsomanagedtohidetheonesyoudon’twanttoview,butalsotoaccentuatethedesignstyle.

Inthekitchen,thereareawidevarietyofstoragesolutions,someincludingvariousmodelsofcontainers:glassjarsorboxesfilledwithallkindsoffood(pasta,cereals,spices,sugar,flour,beans,nuts,rice,etc.).Oneofthemosteffec-tivewaystoexploitspaceinthekitchenistofindroomforeachitemandproductandtoachievefilingsystemsfordrawersandcabinets,compartmentalizedandstructuredasneeded.

Likeanyroomwherewespendmoretimein,thebathroomisaroomthatattractsclutteranddust.Ifyoudon’twantto

seechaosinthebathroomeverymorning,setapartcabinetmodelstoconveysophisticationandwhileallcareproductsstore.Anoptionforarrangingtowelsandaccessoriesistheverticalshelves.Ifyouwanttocreateacozyandwarm,youcanincludewickerbasketsorseagrass.

Soitiswithlivingroom,fortunately,therearesomanyorganizationalsolutionsavailable,soyoujustneedtomaketherightchoices.Chestsofdrawersandshelvesaretodaytruecentersofinterestinthelivingrooms.Floatingshelvesaddflexibility,andbycombiningingeniouscolors,shapesandsizes,wecancreatealmostanydesign.Piecesoffur-nitureanddrawersincludingbuilt-instoragearepriceless.Today’sfurnitureisverycreativeandincorporatesnumer-ousstoragesolutions.

Evenifwespeakaboutbedrooms,thereisnolackofinno-vation,fromrailsdowntotheslidingshelves,allforamoreefficientarrangementofthings.Thebedrooms,whicharemostlycrowdedandcramped,havetobeinventiveandtocapitalizeeachspacewithin.Forexample,thespaceunderthebedisavaluablecontributiontowhatisthestoragespaceofahouse.

Storagesolutionsareendless,butkeepinmindthatwhatev-ersolutionswechoosetostoreobjectsormaterials,wecanbesurethateliminatingclutterwilltransformourhomeintoanelegant,airy,openandwelcomingspace.

http://designlike.com/2012/02/24/practical-storage-solutions-for-the-entire-house/

Practical Storage Solutions for the Entire House

DECOR

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DECOR

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DECOR

If you live in a small home or apartment, it is important to create an environment that gives it the feeling of a bigger space. There are a number of ways that you can do that with colors, furniture, and décor. One of the best items to buy when trying to create the appearance of more depth is mirrors.

Wallmirrorsreallyworkforasmallspace.Theywillreflectthesizeoftheroomandmakeitseemtwiceitssize.Thereareallkindsofwallmirrorsthatyoucanusethatcomeindifferentshapes,styles,andcolors.

Thebesttypesofmirrorsforasmallspacearewallmir-rors.Standingmirrorswilltakeuptoomuchofthesmallspaceyouhave.Wallmirrorscanbehungalmostanywhere.Youcanmakeuseoftheminasmalllivingroom,diningroom,bedroom,hallway,orevenentryway.Wallmirrorsareeasytofindinanystylethatwillworkwiththedécoryoualreadyhaveinyourhome.Besureyouhavetherightitemstohangyourmirror.Somewallmirrorscanbeveryheavyandthiscancausebigproblemsonapartmentwalls.

Thebestideawhenpickingawallmirrorforasmallspaceistogowithsomethinglarge.Alargewallmirrorwillbethebestwaytoreallyreflectallofyourspaceandvisuallydou-bleitssize.Largemirrorscancomeinalldifferentshapesandstylesandwillworkbestinlivingroomsorbedrooms.Alargemirrorcancreateaglamorousandelegantfeelin

yourspace.Thesealsoworkgreatasfunctionalclothingmirrorswhenyouneedtogetdressedinthemorning.

Wallmirrorsareavailableinawiderangeofstyles.Youroptionsarereallylimitless.Youcandosomeresearchontheinternettoseealltheoptionsoutthere.YoucanfindVictorianFrameCompanymirrorsandotheritemsfromthousandsofmanufacturers.Dependingonthestyleofyourhome,youmaywantVictorianFrameCompanywallmirrors,modernmirrors,oreclecticandvintagemirrors.Itshouldbeprettysimpletofindsomethingthatwillworkwonderfullyinyourspace.Youcanalsoshoparoundtown.Sometimesseeingamirrorupclosecanhelpyoumakeabetterdecision.

Mirrorsarethebestideawhenyouneedsomethingtodecorateyoursmallhomeorapartment.Theyarefunction-alandbeautiful,andactjustlikeworksofart.

http://www.en.arquigrafico.com/wall-mirrors-for-your-small-home-or-apartment

Wall Mirrors For Your Small Home Or Apartment

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LANDSCAPING

Today’s energy prices have everyone looking for ways to cut costs. One often-overlooked way of re-ducing energy costs is through landscaping, and fall is a great time to do it. Landscaping not only helps with your energy bills, it also enhances the overall beauty and value of your property.

Astreestranspireduringtheday,theyserveasanevapo-rativecoolant.Therefore,trees,shrubsandotherplantsaffectsolarradiationmorethanstructuraldevices,suchasawnings.Shadetreessignificantlyreduceairtemperaturesindoorsandoutdoorsinthesummerastreesinterceptandabsorbthesun’sheatwhiletranspiring,andthusloweringimmediateairtemperatures.

Beforeyoubeginplanting,youshouldtakeafewthingsintoconsideration.First,spendsometimeoutdoors.Takenoteofhowthesunfallsacrossyourpropertyatdifferenttimesoftheday.Weallknowthatthesunrisesintheeastandsetsinthewest,butdidyouknowthatitrisesmorefromthenortheastduringthesummersolsticeandthesoutheastduringthewintersolstice?So,keepthisinmindasyoudecidehowandwhattoplantforwhichseason.

Toprovidemorningshadeinthesummer,treesshouldbeplantedontheeasternandsoutheasternexposuresofyourhome.Forafternoonshade,treesplacedonthewesternandsouthwesternexposuresaremosteffective.However,

avoidplacingtreestooclosetoyourhome;plantingtreesadistanceof25feetfromthewallsorrooflineisusuallyadequate.Also,takeprecautionstoplantawayfrompowerlines,undergroundsewer,waterorutilitylinesandbesuretospacetreesproperlyaccordingtotheiranticipatedmaturesize.

Effectivetreeplantingwillallowthewintersuntowarmtheroofandwallsofyourhome.Animportantconsiderationforenergyconservationinthewinteristheuseofdecidu-oustreespecies.Thesetreeslosetheirleavesinthewinterandshouldbeplantedontheeastandsoutheastsidesofyourhometoallowthesunthroughtohelpwarmthehouse.Youshouldalsoincorporateevergreenssuchaspine,magnoliaandcedaronthenorthandnorthwesternsidestoactasascreenagainstcold,northerlywindssothatyourheaterdoesnothavetoworkashardtoheatyourhome.

Thisisonlyageneraloverviewofhowlandscapingcanhelpconserveenergy.Ifyouneedhelpdecidingwhattoplantandwhere,aswellaspropercareforyourtrees,contactyourlocalplantnursery.Shadetreesbeautifythelandscapeaswellasprotectyourpropertyfromsunandwinddamage.So,doyourselfafavorandseriouslyconsiderlandscapingtoconserveenergy.

http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121114/LIFE/311140010/Good+landscaping+helps+trim+energy+bills

Good landscaping helps trim energy bills

| Page 32

LANDSCAPING

Generally, landscape design is about controlling natural environments. Landscape architecture often works with the environment, but more often than not the form serves to tame the natural as much as it promotes it.

Onelandscapearchitectureprojectthatisputtinganem-phasismoreonthelandscapeandlessonthedesignisthe‘TokachiMilleniumForest’locatedonthenorthernislandofHokkaidoinJapan.TheprojectisthebrainchildofacollaborativeteammadeupofLondonlandscapearchitec-turepracticeDanPearsonStudioandJapaneselandscapedesignerFumiakiTakano.

Thedevelopmentismorethansimplyaprettygardenspace.The240-hectaremasterplanisaprimeexampleofthepoweroflandscapearchitectureintakingbackandpromot-ingnaturalenvironments.Thedevelopmentnotonlyofferstooffsetthecarbonfootprintcreatedbythenearbynews-paperbusiness–alsoownedbytheclient–butthroughdevelopmentstages,ithasfosteredlostnaturalhabitatsoftheregion.

Intermsofenvironmentalregeneration,theforestareas

havebeenreplantedwithmagnolia,oakandwhitebirchtrees.Inthemeadows,abundantbamboohasbeenpurpose-lycutbackinordertoencouragetheoriginalundergrowthtoflourish,withtheinclusionofmassplantingsofperenni-als.Raisedplantersalsofeatureornamentalplants.

Awoodenplankpathwayleadsthroughthevariedlo-calwildlife,whichrangesfromwildandunrestrainedtostylisedandcontrolled.Thecurvingpathwaygivesasenseoforganicflow,whichisonlymaximisedbywhatisperhapsthekeyfeature:theundulatinggrasshills.

Visitorswillbeeducatedaboutthegardensandencouragedtoparticipateinthemaintenanceandfurtherdevelopmentoftheland.Thiscreates,inthetruestsense,asociallyandenvironmentallysustainableenvironment.

Currentlynearcompletion,thegardenswillsoonserveasacommunityhubforresidentsofthearea,aswellasanytouristsitmayattract.

http://designbuildsource.com.au/japanese-landscapers-reclaim-lost-habitats

Japanese Landscapers Reclaim Lost Habitats

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LANDSCAPING

Above:TokachiMilleniumForest Below:EarthGarden

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