Six Things to Consider When Setting Up A Spa in Your Home

An increasing number of people are setting up spas in their homes. Although the cost of materials and installation are relatively high, their presence increases properly value by nearly 10 to 12%, and rentals by 15 to 20%.

If you are thinking about setting up a spa in your home, you should consider following six steps:
Size. The size of a spa to accommodate a spa (consisting of a Jacuzzi, Sauna and steam room) should range between 180 to 250 square feet.
Jacuzzi's. You can either install a ready made portable whirlpool of have one custom made, according to your taste in terms if size, shape and materials used.
Cost: Ready made - $ 10,000; customized $ 250 - 500 per square feet.
Saunas. the primary components of a sauna include a stove (heater) that provides dry heat, as well as wooden paneling for the floor and the walls. Remember, a sauna must have a window to allow ventilation when it is not in use.
Cost: $ 2,000 - 4,500.
Steam Rooms. A shower cubicle can be converted into a steam room by installing steam injectors and seating. Avoid false ceilings, as there are prone to mold and fungi due to humidity.
Cost: $ 500 - 700.
Lighting. Dimmer equipped spotlights and string lights work best. Popular colors include blue, orange, red and warm white.
Cost: $ 80 - 150 per light.
Tiles. Miniature mosaic patterns in tones such as green, brown and blue are ideal;they should be waterproof to ensure safety and reduced maintenance costs.
Cost: $ 120 - 350 per square feet. 

Designing Football Sports Stadium

Architects and engineers involved in the design and construction of football stadiums should factor in the following to maximize design efficiency without compromising on the spectator experience.

Location. Select a location that is easily accessible via the city’s major thoroughfares.

Size. Football stadiums are usually constructed on plots ranging between 10 and 15 acres given that provision for ample parking space has to be made as well.  The capacity of a football stadium usually ranges between 30,000 and 50,000 spectators.

Design. During construction, ensure that the football orientation factors in the angle of sunlight with respect to the pitch because while designers want to avoid shadows on the field or the sun’s glare for spectators, they also need to ensure sufficient sunlight for viewing and playing.

Pitch. Playing fields usually measure 105 x 68 meters or 125 x 85 meters. Ground maintenance teams should ensure that the pitch is smooth, with adequate watering and drainage systems. In countries, where temperatures are high, alternatives such as artificial turfs are ideal because they do not require sunlight and the football stadium can therefore be covered.

Safety. The year 2014 makes the 25^th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people lost their lives due to a lack of safety measures. Since then, the concerned authorities recommended stricter safety and security regulations, and builders therefore need to make sure that the prescribed number of safety exits are in place with clear pathways, and that an adequate number of surveillance and first aid centers are located within the premises.

Features. Among other considerations, designers should account for VIP lounges, cafeterias, restrooms, parking lots, flood lights and announcement systems. The number of these amenities varies according to the football stadium’s capacity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pre-Fabricated Construction

Although pre-fabricated construction has been deployed for centuries around the world, only now it is gaining traction tremendously.

In a nutshell pre-fabricated construction is the practice of manufacturing the components of a structure (such as walls, floors and roofs) at a factory, and the transporting them to the construction site where they are assembled to create a couple structure after the foundation has been built onsite.

In this way pre-fabricated construction distinguishes itself from the more conventional practice of transporting raw materials (such as cement and steel bars) to the construction site where they are mixed with other materials and / or modified.

Pre-fabricated construction is ideal for sites where storage area is limited, due to size of the plot or because of a lack of open space around the construction site , and can be utilized for building houses, hospitals, offices and factories.

The Advantages of pre-fabricated construction include:

• ·       For the most part it is cheaper than traditional construction, as labor costs and construction time are substantially lower.
• ·       Components are manufactured at a factory, so the need for form work shuttering and scaffolding is greatly reduced onsite. This ensures strict quality control and easier manageability.
• ·       Wastage of material is reduced due to better quality of control; pilferage is also reduced as it is more likely to occur at an open construction site.

The disadvantages of pre-fabricated construction include:

• ·       Greater expertise is required to make sure that the components are fixed perfectly; otherwise air leaks can occur inside the structure which can result in a host of issues such as water seepage and increased heat. Similarly heavy duty cranes are required to handle and assemble the components require expertise.
• ·       If building components are manufactured far away from the construction site, transportation costs can sometimes be higher.

Ultimately, pre-fabricated construction is quicker and more cost effective compared to traditional construction. And with rising construction costs, it is something that developer should consider utilizing.

4 Easy Tips for Investing in a Commercial Property

Investing in commercial property is an option that many investors considers from time to time as a way to expand their asset portfolio. Commercial property options for investors usually includes office spaces, retail spaces, stand alone shops and vacant plots.

Here are a few things to consider when purchasing a commercial property:

Location. Owning a retail space in certain commercial areas can net in higher rentals and their value also increases at a higher rate. Choose a commercial area where the value and demand of shop is high; shops located among main roads have more visibility, accessibility and are therefore better options. If possible, purchase a commercial property that is located in a specialized pocket such as tailoring hub, computer market or a food street; demand for property there is usually higher.

Weigh your options carefully. Buying a retail space in a mall is a better option than a standalone shop, since retail spaces in malls offer facilities such as security, utilities and a higher number of customers. Similarly, the resale value and the rental yield of an office space are higher when compared to those of a retail space.

Renovating and Reselling. Retail spaces and standalone shops that are sold as many empty spaces (without any renovation work or fittings) are slightly cheaper than those which have been customized according to the kind of business they were being used for.
Therefore, a good option to consider is purchasing an empty space, renovating it, and then selling it for a higher price or renting it out at higher rate.

Vacant Plots. Purchasing a vacant commercial plot in an area that is being developed usually proves to be a lucrative option in the long run because its value and demand increases faster than that of a built-up property.

Latest Five Star Hotel Room Designs

For 15 years the European hotel design awards have promoted architectural excellence in hotel design by inviting entries from the world's leading hotels and designers for 13 categories which includes best lobby and public areas, cafe's and restaurants and bathrooms and bedrooms.

This year the Award introduced a new category called the Sleep Hotel Best Room Design. Teams were required to create a five star model guest room in a undisclosed European hotel near the coast, where the mountains served as a backdrop; designers were evaluated on the basis of how in tune they were regard to meeting the needs of a typical hotel guest.

At a glittering ceremony in London last month, "Shaded White Room" by Scott Browning and Wilmort Dixon Interiors, a UK based design agency was the unanimous choice for best design in the category
The room exhibited a minimalist theme and featured a restrained colour palette; the dominant white contrasted with shades of grey and black. Technology was incorporated in the form of mounted and freestanding IPads with which guests could not only communicate with the reception, but also control lighting levels, blinds and the entertainment system from any part of the room. (These features could also be accessed with a conventional control pad mounted near the bed).

The scenic mountains were made the primary focal point of the room by ensuring that the bed faced them. The minimalist theme was also evident in the bathroom where straight lines and textured tiles accomplished raised glass panels that allowed natural daylight to sleep in. That even the bathroom featured a surround placed on both luxury and technology.

By winning the award for the Sleep Hotel Best Room Design, "Shaded White Room" showed how hotels and guests prefer the comforts of a minimalist room armed sparingly with technology to more opulently furnished living room styled suites. It might just be a star, but it would not be a surprise to find hotel rooms designed in a similar fashion in the future.

Opening up to the Courtyards: An Essential Part of a House

Have you noticed how many functions these days are hosted in spaces that are enclosed on almost all sides but open to the sky? From Bollywood scenes of Haveli Weddings, to book space the courtyard is one architectural space that is certainly in fashion.
The Sharjah Biennial, one of the region's premiere cultural events (being held this year from March 13), is also using the courtyard as its theme. According to the curator, Yuko Hasegawa, the courtyard is where public and private life come together and new ideas can be discussed and pondered over; the choice of the courtyard as the theme for the event established the idea that the Biennial is the place were eastern and western ideas of art, culture, architecture and society can come together to initial a dialogue on learning.
The view reflects how the courtyard has spanned all cultures for as long as people have lived in constructed buildings. In ancient Rome  they were called 'atriums', although the term is now used exclusively to refer  to courtyards with glass ceilings; in the Subcontinent, most houses were (and many still are) built with a Sehan in the center where family members , especially women, could gather in peace and privacy away from the outside world ; in China the 'siheyuan' refers to a similar space, surrounded by a conglomerate of houses, often featuring gardens or fountains to inspire thoughts of peace and tranquility. And across the Islamic world, the courtyard is an essential component of almost every mosque - the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore features the largest courtyard of any mosque in the world.
These days, courtyards are used in many other ways as well; in 'Marina' style houses across California where a community of households share a private outdoor space; in college dorms as recreational areas where temporary residents can meet; or as a place where experience and experimentation can converge, like at the Sharjah Biennial

The Remarkable Traditionalist: World's Pioneer in Skyscraper Architecture

A few years ago after it was completed, Cass Gilbert wrote to a friend about how he wished he had never built the Woolworth building. In his words, "Whatever it may be in dimension and in certain lines, it is after all, only a skyscraper."
Born on November 29, 1859, Cass is now considered a pioneer in Skyscraper architecture and was one of the world's first celebrity architects, counting among his peers Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe and Robert Venturi.
Unlike his peers, however, Gilbert stayed away from the modernist and post-modernist debate that would grip architecture in the mid 20th century. Instead, Gilbert believed that architecture's purpose was grander than the intended use of a structure; that a structure must bestow on its occupants, surroundings and even the city it resided in, a purposeful dignity and identity.
Thus when Gilbert envisioned the US Supreme Court Building, he imagined a place which would resoundingly echo the importance of the American Constitution, a document that claims inspiration from Plato's The Republic.
Built in an imposing beaux-arts meets neo-classical style, the pantheon shaped building with its tall columns echoes the tone of the inspiration on its pediment, 'Justice The Guardian of Liberty'. In effect, the building embodies the American sentiment that their republic is the ideological heir of Greek democracy and Roman organization.
The Supreme Court building was Gilbert's last major project, completed a year after his death in 1934. However, the intentions and style of the man who saw "early Romanesque cathedrals" in Beethoven's symphonies and "old Gothic windows" in Mozart's works, is evident in all his buildings.
Unfortunately, by the mid 20th century, modernism had gripped the world; Gilbert's designs were described as simply "classically competent" and his name disappeared into obscurity for a half century. But as a new generation of architects in training is looking back at how cultural identity has evolved in architecture, the words of The Times of London on his death continue to ring true, that Cass Gilbert was "the most remarkable architect of his generation in America."