Today, architectural lighting design is one of the most transformative elements in the building industry. Whether it’s natural or artificial lighting, proper illumination brings uniqueness to spaces by providing architects a broader scope to express their creativity while retaining the functionality, artistic value, and social perception of an architectural project.

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If you look at modern building designs around the world, you can see how lighting design plays a vital role in the visual art of architecture. From using glass to ambient reflective surfaces, designers find different ways to showcase how various lighting solutions interact with various work and living spaces. 

Here are seven of the best illuminated architectural projects worldwide:

The Water Cube, Beijing National Aquatics Center

Accentuating spatial borders and other structural elements using light creates distinctively beautiful spaces. Among such architectural masterpieces in commerce and outdoor advertising is the light box sign. Illumination and custom designs put in a box can make wonderful illustrations of a brand.  

With its architectural design as a focal glow, the building uses both natural and modern light-box-inspired lighting to showcase its striking structural elements. Using the fluorine-based plastic ETFE, The Water Cube allows maximum daylight interior illumination and color-changing LED lighting, giving it a fascinating ambiance at night.

U.S. Air Force Academy (Center for Character & Leadership Development)

When reviewing the best-illuminated buildings, this 105-foot tall glazed masterpiece stands out. The artistically placed horizontal plates with reflective properties create adequate daytime illumination. At night, the structure’s base comes to life with LED floodlights. When coupled with the assortment of decorative mirrors, the lights make the interior space burst into an exciting glow.

When fully lit, the building evokes tremendous emotion with its ability to symbolize the design appeal of each space. The oculus found inside the building’s Honor Board Room further emphasizes the transformation. With rooms full of color and captivating architectural elements, such lighting serves to make it even more stunning. 

Hyundai Capital Convention Hall in Seoul, South Korea 

The Hyundai Capital Convention Hall serves a variety of purposes. From hosting training events to showcasing video presentations, the interior space requires flexible illumination. To achieve this, the lighting design project uses various lighting options, including stage lights, movable recessed lights, and linear wall lights. With individual operations, there are thousands of possible light configurations to suit different occasions.

Striking a balance between light and innovative architecture and design depends on aesthetics, efficiency, and functionality. The convention hall adequately addresses all three aspects to produce simple yet adequate lighting, showcasing its architectural beauty. The lighting project also uses an abundance of accent lighting in the screening hall, creating breathtaking shapes and graphics in a captivating blend of natural and artificial lighting.

Ports 1961 Shanghai in Shanghai, China

The flagship store by Ports 1961 in Shanghai is best described with two words: innovative and breathtaking. The store adopts an iceberg-like design made entirely from glass. The three-story structure uses sculptural design elements instead of the standard two-dimensional glass blocks. The features, creatively designed by combining traditional square and L-shaped glass blocks, fascinatingly provide adequate natural lighting.

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The exterior design does more than complement the interior. When stepping through the entrance, the square blocks’ interior elevations display LED monitors coupled with linear LED lights installed along the joints. The light reflects indirectly from the glass to create a breathtaking effect, especially at night. When lit, it results in a beautiful icy glow, reminiscent of an iceberg in the moonlight.

Lighting Design Is at the Forefront of Modern Architecture

Today’s architectural trends show the demand for efficient lighting systems for both interior and exterior environments. A designer can use their innovation to make the lighting enhance the building’s overall design without losing its primary function (to see) while ensuring the overall architecture is appealing and user-practical. 

Many of the best-lit buildings and structures globally take advantage of both natural and electric lighting. With the increasing need for sustainable green energy solutions, investing in natural lighting techniques will save energy while maintaining functionality. Architects need to continue working with interior designers to design aesthetically appealing, functional, and energy-saving lighting techniques for a sustainable future.

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Renovating a bathroom can be fun but is also a daunting task. There are too many options that you’ll find that will make you feel confused and overwhelmed. Picking the right materials for your bathroom will solely depend on what sort of bathroom you want to have. Whether it is an edgy one, or perhaps you are aiming for a traditional look, the key to a successful renovation is planning. Listed below are a few things that you need to consider when picking the right materials for your bathroom.

Flooring

One of the most important things you need to consider when renovating your bathroom is choosing what type of flooring you will install. If you aim for safe flooring, you have to think about the durability of the tiles you pick. Moisture and slip resistance are also important factors when choosing what tiles to install. Your options can be vinyl, cork, natural stone, or ceramic tiles.

Bathtub

The tub is the highlight of every bathroom, and choosing the best one is an important decision to make. For a safe and easy-to-install tub, go for a walk in bath. This is ideal, especially if you have an elderly person at home. They are designed to prevent anyone from falling or slipping. But if you are not into getting this kind of tub, you can always go for a traditional one. Choose the one that will fit your desired look for your bathroom.

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Cabinets

Cabinets play an important role in the bathroom. They keep the room clutter-free and organised. You can find cabinets in different styles, but you have to careful and do not let the looks deceive you. Always look for cabinets that are not only durable but will also withstand the test of time. Cabinets made of solid wood and plywood are good options.

Vanity

No matter what type of vanity you wish to have, it’s important that you know your space. If you have a bigger space, then a built-in vanity might be your best option. However, if your bathroom space is limited, then a freestanding vanity will be good. Your vanity will define the look of your bathroom, so be sure to choose one that will suit your style. Also, consider picking a vanity that is easy to clean.

When choosing the products for your bathroom, always go for something that can withstand the condition of the room. Another factor that you have to consider when purchasing materials is your finances. You have to set a realistic budget that you can spend for the renovation. Check all your options first before making a decision. Once you finalise your budget, stay on track and do your best not to overspend. Whether you aim for a modern or a minimalist bathroom, keep in mind that it should always look clean and organised.

Choose the right materials that will not only make your bathroom look chic but also keep it organised at all times.

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You need a solid roof to complete your house. If your roof is damaged or leaking, it can make your house uninhabitable. This is why you should put special emphasis on taking care of your roof. If you do not take care of it early on, you will end up paying a lot of money should the damage be fixed.

Although financing options like Alpine Credits make it easier to renovate your home, by properly maintaining your roof, you can avoid the cost to a great extent. Before we get to the tips to prolong your roof’s life, let’s understand the benefits a well-maintained roof offers you:

●    A More Enhanced Curb Appeal

Your roof is one of the first things that one sees when they are right in front of your house. So, even a tiny defect there can be noticeable. Maintaining your roof will ensure that your house continues to look appealing and stand out from the other houses in the lane. Regularly maintaining your roof will keep a high value of your home.

●     It Adds To The Comfort Of Your House

A well-maintained roof ensures that the house gets adequate ventilation and insulation. This will add to the level of comfort inside the house. When doing your roof, you have to consider the attic space too, as they play a significant role in maintaining the longevity of the roof. When the ventilation in your attic is proper, it will help in keeping your roof ventilated and healthy.

●     It Reinforces Your Roof’s Weather Resistance

When you maintain a healthy roof, you work to reinforce its resilience. Your roof continues to bear the natural wear and tear. Even when it is not raining, your roof has to bear extreme sunlight. Therefore, maintaining your roof properly will allow you to address the problems in a timely manner, making sure they do not get worse. This makes the roof more resilient to wear and tear.

●     It Will Be Cost Saving

When you properly maintain the roof today, you can avoid the high costs of repair that you will end up doing in the future. With regular maintenance of the roof, you do not encounter any problems. This will also allow you to deal with issues at an early stage. Even small leaks can become a serious problem quickly and can turn out to be highly expensive to repair.

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A Guide To Make Your Roof Last Longer

You do not always have to spend a lot of money to keep your roof well maintained. Regular cleaning and dusting regularly can also go a long way in maintaining the longevity of the roof. Here are some ways you can keep a well-maintained roof for a long time.

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●    Regular Inspection

You must regularly inspect your roof to check if something is damaged or needs your attention. Additionally, before and after winter, you need to do a thorough checkup. Often during this time, your roof is left with some cracks and breaks. Start your inspection at the ceiling and go around the roof. Check for rust on metallic surfaces on your roof and make sure that flashing is working properly. The general examination will allow you to identify the repair and damage in a timely manner. This way, you can treat the issue before it gets worse.

●     Properly Insulate The Attics And Cathedral Ceilings

Properly insulating ceilings of attics and cathedral can help in avoiding ice dams. This can result in expensive leaks, especially in the areas where your roofing planes are connecting with each other. When the top layer of the snow melts on the roofs, it flows down.

However, if the recessed lighting in the cathedral ceiling is not insulated adequately, the heat melts the ice and snow from beneath. The moisture can get collected into the nail holes and significantly damage the decking of the roof. To prevent this issue, a self-adhesive membrane is installed to protect certain areas of the roof against water and ice.

●     Remove The Collected Leaves

If you are living in a tropical region, you have to tread the extra miles to take care of your roof. During the fall season, trees shed a lot of leaves, thereby clogging your roof entirely. Even if you install a gutter guard, this issue can continue to cause a problem. This is why you should remove the leaves on a daily basis.

Although it can be a tedious task, the results can be rewarding. You can simply use a leaf flower as it will get the job done without having to put too much effort. Once you have removed the leaves, mulch them in the garden so that the wind does not blow them back to the top.

●    Take Out The Blistering Shingles

Shingles on the roof may get blistered either due to trapped moisture or an inadequately ventilated roof. Blistered shingles may not concern people who keep granules. However, if you notice blisters, it is recommended to replace them before they pop. And. when the shingles are exposed to the UV rays, they will lose more granules. When you are replacing the shingles, consider the weather. This is because when it is extremely cold, the shingles are likely to get cracked, whereas, during intense summer, the sealants may become challenging to break. Moreover, do not power-wash the shingles as the concentrated spray can loosen their granules. This will cause damages that are not covered by the warranty. Instead, use a leaf blower or broom to remove the dirt and moss.

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Final Thoughts

You do not want to be faced with a situation where you have to put an entirely new roof over the house. With time, the roof is likely to experience some damage and repair; however, there are ways you can increase the life of your roof. When it comes to maintenance of your roof, be proactive. If you see small issues, take some time to fix them before they turn into something huge. Lastly, with the above tips, you will certainly be able to prolong the life of your roof.

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This post was contributed by a guest writer

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While the world went through a period of political and social upheaval, every aspect of the status quo in Italy was about to undergo revision. Chairs were no exception to this change, either. Pierre Restany, an art critic, spoke about it at length in an essay that was published in 1986 in “Zanotta: Design For Passion.” He noted that people simply didn’t return from protest meetings or assemblies to sit in the rigid Louis XIV armchair, which was the fashion then.

Instead, the bourgeoisie stiff seating was switched out for ergonomics. The movement is now known as the Italian Radical Design, and three thinkers became prominent. They are Cesare Paolini, Piero Gatti, and Franco Teodoro. Together, these minds came up with the concept of a chair that could adapt to various situations by taking different shapes.

And thus, the bean bag was born. A list of the best bean bags available today has been published by Architecture Lab right here, but for now, here’s how the bean bag came to be designed.

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Materials for the Bean Bag

Much like a pile of snow, or even water, these chairs could take different physical structures depending on the body of the person sitting on them.

Other Italians were thinking along similar lines but didn’t find much success. Gatti remembered in a 1988 interview that the first attempt was with water mattresses, but that turned out to be too hard. Then, there were inflatables called ‘pneus,’ which is French for tires. There too, the air led to rigidity and reduced comfort. The polyurethane foam followed, but it did not quite respond to the human body as one would expect.

Finally, the designers thought back to the old mattresses with chestnut leaves; something peasants used widely. Basically, a sack is filled with leaves and other such materials, so it takes the shape of the body. In this case, the reasoning was that balls or marbles, basically something spherical and small, could behave like a semi-fluid and mold itself to the shape of the body.

Although buckshots were considered, the lead turned out to be too heavy while the ping-pong balls happened to be too expensive. Finally, they hit on a usable material, foam polystyrene, which is used in heat and sound-proofing. Cutting open the envelope and pouring the balls into a vinyl bag was the first step in the right direction.

They were definitely getting close when it came to the design, but the bean bags hadn’t yet made their impact on the world.

Bean Bags Enter the Market

This only happened after Macy’s took an interest and the American store placed an order. Zanotta became the manufacturer they turned to for producing the bean bags. The real challenge was never coming up with the chair, but rather finding someone to manufacture it. Luckily, the stars were aligned when it came to Zanotta.

Marta Zanotta, the communication and marketing manager of the brand, recalls how it went down. Aurelio Zanotta heard the presentation, and within thirty minutes, he had ten prototypes made. His niece recognized how Aurelio was aware of the potential of the bean bag.

Combining his trademark audacity and far-sightedness, which always helped his business, Aurelio introduced the market to a product that was so out of the box that it became a design icon beyond disputes.

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Bean Bags as Icons

As they say, the rest is history. After the order was shipped out to Macy’s, it also made its debut at the Paris Furniture Fair in January 1969. The grand event witnessed the Sacco, or the bean bag, as most of us know it, as an absolute icon of flawless design.

Since then, bean bags have popped up everywhere. You can see it in casual settings like a college dorm room and at places where fashion is carefully upheld. For example, Franca Sozzani, the late Italian Vogue editor, kept a bean bag in her Paris apartment, and it was covered in mink.

Now that it has been over fifty years, the bean bag feels more relevant than ever. In fact, fashion designer Raf Simons ensured that a suite of them was swathed in his fabrics when it came to Kvadrat. Zanotta even made waves in 2018 by opening its first US flagship store in Miami’s Design District. Obviously, it became a splendid affair, attracting people from the worlds of design and art to the Art Basel Miami Beach.

These bean bags cost around $530, which makes it a rather attainable icon, as compared to some other seating arrangements. After all, it becomes a price worth paying if one pays attention to what Restany had to say. The bean bag meets the general need to loosen up how people tend to live.

Final Words

Not just the bean bag, but its manufacturer too, has had a storied history. From being merely a design to being conceptualized as an icon when it comes to seating arrangements, it has been a terrific journey.

Bean bags have been around for over fifty years now but continue to be just as popular. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about its origins and the efforts that went into enhancing the ergonomics.

Do feel free to reach out to us and share your experiences of using a bean bag. Till next time, Adios!

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There are thousands of different toys on the modern market, and everybody has diverse preferences. Both kids and adults like puzzles, building models, and simply beautiful toys and figurines. UGears is an amazing company that creates toys that combine different categories in one thing. Each kit is a puzzle that you put together like a wooden model. When the work is finished, you will have a gorgeous moving toy. These models are unique, and you will not find anything like them. Living in an era of mass-produced plastic toys, such building kits as those made by UGears become a breath of fresh air.

The company has a useful website with all possible toys in the catalog. They all differ in complexity, shapes and sizes, as well as the approximate time of building. Based on these features, it is easy to choose a toy for anybody from a five-year-old child to an adult experienced in building wooden models. All puzzles have unique designs unlike the majority of popular toys. Here, you will see such special and exciting things as trains, research vessels, a globe, different car models, a curvimeter, or even a butterfly with fluttering wings. The selection here is much more diverse and different from what we are generally used to.

Extraordinary Puzzle Toys by UGears Team

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UGears creates an amazing experience for children of all ages, from five to ninety-five. If you want to have some quality time with relatives and close ones or relax by yourself, assembling one of these kits is a perfect solution. Each model has an estimated time of building that varies from 30 minutes to 16 hours. If you are a beginner, the simpler models are recommended. But even experienced model assemblers will find here amazing kits for themselves.

There are also some special models designed for younger kids. They are very simplistic and fun. Besides, these toys can be painted after building. Picking the colors and decorating the models is another fun activity for smaller children. 

Here is why the UGears toys are so good:

• High-quality wood – only the best quality materials are used in production. The plywood involved in making these toys is environmentally sustainable. This material is also sturdy and durable.
• Comfortable assembly – everything required for a complete puzzle assembly is already in the box. Just find a comfortable place to sit and lay down all the parts and start building. The model will stay together by itself without gluing pieces one to another.
• Play and learn – the mechanisms of UGears toys resemble real-life items. By building them yourself, you will learn the basic mechanic skills and obtain a better understanding of how these devices work. It is also a good source of creative inspiration for kids;
• One of a kind designs – the toys designed by UGears specialists always stand out from the millions of other modern toys on the market. All designs here are unique and intricate. Instead of a toy version of a real-life object, such as a train or a car, you receive a small mechanism that works exactly like its bigger variant. They are not just building kits but elaborate mechanisms that will teach you the basics of mechanics.

Great Customer Service for All UGears Clients

While being a Ukrainian company, UGears has been growing on the American market as well. To create a well-rounded experience for every client, it is essential to provide both great toys and convenient customer solutions. Here are some of the pros of buying from UGears:

• Free of charge shipments – receive your building kit with free delivery around the US. After placing an online order, your shipment will arrive within 2 to 5 working days.
• One-year guarantee – the UGears puzzles might contain many small details that can be accidentally lost or damaged in the process of assembling. It is especially common with small children in the house. If you need a part replacement within a year after purchasing, UGears will send you all the necessary elements for free.
• Special wrapping – wooden toys and models are perfect gifts for many kids and grownups, which is why people often buy UGears products as a gift. You can order a special packaging for the occasion, which costs only five bucks. A card with a personalized message for the recipient will be included as well.
• Guaranteed refund – if there is something you dislike about your order, UGears will either provide a full money return or a substitute kit. This offer is available only for thirty days from the moment of buying;
• Helpful customer service –customer support representatives are always ready to answer all your questions and help with any possible issue. There is a handy page with answers to the most common questions as well as a few different ways of contacting support if you still need assistance.