Monday, January 30 10:24:38
The first in a series of surveys of members of the Royal
Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) shows that a majority
(52.8pc) say they are expecting work levels to increase or
remain the same during 2012.
Architects are considered lead indicators for the construction
sector as they are involved in the drawing up of plans and
applying for planning permissions before the commencement of
construction.
The Q1 2012 survey of RIAI practices, which was carried out by
the RIAI in the 2nd week of January 2012, was answered by 242
practices across the country - around half of all practices.
15.2pc of practices are expecting an increase in work. 37.6pc
are expecting activity to remain the same - an aggregate of
52.8pc - while 47.2pc are expecting a decrease in work.
The biggest increase in work is expected in domestic
renovations and extensions (27.3pc) while the biggest fall is
forecast to be in broader housing (43.9pc). Many architectural
practices have re-focussed on sustainability and conservation
and 46.5pc of practices that answered the anonymous online
survey said they expect to see an increase in work in these
areas during the coming year. This increase in advice on
'green' issues is reflected in the responses given when asked
whether 'practices have changed or expanded their services in
response to the current climate in the construction industry'.
57pc of practices say they have expanded their services as a
direct response to the downturn.
Commenting on the results John Graby, Director of the RIAI,
said, "This is the first such survey that we have carried out.
In other jurisdictions, particularly in the US, this type of
survey of architect practices has become a very important lead
indicator for economic commentators reviewing construction
activity in the economy. In an industry that has been
absolutely decimated we are taking some small comfort in that a
small majority, but a majority all the same, are saying that
things don't look like they're going to get worse for them and
just over 15pc say things are on the up. This will be a key
figure to watch in future surveys.
See more here:
Chink of light for embattled architects
WSP and
PES-Architects have won a competition to design a ‘Dancing
Bridge’ for the central park of Huishan New City in
Wuxi,
China. The cable-stayed bridge will be suspended from
two inclined pylons resembling a pair of dancers.
(PRWEB UK) 30 January 2012
Following success in a design competition, WSP and
PES-Architects have been selected to
design a new pedestrian bridge in Wuxi, China. Entitled ‘The
Dancing Bridge’, the cable-stayed bridge will span a small lake
close to the new bullet train station in the central park of the
Huishan New City area.
Professor Pekka
Salminen of PES-Architects invited WSP Finland’s bridge
designers to join the design team for the competition, based on
WSP’s reputation for its design of iconic bridges.
The bridge is suspended by two independent and inclined pylons
located on a man-made island in the centre of the lake. “Our
design proposal merges minimalistic Finnish design with a
traditional Chinese story,” says Pekka Salminen. “We called our
design ‘the Dancing Bridge’ because the inclined pylons
resemble a pair of dancers.”
“The bridge design features a gentle S-bend which, according to
Chinese tradition, ensures that the traveler will face no
danger, as evil spirits will eventually lose their way in the
curved shape,” adds WSP’s Sami Niemelä. “The bridge deck is a
steel-concrete composite structure and the girder is covered
with stainless steel cladding.”
Construction of the bridge will begin at once and is expected
to open later this year.
In recent years, WSP Finland has won numerous design
competitions for bridges and urban planning projects in
Finland
and Asia. Bridge sites in Finland include Turku, Helsinki,
Tampere, Pori, Joensuu and Kajaani. In Asia, WSP has designed
bridges in Vietnam and India.
”Winning this competition is an important milestone for us in
China. The collaboration between PES-Architects and WSP Finland
is proof that top Finnish design firms can also succeed
in the world’s most important growth areas,” says Kirsi
Hautala, Managing Director of WSP Finland.
For more information:
Bridget Kennerley, Group PR Manager, WSP Group, tel. +44 207
314 4631
bridget.kennerley(at)wspgroup(dot)com
Sami Niemelä, Head of Unit, Bridges, WSP Finland, tel. +358 400
157 998, sami.niemela(at)wspgroup(dot)fi
Professor, Chairman of the Board Pekka Salminen, PES-Architects
Limited, tel. +358 40 545 6845
Notes to Editors:
WSP Finland is a multi-disciplinary consultancy company that
provides research, planning, consulting and design services to
Finnish and international companies operating in the
construction, urban development, transport, environment, energy
and industry sectors. The company employs 350 experts in
Helsinki, Oulu, Järvenpää, Tampere, Jyväskylä and Rovaniemi.
http://www.wspgroup.fi
WSP Finland belongs to the international WSP Group, with 9,000
experts working in 200 permanent offices in 35 countries.
Established in the 1970s, WSP Group is listed on London Stock
Exchange.
http://www.wspgroup.com
PES-Architects Limited is one of the leading and most
international architectural design firms in Finland. The firm’s
most recent projects include the design of underground railway
stations for the new Kehärata (Ring Rail Line) railway in
Finland, the enlargement of the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, and
the design of the Wuxi Grand Theatre and a 192m high skyscraper
in the Chengdu High-tech Zone. Professor and architect Pekka
Salminen founded the firm in 1968, and is currently the
chairman of the board of PES-Architects. The other partners in
the firm are architect Tuomas Silvennoinen and CEO Jarkko
Salminen (M.Sc.).
http://www.pesark.com
###
Bridget Kennerley
WSP Group Plc
+44(0)20 7314 4631
Email Information
Continue reading here:
WSP and PES-Architects design Dancing Bridge in Wuxi
Kearney, 51, was also part of VSB&A until he and his wife
formed their own partnership, Cueto Kearney Design L.L.C., in
2004. At Venturi, Kearney oversaw projects such as the Camden
Children's Garden and Trenton Central Fire Headquarters.
Today, their Swarthmore home has personality and charm, and
additional spaces that have made it livable for the couple and
their two now-adult children.
Back in 2001, the need for a family room grew urgent when
daughter Lucia and son Sebastian were outgrowing their
tolerance for a basement play space. The couple took the leap
and enlarged the kitchen, incorporating an island, and added an
L-shaped family area that is now the heart of the home. Those
367 square feet transformed the house.
"The key design element in our plan was overlapping spaces,"
Kearney says. "The addition is small, but feels big because we
opened up the edges of the space. We've gotten a big bang for
the buck in terms of light and airiness."
Indeed they have. The sun splashes into this first-floor area
with access to a patio.
The addition is better insulated and more energy-efficient than
the older part of the house, Kearney says, noting that 1951
construction norms predated today's energy concerns.
The next addition was a 243-square-foot loft area, which both
architects love. Access is through the family room, via a
spiral stairway near the wood-burning fireplace. Both fireplace
and stairway add interest and drama at the back of the room.
Go here to read the rest:
Dream come true: Two architects add livability to their blah home
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