How to create an outdoor entertainment space to enjoy year round

There's nothing quite like a good backyard barbecue to send off a good year. Getting the whole family together for a good backyard grill-up is really what the summer holidays are all about.

If it's your first time playing the host, however, it can be tricky knowing just what you'll need to make sure your summer barbecue goes off with a bang. Sourcing a selection of fancy snags and sauces is really just the tip of the iceberg here.

Here are a few other things worth keeping in mind when planning your first backyard summer barbecue.

Keeping your grill well-stocked and well-organised

Whether you're having a small get-together with a few intimate friends, or a larger welcome event filled with housewarming gifts and great music, having good food is a must.

So, no matter how big or small your party is going to be, your grill station should always be kept well-organised to ensure that no food items go overcooked and burnt and that there will be plenty of active cooking space available to cater to larger groups of people.

To impress your friends by grilling like a pro, make certain that you're cooking with 4 burner gas bbqs, this will ensure that you're serving up the juiciest meat, and thanks to more cooking space, you'll be doing it in record time.

Cooked foods are best kept warm by the grill rack, out of the way of uncooked meats to minimise risks of contamination.

Be sure to also keep an eye on the number of foods on your grill rack too! If you put too many extra patties and snags on the grill before any pre-cooked ones have had a chance to be eaten, you'll find yourself with an influx of food that may end in some food waste.

It's all about maintaining a good balance between cooking and cooked food, as well as keeping track of how many more of your guests may want extra servings.

Establish a dedicated drinks station

Having a dedicated drinks area should be considered a top priority, especially in the height of summer.

You'll want to ensure you have a good selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as plenty of ice to keep your drinks nice and cool under the hot sun.

Seating is also just as important for keeping your guests comfortable, so it's well worth investing in a few bar stools for your outdoor bar set-up.

Having an array of seating options will also naturally keep your outdoor entertainment space feeling nice and varied, ensuring that your guests feel comfortable interacting with one another in a selection of different spaces.

Vegetarian options and toppings galore

Of course, organising your grill can become more complicated when catering to groups with food allergies.

What you may find surprising, however, is that taking the extra time to ensure that you have meal options for gluten-free or low-FODMAP individuals, as well as vegans or vegetarians will likely elevate the overall quality of your summer barbecue. How does this work?

A widespread of foods means that everybody has more options to choose from, ensuring that your barbecue transforms into a culinary experience in its own right.

If you're concerned about contamination between veggie patties and cooking meats, you may opt to smoke your meat in a smoker instead, or even decide to invest in a secondary grill top specifically for vegetarian and vegan options.

This same grill top could also easily be used for grilling up some onions, pineapple, and beetroot that meat-eaters can use in their meal too!

Pasta salads can also be a great option for vegetarians and low-FODMAP individuals, but can also provide guests without dietary restrictions with a wealth of other foods to choose from.

If there are any foods that are specifically for those with dietary restrictions, they can easily be accompanied by little notes, or they can be placed on their own table too.

There is a selection of ways that you can keep your barbecue inclusive! It's all about finding the methods that work for you and your outdoor barbecue space.

Outdoor lighting and insect control for evening grills

Summer evenings are best spent outdoors, enjoying the gentle breeze of the season, and listening to the chirping of crickets in the distance.

There are, of course, some caveats that come with alfresco summertime dining, namely the presence of mosquitos, flies, and other insects that may be less welcome than the crickets in the distance.

These backyard nuisances are best dealt with by investing in some mosquito coils and solar-powered bug zappers.

Pest control lights are infinitely preferable to bug sprays, especially around foods, making bug zappers an essential element of your overall outdoor dining space.

Alongside bug zappers, some ambient tea lights and gentle fairy lights may also prove to be valuable assets to your barbecue area and will inspire your guests to stick around and stay celebrating well into the evening.

Having some ambient lights will naturally also help you and your guests capture your evening on camera too. Gold fairy lights provide flattering lighting for taking candid snapshots.

Complete the day with a little backyard cricket

Last but not least, it wouldn't be an Aussie summer barbecue without a game of backyard cricket. Having a few stumps on one end of the yard is really all you need to get the games going.

Even families without yards can still use their driveways to do a little wicket hitting. Just be sure that young children are kept supervised and understand the importance of road safety when collecting stray cricket balls.

Aussie backyard barbecues are a staple of all our summer holidays, past, present, and future. Even if our spreads have somewhat changed from being explorations into the world of pork and beef to including prawns, pineapple, pea protein patties, and corn on the cob, these outdoor shindigs are still undoubtedly an opportunity for families to come together and celebrate good food, good company, and great weather.

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How to create an outdoor entertainment space to enjoy year round - The Canberra Times

Philips Hue is set to release an updated dimmer switch and a brand new "Wave Linear" outdoor lighting system in early 2021, according to hueblog.com and smartlights.de.

The popular Philips Hue dimmer switch, which has been around for some years and is often included in Philips Hue kits, is to see an update that brings a refreshed design. Instead of having four buttons like the current model, the new version is set to have only three buttons, with the middle two dimmer buttons being combined into a single rocker button. The "on" button is also gaining a small tactile marking so that users can find the correct button in the dark.

The general design has been updated to be more curvaceous and subtle, with matte white plastic being used instead of the current glossy white plastic. The base plate is also due to increase in size to 80mm by 125mm, in order to completely cover EU in-wall outlets. The current dimmer switch base plate is too narrow for this.

Moreover, Philips Hue will reportedly introduce a new "Wave Linear" outdoors lighting system. Wave Linear will integrate with existing Hue low-voltage outdoors products such as the Hue Lily, Hue Calla, or Hue Outdoor Lightstrip.

Designed to illuminate large outdoor spaces evenly with color, such as an exterior house wall, it will be able to produce up to 1,400 lumens of brightness and 16 million colors. The Philips Hue Wave Linear system will supposedly become available in Spring 2021.

Originally posted here:
Philips Hue to Introduce Updated Dimmer Switch and 'Wave Linear' Outdoor Lighting - MacRumors

A pair of new Philips Hue products have leaked today, providing a glimpse at what the smart home company has in store for early 2021. As reported by Hueblog, Philips Hue will release a new Wave Linear outdoor lighting accessory in spring of 2021, as well as redesigned Smart Dimmer.

The report explains that the Philips Hue Wave Linear will join the existing outdoor lighting category as a way to light up large areas evenly. It will reportedly measure in at around 31 inches wide, 2 inches tall, and around 3 inches deep.

The Philips Hue Wave Linear is wonderfully suitable to illuminate large areas evenly with one color, for example a house wall. With 20 watts of power, it can produce up to 1,400 lumens of brightness. It is a White and Color Ambiance product, so it can display bright white tones and up to 16 million colors.

Heres a look at the reported Wave Linear:

Secondly, Philips Hue is expected to announce new Smart Dimmer switch with a new and simplified design. The biggest change here will be that the the new model will feature three buttons, compared to the four buttons on the current-generation Smart Dimmer.

This will be accomplished by merging the two middle dimming buttons into a single rocker button. The new Smart Dimmer will also feature a tactical on button so that its easier for users to feel for it in the dark.

In addition, the material now looks a bit more noble, apparently a matt plastic is used. It is also noticeable that the corners of the Philips Hue dimmer switch are much more rounded in the next generation.

With CES set for January, its possible that this is when Philips Hue announces these new accessories, which are expected to support HomeKit. A release is reportedly scheduled for sometime in early 2021.

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Philips Hue expected to introduce redesigned Smart Dimmer, new outdoor lighting in 2021 - 9to5Mac

I have always loved light in many forms sunlight is my favorite and next would probably be candlelight. Once our Christmas tree is donned with lights, we have a tradition in our home to light it first thing in the morning and let it stay lit all day. Around our mountain home, things look pretty dark by 5 p.m. Thats when colorful outdoor lights come on and other holiday lights inside our home. These lights bring warmth and brilliance to those extra hours of darkness as we draw near to the shortest day of the year, theWinter Solstice on Dec. 21. Its no wonder that many of the holidays during this season feature light to shine through the darkness:

Hanukkah or The Festival of Light with menorah candles; Diwali, meaning rows of lighted lamps is a five-day festival of light; the lighting of candles in the Kwanzaa kinara; The burning of a yule log; lit-up Christmas trees, and houses decorated with Christmas and secular holiday light displays.

With all the emphasis on light at this time of year, its no coincidence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a "Light the World campaign, currently under-way.

Light the World is an invitation to transform the holidays into a season of service; its a worldwide movement to serve others as Jesus did: one by one.

Unlike 2019, to help slow the spread of COVID-19, this year you can make donations online or find specific Light the World service projects. Go to the Just Serve website and donate service, time, or funds.

There is a list of charities in the Denver area on the site which will recieve 100% of the donations given on the website. Volunteer activities can be suited toindividuals,small groups, and families. Many activities will be outdoors, and allwill comply with COVID-19 safety regulations.

Denvers Light the World 2020 campaign runs through New Years Day.

The site is http://www.justserve.org/lighttheworlddenver

Marie Hughes,

Conifer

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Letter to the editor: Sharing the Light One by One - Canyon Courier

The top home trends predicted for 2021 a permanent home office and resort-style living, indoors and out are directly connected to needs we discovered while staying put during the coronavirus pandemic.

Researchers at the real estate marketplace Zillow came up with 10 home updates people want to make it easier to continue to work, exercise, study and relax at home.

From Zoom rooms to smart-home technology, these trends will make homes more functional, comfortable and safe for the whole family, and in some cases, even add value, according to a Zillow news release.

In this weeks real estate gallery, we look at the top 10 trends for 2021 as predicted by Zillow and a Portland-area home for sale with that feature.

A heated, in-ground pool and relaxing outdoor areas are available at 3624 S.E. Rex St. in Portlands Eastmoreland neighborhood, which is listed by Katie Beymer and Jean Beymer of Oregon First.Oregon First

With nowhere to vacation, home shoppers moved pool to the top Zillow keyword search term in 2020. Waterfront and dock were also frequently sought.

For sale: A heated, in-ground pool and relaxing outdoor area are available at 3624 S.E. Rex St. in Portlands Eastmoreland neighborhood.

The 7,405-square-foot lot also has a putting green and garden space. An attached garage with high ceilings can be used by an artist, woodworker or car collector, or for recreation.

The traditional-style house, built in 1939 and remodeled and expanded in 2015, has a bonus room, media room, six bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,875 square feet of living space.

Resort-style living. Floor plan for multi-generational living, says Katie Beymer with Jean Beymer of Oregon First, who listed the property at $989,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a pool.

Home office in Portland Heights: 2434 S.W. 17th Ave. is listed by Natalie Strom with Yonette Fine of Living Room Realty.Living Room Realty

Being able to have a dedicated home office was the number one reason Americans working from home say they would consider a move, according to a Zillow survey. Employers who will allow telecommuting to continue after the pandemic is under control will make the desire for a Zoom room permanent.

For sale: A 1909 Craftsman house, built on a 6,534-square-foot lot at 2434 S.W. 17th Ave., has a home office with built-in counters and shelves in the finished basement next to a theater room.

The updated home has original features such as leaded glass, unpainted wood trim, wood floors and four fireplaces. There is a modern open kitchen with high-end appliances and an island.

The master suite on the fourth floor has 19 skylights and a view of Mount Saint Helens. There are four more bedrooms and three more bathrooms within the homes 5,519 square feet of living space.

Outside, there is a Japanese-style garden, sports court, level yard and a garage.

Pre-inspected and ready to go, says Natalie Strom with Yonette Fine of Living Room Realty, who listed the property at $1.95 million.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a home office or library.

11925 S.W. Belvidere Place can accommodate multi generations, says listing agent Joanne Doyle of Knipe Realty ERA Powered.Knipe Realty ERA Powered

Homes with a self-contained apartment in the lower level or in the backyard were used to shelter several generations of a family, especially when elderly members left retirement communities and young adults moved back home when colleges switched to virtual instructions and businesses closed due to the pandemic.

About one in six Americans currently live in multigenerational households, according to Generations United.

For sale: 11925 S.W. Belvidere Place in Cedar Hills can accommodate multi generations with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a home office, study room, home gym and 4,190 square feet of living space.

The daylight ranch, built in 1957 on 0.52 acres, has been restored and expanded with a two-story addition that allows for a main-floor master suite and lower-level guest suite.

Room for everyone, possibilities are endless, says Joanne Doyle of Knipe Realty ERA Powered, who listed the property at $1.2 million.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a floor plan for multi generations.

A gourmet kitchen is inside a custom estate on the Columbia River at 1525 N.E. Marine Dr. listing by Justin Harnish with Errol Bradley of Harnish Properties.Harnish Properties

A Zillow survey found 41% of people value a well-equipped kitchen more after stay-at-home orders closed restaurants. Most plan to continue to exhibit their culinary skills in the future, and home shoppers are looking for kitchens with bigger cabinets and an island.

For sale: A gourmet kitchen with an eating bar and pantry is inside a custom estate on the Columbia River at 1525 N.E. Marine Dr. in Portlands East Columbia neighborhood.

The Mediterranean-style house, built in 2005 on 0.61 acres, has five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and 6,310 square feet of living space.

Entertaining extends outdoors with a roll-up glass door, folding NanaWall, oversized patios and balconies. There is a man-cave with a bar and a 2,380-square-foot garage with heated floors.

A private boat dock can accommodate a 60-foot yacht.

Blocks to the Portland Yacht Club and golf course and PDX, says Justin Harnish with Errol Bradley of Harnish Properties, who listed the property at $2,748,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a gourmet kitchen.

11051 S. Riverwood Road in Portlands Riverdale neighborhood has a full outdoor kitchen, says listing agent Rosanne Vecchio of @HOME Property Group.@HOME Property Group

People see the value of having a large outdoor space after feeling cooped up during stay-at-home orders and wanting to entertain friends and family outdoors while socially distancing, according to a Zillow survey and Harris Poll.

Homes with a fire pit mentioned in the listing sold for 2.8% more than similar homes and those with an outdoor kitchen sold for 4.5% more, Zillow found. Smart sprinkler systems and outdoor lighting are other features that help a home sell up to 15 days faster than expected.

For sale: 11051 S. Riverwood Road in Portlands Riverdale neighborhood has a full outdoor kitchen.

The 0.7-acre property also has an apartment above the four-car garage that can be used as a home office, classroom or studio.

The traditional-style house, built in 2007, has a great room with a 30-foot-tall barrel ceiling and a grand gas fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with a huge pantry and a 132-bottle wine refrigerator, five bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and 7,500 square feet of living space.

Private gated lot with seasonal river views, says Rosanne Vecchio of @HOME Property Group, which listed the property at $2,170,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with an outdoor kitchen.

1874 S.E. Woodward St. in Portlands Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood was built in 2019 with smart features, says listing agent Greg Messick of RealtyNET.RealtyNET

Builders, designers and real estate agents report that coronavirus-inspired home projects, big and small, include installing easy-to-clean materials and surfaces; touch-less features, especially at the kitchen sink; self-cleaning, wall-mounted toilets; and improved fresh air systems such as heat recovery ventilators.

People are also preferring voice-activated faucets, robotic vacuums and electronic-assistant controlled lights to make life easier, says Zillow.

A Zillow analysis found homes with a smart light mentioned in the listing description sold seven days faster than expected, and listings mentioning a smart thermostat sold six days faster than expected.

For sale: 1874 S.E. Woodward St. in Portlands Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood was built in 2019 with smart features such as a security system with cameras as well as an electronic bidet toilet in the master suite.

The contemporary townhome-style condo has three more bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,328 square feet of living space.

There is an accessory dwelling unit on the main floor with a kitchenette, full bathroom and a full-size washer and dryer.

A large covered deck with a gas hookup overlooks a Zen oasis with a water feature and sprinkler system.

The Renaissance Home was customized with high-end finishes, including paint, carpet, natural stone, wood, lighting, custom-built blinds and draperies, and tile, says Greg Messick of RealtyNET.

The property is listed at $875,000. Homeowners association dues are $235 a month.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with smart features.

3750 S.E. Pelton Ave. in Troutdales Sweetbriar neighborhood is listed by Keith Iles of John L. Scott Sandy.John L. Scott Sandy

Since telework reduces the need to be close to urban job centers, shoppers in 2021 may opt for wide open spaces and smaller, more affordable communities, say real estate experts.

Newly pending sales for small cities, with a population between 54,000 and 137,000, has increased 34.3% since last year, says Zillow.

For sale: 3750 S.E. Pelton Ave. in Troutdales Sweetbriar neighborhood is listed at $349,000.

The ranch-style house, built in 1976 on a 7,405-square-foot lot, has laminate hardwood floors, a sunken living room with a fireplace, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,120 square feet of living space.

Two sliding glass doors open to a backyard adjacent to a green space. There is a patio, tool and garden sheds, boat parking, planter boxes and hot tub.

Modern updates throughout. Endless opportunity with this home, make it yours, says listing agent Keith Iles of John L. Scott Sandy.

See more Portland-area homes for sale in suburbs.

5138 N.E. 23rd Ave. in Portlands Concordia neighborhood is a converted church with a Zen-like private courtyard that links to a tiny house, says listing agent Tracy Knofczynski with Mark Gamble of Tilia Property Group.Tilia Property Group

When gyms closed, people recognized the need to have exercise equipment at home. When social activities stopped along with seeing loved ones to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the feeling of isolation set in. Some people who use reflection and meditation to stay mentally fit spend time at home in a soothing, meditation space.

In November, 4.1% of for-sale listings on Zillow mentioned health and wellness areas in the home as lockdown orders resumed and daylight hours for outdoor activities shrank.

For sale: 5138 N.E. 23rd Ave. in Portlands Concordia neighborhood is a converted church with a Zen-like private courtyard that links to a tiny house.

The structure, built in 1906 on a 4,791-square-foot lot, has two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and 2,123 square feet of living space.

The main level has an open sanctuary space with tall ceilings that could be lofted for additional living space. The lower level has a full kitchen, bedroom, bathrooms and laundry room.

Amazing space with vast potential, create new living space within these walls or use as live/work space, says Tracy Knofczynski with Mark Gamble of Tilia Property Group, who listed the property at $895,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a meditation space.

The flexibility of remote work and being home all day allowed more people to care for pets. A 2020 Zillow analysis found for-sale listings mentioning a pet shower or dog wash sold for 5.1% more than similar homes, while listings mentioning a fenced backyard sold 6.8 days faster than expected.

For sale: The 6,098-square-foot lot at 3245 N. Willamette Blvd. in Portlands Arbor Lodge neighborhood has a fenced dog run.

The 1958 house has refinished hardwoods, new carpets and windows, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and 4,285 square feet of living space.

There is a full basement, detached garage and updated landscaping.

Live on sought-after Willamette Boulevard and enjoy scenic views of downtown, the river and the West Hills from various rooms throughout this classic home, says John Taylor with Kristina Bullock of The Broker Network, who listed the property at $719,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a dog run.

12005 N.W. Weaver Lane Lot 17 in Portlands Creekview Ridge is listed by Megan Talalemotu with Christina Smith of John L. Scott. Photo is of a similar house.John L. Scott

Interest in new homes has increased significantly on Zillow, up 82% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter a year ago.

A 2020 Zillow survey found more than a quarter of buyers who bought a new construction home did so to customize home features, while 37% chose to be the first owner because everything in the home was new and never used.

For sale: 12005 N.W. Weaver Lane Lot 17 in Portlands Creekview Ridge is scheduled to be completed in early 2021 and is listed at $859,950.

The energy-efficient farmhouse-style home, which has been certified Earth Advantage platinum, has 10-foot-high ceilings, extra large windows, an open great room, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and 3,260 square feet of living space. There is a covered patio.

Gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry, huge island and double ovens, says listing agent Megan Talalemotu with Christina Smith of John L. Scott. Homeowners association dues are $92 a month.

See more Portland-area homes for sale that are new.

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Want to search Oregon real estate listings and use local resources? Click here.

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Top 10 home trends for 2021: Ways to make it easier to work, exercise, study and relax - OregonLive

These nights are the longest and darkest of the year.

And this year, nights and days have been longer and darker than most.

Thats why it is great to see so many houses, businesses, churches and streets aglow, lit up, decorated and twinkling for the holidays. Christmas lights are the antidote to the place we find ourselves at the end of 2020.

We urge everyone to get out and see them this week.

A Joplin woman, Lynn Crouch, has launched a campaign, Joplin Lights and Luminaries, encouraging people to put out both on Christmas eve.

She is not alone.

The Dallas Morning News reported recently that the company, Christmas Dcor, which decorates homes and business with outdoor lights, has been popping.

People need joy right now, said Blake Smith, founder. And they are doing whatever they can to find it.

The company and its 300 franchises are reportedly on track to light up more than 50,000 properties this year, compared to 43,000 last year.

Unlike Christmas parades, family gatherings, parties, outings to Christmas shop and many other traditions that have had to be sacrificed in 2020, Christmas lights remain a tradition untouched by the pandemic.

(Humor helps too. You can find, if youre so inclined, toilet paper and hand sanitizer ornaments, one of Dr. Anthony Fauci, and even Santa with a mask. Christmas stores say these items have become bestsellers.)

John and Deborah Hird, whose home at 11 Quail Ridge Drive won the Globes second annual Home Holiday Lighting and Decorating Contest, said they do it because we like to try to bring a little bit more joy to the neighborhood.

Having decorated since moving there nearly 20 years ago, the family also have noted that Christmas decorating is contagious.

Now theres a superspreader event wed like to see happen!

Read more:
Our view: Christmas lights and humor are the antidote to 2020 - Joplin Globe

Young Architects

2020 Best of Design Award for Young Architects: Atelier Cho ThompsonLocation: San Francisco and New Haven, Connecticut

Atelier Cho Thompson is a bicoastal design and concept firm working between the disciplines of architecture, interiors, graphics, and design strategy. Its expertise and passions transcend the conventional boundaries between these disciplines, resulting in a rich cross-pollination of ideas and strategies. This integrated design approach produces holistic environments in which all elements are deeply related to each other and to the heart of a central concept. The firm pushes forward the architectural profession in three key ways: design excellence, business innovation, and community engagement. As a design firm, it believes in the power of collaborative, thoughtful, and forward-thinking design for all clients, whatever scale and budget they may have.

2020 Best of Design Award for Exhibition Design: Machine HallucinationDesigner: Refik Anadol StudioLocation: New York

Machine Hallucination is an immersive art exhibition of New York, by New York, and for New Yorka fitting tribute to one of the worlds greatest cities and architectural marvels. Commissioned by ARTECHOUSE in Manhattans Chelsea Market and exploring over 100 million publicly available photographs of the city through artificial intelligence, the 30-minute experimental cinema piece visualizes New Yorks story hidden deep in the citys consciousness. By utilizing AI, a data universe of the city can be created in more than a thousand dimensions, allowing Refik Anadol Studio to intuitively understand the ways that memory can be spatially experienced and the power of machine intelligence to simultaneously access and augment human senses.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: BaleinopolisDesigner: Studio Gang

Project Name: The Polaroid Project: At the Intersection of Art and TechnologyDesigner: IKD

Editors Picks:

Project Name: Architecture ArboretumDesigner: Besler & Sons

Project Name: Haus Scallop, Haus SawtoothDesigner: MALL

2020 Best of Design Award for Temporary Installation: Drawing FieldsDesigner: Outpost OfficeLocation: Lake Forest, Illinois

Drawing Fields was a temporary performance venue on the campus of Ragdale, a nonprofit artists community just north of Chicago. Drawing Fields utilized GPS-controlled field marking robots to draw site-specific, building-scale drawings on the Ragdale campus. Outpost Office proposed this years ring as a series of temporal performances rather than a conventional installation. Each drawing in the series explored a different theme. Drawing Fields 1 probed robotic kinetics, Drawing Fields 2 delineated socially distanced zones for a scattered audience, and Drawing Fields 3 saturated the campus with colorful patterns. The project adapted to the financial and ecological precarity of our volatile present. Each temporary installation was water-soluble, nontoxic, and disappeared with rain, sun, and growth.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Chapel for Luis BarragnDesigner: Robert Hutchison Architecture

Project Name: Societys CageDesigner: SmithGroup

2020 Best of Design Award for Digital Fabrication: Stereoform SlabDesigner: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Location: Chicago

Stereoform Slab examines the role of the ubiquitous concrete slab. It is an activation and an exhibition of a design method using advanced robotic fabrication to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete construction. Removed from its context, Stereoform replicates and abstracts a single-story concrete bay to create a simple architectural expression. SOMs research reveals that 40 to 60 percent of a buildings carbon footprint results from concrete slab development.When sustainable fabrication techniques are combined with robotics to create concrete formwork, material usage and waste are minimized. This new approach uses 20 percent less concrete, resulting in a 20 percent carbon reduction. At the full-building scale, carbon reductions of 25 to 30 percent through hyper responsive design and optimization are possible.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Hobbs State Park Monument Trail Campsite & Trailhead StructuresDesigner: Hufft

Project Name: London Timber PavilionDesigner: Schiller Projects and Novak Hiles Architects

Editors Picks:

Project Name: Rocket Mortgage Field House in ClevelandExecutive architect: GenslerEngineering, fabrication, and installation of custom metal feature wall: Eventscape

2020 Best of Design Award for Research: New River Train Observation TowerDesigner: Virginia TechLocation: Radford, Virginia

The New River Train Observation Tower design-build by Virginia Tech students and faculty sets multiple benchmarks for cross-laminated timber (CLT) research, design, and construction. Rather than import softwood CLT into oversupplied, hardwood-dominant forest regions of the eastern United States, the project team chose to think local to reduce carbon emissions. Following eight years of research, the team developed a structurally viable, high-performance local-species H-CLT product with low-grade wood. The H-CLT project is the first permanent building permitted for, and constructed with, hardwood CLT in the United States. The 30-foot-tall, 75-foot-long building sets a precedent for modular CLT construction and the upcycling of low-value local resources into high-value products in hardwood-dominant regions.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The DW (The Dwelling on Wheels)Designer: Modern Shed

Project Name: Fetch HouseDesigner: CallisonRTKL

Editors Picks:

Project Name: GET WELL! Educational Design Ideas for the Post-Pandemic EraDesigner: LUBRANO CIAVARRA Architects

Project Name: Immersive Space SeriesDesigner: Office of Things

2020 Best of Design Award for Architectural LightingOutdoor: ConstellationsDesigner: FUTUREFORMSLocation: Pensacola, Florida

Constellations is a dynamic and immersive artwork animated by flowing patterns and algorithmic formations of light and shadow. It is an iconic sculpture that merges digital craft and cutting-edge fabrication with data visualizations of abstract phenomena found in nature at a variety of scales. Constellations creates a theater-in-the-round that acts like a portal into an invisible world of dynamic visual poetry inspired by ideas of science, art, and technology. Located between the Center for Fine and Performing Arts and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, the sculpture anchors the landscape between the STEM disciplines on campus and creates an open ended framework for dialogue between the arts and the sciences.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Belvedere Castle Renovation, Central ParkRestoration architect and client: Central Park ConservancyLighting designer: Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design

Project Name: PG&E Larkin Street Substation ExpansionDesigner: TEF DesignExterior lighting design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design

2020 Best of Design Award for Student WorkGroup: Volland House No. 1Designers: Design+Make Studio, a partnership between El Dorado and Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and DesignLocation: Volland, Kansas

House No. 1 began as the Edison, a kit house commonly sold by the Gordon-Van Tine company. It was probably delivered in the 1930s by train to Volland, Kansas, where it was then assembled in its current location. The Edison was a two-bedroom bungalow described in the Van Tine catalog as a snug little homecompact, easily heated, and with a room arrangement that is a wonderful space utilizer. The house was subsequently transformed from a generic bungalow into a dedicated artist studio and accommodation space for the Volland Foundation. Its customization was both careful and complicated, requiring immense attention to detail and subtle refinements that heighten the homes original features.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The BendDesigner: Kent State University

Project Name: Kaw Pavilion and Trail MarkersDesigner: University of Kansas Architecture

2020 Best of Design Award for Student WorkIndividual: Clearlake Wellness RetreatDesigner: Samuel Bager, Savannah College of Art and DesignLocation: Clearlake, California

With this wellness retreat in Clearlake, California, the designer Samuel Bager found it was vital to employ architectural intervention strategies at three different scales to engage a lush, natural context. The project creates a cohesive atmosphere through a series of architectural moments that embrace the local environment, all with the aim of enhancing ones perception of and relationship with nature. The separation of buildings on the site and the dispersion of programmed spaces foster privacy by distanceeven in public spaces.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The Asheville Museum of Algorithmic Art (MOAA)Designer: Amanda Ridings, Savannah College of Art and Design

Project Name: RecoveryDesigner: Sam Bager, Savannah College of Art and Design

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Presenting the 2020 AN Best of Design Awards winners, part 6 - The Architect's Newspaper

ACCIDENT The Bear Creek Church of the Brethren welcomes the public to join in its Outdoor Candle Lighting Service at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. The service will be COVID safe outside between the church and pavilion.

Visitors may wish to enjoy social distancing outside listening to the sound system or in their vehicles onsite at FM radio 102.1.

There will be lit luminarias; but for the candle lighting, please bring your own lantern, flashlight or other light source to use.

Enjoy singing your favorite Christmas carols as we worship together with special music, scripture and a meditation by our interim pastor, a spokesperson said. With this being a most unusual and difficult year, may we take time to thank God for sending His one and only son, Jesus Christ as a babe in the manger to become our Lord and Savior, saving us from our sins, and giving salvation to those who believe in Him. Let us rejoice together during this Christmas season as we remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Interim Pastor Jennifer Kreighbaum and the congregation welcome everyone to worship with them at Bear Creek Church of the Brethren, 1088 Brethren Church Road, Accident, just past the Accident Elementary School.

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Public invited to outdoor candle lighting service in Accident - WV News

French accessory maker Netatmo today announced that its Smart Video Doorbell with HomeKit support is now available to pre-order for $299.99 in the United States and $399.99 in Canada. The doorbell will begin shipping to customers in these countries starting January 6, 2021, as noted by the blog HomeKit News.

In addition to the Home app, the doorbell works with the free Netatmo Security app. Netatmo previously said that it is working to implement HomeKit Secure Video and will make the feature available in a free software update in the future.

Key features of the Smart Video Doorbell include a 1080p camera with a 140-degree wide-angle lens, infrared night vision, a built-in microphone and speaker for two-way communication, customizable settings like people detection zones, and IP44-rated water and dust resistance. Netatmo does not charge any subscription fees; instead, the doorbell is equipped with an 8GB microSD card for local video storage.

First introduced at CES 2019, the Smart Video Doorbell launched in Europe in September.

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Netatmo Video Doorbell With HomeKit Now Available to Order in U.S. and Canada, Ships Early January - MacRumors

Thomas Edison patented the light bulb in 1880. Two years later, Edward Hibberd Johnson, who worked with Edison, got an idea to replace the candles on a Christmas tree with a string of colored electric lights.

The lights became for sale around 1890, but the idea didnt catch on widely in the U.S. Many Americans didnt trust electricity yet, and the bulbs were too expensive to be practical. A string of 16 bulbs sold for $12 in 1900, which is about $350 in todays money.

President Grover Cleveland helped make the lights popular after he used them to light a Christmas tree in the White House in 1895.

In the 1920s, General Electric created lights that were more accessible and less costly.

The tradition of outdoor light displays began in 1927 after the first safe outdoor lights were created.

Novelty lights started to make an appearance during the 1930s as a way to increase light sales during the Depression. This led to the creation of icicle lights, and other holiday themed lighting.

In the late 1980s, Americans got more competitive by trying to outdo their neighbors with elaborate light displays just like in the 1989 movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

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The origin of Christmas lights | | richmond.com - Richmond.com