Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

NEWBURY Starting next week, contractors will begin extending the Clipper City Rail Trail from the Parker Street trailhead to the Route 1 rotary, the town announced.

On Thursday, J.J Phelan & Son Co. Inc. workers were spotted prepping the worksite by installing a temporary crosswalk and removing a fence that separates Parker Street from Oak Hill Cemetery.

Newbury Town Planner Martha Taylor said work is expected to begin Monday and be completed by the first week of November.

If all goes well, she said. Its exciting to be at this stage.

The project is being paid for with a $252,500 Shared Streets and Spaces grant awarded to the town over the summer.

Ever since the new trailhead opened on Parker Street, pedestrians, bicyclists and others have been forced to travel alongside the busy connecting road between Newbury and Newburyport toward the rotary. During construction, the trail will remain open but trail users will need to cross to the south side of Parker Street and then re-cross the street past the cemetery.

The towns portion will link with another section underway by the developer of an adjacent multifamily complex off Parker Street, she added.

The Clipper City Rail Trail is roughly 3.3 miles long and wends it way through several areas of the city, including the South End, Cashman Park and Marchs Hill. Visitors taking the train to the city can walk the trail from the Newburyport MBTA commuter rail to downtown and beyond. There is, however, a sizable gap at the Route 1 rotary preventing it from becoming a continuous loop.

That portion, according to Taylor, is under the purview of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Newburyport Planning Departments Geordie Vining called the section a vital link to the rest of the rail trail and said he was pleased that another piece of the puzzle was being completed.

We did impress on the contractor they need to route people around the parking area which will be occupied (by the contractors), Vining added.

For years, Vining has been championing the Clipper City Rail Trail and is hopeful that once the state completes planned work on the Route 1 rotary and the surrounding area, the citys dream of having a looped rail trail, a public space used and enjoyed by thousands of people, will come to fruition.

On Thursday morning, Newburyport resident Andrew Morris was rollerblading on the trail when he spotted the contractors painting lines and removing the fence.

Im so glad theyre doing this, Morris said, adding it only takes one distracted driver to cause a tragedy along Parker Street.

Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

The rest is here:
Clipper City Rail Trail work on Parker St. to begin soon - The Daily News of Newburyport

Building Trade

Chicopee Mayor John Vieau joins, from left, Revitalize CDC Executive Director Colleen Loveless; Director of Programs Ethel Griffin; and Moyah Smith, board clerk.

On Sept. 29, Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) brought its #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild to Chicopee. About 100 volunteers worked on four homes on one block, all in one day. Two of the four homes are owned by U.S. Air Force military veteran families.

We are so grateful to the city of Chicopee for welcoming us with open arms and supporting our initiative to help make homes safe and healthy for those in need, said Colleen Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC, noting that the work the volunteers and building contractors tackled included replacing rotted porches and steps; repairing accessible ramps, roofs, and decks; installing a new shed, windows, storm doors, and gutters; power washing; painting; and yardwork.

Contractors and volunteers get to work.

The work was supported financially and with volunteers from American Red Cross and the Chicopee Fire Department, the city of Chicopee, Baystate Health, Berkshire Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Center for Human Development, Country Bank, Go Graphix, the MassMutual Foundation, M&T Bank, Ondrick Natural Earth, PeoplesBank, Rockys Ace Hardware, TD Bank, and Westfield Bank.

Our #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild goal is to work on hundreds of homes in targeted neighborhoods, clean up vacant lots, improve playgrounds, and create community gardens, Loveless said. Revitalize CDC focuses on making meaningful improvements on homes to help reduce energy use, save money, and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment for our residents and the community.

Improvements have included installing or retrofitting HVAC systems to allow for oil-to-natural-gas heat and solar conversions; new roofs; energy-efficient windows, doors, and appliances; water-saving plumbing fixtures; electrical upgrades; mold remediation, lead abatement, and pest control; interior and exterior painting; and modifying homes for aging or disabled homeowners, such as building exterior access ramps.

Since Revitalize CDCs inception in 1992, the organization has repaired and rehabilitated more than 1,100 homes with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $42 million into Western Mass. In the past year, Revitalize CDC completed 72 home-repair projects on the homes of low-income families with children, elderly citizens, military veterans, and people with disabilities.

The organiations JoinedForces, in partnership with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes.

Read more:
Improving Homes and Lives in Chicopee - Business West

Milans modernist Villa Borsani is a hive of activity. A photoshoot is in full swing as elegantly etched champagne coupes and vintage decanters are arranged on a gilded bar, and mismatched patterned plates and embroidered napkins are laid on a marble table. At the centre of the maelstrom is entrepreneur Tom Chapman, who is excitedly bringing to life his much-anticipated new design venture.

In 2015, Brooklyn-based Sean McNanney created his first line of blankets, working with artisans in Mongolia. Now the Saved New York brand encompasses cashmere throws and cushions whose vibrant illustrative patterns are created in collaboration with different designers and artists.

Chapman is best known as the co-founder with his wife Ruth of the MatchesFashion empire, which was born in 1987 as a multibrand boutique in Wimbledon and grew into a pioneering ecommerce business. It was valued at about $1bn when the Chapmans sold their majority share in 2017. Now, alongside co-founder Nicolas Pickaerts, Chapman is moving into interiors with Abask: a new ecommerce platform conceived to shine a light [hence the name] on the most exceptional craftsmanship and design objects in the world. It is a curation of Chapmans obsessions, ranging from Connolly leather trays to blankets by Rose Uniacke, by way of polished-brass fireplace tools handcrafted in the fifth-generation Vienna workshop of Carl Aubck, and an intricate marquetry backgammon board by Alexandra Llewellyn, its inlaid motifs inspired by the designs of Gio Ponti.

Theres been a buzz about this project from day one, says Chapman, 59, as he shows me around the rationalist-style residence completed in 1945, pointing out pieces sourced from designer-makers, craft-focused brands andspecialist vintage dealers. From cardboard boxes risepiles of plates, stacks of glasses and rows ofcushions.Upstairs in the book-lined study, desk accessories and stationery include a superlative pencil sharpener and pretty patterned notebooks. Elsewhere, there are leather baskets and embroidered tablecloths, ceramic candlesticks and agiant globe.

Chapman is wary that this new project will becompared too closely with MatchesFashion. Im incredibly proud of what Ruth and I and all the teamachieved, he says, but this is a whole new journey. He does acknowledge that there are similarities between the businesses. At Matches, we were known for celebrating interesting designers and emerging talent, hesays of the synergy. Pickaerts, formerly the ecommerce director at matchesfashion.com, is another link. At Matches, he was instrumental in building the sites traffic to an annual 120 million visits.

The move into homewares was inspired by Chapmans own experience of decorating his Los Angeles home with the interior designer Pamela Shamshiri. We were finishing the house last summer and Pam was suggesting what they call the smalls, he says of those final details that range from table lamps to drinking glasses. I wanted to get involved in the process because I really believe in the impact that specific things can have on the way you feel. But it was so difficult to find pieces I felt were interesting.

Based near London, Ray Walters is anavid pen collector and dealer. Weve bought antique and vintage pens from him, says Sheridan, pointing out a 20s yellow Parker set. Hes also developed the perfect pen of his own, she adds of an exclusive design with a special nib that comes in a range of bright colours.

To this end, Chapman and Pickaerts have brought on board Bryony Sheridan, the former buying manager of home and interiors at Liberty London, as well as interior designer Hubert Zandberg as style director, and the Abask idea has gone from inception to launch in just 10 months. In this time, the team has pulled together an offering that includes well-known heritage names and small artisan makers, as well as a selection of vintage finds. In some cases, the products are being produced exclusively for Abask. Were launching with 2,000 products, says Chapman. We have 105 brands. Well have 150 by December and will keep building.

The initial selection will be divided into four sections by room: the study, the bar, the dining room and the games room. I love the idea that everything is useful as well as beautiful, and I think the selection is very interesting, says Osanna Visconti di Modrone, a Milanese creator whose sculptural brass objects will be part of the Abask line-up, including pomegranate paper weights and textural candle holders cast to resemble molten wax.

A lot of the time, we are exploring the brands archives to offer something unique

Chapman does not want to be a Harrods or a Saks. We want to share the great makers out there that people havent heard of, he says. Touring the villa, I make several new personal discoveries: Nick Plant, a British maker of contemporary backgammon sets; Perla Valtierra ceramics from Mexico, whose heavy, matte-black plates have tactile pinched edges; and Los Vasos de Agua Clara, a Barcelona-based female duo whostarted producing playfully painted drinking glassesjust four years ago.

Theres a lot of glass, says Sheridan, highlightingpieces made by the over-200-year-old Austrian glassmaker Lobmeyr from a modernist, monochrome cocktail set by turn-of-the-century Viennese designer Josef Hoffmann to the contemporary colour-pop tumblers created by Martino Gamper. Murano makers also feature heavily: glasses by Nason Moretti are a revived archive design from 1988, while the undulating Venini Fazzoletto (handkerchief) vase is offered in exclusive transparent shades and stripes, rather than the usual opaque finish. A lot of the time, we are exploring the brands archives to offer something unique, says Sheridan of a number of exclusive reissues.

The London-based designer launched her brand of artistic backgammon boards in 2010. For Abask, shes created poker and backgammon sets inspired by Gio Ponti and Hilma af Klint, and the marquetry is just amazing, says Sheridan. Its very cool.

For Leonid Rath, managing partner of Lobmeyr, and the sixth generation to helm the family firm, the common factor among the Abask selection is authenticity. Theyre all brands who stay true to their mission with passion, he suggests. And preserving traditional craftsmanship is a key objective in Abasks mission statement. Another is to celebrate the incredible stories behind each piece, person and place something that will be achieved onthe website, says Pickaerts, via meetthe maker sections featuring interviews, video and photography. Digital allows us to really explain about the craftsmanship, says Chapman, picking up a brass foot by Carl Aubck. We cant tell you how a piece feels online, of course. But we can show you Carl Aubck in his workshop, and he can tell you abouthis design process.

The ZdG floral Camaeu range is handmade in Provence in an exclusive colourway for Abask. Being part of the launch is a natural progression of my friendship with Tom, says de Givenchy.

The website will also provide inspiration as to how people can use the pieces in their own home, says Zandberg. We want to give people the tools and the confidence to mix and juxtapose different styles, and to have fun with it, he says giving the example of pairingthevery classic, floral-adorned Zo de Givenchy tableware with the more graphic, snake-illustrated plates by Laboratorio Paravicini.

Its very important for us to be global, adds Chapman, citing brands from Japan (Edo Glass) to Ghana (The Baba Tree Basket Company). In terms of the size of their offering, theyve plotted out a rapid expansion plan. Every eight weeks well launch another room, says Chapman. The next one will probably be the kitchen, which is going to be fun. The bedroom is a big one: think linens and international bed sizes. Other rooms will be less literal, including a candle cabinet, a rug basket and a space dedicated to ceramics. We wont do furniture, though, concludes Chapman. Never, I ask? Well, never say never about anything, he laughs.

More:
What the MatchesFashion men did next - Financial Times

If you are wondering what are the worst colors to paint a room, then wouldn't be the first person to ask about this common decorating dilemma. Getting the color right in a room can be a tricky business. Even with all their experience, it can take time for professionals to make a decision. There is a lot to consider the size and shape of the space, the available natural light and its direction, who it is for, how the color makes you feel, etc.

Here interior designers, decorators, and color psychologists reveal what the worst colors to paint a room are, and how to approach choosing paint ideas for room color schemes that truly sing, from using the color wheel to help you avoid making disastrous color mistakes to finding paint colors that will make you feel happier at home.

'Choosing a paint color is one of the hardest parts of decorating because we only actually know the true color of something because its sitting next to another color,' says Rachel Chudley (opens in new tab), an interior designer renowned for her use of strong color.

'When youre thinking about paint color and paint tricks for your home, you have to first start by standing in the middle of the room, and explore what will be around the color where the light is coming in, the architectural qualities of the room, and even what is outside the window. If you have foliage outside which the light has to filter through, that green is going to be cast throughout that room. These considerations will help you understand what the color will read as in the space.'

Here are some of the worst colors to paint a room, along with the best tips to help you choose the right ones for your home.

(Image credit: Future)

Red room ideas can be too intense for most people and red is considered to be the most stressful color in history. This harsh paint color often reminds us of danger and disaster. It is strong, boisterous, and stimulating, which is why it is often used in warning signs and traffic signals.

'Physically, red can induce reactions in the body that are similar to stress responses, such as increased heart rate, higher body temperature, and heightened senses,' says Karen Haller, color psychology specialist, and best-selling author of The Little Book of Color (opens in new tab).

However, red isn't all bad. 'The most stressful color for you is entirely personal,' she says. 'It could be a color that conjures up a personal memory that has negative or unpleasant feelings. This might not necessarily be carmine.'

Chad Dorsey, interior designer, and founder, of Chad Dorsey Design (opens in new tab) loves using red in the home: 'Many people think red is harsh, but used in a monochromatic way I find it to be very soothing. Deep earthy red tones such as this are great for hard-working spaces that you don't frequent too often. They are also very forgiving of a scuff or scratch.'

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Decorating with orange might be a fun way to add playful color to a room, but it should certainly be used with caution. Much like red, orange is considered to be an overstimulating color, making it a bad choice for restful spaces, such as the main bedroom and children's rooms.

A bold, fiery color tinged with hints of red and brown, orange in all its variations should be approached with consideration. Many color psychologists believe that orange can even change your physiology and balance of hormones.

'It helps to be mindful of the visceral impact color can have on our mindset. For this reason, I would avoid orange for a childs bedroom,' says Karen Haller, color psychologist. 'You want them to go to sleep straight away, and the color orange is saying "stay awake" its bursting with energy, and can cause an overactive imagination.' If you are looking for a color to reduce stress, orange should not be on your list.

(Image credit: Future Plc)

Often noted by designers and color psychologists as a depressive and lonely color, grey paint can harmonize well with almost every other hue, making it one of the most adaptable neutrals and giving good reason for its popularity, says Helen Shaw, UK director at Benjamin Moore (opens in new tab).

Within color psychology, grey is said to cause feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and instability. It is believed to evoke a mind-numbing response that can leave many feeling impassive. However, that is not to say that you should never use grey, especially if it is a color that resonates with you or your family. According to some of the world's best interior designers, it pays to be mindful of tone, placement, and lighting.

Grey tones can make a lovely palette for a bedroom as they exude a sense of calm, believes Charu Gandhi, founder, and director of Elicyon (opens in new tab). Grey shouldnt be considered boring or cold; there are ways to make it feel warm and a focal point, either in wallcoverings or within fabrics and finishings. While in previous years cool greys alongside silver and high gloss tones were fashionable, we are using deeper, darker greys or even near-blacks in some of our bedrooms. These richer tones envelop you as you enter the room and add coziness. To avoid the room feeling somber, its important to pair grey with pops of color and texture in accessories such as pillows or throws, or artwork.'

(Image credit: Polly Wreford)

When it comes to decorating, not choosing a paint color scheme that makes your heart sing is a tremendous yet easy mistake to make. While you may love the room you've seen in your favorite glossy magazine, you would be wise to pick a paint color that evokes positive or pleasant feelings for you. Your home should bring you joy and paint color is a vital and cost-effective way to revitalize any space, and should be given as much consideration as any other element in your home.

Happy room ideas have never been more needed. With all the uncertainty in the outside world, our homes have become havens, with every room's design able to contribute positively to our mental well-being.

If you are at a loss for when to begin, start with a moodboard. Collect images from magazines or online to help determine your palette. They dont have to be interior images scenes from nature, fashion magazines, and travel can all inspire your interior design scheme. Once you've collected your images, learn how to make a moodboard to get your design underway.

Designers also talk about another element when using color: contrast. As a result, dont be tempted to lean on analogous colors those that sit side-by-side on the color wheel the result will be harmonious but might lack in vitality. Equally, a scheme based on complementary colors will result in maximum contrast but will need to be softened by neutrals.

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Another key factor is light, and the best way to address this is by considering the aspect of the room as well as the undertone of the paint.

As a general rule, to lighten up a north-facing room, avoid anything with a green or grey base or dont fight it and paint it dark which creates a cozy and cocooning feel, says Patrick.

Meanwhile, using soft, pale tones is a great way to maximize the feeling of light and space in a south-facing room. Light in west-facing spaces is cooler in the morning and brighter in the afternoon so warm tones will work well, while light blues and greens can have a calming effect on east-facing rooms.

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What are the worst colors to paint a room? The shades experts say you should never use - Homes & Gardens

As technology is rising, so are the ways of celebrating the festivities. From sweets to getting decorations, we get everything online in today's time. But when we speak of getting the house interiors done it seldom feels like a herculean task as we need to do a lot of manual work. Finding a goodinterior designer in today's time is like finding a needle in a haystack. To make lives easy in today's time, MapMyHouse (MMH) has come up with a new website which will help people to connect with top architects, interior designers and landscape artists across the country on a single platform.

Harkaran Boparai,CEO of MapMyHousesaid, We will help people in connecting with interior designers, landscape artists and architects. The app will help in finding professionals in their preferred city and will facilitate the professionals in getting Pan India projects.

MapMyHouse claims to be one of the best architectural firms on board which works on making the life of people easy by helping them to select suitable interior designers, architectsand landscape artists. Moreover, MMH also has experienced interior designers in addition to start-ups in the field to facilitate the clients.

Other such platforms include Homelane and Architizer. Technology is transforming architecture each day. From 3D printing to touch-screen drafting boards, innovative ideas have always grabbed the spotlight in recent years. Dont forget to have fun while experimenting with your home quarters. The idea is to marry your lifestyle and personality to create an authentic experience.

Latest Technology News

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MapMyHouse app launched to connect interior designers, landscape artists and architects together - India TV News

Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.

Age: 52.

Occupation: Ceramic artist and designer.

Instagram: @janeyangdhaene

Hometown: Born and raised in South Korea.

Studio location: Brooklyn.

Describe what you make: I make one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels. Most of my work is influenced by Korean ceramic forms and I reimagine them by pushing the limits of form and materials. Though descended from traditional ceramic forms, such as moon jars, my vessels depart from this history as I experiment with surface, lending my work a sculptural quality.

The most important thing youve designed to date: Moon jars of course! Thats all Ive been concentrating on for the last two years. I cant think about any other shape nor forms at the moment. If I must pick another, it would be what I created for a Maison Kitsun exhibition curated by Stroll Garden gallery. I created extra-exaggerated traditional bottles to celebrate the Korean thanksgiving.

Describe the problem your work solves: Im not sure If Im solving anything, but I simply enjoy creating beautiful vessels. My work is about finding beauty in imperfections. My vessels are not perfect, sometimes even unfinished, but I hope it brings joy.

Describe the project you are working on now: I recently finished and shipped pieces for my solo show in L.A. with Stroll Garden gallery, which opens Oct. 6.

A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Im currently working on two other upcoming shows. A show with Alison Bradley Gallery that opens Nov. 17 and another show with Tayloe Piggott Gallery in Jackson Hole that opens Dec. 16.

What you absolutely must have in your studio: Incense to start my day, water (lots of them, it gets pretty dry in ceramic studio), and a very large work surface and clay.

What you do when youre not working: I enjoy cooking. My husband thinks my cooking is better than anyone elses. Its totally untrue but I like hearing that. I think hes just saying it so I cook more though. I think its prettier than how it tastes. Also, I love spending time with my girlfriends. I spend so much time in my studio its a treat to see my girlfriends who Ive been friends with for more than 15 years. Theyre my support group.

Sources of creative envy: This is the most difficult question for me. I get envious of all creative people because I often feel Im not as good as them. But currently Im envious of Young Sook Parks moon jars. Its absolutely imperfect and perfect.

The distraction you want to eliminate: Unnecessary noises.

Concrete or marble? It was concrete then it went to marble but now concrete again.

High-rise or townhouse? I was in a townhouse for the past seven years but now in a high-rise with a view and I love it.

Remember or forget? Remember.

Aliens or ghosts? Ghosts.

Dark or light? Light.

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Designer of the Day: Jane Yang-DHaene - Surface Magazine

"Lighting Beyond Edison" officially debuts in November, but author Charles Pavarini will be signing copies at High Point Market this month.

Interior designer and lighting expert Charles Pavarini III is lighting the way for fellow designers and homebuilders with a new book that embraces the LED revolution.

Lighting Beyond Edison: Brilliant Residential Lighting Techniques in the Age of LEDs, which Pavarini wrote with co-authors Mervyn Kaufman and J. Randall Tarasuk, will be released in November, and Pavarini is headed on a book tour later this month that includes a stop in High Point.

The goal of the book is to aid students, interior designers, architects, builders, contractors, homeowners, and all other consumers of home lighting products in understanding various types of available lighting products and techniques. Lighting Beyond Edison provides readers creative lighting instruction for the various rooms of the home including outdoor spaces.

Lighting has always been a passion of mine, and it is an honor and privilege to have this opportunity to share my knowledge through our first book, said Pavarini, founder and president of Pavarini Design. We carefully organized the content of the book room by room for easy reference, suggesting techniques to enhance interior and landscape design utilizing LED technology while providing a basic understanding of LED functionality.

Pavarinis scheduled book signings include:

Pavarini has a B.F.A. in Architectural Interior Design. He studied product design under Massimo Vignelli at Harvard and Palladian architecture throughout Italy. Among many other awards, he won a LUMEN Award for his lighting sculpture, Falling Sticks, and has served The Designers Lighting Forum of New York for more than three decades.

In addition, Pavarini has taught for 10 years at the Parsons School of Design in New York City and created a CEU course, The Fundamentals of LED Lighting for Designers, which he instructs nationally. In 2021, he launched six lines of decorative lighting in partnership with Alora/Kuzco.

Editor-in-Chief Allison Zisko first joined HFN in 1998 and spent many years covering the tabletop category before widening her scope to all home furnishings. In her current role, she oversees all aspects of HFN, including its print and digital products, and represents the brand at home and abroad through presentations, panel discussions and HFNs podcast, The Inside Scoop.

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Want to know more about the ins and outs of LEDs? This designer's new book lights the way - Home Accents Today

We've selected eight opportunities for architects and designers based in Europe, which are available on Dezeen Jobs this week, including positions at KAAN Architecten, Studio Fuksas and Matteo Thun.

Design and project manager at Tom Postma Design in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Tom Postma Design suspended 1,400 porcelain platesas part of the Fondazione Prada exhibition in theOMA-designed Torre annexe. The studio is hiring a design and project manager to join its team in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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Product designer at Studio Fuksas in Rome, Italy

Studio Fuksas is looking for product designers to join its team in Rome. The studio designed a tubular-shaped cultural complex using steel and glass panels in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

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Concept architect/interior designer at Patricia Urquiola Studio in Milan, Italy

Patricia Urquiola Studio is looking for a concept architect/interior designer to join its team in Milan, Italy. The studio reimagined Michigan's Haworth Hotel into a "design showcase" using Haworth's furniture.

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Communications intern at KAAN Architecten in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

KAAN Architecten designed a geological centre informed by the appearance of stone. The studio is looking for a communications intern to join its office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

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Architect at Matteo Thun & Partners in Munich, Germany

Matteo Thun & Partners is seeking architects to join its team in Munich, Germany. The studio looked to the work of Czech artists Alphonse Mucha and Frantiek Kupka for the interior design of the hotel The Julius Prague in Prague.

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French-speaking junior architect at KAAN Architecten in Paris, France

KAAN Architectenconcealed a minimalist wing within the existing 19th-century structure of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts inAntwerp. The studio is looking for a talented french-speaking junior architect to join its team in Paris.

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3D artist at Ateliers Jean Nouvel in Paris, France

Ateliers Jean Nouvel is hiring a 3D artist to join its team in Paris. The studio designed a pair of inclined skyscrapers called Tours Duo in Paris, which aim to "create a character" for the eastern part of the city.

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Interior architect at Studio Aisslinger in Berlin, Germany

Studio Aisslinger created an office for accessory brand LOQI with social distancing in mind. The studio has a vacancy for an interior architect in Berlin.

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See all the latest architecture and design roles on Dezeen Jobs

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Eight architecture and design vacancies based in Europe - Dezeen

This is the full transcript for episode 1 of Quartzs Work Reconsidered podcast, Office design: Working towards joy.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher

Cassie Werber: Picture an office. Whats it got in it? Maybe some neat rows of desks, a chair in front of each one. Its probably brightly lit and dominated by screens. Maybe there are a few plants to lighten the mood. Of course, pre-covid, there were variationsplusher seating, nicer snacks. But mostly, we knew what an office was. And crucially, we knew if we had to be there or not.

But maybe were not in that world anymore. Once millions of office workers shifted overnight to working from home, many of them realized that life without an officewithout dressing smartly, without commutingmight be so much better. And when companies asked workers to come back, they didnt obediently troop in. Some simply refused. Others wanted the option to work from an office, but only sometimes. Improved technology meant that for years, officers were getting less crucial. But the sudden shift to home working finally exploded the fiction that we had to go to an office to prove we were working. Right now the office is in limbo. Companies are trying to lure workers back to their desks. But most employees say they want a mix of working from home, the office and maybe somewhere else. Is the office doomed? And if not, whats going to save it.

This is Work Reconsidered, a podcast from Quartz. Im Cassie Werber. And today were talking about the office: the place which always stayed the same, and why it changed.

Im joined by design and architecture reporter Anne Quito. Hi, Anne.

Anne Quito: Hi, Cassie.

Cassie Werber: So I would say I have this new appreciation for offices now that I never actually have to go to one, I kind of miss having a place thats dedicated to work. Im missing my colleagues and going out for lunch with them and deciding what to have for lunch. Do you have a favorite thing about going into the office? Or is that just a silly question? Do you even like offices at all?

Anne Quito: I do like some things about the office. But I cant say I have an office habit or a regular schedule. I think of my desk primarily as a mooring spot between appointments. But I have to say, my favorite thing about offices is: I do enjoy peering into my colleagues spaces.

Cassie Werber: Seeing how theyre set up.

Anne Quito: Yes! Are they neat? Are they messy? Does that match with my notion of them?

Cassie Werber: When you see that colleague who has got like a huge pile of stuff and papers and things on their desk, what does it mean about their mind?

Anne Quito: Seriously. Right now Im like staring at a stack of books with I think a Garfield lamp on top of it. Golly, what does that say? I think before hot- desking and co-working, a desk was essentially a semiotic wonderland, teeming with clues about your colleagues or bosses personality. Aside from that, the other part about going to the office. I do love observing everyones resting office face, you know that like face of focus? The theater of toil, I enjoy that.

Cassie Werber: When I picture an office, it has some quite standard features. Theres furniture, which isnt like the furniture in a home. And theres this kind of industrial carpet and maybe carpet tiles or ceiling tiles or something. And the air is kind of dry. It smells a certain way. Its kind of a clean, hopefully clean smell, but very indoors-y and maybe official sort of smell. Well, what exactly is the standard office like and how did that standard get set?

Anne Quito: So this standard office kit, if you will, really consists of a mishmash of objects that reflect our evolving understanding of work. In a way you can think about all these sort of like office furniture as fossils about the changing nature of productivity, and the technology involved in that. Theres actually a super interesting essay by a professor of interior design, Nicole Kay Peterson, who researched the evolution of the office. She saying, for instance, the writing desk can actually be traced back to the fifth century when monks were transcribing manuscripts. They needed a writing desk. And these monks were provided the sort of like a desk, a table with a cloth to protect the books. These monks didnt have chairs so they stood while they wrote so in a way standing desks were the first writing desks. We think about them as a new innovation, but: the fifth century. And then in the Renaissance, the chair and table combo, she says began with Uffizi, she traces it in the in to the time of Cosimo de Medici in 1560 where he commissioned the Uffizi as an administrative office. And then in 18th century, thats when we kind of really see the fossils, or the beginnings of the modern office, as we know now. Youre in London, you can visit the first official offices, I guess its now called the Ripley building, but it used to be called the Admiralty office; a building for the Royal Navy. And there was also another building for the East India Company, and the growth of the British Empire required office administration. So they handled paperwork. And then after this, like, chair and table combo, we get to the open layout, which we think is a Silicon Valley innovation. But really, one of the more famous ones in history was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903. It was the Larkin office building in Buffalo, and there, you could see sort of like rows and rows of secretaries and workers doing things. And it was sort of like, informed by the model of the factory. There, our notion of work is productivity, efficiency, and in a way supervision. Silicon Valley had a twist to that. So open layout became about collaboration, transparency, parity among colleagues and bosses. Right. So theyve sort of like, tore down the walls.

Cassie Werber: So then the pandemic came along, right? And so, before this, most people in white collar jobs anyway, they were commuting into offices, and those offices were probably in the centers of cities, and they were going in every day. And then the pandemic happens, suddenly, almost no one is going to the office ever. And these places sit empty for months, and some companies give up their very expensive leases. And then things reopen. But a lot of people refuse to go to them. Whats going to happen now? Is the office dead?

Anne Quito: First, its important to mention that, in parts of Asia, for instance, or even in the developing world, workers simply dont have the choice not to go into the office. Maybe theres poor Wi-Fi access, maybe they dont really have good connectivity in their homes. Also, in some places, its just plain mandatory. And maybe employees feel like they have less agency to push back.

Cassie Werber: Yeah. And that was true even during the pandemic?

Anne Quito: Yes, for sure. But no, to answer your question, the office is not dead. It might seem dormant, like a I dont know, transforming caterpillar. But its not its not dead. In fact, office architects have never been busier. These days, theyre being called to revive offices, to rethink them. And if you will, maybe theyre applying electric paddles and what seemed like dead spaces. resuscitating them, so theyre being called to redesign these spaces, so workers might want to come in. I loved speaking to one veteran office architect whos been designing offices for 20 years. This man has seen it all right, many of them illusions, urban layout, cubicles, and whatnot. And he told me that this is the most exciting time of his career. I know, right?

Cassie Werber: Why? Things are changing so much?

Anne Quito: Yeah, like, what if youre an office architect, you go into a project and theres usually already kind of a template of course, you can pick text, pick textures, finishes, you know, do variations, but this kind of like kit, or this kit of parts is in a way defined. But today, hes saying everything has kind of been blown to smithereens. Theres now this mandate to rethink everything. Now that obviously is want to lure people back in.

John Campbell: So my name is John Campbell. Im an architect. I was also trained as an urban designer. And also I am a certified interior designer as well. So I cover quite a wide range in that design aspect. The pandemic exploded, every old paradigm we had about the office. And you know, before it was always about maximizing the efficiency of real estate. While a number of clients over the last 20 years had really started to focus on a people-centric real estate decision in office, all of a sudden, the pandemic made it all about that. And we add the fact that were in a race for talent. And so we have to create the right types of environments to attract and retain the best talent to help all companies meet their mission and goals. You know, I think were in exciting times within the industry, were going to be in a period of experimentation, I think, for several years.

Cassie Werber: Okay, so one company that really seems to have embraced the challenge to totally rethink the office is the toymaker LEGO. They redid their Denmark headquarters during the pandemic. And how did that go?

Anne Quito: It went splendidly. Their new corporate offices in Billund, Denmark, theyve been there for 90 years. But over the past five years, theyve been planning and constructing this new campus, and I was so pleased to speak to their global head of workplace experience. We often think of working as LEGO as kind of a dream job. And its his teams mandate to basically fulfill that.

Timothy Ahrensbach: Yeah, so my name is Timothy Ahrensbach. Im the Global Head of workplace experience at the LEGO Group. I guess in a nutshell, if you were to ask yourself, I wonder what its like to go to work at the LEGO Group, like, what is my experience? Once I opened those doors? I guess it would be me and my teams kind of job to answer that question.

Anne Quito: Their design was really shaped by talking to employees, the first step to designing a corporate office wasnt hiring a starchitect, or a famous architect, but really polling their employees.

Timothy Ahrensbach: Obviously, the pandemic, weve learned a lot from that its a completely new world that weve come back into. And one of the things that we asked our colleagues about was, okay, what is it that youve been missing from the office? We understand that, you know, people like working from home, or some people do, but what does the office need to do for you to feel like it adds value, what are you missing? And so what they told us was, they were missing the sense of play, they were missing the kind of collaborating and being creative with colleagues, they were missing having these kind of shared and meaningful experiences. And they were missing kind of feeling connected with our unique company brand and, and values.

Anne Quito: Its more than a corporate office, its more than a group of factories. He described it as a mini city, with streets, villages, courtyards. Its for the companys 2000 workers in Denmark and visitors from their global workforce. So he was kind of like, very astute about thinking of an office, not just [as] corporate headquarters, or not just a desk or whatever. But really as a system of things thats involved in making workers experience really great.

Cassie Werber: Okay. So some of this sounds kind of dreamy, and beautiful. Some of it sounds a little bit creepy. Like, maybe you have to go to this LEGO City and never leave and kind of go to the LEGO cafe for your LEGO lunch. Like, is it a bit similar to some of the things we saw in Silicon Valley campuses where they just tried to put everything in one place. And that meant that the workers never left and didnt see anybody else, and ate their way through all kinds of corporate menus day and night?

Anne Quito: This is a question I asked him, too. And the one facet of their campus that really defies that notion, is whats called the Peoples House. So the Peoples House was basically an ask from the employees to create a third place, not their home, not the office, not their desks, but basically like a rec center.

Timothy Ahrensbach: It has facilities like a sports and play arena, a creative studio, a training kitchen, we have a cinema and one of my personal favorites, a karaoke room. There is a fireplace lounge where you can play board games and grab a cup of coffee, a music room, theres a health and well being center. And of course, theres a LEGO lab thats just filled and filled with LEGO bricks.

So one of the things thats really unique about this space is its obviously open for our colleagues to use both during and outside of work hours, but also actually for their families as well, as well as retired LEGO employees. And one of my favorite, most magical moments of the day, is 4pm. So what youll see when youre at LEGO campus, especially if youre sat in Peoples House at 4pm, youre seeing two streams. Youre seeing all the people who have been at work that day, who are picking up their stuff packing all together and leaving, and they all kind of go out of the building, while at the same time you then have all the kids and the families coming in, after a day of school. And so the space really starts to fill up with the sound of kids, the sound of laughter. It just really reminds you a) of the company that we are and how much we focus, and really treasure kind of kids and family, but also how its a place where you can also as an employee, say my day is over, Im now going to leave. So its not blurring those boundaries. Its actually keeping those boundaries really clear. And I really love that.

Cassie Werber: Aw, so nice.

Anne Quito: Yeah, so its not about its not about keeping them at work. But its kind of providing a LEGO-provided third place for them.

Cassie Werber: Interesting. So it seems like LEGO is trying to create something thats kind of beyond the bounds of the traditional office, which makes me wonder what is an office for, today? I mean, if we can do all of our work on screens, in our bedrooms, basically or wherever, is an office really necessary?

Anne Quito: So, what a giant question, right? Theres not one answer to that question. Which is, I think thrilling, because not having a question leaves room for experimentation, for iteration, which is whats happening now. The office is really being examined with a close eye right now. So its a social space, a collaboration area, a focus space, or an escape from domestic chaos of your own home.

Cassie Werber: Sounds great.

Anne Quito: Right? But the answers differ per company. John Campbell, he said the beauty is that old ideas have been blown apart. And our job now is to work with clients to help them understand who they are.

John Campbell: And at the end of the day, an office workspace needs to reflect that companys culture. And so the interesting part when were working with clients is really trying to help them understand whats their culture? How is it being tweaked in this hopefully post-pandemic manner of where we stand at the moment? And whether people are coming in is, how do they want to use space? But I think it must reflect the company in its values and its culture.

Anne Quito: If you think about architects, theyre specing, you know, chairs, tables, designing the layout, but it sounds super existential right? Helping clients know who they are, and their culture. This sort of like existential search, it made me think of another article we wrote, I guess earlier in the pandemic, theres an organizational behavior professor, Gianpiero Petriglieri, who wrote a love letter to offices when we were all cooped up in our kitchens. Its in the Harvard Business Review. He said, something that really struck me, he said, The office has never been about productivity. Its about coming together and learning about yourself and others.

Cassie Werber: I love that as well.

Anne Quito: Its kind of like a radical statement. If you think about offices as like, places of toil, hes saying its really a place to know oneself.

Cassie Werber: How does that actually help people do their work better?

Anne Quito: So this question about knowing thyself is really a rage against template thinking its really a raging against the cookie cutter approach. Its really about this sort of like pause button to ask, what do you need, actually? And then maybe you can do the most effective job.

Cassie Werber: Well be right back.

[break]

Cassie Werber: Anne, how does the design of these new spaces suit their new functions?

Anne Quito: So architects are exploring new ideas. One, theyre designing for remote work and hybrid teams. For instance, John Campbell, hes like now casting a leery eye on conference tables. And he argues that sort of this room with seats and a big screenits almost like a mini theatercreates parity between remote workers and those in the office.

John Campbell: Im a strong believer in that were going to see a lot more conference rooms where the table doesnt exist. You know, and because were going to have a much more informal room. When youre negotiating, the table is the boundary between one side negotiating with the other side. But when were comparing data, it could be a D-shaped table, or we could be informally as a group sitting in different settings. Spaces are going to be much more dynamic in that approach.

Cassie Werber: Yeah, I can totally see that.

Anne Quito: Designers are also thinking about designing for flexibility. Or maybe the better word is uncertainty. Theyre opting for furniture on wheels. For example, one of the more popular products is Vitras dancing wall. I love that name. Its just really a mobile partition that transforms into a bookshelf, a coat rack, a rolling coffee station or a plant stand. And John told me that when theyre doing a full build out, theyre doing raised floorboards. Its basically a construction model that leaves a gap between the slab and flooring to conceal power and data cables. So this allows offices to move furniture or entire departments without having to drill holes on the floor, or disturb a lot of people.

Cassie Werber: Wow. So theyre just planning for things to change and keep changing?

Anne Quito: Yes, for the office to keep dancing. The other thing thats huge right now is theyre not only designing the physical nature of the office, theyre also thinking about invisible elements. So architects are thinking about air quality. Now, theyve always thought about this, but now they need to convey to the occupants that they are. So clearly, they want to convey that theyre designing for health. So Steelcase in 2021 held basically just a pulse survey of how people are faring in their home offices, and if theyre willing to go back to the office, and air quality was one of the top concerns.

Cassie Werber: So this sounds great. Im somewhat skeptical just because I feel like a lot of times people have said, Were going to make the office much more like home, or Were going to make it much better, and its stayed quite similar. At the same time there is this part of me that misses the office that feels like, okay, yeah, I would go back to her to a beautifully furnished flexible space with windows that open, one day a week, that sounds great. Is it enough to save the office?

Anne Quito: The fate of the office isnt really dependent on just one office, unfortunately. As Tim at LEGO says, an office is never a standalone building. It really part of an urban network, if you will.

Timothy Ahrensbach: I worked and set up my first coworking space together with a bunch of people back in 2011. And thats when I really just fell in love with workplace because I realized, you know, this is where historically weve been spending most of the time of our lives outside of the home. So how do we really create a place that really makes the best out of that time? And thats how I fell in love with workplaces. But what I can do is I can take that step back and look at the city or the neighborhood from kind of a holistic point of view. So, you know, looking at how does education and clean water and rows and all of those things come together to create an environment that people thrive in.

Anne Quito: You mentioned earlier that we have to commute to the office, for instance, that experience needs to be safe, pleasant, and all that for us to troop back to the office. In other words, the future of the office goes beyond its doors, its dependent on infrastructure around it, the transportation systems, allied services. I really cherish the idea that both John and Tim have this sort of background in urban planning. Because what do urban planners do, really? Think about systems beyond one thing, and like how theyre interconnected.

Cassie Werber: All these changes, they sound great for people who have control over their office space. Like if you have the money to go and pay a designer to overhaul your office, that would be lovely. Wed all like that. If you work for a famous toy company, and they build you a special gym that you can bring your kids to, great. If people listening are working with their home office, which from my own experience is just a desk shoved up against a wall in the corner of some room. Or if theyre going into an office and they dont have very much control over that space and it isnt inspiring their work to be better, its not helping them to have better interactions with their colleagues, what can they do?

Anne Quito: Simple: Think like a designer. Think about all your senses. Think about all the uses of space. So lighting, acoustics, temperature, surfaces, furniture, air ventilation, scent, even energy or feng shui of a space if you subscribe to that. For instance, lighting alone can make a world of difference. Reorienting your desk can vastly improve at least the visuals of your Zoom calls. Scents, for instancetheres some research that says since like rosemary lemon, peppermint can boost productivity. Sound, think about adding soft elements to muffle noise. Maybe you have a dog who loves to bark or I dont know, chatty housemates.

Cassie Werber: Construction going on next door.

Anne Quito: Exactly, jackhammering, so think about acoustics of your space. The other acoustical note earlier in the pandemic, I spoke to Marie Kondo about her own home office. And she has a different sound ritual, which I cherish. She says, she begins each day with a tuning fork and a piece of quartz crystal, and she uses the tuning fork to partition time. It signals that its the beginning of the day. Its also a chance for her to collect herself. And she says and in her words, clear the air for work. And at the end of the day, she hits it back and its the end of the day. So really, the short answer to your question is, think about the whole space and the habits of your housemates and your neighbors.

Cassie Werber: Were not talking maybe about home office for some people, they are going in somewhere. Can they do some of this?

Anne Quito: I think they can in some way. The best designers think big picture and consider multiple audiences. Frank Lloyd Wright, for instance, inWhat makes for a happy and productive work environment?several home offices always began a project by observing, he says, the rhythms and patterns of life. I think, thinking about the setup but also what you have in the day. Its not one thing but many things depending on what youre doing for the day.

Cassie Werber: Thank you so much, Anne. Its been really fun.

Anne Quito: My pleasure.

Cassie Werber: Work Reconsidered is a podcast from Quartz. Im your host, Cassie Werber. And I was joined today by Quartz reporter Anne Quito. This episode was produced by Anne Quito and Alex Ossola, who is also our executive producer. Our sound engineer is George Drake. Our theme music is by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Suguira. Special thanks to John Campbell and Tim Ahrensbach.

If you like what you heard, please tell your friends to listen, too. You can also leave a review on Apple podcasts or wherever youre listening.

Do you love the office? Or loathe it? To let us know your thoughts, email us at work@qz.com. And to read more about our lives at work, head to qz.com/work.

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Architects are reviving the post-covid office space with hybrid workers in mind - Quartz

The GTA Online Halloween 2022 event has arrived for another year, which means it's time to get frightful and enjoy the seasonal additions to the game. Many players will be excited to see the return of several iconic GTA Online Halloween vehicles, so if you've ever wanted to tear around Los Santos in a hearse complete with a Frankenstein-esque monster emerging from the coffin, or a motorcycle with a glowing skull mounted to the handlebars, then now is the time to add them to your garage. There are also several terrifying masks to unlock, and a brand new Adversary Mode to try out, so read on for details of everything included in the GTA Online Halloween event for this year.

The GTA Online Halloween event started on October 6, 2022, which means it's live now and is expected to run until Tuesday, November 1, 2022, so you have plenty of time to claim the rewards and other spooky items listed below. Rockstar have also promised there will be "new Halloween clothing, collectibles, events, and returning fan-favorite modes in the weeks to come", so keep an eye out for future updates in GTA Online.

Alongside the regular GTA Online new cars that are currently rolling into town each week, there are a number of GTA Online Halloween vehicles making a return this month. You can pick them up from now until November 1 by visiting the following categories on the Southern San Andreas Super Autos website:

The GTA Online Halloween War Mask will be awarded to everyone who plays before October 13, so make sure you log on before that date passes then look for a notification confirming when it's been added to your wardrobe. If you're a GTA+ subscriber, you'll also receive the Mummy outfit, the Pumpkin Hoodie, the Gray Cracked Puppet mask, and the Grimy Stitched mask for playing at any time during the Halloween event.

The GTA Online Halloween event also provides the opportunity to earn the Gray Vintage Frank Mask, by completing any of the GTA Online Short Trips with Franklin and Lamar. Take on those side missions before October 13, and you'll also earn Double Rewards for your efforts in promoting LD Organics products.

Finally, the GTA Online Halloween event brings a new Adversary Mode called Judgement Day, where a small team of tough Riders on motorcycles try to wipe out a group of vulnerable Hunted in a deadly game of hide-and-seek. For each round the Riders start on an LCC Sanctus bike armed with a Double Barrel Shotgun and Stone Hatchet, while also having additional health, speed, and other abilities including brief thermal vision, plus health regeneration when near their motorcycle. The Hunted, on the other hand, are weak but can pick up weapons that the Riders don't have access to, and the Hunted win if they're able to survive until dawn or take out all of the Riders during Sudden Death.

Riders respawn automatically when eliminated, while the only way for Hunted to bring back a downed teammate is to eliminate a Rider, though neither team can resurrect players during the final Sudden Death minute of each round. The odds are stacked further in the Riders' favor, as if any Hunted get too close they'll burst into flames! Play this new mode before October 13 and you'll receive double GTA$ and RP, plus a bonus of GTA$300,000 if you manage to win 3 rounds, delivered to your account within 72 hours of completion.

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GTA Online Halloween 2022 events and rewards - Gamesradar