Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The Versatility of Drywall in Architecture: Pros and Cons

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Amidst the immense possibility of constructive solutions, all have advantages and disadvantages, gains and limitations. Whether for economic reasons, deadlines, material availability, or spatial performance, each type of material responds to the project in a certain way and gives it a specific visual and environmental aspect. In general, multiple construction systems are required, enabling the offsetting of any shortcomings in one material through the performance of another. This approach ensures a balanced and effective implementation of diverse materials to address specific project requirements. Drywall panels, or drywall, are on this threshold between rejection and preference.

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As the name implies, drywall offers an advantage by eliminating the need for water in construction, avoiding the curing process required for materials like concrete, and resulting in cleaner workspaces. Additionally, the construction involves metal studs to which gypsum boards are attached, enhancing execution speed. This quick turnaround is particularly beneficial when time is a critical factor. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that gypsum, being a mineral-based material, carries a negative environmental impact. The extraction and calcination process it undergoes can lead to damages, and these may not be entirely mitigated in proportion to its production scale.

Widely employed in today's construction industry, especially in expansive projects and residential buildings where quick execution, cost-effectiveness, and higher profits are key considerations, drywall has faced some criticism due to its perceived shortcomings in sound comfort and relative fragility. It is important to note that the material can be strategically combined with other techniques to enhance its performance. The stud system, for instance, facilitates acoustic treatment between the gypsum boards, and the material's overall durability can be strengthened by incorporating additional components into its composition.

In one way or another, drywall allows for some flexibility without the laborious processes of shaping or drying. Gypsum boards simplify the creation of rounded edges, prismatic surfaces, ceilings, and cutouts. Unsurprisingly, they find preference in institutional settings like museums or schools, where frequent layout changes are common. Their reduced weight makes them favorable for renovation projects, and the thinner board thickness allows for finer finishing details. In essence, the application possibilities are diverse, pointing to its advantages. It's the responsibility of those overseeing the project and construction to understand how to leverage these benefits. Explore some examples for better insight.

"The biggest obstacle in the process was definitely structural. The discovery of the undersizing of the beams and slabs of the original house delayed the work and raised the initial costs. So that large and costly structural reinforcements did not need to be made, the upper floor and roof masonry walls were removed and replaced with lighter-weight panel walls to alleviate the slab load. The roof was also replaced by a light metal tile, also reducing the weight of the roof."

Dry, fast and economical construction techniques were used for all new constructions: dry-wall partitions for rooms that needed more privacy and for rooms that could take on more extrovert features were specified polycarbonate partitions with the structure of pine battens.

In the spaces of the museum, the architectural solutions were aimed to offer as many lighting resources as possible, in order to make more flexible and enrich the possibilities for the creation of museographic sceneries. Through shafts in the dry walls of the permanent exhibition room, and through features and implements in the flooring of the surrounding areas, it is possible to come up with any museographic arrangement.

New drywall partitions have emerged, featuring German AVERY adhesive on their glass facades. These partitions incorporate blocks with a white embossed finish, available in various sizes and heights, designed for displaying small sculptures. This setup allows for flexible repositioning, continually refreshing the arrangement and enhancing the overall presentation of sculptures in different sizes.

From this commitment to building well and intelligently, the use of industrialized materials with modular dimensions was prioritized. Therefore, the use of steel structures composed of small elements (steel frames) was the constructive solution adopted, since it is easy to transport, and assemble manually and it is a material that can be reused and recycled.

The double-skin facade is composed ofcobogwalls and glass, creating an intermediate cavity between layers that allows for thermal control while also providing a corridor for circulation between doctor's offices and other facilities. The materials used for the facades create visual harmony and provide privacy to the technical wings. The interior partitions are made of drywall for functional flexibility.

We located utilitarian spaces such as bathrooms and closets at the inside of the backward L-shaped condominium space (the footprint is 3100 sf). Bedrooms occupy the two extremes of the L leaving a large inner L that provides the owner with a loft-like environment for work, everyday life, and entertaining. To contrast and highlight the wood wall surfaces of other spaces are treated with a volumetric application of color such as the blue zone of much of the virtual poch (spaces that inhabit the poch in plan).

To achieve the desired layout, the room was divided into different areas, including the fitting room, pantry, circulation, and existing bathroom, separated by a structure with an organic design featuring niches that follow its form, creating a sense of movement and fluidity.

Honest, simple constructions combine the naturalness and spontaneity of the materials. Thus, traditional materials such as ceramics, concrete, plaster and wood are shown with total sincerity and expressiveness, giving the project a strong character.

The wooden three-story house has fireproof external walls by the reason of both the site contract and the building standard law. The whole indoor surface of fireproof external walls must be coverd with reinforced gypsum boards. Because of that, floors of both the second and third floor are connected to external walls by just bolts through the gypsum boards.

The background wall, receives a 11 meter wide faceted plaster sculpture, which goes under the roof, serving as a backdrop for the counter. While the second wall, covered in so tom stone, works as a physical barrier, organizing the layout and offers a warm reception due to the fireplace nook and built-in wine cellar to attend the lounge.

Read more here:
The Versatility of Drywall in Architecture: Pros and Cons - ArchDaily

When Jenifer Baldwin moved into her newly built Pennsport home in 2016, it came with an attached one-car garage but there was no way to get a car inside.

The builder put in a wall instead of a garage door, recalled Baldwin. My suspicion is that the street is so tiny that no one could have successfully parked in it.

Baldwin was fine with that. With a little bit of reconfiguring, she created a ceramics studio, which was especially helpful once the pandemic hit and she could no longer go to the community studio.

The makeover required some work. She needed to seal off the HVAC vent to prevent dust from traveling into the house and add a new vent to the outside. She installed electricity for her kiln and modified the water line to the outdoor hose to allow for a sink.

The studio has windows to let in fresh air, and while she doesnt have heat or air conditioning, shes able to work throughout the year. In fact, the space has worked out so well that she reduced her hours as a university librarian and has started her own ceramics company, Jenifer Lee Baldwin Ceramics.

It can be isolating working on art all day by yourself, but I have a window and a bench outside and my neighbors walk by when they walk their dogs and we chat, she said. Its a nice way to engage with the neighborhood.

Homeowners like Baldwin who dont mind parking their cars in the driveway or on the street, have found creative ways to repurpose their garages: in-law apartments, home gyms, offices, workshops, man caves, and laundry rooms, to name a few. One enterprising family even turned their garage into a basketball court.

Whether looking to repurpose the garage completely, or adapt the area above a garage, homeowners are finding a better use for the space. Searches for ADU accessory dwelling unit and garage conversions in the first quarter of 2023 were up nearly 23 times from the same period a year before, according to Houzz, a design and home improvement website. Searches for ADU over garage tripled during that time.

Depending on what you want to use your garage space for, the conversion can be as simple as bringing in gym equipment or a tool bench, or as complicated as creating a small apartment complete with a kitchenette and bathroom.

Any residential space has to be heated, and usually the client wants cooling as well, said Shila Griffith, owner and principal designer at SG23 Design in Riverton, N.J.

Most garages are built on cement slabs, which can make jobs such as installing HVAC challenging. You will also need to insulate the space to keep heat in during colder months and, if you have plumbing, prevent the pipes from freezing.

There are two schools of thought on keeping or replacing the garage doors. Because garage doors arent insulated they need to be properly sealed if you opt to keep them. If you replace the doors, youll need to find a way to match the faade to the house.

But that cancels any way that it can ever be used as a garage again, said Brittany Hakimfar, founder and lead designer at Far Studio in Bryn Mawr. That inhibits you in resale when the house doesnt have a garage and may not be as valuable.

To bring in more light, existing garage doors can be replaced with glass doors, which can also make them a feature rather than an eyesore.

As with any major construction, a garage conversion will require permits. The inspections that come with the permitting process ensure that all your systems and clearances are where they need to be, said Griffith.

While the cost of a garage conversion is specific to the scope of the job, adding drywall, insulation, HVAC, and electrical work will cost about $50,000, said Hakimfar. Adding other high-end elements such as a bathroom will considerably increase that cost to $100,000 or more.

During COVID, when Paul Markowich began working from home, he needed to find a dedicated space for an office.

We were fortunate to have an unfinished space above a detached garage, he said.

In the fall of 2020, he and his wife, Ashley, created a private, comfortable office that the rest of the family could also enjoy when he wasnt working there.

He served as general contractor, hiring a handyman who added electricity, an HVAC system, and drywall, and then called on Far Studio to help with the dcor. The project took about two months. They kept the existing exposed beams, which gives the room character, and makes a great Zoom background, Markowich said.

Hes now back in an office for his job as a financial adviser, but during the pandemic, the space was invaluable.

It will be nice seeing how it evolves in the future as an extension of the house, he said. Our kids are 11 and 6 years old, and this will be a beautiful space for them to have their friends and watch TV, and have their own privacy.

Though more popular than ever, garage conversions arent new. About 10 years ago, Rotelle Studio(e) converted a three-car garage into a sports court.

The homeowner wanted to integrate a basketball court into their residence, said Blake Hurst, architectural designer for the Chester County-based builder. We chose the footprint of a three-car garage because the sizes were comparable to a basketball half-court.

They added a third zone to the HVAC system and faux garage doors to unify the look to the rest of the house. Though they couldnt add windows on the walls directly around the court, which might be hit by balls, they added windows toward the top of the 30-foot-high roof gables.

The basketball court is sunken to basement level and is connected to the house through a finished game room in the basement and a playroom on the first floor.

The most essential part of the process, especially if renovating an existing structure, is to not forget about insulation and HVAC systems, said Hurst. If these are not accounted for, no matter how pretty or unique the space is design-wise, it will not be enjoyable.

Here is the original post:
Homeowners are converting garages into everything but parking spots - The Philadelphia Inquirer

ITHACA, N.Y.The Ithaca Voice is continuing this months construction gallery series with a look at downtown projects, just in time to supplant any awkward Thanksgiving dinner table chatter.

Last week featured galleries of ongoing projects at Cornell and the Collegetown area. Next up is downtown and Ithacas inner neighborhoods, followed Wednesday by a gallery of projects elsewhere around the city.

Use the below table to navigate the gallery if youre interested in a specific project.

The 12-story Asteri Ithaca building adjacent to the Ithaca Commons is topped out and sheathed. Work continues with the installation of exterior cladding, a combination of fiber cement and aluminum metal panels. The blue material is likely a water-resistive barrier, to protect the sheathing from any water the fiber cement (basically, wood fiber mixed with concrete) absorbs. Notably, as seen in the second photo, the concrete stairwells are not being coated with the water-resistive barrier.

Utility rough-ins (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing installations) are ongoing in the upper floors, while the lower floors show that drywall is being hung but flooring and major fixtures have yet to be placed. Most windows, but not all, have been fitted into the structure. Concrete planters have been poured and set in the alleyway connecting the site to the Commons.

As designed, the $108 million Asteri project consists of a pair of components. The first was the renovation and expansion of the newer middle section of the Green Street Garage to host 350 parking spaces, which has been completed. The second component is the highrise, which will host the 49,000 square-foot Downtown Ithaca Conference Center on its lower levels, and 181 apartments on the upper floors. The unit mix will be 78 studio, 87 one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom, and eight three-bedroom apartments.

The conference center will contain a 12,300 square-foot ballroom, a junior ballroom and breakout rooms, 6,300 square feet of pre-function and trade show space, and a full production kitchen with all-electric units. With the help of grants, the facility is going to be the first fossil fuel-free mid-size conference center in the country.

ASM Global will manage the conference center, and Suzanne Smith Jablonski, who has a history of managing local non-profits, was named the director of the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, which is the non-profit owner of the conference center on the city and countys behalf. Current plans are for a late winter 2024 opening, and the Conference Center is now taking bookings for business meetings and events such as weddings.

As for the apartments, those will be set aside for households making 30-80 percent of area median income. Similarly to Arthaus on Cherry Street, Vecino is partnering with Tompkins Community Action on its Asteri project to set aside 40 units for supportive housing for households at risk of homelessness, though unlike Arthaus this does not appear to be limited to younger individuals. Supportive services for these residents will be included as part of overall property management, with offices and staff onsite.

All development residents will be provided free internet service, with each unit hard-wired for 5G access, including routers for WiFi. Amenities will include a 12th-floor sky terrace, a fourth-floor fitness center and a community room. Residents will also have access to a common laundry room on every other floor, and indoor bike storage on the ground floor.

While Arthaus has seen its share of crime issues, for what its worth, Asteri is more centrally located to social services and support organizations than its Arthaus counterpart. With the Downtown Ithaca Conference Center on the lower levels, there will likely be a regular security presence around the building.

Welliver is the firm in charge of the buildout, and partial occupancy (the lower apartment levels) is expected to begin in April 2024, with the scaffolding coming down before the end of the calendar year.

Now, on to a renovation or conversion, to describe it more accurately. The five-story, 47,285 square-foot Gateway Center was built as a warehouse in 1925.It was partially converted into meeting and office space by Don Dickinson in the 1990s, and then fully renovated into Gateway Centerby developer Mack Travis in the early 2000s.

As reported last fall, both locally and across the nation, the market for office space has taken quite the beating from COVID and the rapid rise of remote work. Given that Ithaca had a lukewarm market to begin with, the local office market is in rough shape with elevated vacancy rates compared to pre-pandemic. However, the local housing market remains quite strong. As a result, if the existing structure is physically suitable, then theres an opportunity for a residential conversion by those with the money and know-how.

Plans detailed by Macks son and current Travis Hyde Properties President Frost Travis call for a $19.6 million conversion of the now-vacant office floors into 46 market-rate apartment units.The original working name was the Gateway Lofts, but now they are calling it The Deanfor Harold W. Dean, the Ithaca businessman who built the warehouse a century ago.

The ground floor would still offer commercial retail space for two restaurant tenants and a fitness center. It would also include a 1,800-square-foot community room to be leased at below-market rates to Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity (the nations first Black fraternity,which will have its birthplace monument next door), and available to the general Ithaca community at standard room rental rates. (Correction: The initial version of this story included senior citizen organization Lifelong in the community room, but that was taken from an inaccurate initial announcement).

The upper floors are fairly routine as conversions go. The second-through-fifth floors will host the apartments, with a community room for tenants on the fifth floor, and there will be a rooftop garden terrace and outdoor seating area. The units will be all-electric and comply with the Ithaca Green Building Policy.STREAM Collaborativeis the architect andTaitem Engineeringis providing the engineering work, whilePurcell Constructionwould be the general contractor in charge of build-out. Tompkins Trust is providing a $15,801,452 loan to finance construction.

The upper floors have been vacated, and renovation of the upper floors into apartment space is ongoing. There are plans filed to renovate the exterior of the building with new railings, Art Deco-themed signage and a coat of Benjamin-Moore Kendall Charcoal paint, but those features have yet to be approved by the city Planning Board.

As noted by 14850.com, Angelhearts Diner will be closing for two months to accommodate the renovations, namely the installation of all-electric HVAC equipment for the ground-floor commercial units. Travis Hyde Properties will be covering all of Angelhearts expenses during the closure, so staff will continue to be paid while the space is being updated.

While Angelhearts should be open once again in January, the timeline for the apartments is rather uncertain, withnothing listed on Travis Hyde Properties website yet. Stay tuned for updates and rental prices.

After almost a decade of planning and construction, Library Place is nearing the finish line. The 66-unit market-rate senior housing project with ground-level amenity space and retail was the subject of much anxious debate from 2020 to 2022, and way too many emails in my inbox. From the outside, apart from some minor metal panel facade work, landscaping and trim finishes, the project is largely complete and leasing is underway. Meanwhile, HOLT Architects, the firm that designed the project, has pictures of the model unit and finished interior and exterior common areas on its social media.

Floor plans on the website indicate no fewer than 26 apartment plans spread across the building, with the smallest unit being a 1-bed, 1-bath, 527 square-foot unit at $2,545/month, and the largest unit being a 3-bedroom, 2-bath 1,187 square-foot at a whopping $5,935/month (full listing here). Most of the one-bedrooms have a posted monthly rent in the low $3,000s, and the two-bedrooms in the low-to-mid $4,000s. According to the leasing documents, yes, there are seniors willing to pay that much, with a number of units already spoken for.

Amenities will include a restaurant, la carte home health services from an on-site agency, community room, courtyard gardens, workout facilities, warming pool, and parking. Library Place will also be working with their neighbors at LifeLong to provide on-site activities and programs. It was announced earlier this month that The Rook, currently located at 404 West State Street, would be the restaurant tenant, opening on the ground floor next summer.

Ithacas Travis Hyde Propertiesis the developer of this project as well, with upscale senior housing providerBridges Cornell Heights as its project partner.Alongside HOLT as architect,LeChase Constructionis the general contractor.Taitem Engineeringprovided design consulting services as the project seeks to achieve high-level state environmental sustainability standards (NYSERDA Multi-Family New Construction Program Tier 3).

This is a bit outside the scope of downtown, but its being included here for balance.

The Northside Townhomes redevelopment plan calls for a complete teardown and replacement of what was a 70-unit complex dating from the 1950s and 1960s. The new project includes an additional 12 units (for a total of 82) with an anticipated townhouse-style unit mix of 20 one-bedroom units, 20 two-bedroom units, 20 three-bedroom units and 22 four-bedroom units.

Technically, this is a lower population density than what was here before (225 bedrooms now, 208 bedrooms proposed), because the original townhouses had a number of three-bedroom, four-bedroom and five-bedroom units that are being replaced with smaller one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, which are in higher demand. A community building, as well as two playgrounds, will be provided for all residents to utilize. Other site improvements include landscaping, lighting, walkways, 82 parking spaces and other siteamenities.

The original plan was to be finished in phases, with the entire project completed in mid-2025. However, the first townhomes should be finished much sooner than that, perhaps by spring.

Townhouse strings are in every stage of construction from foundation slab and footer pours, to framing and sheathing (wood frame, Huber ZIP plywood panels), to roofing and the application ofAtlas EnergyShield polyiso foam wall insulation, to window fittings and stone/vinyl siding faade materials. Exterior details like porch columns will be completed closer to the end of construction, after trim pieces and siding are attached. Those utilitarian wood rails will be encased by the column trim.

Celia Construction Inc.is the general contractor, and architectural plans are being drafted up byZausmer-Frisch, Scruton and AggrawalDesigners/Builders of Syracuse.

If you appreciate our coverage, considerdonating to The Ithaca Voice today during our NewsMatch fundraising campaign. Reader support is vital to our mission, and any contribution is meaningful. Thank you.

Excerpt from:
Gallery: See what's under construction in downtown Ithaca this fall - The Ithaca Voice

First, installing suspended seats on your kitchen island or eat-in dining table will make cleaning easier because you can simply sweep or vacuum without having to move chairs around. If spills and crumbs are common in your kitchen, this can go a long way to maintaining cleanliness without uneccessary effort. As noted in the TikTok video posted by Seating Innovations, suspended seats also help keep your floors protected from scuffs. When there are no chair legs to mark the floor, you won't have to worry about adding caps to the tips of the legs and fixing scratched wood flooringover and over.

Another pro of suspended seats is that they don't fall over, which removes a common safety risk that comes with using bar stools. They also save space. Because they don't have legs to take up that area from the seat to the floor, suspended seats can make the kitchen feel a bit roomier. This makes them an excellent option for smaller kitchens where you need to maximize space.

Seating Innovations shares that one of the main pros of the swing bar stools from the TikTok video is the chairs always staying in place. As a permanent fixture, they are a one-and-done solution that makes it easier to focus on other things in the kitchen. They also provide the option to add footrests if that's needed for more comfort.

Original post:
TikTok Highlights The Pros Of Suspended Seating In Your Kitchen - House Digest

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thanksgiving Day, 2023. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your holiday. Good morning. Im Myrna Brown.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And Im Mary Reichard. Coming next on The World and Everything in It: Giving thanks. First off, let me say that each of us at WORLD Radio is thankful to you, the listeners and supporters of this program. Brothers and sisters in Christ who come alongside to create biblically sound news, features, and commentary. It takes a team!

BROWN: Thats right. So thankful. Mary, lets go around the table, so to speak, and hear what our radio colleagues are thankful for this year. And why dont you start us off?

MARY REICHARD: Id be happy to do that! Here's a quote I read: The world is full of wonders and miracles. But man takes his little hand and covers his eyes and sees nothing. That's attributed to the Jewish mystic, the Baal Shem Tov who lived in the 18th century.

So this year I have made a real effort to remove my hand from my eyes. Every morning, I write down in a journal what I'm grateful for and what would make today great. And then every night I write down three amazing things that happened that day and how I might have made it even better. It doesn't have to be a mountain top experience kind of amazing thing. I mean, one of my entries was, I got out of bed and took a good deep breath. That's it. But amazing. And over time this practice has changed my old hard wiring that seemed to just catastrophize the trivial and minimize the lavishness of my life. I recommend that you try it just like it says in the Psalms: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

MYRNA BROWN: Thats a good idea! Well, first, I'm thankful for your prayers and your kind words during my dad's brief illness and subsequent passing at the end of April. I want you to know my family and I felt loved. I'm also thankful for our heavenly father who is all knowing and, oh, so gracious. You see, my husband Stanley and I relocated from Georgia to Alabama in 2021. A move that had many people scratching their heads. But, you know, God paved the way, and we got to spend nearly two years, sweet, sweet years, with my daddy before he passed. So that's what I'm thankful for.

NICK EICHER: Myrna, I'm thinking of second Corinthians, the first chapter, the third and fourth verses: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

The comfort you received going through that difficulty, you were so kind to share with me. Same with Mary, though she lost her dad many years before. But how were we to know that when your dad died, that my own father would live just four more months, and that he would die this August? It was the prayers of so many, and especially my colleagues here at WORLD, my dear friends who helped me through. So I am deeply thankful.

And as a practical matter, I'm thankful for technology: to be able to set up a temporary recording booth close to my mom and dad in his last months, that time was so valuable. Thankful for that! And finally, thankful for my Dad, his strength, his love, and his example. And thankful to Jesus for dying for his sins and purchasing him a place in heaven.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: Im Anna Johansen Brown. Similar to Mary, this year Im grateful for the ordinary. The ordinary and the sacred, which always seem to be wrapped up together.

Right now Im in a sleep deprived sort of haze, with Beckett on his 87th time asking

BECKETT: Wassis? Wassis

And his little sister is due at the end of December. Breathing is kinda hard sometimes.

All of it is hard sometimes. But its the ordinary kind of hard. The mundane, normal life stuff. And its that ordinary that Im thankful for this year. The everyday ordinary where so much of Gods work, so much spiritual formation, actually happens.

AUDIO: [Beckett talking, Wesley singing while doing dishes]

Making dinner with Wesley. Beckett begging to do the dishes with Dada. Feeling my tiny daughter inside me get the hiccups and then get mad about it.

I want to be awake to what God is doing in this ordinary season. Because whatever it is, hes building a foundation for whatever extraordinary seasons lie ahead.

TRAVIS KIRCHER: Hi, I'm Travis Kircher, and I work on the breaking news team here at World News Group.

I'm thankful for Hebrews 12:2, which calls Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.

Think about that. He endured the cross. He didn't come to it stoically. It wasn't just a mere irritation for him. He hated it. He despised it.

So why did he go through with it? For the joy set before him. The joy of redeeming us, of adopting us into his family, of spending eternity with us. With me, even though I don't deserve it. Happy Thanksgiving you all. God bless.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Hi there, Im Kristen Flavin.

Every year my response to the question of what am I thankful for tends to revolve around family in some way or another. This year is no different, but the theme is the joy of children.

My son is two and a half, my daughter is nine months. I dont know that Ive ever felt so tired or so totally in love. Its not that I wasnt warned, but its really something you just have to experience.

And of course, theres something special about watching them grow and develop and learn how to love each other. And theres so much thats difficult about being a parent, wanting to make sure Im bringing up my children with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord, as Ive read in Ephesians.

I have to say, though, my favorite part is just how much they make me laugh.

KRISTEN: But did Pete cry?

OLIVER: Doodness, no.

If its not Olivers tiny little voice reading parts from his books

AUDIO: [Phoebe giggles]

Then its Phoebe giggling at her mermaid toy or trying out new expressions.

Its truly no wonder that the Psalmist describes children as a reward. They really are. And Im thankful for them every day.

JENNY ROUGH: Happy Thanksgiving. This is Jennifer Rough. Im using my proper name today instead of my nickname, Jenny, because my dad gave me my name. And this year, I want to thank my heavenly father for my earthly father. My dad is generous, kindhearted, and lights up a room. Hes the reason I became a lawyer, which eventually led to my job here at WORLD, so Im grateful for that, too! A couple years ago, I was so touched to watch him take such good care of my mom in her final months. Ive noticed that no matter what challenges my dad faces, health scares or otherwise, hes an upbeat person. I love and admire his optimism and hope.

PAUL BUTLER: This is Paul Butler, Executive Producer of WORLD Radio. A year ago my wife and I bought a starter home in our small town with my son and his wife. We knew it needed some deep cleaning, and refreshing, but as we worked from room to room it became clear that a fresh coat of paint wasnt going to be enough.

SOUND: [DEMOLITION AND WORK]

Gutting, rebuilding, reinforcing, updating, weve done most of the work ourselves, but friends and family have come alongside us and helped us hang drywall, insulate, and install a few new windows. Slowly, a tired, dark old house is being transformed into a strong little house full of light and love.

We really hoped to be done by now, but Im grateful for the object lesson in sanctification. A year ago, the house was paid for, it was set apart for a purpose, but then the hard work began. Some things had to be addressed right away, while others were set aside until we had more time. Along the way the work was sometimes slowed down by cuts, bruises, smashed thumbs, fat lips, and other demands on our time. And isnt that like our lives? Thankfully, the creator of the universe is the contractor on that project, and Hes working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Each year, for His glory, another room is cleaned up and made right. Thats what Im thankful for this year.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.

Link:
Children of a generous heavenly Father | WORLD - WORLD News Group

The current cell the third created over the years is due to be full around next October, so preparatory work is underway on a fourth cell, says the CRD.

The Hartland landfill is getting $10.8-million in funding to prepare the next area of the site where the regions waste will be deposited.

A contract for work on the new space was approved this month by the Capital Regional District board.

Waste goes into specially prepared locations in the landfill called cells, which are replaced as they fill up, said Stephen May, the CRDs senior manager of facilities and engineering services.

He said the current cell the third, created about seven years ago is due to be full around next October, so preparatory work is underway on a fourth cell that has a base area covering the equivalent of about five Canadian football fields.

Cell number 3 is reaching the end of its design capacity, he said, adding: This is all within the approved operating boundary this is not an expansion in any way.

Two more cells, which include roads and access points for vehicles, will be created in adjacent spots as they are needed, May said.

Combined with cell 4, they will have the capacity to accept waste until about 2048.

May said there will be a bit of overlap with the use of the current cell and cell 4 as the transition is made next year.

Shaping of the bottom of the new cell with removal of rock is already underway.

The recently approved $10.8 million will go to installation of a synthetic liner that goes across the bottom and sides of the cell to collect leachate generated by the waste, May said.

Other elements of the cell include aggregate material and clay to form layers at various key depths and grades.

May said every effort is made to compact and shred materials going into the landfill so we can to squeeze as much into the area as possible.

To reduce the flow of waste, recyclables like mixed paper and kitchen scraps, concrete and drywall are banned from the landfill, which receives about 180,000 tonnes of solid waste each year.

The current design is expected to be able to accept waste until 2100.

The CRD environment committee has endorsed a staff report to increase the general tipping fee for waste to $150/tonne from $110/tonne on Jan. 1, along with measures intended to further reduce the waste flow, such as banning clean wood from the landfill.

Also proposed is a ban, set to come into effect July 1, on treated wood, carpet and underlay, and asphalt shingles although they could still be accepted at $110/tonne for reuse or recycling.

Other steps proposed for Jan. 1 include increasing the fine for improper disposal of banned materials to $500, while bringing in a procedure in which bylaw staff would issue warning tickets for the first two offences.

The report now goes to the CRD board for final consideration.

jbell@timescolonist.com.

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$11M approved to prepare new cell to dump waste at Hartland landfill - Times Colonist

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Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

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32 Things To Help Make Your Home Look "Better Than Move-In Day ... - BuzzFeed

ELIOT (WGME)-- In southern York County, money is being raised to buy a Vietnam veteran a new mobile home after his old one had to be demolished.

Tom Barr is a Vietnam vet and former Eliot police chief. Right now, people are donating their time, items and money to help him.

Barr's friend, Wayne Avery, says on a recent visit to Barr's mobile home, he found it was beyond repair.

"I could smell the mold outside. And then I went inside the house and I just saw the black mold everywhere. He's already got breathing problems, and he shouldn't be living in it," Avery said.

Avery started getting the word out, first to fellow veterans, then to people and businesses in York and Eliot.

"They stepped up and started donating stuff, and then they asked if they could help, and probably close to 30 people showed up. And we did a bunch of yard work. Got the place cleaned up," Avery said.

Another veteran, who owns an excavation company, donated his time to demolish Barr's old mobile home. It had deteriorated past the point where it could be rebuilt.

"There's just so much mold. There's nothing that we can salvage at all," Avery said. "I thought it was going to be an episode like 'Hoarders,' where people don't want to get rid of things. And much to my surprise, he pretty much let me do anything I wanted."

Right now, a local hotel is temporarily putting Barr up at no cost.

Barr will soon temporarily move into a donated trailer until enough money is raised to buy him a new home.

"The smallest, basic mobile home that we can get our hands on," Avery said.

Barr told Avery he's overwhelmed by all the support.

"I think he's just amazed that times have changed so much. That we're here to help all our vets," Avery said.

Right now, they're still raising money to try to buy a mobile home for Barr. While there's no definite timeline, there is a deadline they'd love to meet.

"The community just opened up and it's just amazing. It almost brings tears to my eyes," Avery said.

If you'd like to help, you can send a check to "Post 188," with "Tom Barr" in the memo, to Kennebunk Savings Bank, 7 Levesque Drive, Eliot, ME, 03903.

You can also donate online here.

Read more here:

Community comes together to raise money for new mobile home for ... - WGME

Indian architecture practice Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS has built a brick family house with perforated and angled triangular faade in Kerala, India.

The project, named The Kenz House, was designed for a four-member family, whose owner was a doctor.

Built on a 40-cent land set beside the National Highway 66, the project was commissioned with a simple yet demanding brief; "the client wanted something special, something new!.

Due to the sites close proximity to the highway, and the familys requirement for a peaceful nature-filled abode formed the overall architecture language of project and its interiors.

Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS stated that the project addresses the requirements for privacy and the need for open free-flowing interiors entwined with nature.

To meet the brief, the studio decided to tread the unconventional route with the architecture of the building by designing an iconic structure.

The programme of the house is scattered in two floors, highlighting the juxtaposition of two simple platonic form. On one side, an angled triangular portion appears to be added adjacent to a skewed rectangular form.

"This unusual futuristic building was given a traditional twist by realising it entirely in a versatile material, burnt bricks," said the studio.

"The exposed bricks were laid painstakingly on top of each with lattice-like perforations at intervals to ventilate and light up the interiors, and to create a beautiful play of light and shadow within."

"The slanting roof emphasises the climate-friendly architecture further, as it reduces heat and drains water swiftly during the heavy monsoon months," the studio added.

The 8,000 square-foot (743-square-metre) house is spread across the ground and first floors. The aim of the project is to bring nature - read air, light and greenery - inside with the use of two architectural features.

The first key features are a detailed skylights and latticework which define breezeways to facilitate natural cooling of the interiors. The second element is a clever distribution of internal courtyards, filled with greenery, and pools.

The dining area forms the heart of the house on the ground floor which opens out to a landscaped pool courtyard and connects this area with the outdoors.

Another element is the staircase, which connects the two floors seems to float, and has a concrete handrail which acts as an accent point for the house.

The functional circulation is decided to flows to the family room on the ground floor and the living rooms - arranged on the ground and first floors and the bedroom suites one each on both these floors.

The bedroom suites enjoy their private landscaped courts which are enveloped by brick louvers that usher cool breezes, whilst forming a privacy screen from the surroundings.

On the first floor, a spa is also designed with an internal courtyard alongside, to take the bright skylight adding to its comforting and natural charm. A touch of green also wraps the bathing area in the sons bathroom, which fits a trough filled with plants.

"We also built an outhouse - for the staff - behind The Kenz; a service entry from the rear end; and a special route which connects this house to the clients parents residence," said Srijit Srinivas, founder of Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS.

"Even the visually engaging terrace is carefully planned to support the services of the house."

"The landscape design, which forms the nucleus of the project, was carefully curated for its texture, foliage and to offer a rich uncluttered look, both inside and outside; and to complement the warmth and rusticity of the brick facade."

"From an energy consumption perspective, this climate-friendly home is a net zero entity," Srinivas added.

Inside, the studio used bold and brave material palette that complements the exterior of the building harmoniously.

While the rustic brick converses beautifully with the warm teak wood - used on the doors, windows, wardrobes, shelves and bespoke furniture pieces, the elegant Italian marble floors, the plush hand-picked rugs and upholstery fabrics, and the raw cement-finished ceilings add to the sensory dynamism of the space.

The walls of the house are dressed with the artworks which were meticulously sourced. The landscaped courtyards with lush greenery further impart colour and freshness into the comfortable and balmy interiors.

"The Kenz is an Arabic word, which means translates to The Treasure, in English - is a wonderful example of a luxury house done in exposed brick," said the studio.

"The house addresses the aspirational requirements of its clients to deliver a restrained architectural result which is visually arresting, functionally efficient, and an organic addition to the local milieu."

Perhaps the finest affirmation comes from the client himself, "The rumbling of the water in the pond, the greenery we see all around, the sounds of rain when it hits the pool in the courtyard, the simulation of walking through a park while moving from one area of the house to another, or the silences and utmost security we feel inside the master bedroom are most satisfying experiences of our lives, thanks to The Kenz House."

"We can only concede that The Kenz House, as named by the client, is their prized treasure!."

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Sections

Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS completed a resort with dispersed villas in the hills of Panchalimedu in Idukki district in India. The firm also designed Narrow Brick House, a two-storey house was designed for a couple in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala.

Project facts

Project name:The Kenz House

Architects:Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

Location:Kerala, India

Size: 745m2

Completion year:2023

Lead architect: Srijit Srinivas

Design team: Srijit Srinivas, Remya Raveendran, Sriya S., Deepika

Clients: Dr. Biji Basheer, Mrs. Meenu Biji, Muhammed Zahin, Muhammed Farzeen

Design coordinator:Remya Raveendran

Civil contractor:Kumaraswami A.

Interior Execution Team:Fairview Decors

Site Support:Sreelakshmi, Rahul A., Suchithra O.S. & Sreeja V.S.

Text: Deepa Nair

Landscape Execution:Jacob Klavara

Air Conditioning:Glacier Systems India Pvt. Ltd.

All images Justin Sebastian.

All drawings Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS.

> via Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

brick house Kerala residential Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS

Excerpt from:
Srijit Srinivas - ARCHITECTS built brick family house with angled ... - World Architecture Community

Its exam time again on the Part 3 course and, given the state of things, Im surprised at how blas the tutors seem. By contrast, the students sorry, candidates have endured yet another gruelling nine months of post-Brexit downturn, fluctuating immigration statuses and now the cancellation of HS2. There are longer hours, shorter contracts, pay freezes and straightup restructuring which notably protects the Revit-illiterate seniors while sending tremors through early career foundations.

Were briefed by the watery-eyed head of course that we should be kind but not too kind! It is an exam, and they need to understand the gravity of the situation. And we should be rigorous in our questions but dont make it weird! Stressed people dont give good answers. Make sure to ask them about the Building Safety Act, but dont get too specific, in case they ask the question back to us and, crikey, we have no idea, am I right! Mirthless chuckling. Oh, and make sure you ask them about their personal ethical stance, which they must have, and live by. Even though we can see theyre swimming in the same toxic swamp as the rest of us and it is, technically, just a job.

Our first candidate is a shoo-in. Solid work, solid answers to clarification questions, lovely. NEXT! Oh my, you are sweaty, sir. No, no, have a seat, no rush, deep breath, its just a conversation. Haha, sort of. So, how are you ? Oh Im sorry to hear your practice is making redundancies, thats always a stressful process. Are you part of that? Yes, you are, OK. Whats your, um, ethical position on that? No, go ahead, you can swear if you want to.

The next three candidates are similar, although perspiring less. Turns out for every B-Corp practice with dubious working hours and below-benchmark pay (its a local authority client, what are we supposed to doooooo?!) theres an equally cynical Employee Owned Trust trying to back-fill a resource gap by kicking the can down the road and hiding it all in an over-elaborate InDesign template. Either way, theyre cutting staff, theres no budget for a pay rise (soz!) and, no, you cant have time off in lieu. Be grateful for the golden handcuffs. Smile, youll be wearing them for two years.

Im getting a bit bleary-eyed with the onslaught of ennui, when Candidate 6 sits down. Hes calm, his answers are concise but specific and he elaborates when asked. Were done; hes cleared the RIBA/ARB hurdles what to do with the remaining 15 minutes? I go for a broad-spectrum question what are your reflections on working in architecture now that youve completed your Part 3? What are your takeaways? He pauses and sighs.

Honestly, the vibes are just off, you know? he says, eyeballing my silver haired co-examiner, as if daring her to question the colloquialism. Yes, she replies, yes, I am aware that the vibe has been off for some time. There is a pause. So how is your practice handling the economic uncertainty around your case study project? [Hint: its one of the HS2 casualties]. Well they announced this morning that theyd be making redundancies.

Ah, did they know you had your Part 3 exam today? Oh yeah, they said itd be a good talking point for the interview.

Nice. Ok, so what are your immediate thoughts then, given the surprise? Well you know, Im kind of fine with it? I took this job because they offered to pay for the Part 3, and if they make me redundant, it gets me out of the pay-back clause. Theres no projects anyway, and framework bids are soul-destroying.

I could go be a design manager, especially as the ARB are talking about abolishing the Part 3 system anyway. So really, Im kind of hoping they cut me. A severance pack and gardening leave sounds pretty good right now.

My turn to be stunned. Everything hes said is reasonable, accurate and honest. I really wish he was wrong, but hes not. Times up, so we shake hands and wish him the best of luck getting made redundant. I ponder my own ethical position on the train home.

The vibe really is off.

The rest is here:
The Secret Architect: The soul-destroying experiences of a Part 3 ... - Architect's Journal