Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

With its clean lines, fresh color schemes, and functional features, Scandinavian design has made a global name for itself. Although the aesthetic works in every room of the house, the kitchen may be the to implement Scandi design principles, from painting the walls to stocking the pantry. Perfect for those who feel their kitchen has become a bit too cluttered, a Scandi scheme elevates any space and makes for a cozy yet classy place to grill, grub, and gather.

Niki Brantmark provides interior design guidance to clients online and blogs about Scandi-inspired design daily. We spoke to Brantmark about the principles behind a true Scandi kitchen, and she shared her top tips for achieving the Scandi look right at home.

Whether youre ready to go all-in with the Scandinavian style or looking for ways to give your kitchen a quick refresh for the season, there are a few main principles to keep in mindthe materials you use, how to fill your cupboards, and more. Heres all you need to know about achieve a Scandi kitchen.

Lincoln Barbour

The name of the Scandinavian design game is functionalityin every sense. Even though the aesthetic is clean-cut and nice to look at, it rests on the idea that form should never compromise functionality, Brantmark says.

Scandi kitchens are minimalistic, and every item has a purpose. This goes for functional kitchen items like appliances and utensils and for the design choices. You should even select the color scheme with intention and purpose.

"The beauty is in the simplicity," Brantmark says.

If you're designing your kitchen from scratch, think carefully about your regular kitchen use and go from theremake sure every task has a designated place that makes sense to you. If youre just tweaking your space a bit, dont be afraid to rearrange. If you have unused, awkward, or cluttered places in your kitchen, nows the time to set them straightits the Scandi way.

When it comes to which colors and materials to go with, just look outside. Scandinavian design relies heavily on natural elements: muted colors and patterns, repurposed wood, and touches of green throughout.

Scandinavians are drawn to nature and like to use natural materials such as wood, stone, and linen, as well as earthy tones, which draw nature indoors, Brantmark says.

Add houseplants, but take it one step further by using natural elements in every nook and crannywooden cabinets and islands, bamboo kitchen equipment, and woven light fixtures and placemats will make your Scandi kitchen shine.

To master Scandi designs simplistic nature, you need to take the clutter down a notch, Brantmark says. This way, you minimize waste and keep the kitchen as efficient as possible.

Have a good declutter so you can more easily see and find the cooking essentials and food items you have so that nothing goes to waste, she says.

The long-term solution to clutter isnt simply getting rid of things, though. Instead, minimize your clutter while installing smart storage solutionsdisplay what brings you joy and hide the messier items. Simplicity is the goal.

Work with natural, well-made materials that will stand the test of time and create a mix of open and closed storage to ensure a perfect balance between clutter-free and relaxed."

Niki Brantmark

Your kitchen wont be fully functional if youre struggling to seeand though radiant, natural lighting is ideal in a Scandi kitchen, it isnt always reality. If you didn't luck out with floor-to-ceiling windows, adequate task lighting will make your time in the kitchen more pleasant.

Ensure good task lighting for a highly functional kitchen no matter the season and time of day, Brantmark says.

Experiment with a mixture of standing lamps and overhead lighting to ensure every part of your kitchen is well-lit year round. When those dim winter evenings come around, youll be glad for the extra brightness.

Scandi-style mindfulness and practicality dont stop at your cooking spacethey extend to the pantry as well. Just as you want to channel functionality in every surface, appliance, and material you introduce to your Scandi kitchen, be intentional with how you stock the cupboards too.

Work with in-season, locally-produced food to create dishes that are full of flavor and fill your kitchen with the scents of the season, Brantmark says.

See the original post here:
Sleek Design Meets Function with Scandi-Inspired Kitchens - Better Homes & Gardens

There's no doubt that even the lower-end priced onyx countertops make a statement. They often have bold colors or swirling patterns that help give them a dramatic look. The aesthetics can be versatile enough for a bathroom that's focused on luxury and relaxation or in the kitchen when you want an ultra-modern, showstopping space to entertain. When you design your countertops to be underlit or even backlit, you'll see more of the deep veining and detail that makes onyx so reliably beautiful. This translucency is unique among most natural stone countertops, making it a stunning option to place on your wet bar or as a fireplace mantel.

There are other benefits to using onyx in your home, including that, as a natural stone, it's going to last for years to come. Though it requires some maintenance, you can expect this stone to endure, with some products lasting a century or longer. At the same time, it's also lighter in weight than what you may expect from marble, granite, or other types of natural stone countertops. That means you may need less overall support for it and can put it on a wider variety of cabinetry, such as those that may be lighter in weight themselves. It may also be a bit easier to manage if you are trying to install it yourself (though it's best to let a pro handle this type of highly valuable stone).

Go here to read the rest:
The Showstopping Countertop Material That Will Give Your Home The Most Luxurious Feel - House Digest

Vinegar is a versatile cleaning tool on its own, but it can also be diluted and aided by other household staples. You may consider diluting it with water, to start. Vinegar doesn't need to be concentrated to clean windows, and mixing it with water can help to stretch it, as well as reduce the potency of the smell. If you have particularly hard water in your home, consider using filtered, distilled water in this mixture. This will prevent additional hard water mineral stains.

Another great addition to use alongside vinegar on windows is simple dish soap. Dish soap, like vinegar, can effectively break down grime and grease, but it does so in a different way. Dish soap is a true soap, which differs from detergents, and is made up of water-attracted and fat-attracted molecules. When combined with water, soap bonds to both fat and water molecules found in grease and grime, gently breaking down the residues. By using both acidic and neutral-alkaline (depending on the soap's formula) cleaning agents, you can harness the cleaning powers across the pH spectrum, and tackle more window-staining ailments at once. Just mix the water, soap, and vinegar into a spray bottle for an easy, affordable DIY window cleaner. You should also use a lint-free microfiber cloth to wipe the windows to prevent streaking.

Original post:
Is Vinegar The Secret To Dazzling Clean Windows? - House Digest

The Potential of Advanced Modular Housing Design for Post-Disaster Housing

Natural disasters often create an acute and urgent need for affordable temporary housing units to accommodate displaced households as they and their communities recover. When a disaster strikes, the ability to supply temporary housing quickly is critical, especially for vulnerable households. HUD funded a University of Florida project to design rapidly deployable modular homes that are resilient, sustainable, and affordable and can be used as temporary or permanent housing. The research team designed blueprints for units called Advanced Modular Housing (AMH) consisting of three types of units: the Core, Space, and Dwell units. The research team incorporated the feedback of industry stakeholders, including modular home manufacturers, to design the final units. These designs can withstand natural disasters common to the southeastern United States.

The Core unit is designed to be deployed in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and incorporates the essential housing functions of a kitchen, bathroom, laundry area, and sleeping loft. The 160-square-foot unit can be delivered quickly to a temporary or permanent site post-disaster. The Core unit can withstand rain and high winds in high-risk areas and is rigid and hardened so that it can be installed on various foundation types. The structure combines light-gauge metal framing, sheathing, and closed-cell foam insulation. The Space unit can be either deployed alongside the Core unit or added to the Core later. The Space unit is 193 square feet and can be configured as a den, sleeping porch, or bedroom. Unlike the Core unit, the Space unit is wind resistant but not hardened, so it must be supported by the foundation. Finally, the Dwell unit is a 794-square-foot unit that can be delivered on a temporary chassis and, when combined with the Core and Space units, brings the overall area of the home to 1,147 square feet. The Dwell unit includes three full bedrooms and a full bathroom.

The Core, Space, and Dwell modular units (Core+) are designed to address sustainability, resiliency, and affordability. The modular units incorporate climate-responsive and passive energy strategies to achieve hyper energy efficiency, and they can readily accept solar and wind renewable-energy systems. AMH addresses resiliency through structural strength that meets or exceeds Florida's building code requirements for wind loading, systems to mitigate extended power failures, and an adaptable piling system that alters the structure's elevation to accommodate the site's risk profile. Finally, AMH addresses affordability through the savings achieved by employing a factory-built, modular manufacturing process that reduces labor costs; shortens building time; uses low-cost, durable, and energy-efficient materials; and avoids weather-related construction delays, an especially important consideration in post-disaster situations in which the building site likely is still recovering. AMH's sustainability, resiliency, and affordability make it an attractive option not only for temporary post-disaster housing but also for permanent housing in light of worsening affordability in Florida.

Through this project, the research team developed a scalable design and associated construction documents, including blueprints for the Core, Space, and Dwell units and information for solar installation and energy storage system integration, and produced a life-cycle cost analysis. The research offers a viable pathway for developing rapidly deployable post-disaster housing that meets urgent and ongoing needs for resilience, sustainability, and affordability.

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The Potential of Advanced Modular Housing Design for Post-Disaster Housing | HUD USER - HUD User

A family on Fort Myers Beach is building a modular home after Hurricane Ian wrecked their home. But forget what you think you know about construction, there is a new and affordable way many are choosing to rebuild.It was a 1965 little cinder block house, and it completely imploded," said Charlie Hornfeck. He and his wife Leslie moved into their home years before Ian hit.The Hornfecks could never have imagined this would happen to their home on Fort Myers Beach.Standing on top of a pile of rubble a year ago," Charlie said.They went back through the bad memories, recollecting a time when they could barely recognize their slice of paradise.Our house wasnt even as high as the storm surge, so it didnt stand a chance -- it was underwater completely," they said.The Hornfecks said many of their neighbors on Jefferson Street suffered the same fate. The damage was great, but their drive to recover was greater.We knew that we would rebuild and that it would be fast," Leslie said.Here we are a year later, and things look a little different for Charlie and Leslie.The permitting took a little over three weeks," Idyll Construction owner Mark Raudenbush said.The couple partnered with Raudenbush to build a new home.These homes are more energy efficient, more storm efficient, they will create better capacity for families to be here on the beach," Raudenbush said.But this rebuild looks a little different.It is a new beginning for the island and its a new beginning for my customers and my family," he said.Raudenbush works with a company that creates modular homes.Think of these houses like a giant puzzle, or a Lego piece. It is assembled piece by piece. Instead of building everything on-site, workers create sections of the home in a factory. Once the sections are ready, they are delivered to the actual building site and put together. Weve got about 28 of them right now planned on the island and Ive been talking to some people today that are probably going to get on board with it as well," Raudenbush said.There are two reasons why the homeowners went with this option. They told ABC7 that the first is affordability, the cost of this modular home is about a third of what conventional construction would cost. The second is the speed. It took crews less than six minutes to put up just a quarter of this home.The crew came in this morning at about 7 oclock and started setting up and now here we are at 1 oclock and weve got a full three-bedroom two-bath home on the site," Raudenbush said.The house fits together like Lego pieces, with cranes lifting the four pieces in place on top of the foundation. The entire operation took just under seven hours.Its very exciting," Charlie said. "Very exciting to watch those pieces swing into place. Its awesome.Raudenbush said building the house and laying down the foundation took the same amount of time as it took to build this house.It took us about two weeks to get the foundation built," he said. "Meanwhile, the actual construction of the house in the factory was 21 days.The owners did not have to deal with supply chain shortages, however, there is still a little bit of work to be done.It will take about four to six weeks to finish the on-site work," Raudenbush said. "Weve got some stucco work some drywall work and finishing out the mating of these four sections, and the house into one home.But after that short amount of time, the doors to this home will be open in March.People can come by and see if it is something that they might want to do and hopefully that will also help with rebuilding the island back faster," Leslie said.And in case of another hurricane, this home should still be standing afterward.Its built to code now and this construction can withstand 180 mph winds," Charlie said.It's thanks to this new method of construction that the Hornfecks and dozens of other families will be able to keep their homes.Coming back better, stronger, and safer than they were before.

A family on Fort Myers Beach is building a modular home after Hurricane Ian wrecked their home. But forget what you think you know about construction, there is a new and affordable way many are choosing to rebuild.

It was a 1965 little cinder block house, and it completely imploded," said Charlie Hornfeck.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

He and his wife Leslie moved into their home years before Ian hit.

The Hornfecks could never have imagined this would happen to their home on Fort Myers Beach.

Standing on top of a pile of rubble a year ago," Charlie said.

They went back through the bad memories, recollecting a time when they could barely recognize their slice of paradise.

Our house wasnt even as high as the storm surge, so it didnt stand a chance -- it was underwater completely," they said.

The Hornfecks said many of their neighbors on Jefferson Street suffered the same fate. The damage was great, but their drive to recover was greater.

We knew that we would rebuild and that it would be fast," Leslie said.

Here we are a year later, and things look a little different for Charlie and Leslie.

The permitting took a little over three weeks," Idyll Construction owner Mark Raudenbush said.

The couple partnered with Raudenbush to build a new home.

These homes are more energy efficient, more storm efficient, they will create better capacity for families to be here on the beach," Raudenbush said.

But this rebuild looks a little different.

It is a new beginning for the island and its a new beginning for my customers and my family," he said.

Raudenbush works with a company that creates modular homes.

Think of these houses like a giant puzzle, or a Lego piece. It is assembled piece by piece. Instead of building everything on-site, workers create sections of the home in a factory. Once the sections are ready, they are delivered to the actual building site and put together.

Weve got about 28 of them right now planned on the island and Ive been talking to some people today that are probably going to get on board with it as well," Raudenbush said.

There are two reasons why the homeowners went with this option. They told ABC7 that the first is affordability, the cost of this modular home is about a third of what conventional construction would cost.

The second is the speed. It took crews less than six minutes to put up just a quarter of this home.

The crew came in this morning at about 7 oclock and started setting up and now here we are at 1 oclock and weve got a full three-bedroom two-bath home on the site," Raudenbush said.

The house fits together like Lego pieces, with cranes lifting the four pieces in place on top of the foundation. The entire operation took just under seven hours.

Its very exciting," Charlie said. "Very exciting to watch those pieces swing into place. Its awesome.

Raudenbush said building the house and laying down the foundation took the same amount of time as it took to build this house.

It took us about two weeks to get the foundation built," he said. "Meanwhile, the actual construction of the house in the factory was 21 days.

The owners did not have to deal with supply chain shortages, however, there is still a little bit of work to be done.

It will take about four to six weeks to finish the on-site work," Raudenbush said. "Weve got some stucco work some drywall work and finishing out the mating of these four sections, and the house into one home.

But after that short amount of time, the doors to this home will be open in March.

People can come by and see if it is something that they might want to do and hopefully that will also help with rebuilding the island back faster," Leslie said.

And in case of another hurricane, this home should still be standing afterward.

Its built to code now and this construction can withstand 180 mph winds," Charlie said.

It's thanks to this new method of construction that the Hornfecks and dozens of other families will be able to keep their homes.

Coming back better, stronger, and safer than they were before.

Read the original post:
Fort Myers Beach family rebuilds with quick and affordable modular home after Hurricane Ian - ABC7 News

The world faces an increasing shortage of housing and an escalating climate emergency. These urgent global issues call for quick action and innovative solutions.

The numbers show us how stark things are. Construction activities and building operations produce more than 40% of the carbon emissions driving global warming.

At the same time, 1.6 billion people live in subpar housing. An alarming 100 million have no house at all. In both Australia and globally, the housing crisis is a pressing and unresolved issue.

Prefabricated building technology offers promising alternative solutions to this dual crisis. Prefab housing modules are made offsite in a factory. The finished components/modules can then be transported and assembled swiftly at the site of the building.

This approach could transform the housing scene. Affordable dwellings could be produced on a massive scale, while greatly reducing the environmental impacts.

This is not merely about building homes. A shift to prefab construction would be a strategic move in line with the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change.

Read more: The world needs to build more than two billion new homes over the next 80 years

Prefab modular construction could be considered a greener alternative in the construction sector. By greatly reducing construction waste (which accounts for 40% of landfill) and carbon emissions, it tackles these major environmental concerns head-on. A 2022 study showed modular construction can slash carbon emissions by up to 45% compared to conventional techniques.

The controlled factory-based environment of prefab construction makes it more efficient. This includes integrated reclamation and recycling of construction waste.

This approach is highly cost-effective. Its about being resource-savvy and reducing waste to the bare minimum.

Read more: Turning the housing crisis around: how a circular economy can give us affordable, sustainable homes

Using standardised designs and components on a large scale also cuts the cost of incorporating energy-efficient elements such as better insulation and renewable energy. Building in this way creates structures that are effective, efficient, resilient and help us combat climate change.

Among many possible construction materials, wood or timber is among the most preferred for prefab modular buildings. Timber is renewable and an efficient carbon sink. The timber in buildings locks away the CO the trees absorbed from the atmosphere when they were growing.

One creative and sustainable solution to housing shortages is to build modular, adjustable prefab dwelling units. These units are robust and can be adapted to various climates and housing needs with ease.

In a world where cities are growing fast and housing needs are pressing, prefab construction can deliver quality, affordable homes at an impressive pace. Its an efficient solution for a budget-conscious, carbon-constrained world.

The beauty of prefab construction lies in its adaptability, making it the building industrys chameleon.

It can look good almost anywhere, from bustling cityscapes to serene countryside. Imagine a building technique that can seamlessly transition from a cozy mountain cabin to a stylish metropolitan apartment building.

Read more: Not just daggy dongas: time to embrace prefabricated buildings

Modular homes can be enlarged, modified or even disassembled and moved as communities grow and needs change.

This approach promotes long-term resilience by being adaptable to changes in the climate and housing needs. These buildings are constructed not only for the present, but also for the high-performance requirements of the future.

Read more: Prefab revolution? Factory houses are the secret to green building

We can learn from success stories overseas.

A community-focused project in England: the prefab modular homes in Cambridge are more than just buildings; they are community cornerstones. As well as providing roofs over heads, the project is about creating a sense of belonging. These units, meticulously designed and sustainably built, are shaping the narrative of affordable housing.

Scandinavian eco-friendly living: Scandinavians have taken modular construction to heart. In this region, known for its design prowess and environmental stewardship, many modular homes are architectural marvels that embody sustainability. Cozy, energy-efficient homes with sleek designs prove that eco-friendly living can be both stylish and functional.

Versatile modular solutions in the Netherlands: Finch Buildings offers a kaleidoscope of sustainable housing. Here, modular construction is about flexibility and diversity, catering to a range of needs and styles. These timber modular solutions can adapt to different lifestyles and preferences. Housing can be as diverse as the people it shelters.

Singapores urban blueprint: the city-state is a showcase for the incredible possibilities of prefab modular construction. Its seamlessly woven into urban planning. Imagine a city where buildings are not just structures, but pieces of a larger, sustainable puzzle. It is a model of how urban development can co-exist with environmental consciousness.

Australia has been slower than many countries to adopt prefab modular construction. The challenges include:

limited government support and incentives compared to other countries

a need for more training and expertise in designing and implementing prefab modular construction

the traditional procurement process in construction is not well suited for prefab methods, so a shift in thinking and approach from construction managers and suppliers is required

the Australian regulatory environment needs to evolve to promote productivity and support modern construction methods like prefabrication

a cultural shift within the industry is also needed, so owners and developers demand more sustainable and efficient construction methods.

The situation is changing in Australia as the housing crisis has intensified. Recognition of the need for more sustainable, efficient construction methods is growing, leading to a gradual shift in government support and industry adoption.

Read more: Building in the same old ways won't end the housing crisis. We need innovation to boost productivity

The potential role of prefab modular construction in tackling the challenges of climate change and housing shortages cannot be overstated.

Prefab building is charming not just because it is flexible but also because the architectural features have been thoughtfully considered. Every module can be carefully crafted to complement its surroundings.

Adopting this strategy demonstrates a dedication to development that is ecologically conscious, promotes resilience and sustainability and, by meeting house needs, improves community wellbeing.

Link:
A prefab building revolution can help resolve both the climate and housing crises - The Conversation Indonesia

As the number of electric vehicles on American roads grows, so too does the affliction of range anxiety. Drivers of conventional cars enjoy the support of a massive, well-established network of fuel stations. EV owners depend on chargers that are much sparser, especially in so-called charging desertsoften lower-income areaswhere places to recharge are few and far between. Today, the White House is writing a new prescription for that malady, which is seen as holding back the electrification of transportation: $623 million in competitive grants will be awarded to bolster the US charging network with 7,500 new charge ports, many of them in rural and low- and moderate-income areas. A chunk of money will also go to hydrogen fueling stations, to be used by mostly vans and trucks.

The funding is the latest chunk of change to be released from a total of $7.5 billion earmarked for charging and greener fueling in 2021s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

We're on a trajectoryan accelerating trajectoryto meet and exceed the president's goal to hit 500,000 chargers and build that nationwide backbone, said White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi during a press call Wednesday. We've got line of sight to 26 factories across the country that will be able to manufacture these products.

Transportation is responsible for around 30 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. The country currently has almost 161,000 charging ports, according to the US Department of Energy. A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study released last summer suggested the country will need 1.2 million by 2030 to meet demand from the growing national EV fleet.

US sales of electric vehicles are growing quickly, but still lag behind those of many other nations, including Norway, Germany, and China. Biden administration policies designed to establish domestic green industriesincluding battery material mining, battery manufacturing, electric car making, and charger manufacturingare still in their early days. During the press call US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg called the transition the second automotive revolution, but said, were very much at the point of needing to assess whether it will in fact be made in America by American workers, and whether the benefits will reach all Americans.

Half of the new funding announced today will go toward community projectslike near schools, parks, and office buildingsthat will deploy EV chargers and hydrogen fuel infrastructure. Some of it will be targeted at places with a low ratio of private parking spaces to homesthat is, places where people dont have their own personal garages where they can top up every night.

In California, the Bay Areas Contra Costa County will get $15 million, for instance, to deploy more than 100 chargers at its libraries. In Alaska, the Chilkoot Indian Association will get $1.4 million for a charging station in the disadvantaged community of Haines. The city of Mesa, in Arizona, will get $12 million for a variety of chargers for EVs and smaller vehicles, like electric scooters. This investment is also about things that are smaller, with wheelsebikes, escooters, said Zaidi.

See the article here:
The White House Just Announced a $623 Million EV-Charging Bonanza - WIRED

Disneyland Paris has debuted their new drone show, Disney Electrical Sky Parade as part of their Disney Symphony of Colors celebration. The new show features not only drones that light up the sky, but also shoot out smoke and pyrotechnics.

Videos were shared of the new show by Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski, as well as DLP Report on Twitter.

In Rafalskis video, you can see drones make various shapes, including the Blue Fairy, Casey Jr., Cinderellas pumpkin carriage, swans, Petes Dragon, and the Jolly Roger from Peter Pan.

DLP Report shared exciting photos of the new drone show via X (formerly Twitter), including this look at Casey Jr. soaring over Sleeping Beauty Castle.

In this video, the Blue Fairy drone formation shoots out pyrotechnics to the shows score, which is inspired by the Main Street Electrical Parade and its song Baroque Hoedown.

At one point in the show, the drones literally form the words Disney Electrical Sky Parade.

In this video from DLP Report, you can see that drones forming the Jolly Roger are actually shooting out fireworks and smoke below.

Another section of the show includes the drones forming Cinderellas iconic pumpkin carriage.

One unit of the show includes Petes Dragon, which features drones that smoke for the characters nose.

During the show, a variety of pixel and neon art is projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Watch the full show:

What do you think of this new drone show? Would you like to see something similar come to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram.

Brit didn't grow up going to the Disney Parks, but had basically the next best thing: the Phantom Manor ride operations simulator flash game and the Disney Sing-Along Songs Beach Party at Walt Disney World VHS. You can email them at brittani@wdwnt.com.

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VIDEO: Disney Electrical Sky Parade Debuts Smoke and Pyrotechnics Fired from Drones at Disneyland Paris - WDW News Today

Jacksonville-based Kasper architects + associates Inc. is seeking Downtown Development Review Board conceptual and final approval for the facade renovation of its planned urban studio in the Cathedral District.

The vacant building is at 500 N. Ocean St., at northwest Ocean and Church streets.

Built in 1982, two-story structure is about 5,000 square feet.

The 500 N. Ocean St. building, at northwest Ocean and Church streets.

Kaspers renovation would include adding brick veneer to the Church and Ocean Street elevations, increasing the size of six windows and installing aluminum storefronts for all windows, according to the DDRB staff report.

The review board staff recommends approval of the application.

Kasper architects + associates will maintain its core studio at 10175 Fortune Parkway near The Avenues mall, said Erik Kasper, president and principal architect.

The company is responding to the surrounding growth in Downtown and the new projects planned and under construction. Its current design work with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Museum of Science & History, the Jacksonville Armada and the Shipyards project contributed to its commitment to Downtown, Kasper said.

A rendering of the proposed facade of the building at 500 N. Ocean St. in Downtowns Cathedral District.

We are passionate about Downtown. The expansion is an investment in Downtown, he said.

Kasper Land LLC bought the Ocean Street building for $585,000 in August 2023.

The seller was Five Hundred North Ocean LLC.

The existing facade of the building at 500 N. Ocean St. in Downtowns Cathedral District.

In addition to the facade renovation, Kasper architects plans a full interior remodeling of the building and is pursuing a permit for that project.

Kasper said he hopes both projects will be completed in May.

The company plans to hold its 20th anniversary celebration in the building when the new office is finished.

A rendering of the proposed facade of the building at 500 N. Ocean St. at night.

Kasper also has a branch office in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The DDRB is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Jan. 11 in a conference room at the Main Library at 303 N. Laura St.

The 500 N. Ocean St. building is northwest of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

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Kasper architects + associates Inc. seeks DDRB approval for facade renovation of Downtown office | Jax Daily Record - Jacksonville Daily Record

Professor of architecture Fernando Lara joined the faculty at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design this past fall, after teaching at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan. Over the last 20 years, Lara has written four books and numerous articles on theorizing spaces of the Americas with an emphasis on the dissemination of design ideas beyond the traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Lara describes his interest in the ways that the creation of abstraction in architecture aligned with the colonialist expansion of European cultures, and the lessons that can be applied from this history to architectural education today. A core part of Laras research has focused on looking at structures beyond buildings designed by famed architects.

I analyzed the phenomena of how the middle class in Brazil took the vocabulary of famous buildings by elite architects and applied it to their homes, he says. These houses, which were being designed by contractors and even construction workers, were imitating modern architecture.

Lara has written about the role of abstraction in architecture, linking it to history of colonialist expansion of European influence throughout the world.

After a decade as a Latin Americanist, I started working more and more with decolonial theories, a body of scholarship that mostly comes from Latin America, with contributions from Africa and South Asia. An important tenet of decolonial theory scholarship is that modernization and colonization are one and the sameone does not exist without the other. Architecture scholarship has celebrated modernization, while trying to avoid the issues of colonization, Lara explains.

Looking at architectures role in all this, I see that abstraction is a tool for controlling spaces far away in space or in time. As architects, we manipulate spaces that will be built by somebody else in the future. We also use abstraction as a tool to control spaces far away geographically. Spatial abstraction is a process of distancing. We take a distance from the object, using tools and techniques to separate ourselves from the object, so that they can be manipulated. Historically, abstraction relates to the systematization of the design process in the 16th century, paralleling the European occupation of the Americas. With spatial abstraction, London could control New England, or Madrid could control Mexico. Architecture as we know it is integral to that process.

Read more at Weitzman News.

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Fernando Lara looks beyond famed architects to uncover deeper themes throughout history | Penn Today - Penn Today