Those of us who live close to the equator take a daily alternation of light and dark for granted. But in the far Scandinavian north, brief summers of blinding, perpetual sunlight alternate with months of bleak, S.A.D.-inducing darkness, punctuated with ecstatic bursts of Aurora Borealis. In the past few decades, Scandinavian architects have come up with some breathtaking ways to weave these extreme, mystical-seeming light conditions into the very designs of their buildings. In Nordic Light: Modern Scandinavian Architecture, architecture Henry Plummer showcases 50 of these elegant solutions throughout Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, in more than 500 radiant photographs.

For me, light is the most ecstatic architectural experience there is, and in many ways the best architecture is a preparation for the experience of light, Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa once wrote. To let the light in but keep the cold out, some Northern architects transform buildings into optical instruments: theyre shaped as funnels, aimed at the most luminous points of the horizon, and hollowed inside, directing light to the darkest rooms.

Pale materials are especially beloved of these Northern architects, as they reflect and magnify faint illumination like projection screens. The blond pine of Finland's Turku Chapel, the 5 million yellow bricks of Copenhagen's Grundtvigs Church, and the silvery-white walls of Finland's Myyrmki Church turn interiors into radiant havens. In Regnbeun Arkitekters Antvorskov Church in Denmark, pure, white light brightens gradually towards the altar, where a slit in the roof and side windows let light stream in. But all this incandescence isnt just practical, Plummer writes: This peaceful radiance, devoid of matter, touches a chord in the human soul.

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16 Luminous Buildings In Modern Scandinavia

The city of Bellevue has granted Best Buy conditional approval to remodel its storefront to may way for the ongoing Northeast Fourth Street extension project and recover lost retail and parking space.

A new five-lane arterial Northeast Fourth is planned to cut through the south end of the Best Buy store and parking lot during Phase Two of the project, slated to start in 2015 with the entire roadway opened by fall 2016.

The city is exercising eminent domain to run its transportation project through a portion of the Best Buy store, however, the retail company had also filed suit over the city's actions.

The Northeast Fourth extension, from where it ends at 116th Avenue Northeast to 120th Avenue Northeast, is part of several projects to improve mobility between downtown Bellevue, the Bel-Red corridor and Overlake area.

Best Buy will demolish 11,021 square feet of retail space on the south side of its Bellevue store and add 9,964 square feet to its north side. The store will add a single-story parking garage on its east side to accommodate up to 226 vehicles.

Phase One construction included condemnation of portions of other properties, which has been completed. Construction for Phase One of the project is anticipated to continue through 2014.

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Best Buy granted remodel, garage construction

SHANGHAI today unveiled its first luxury outlet project near the Shanghai Disney Resort thats opening in 2015, and said it will include some 50,000 square meters of retail and restaurant space.

The project, named Shanghai Village, will be next to the Disney resort in the Pudong New Area and 12 kilometers from the districts international airport.

Its a joint venture between the European outlet operator Value Retail and the Shanghai Shendi Group, who signed an agreement today.

The village will be home to over 100 international fashion brands, and some 80 percent will be first-tier luxury brands, officials said. At least 10 international fashion brands will open flagship stores at the outlet.

Construction will begin soon on the outlet in the Shanghai International Tourism Resort Zone.

Value Retail built La Vallee Village outlet near the Disneyland in Paris in 1999, and the Shanghai project will use the experience gained to benefit the Shanghai project, said Scott Malkin, chairman of Value Retail.

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City unveils first luxury outlet near Disneyland -Eastday

An historic house that is home to the organization that strives to maintain Riversides classic look is about to embark on its own preservation.

The Buckland House, Riverside Avondale Preservations 100-year-old headquarters, will get its own historic makeover this summer and fall.

A $103,150 historic preservation grant and a $51,575 contribution from the group will fuel the project at the two-story headquarters at 2623 Herschel St., executive director Carmen Godwin said.

RAP is supposed to be an example of preservation for the neighborhood and we felt really strongly that we needed to be that model, Godwin said. By doing the renovation we would be walking the talk. It is important that we are the stewards of an historic home.

Riverside Avondale Preservation works to enhance and preserve the historic neighborhoods architecture, history, culture and economic strength. The 1,844-square-foot headquarters was first the home of George and Grace Buckland and daughters Mary and Charlotte. Grace Buckland and Mary operated the French Primary School there from 1918 until the mothers death in the 1940s. When Charlotte died as the last family member, a relative donated the home to Riverside Avondale Preservation in 1990.

The homes foundation was restored in late 2012 with the house being lifted 2 feet so deteriorated stones and bricks could be removed before floors were leveled and rotten beams replaced.

The project, including new front steps, was paid for with a state matching grant. But the homes age and its move for foundation repair have revealed other issues like a leaky roof, crumbling plaster walls, misaligned windows and damage to the dining room floor from a long-ago fire.

The group had filed for a renovation grant four years ago. But the Legislature did not fund it despite its high ranking until state and local lawmakers lobbied this year and the Department of Historic Resources awarded it. So the renovation will also include roof replacement, chimney stabilization, interior and exterior work and better handicapped accessibility to the downstairs bathroom, all following criteria for historic properties.

The group is seeking contractors with experience in historic renovation by an April 11 deadline. State officials would have to approve the contractor, then construction could begin in May and be done by October. Until then, the offices have relocated to the St. Vincents Dillon Building at 3 Shircliff Way.

For information about the bid process, go to riversideavondale.org.

Link:
Riverside Avondale Preservation's historic HQ seeks contractors for restoration

DECATUR Owners of older homes have an opportunity to build on others' knowledge.

The Culver Old House Fair will offer advice and information on home repairs from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Culver House, 412 W. Prairie Ave.

The Historic Decatur Foundation will host the event as a fundraiser for the home.

We will use it all for the restoration of the Culver House, said Lynn Potter, board member for the foundation.

The foundation has been in the process of restoring the old house for more than 20 years.

We're going as fast as we can, Potter said.

The event will include classes for home repairs, including installing tile, refinishing furniture, paint 101, and energy efficiency updates for older homes. Visitors can also attend a class on researching the history of old houses.

Along with the classes, the event will also have business vendors with products, such as windows and roofing.

Potter and other members of the historic foundation will be available throughout the event to answer questions about the home.

Guest are free to roam the first floor of the Culver house, she said.

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Culfer Old House Fair offers repair advice

Letting your house slip behind your neighbors' could lower your home value and cost you when you sell.

(Money Magazine)

"You never want to exceed the neighborhood norm, but you definitely want to stay up with it," says John Bredemeyer, an appraiser in Omaha.

Must-haves and deal breakers

Home shoppers have strong opinions about what they do -- and don't -- want in a house.

Source: National Association of Home Builders, 2013.

Bringing your home up to speed doesn't have to mean a massive, six-figure renovation. Small-scale projects that address some typical flaws of older homes can do double duty: They'll make your home more attractive when it's time to sell, and turn it into a more comfortable place for you to live.

These three upgrades all cost $5,000 or less.

Expand your closets. Homes built before the mid-1970s often share a frustrating problem: nowhere to put stuff. Small, one-rod closets are a prime offender and a big turnoff for buyers, says Rockaway, N.J., realtor Ellen Klein. Make the most of these spaces by installing an organizing system equipped with additional rods, shelves, baskets, and more, available at big-box home stores (starting at $50 per closet). For those who would prefer to use a pro, firms like California Closets handle the installation, starting at $500 or so.

Calculator: Was my home a good investment?

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It pays to keep up with the Joneses

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