3D printers have been pretty innovative of late, replicating such weird and wonderful items as dinosaur bones, iPhone cases and even meat, among other things. But now a bunch of architects have also gotten their hands on the technology, and theyre setting their sights on something bigger, much bigger.

The latest crazy idea to see what 3D printers are capable of doing is the brainchild of one Janjaap Ruijssenaars, who is planning to print what he calls the Landscape House a two-storey structure laid out in a figure-eight shape that might just give builders a reason to be concerned over their jobs.

Ruijssenaars is treating the project as something of a work of art, saying that the figure-eight form borrows from nature and will fit in seamlessly with the outside world. On his website he describes the design as one surface folded in an endless mobius band, where floors transform into ceilings, inside into outside.

The plan is to use an industrial-sized 3D printer known as the D-Shape, which was created by Italian engineer Enrico Dini. According to Dini, the D-Shape has been designed especially to print structures, and uses sand with a binding agent that ensures the buildings it prints are solid as a rock.

The construction process is explained in more detail by the Los Angeles Times, but if youre reading this and imagining a tower block-sized 3D printing monstrosity building the Landscape House bit-by-bit, youll be a little bit disappointed. Instead, Ruijssenaars plans to use D-Shape to create the building in 20 x 30 foot sections, with these bits then being assembled on site to compile the actual building.

Due to concerns over the strength of 3D printed houses, Ruijssenaarss home wont be entirely printed however. In addition to the basic blocks, he has also incorporated a few traditional concrete supports to make sure the building does fall in on itself.

The concept seems to be sound and viable, but builders probably wont need to worry about losing their jobs just yet. According to the BBC, the Landscape House is likely to cost between $5 million and $6 million to print.

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Architects Take 3D Printing To The Next Level, Two Storeys Up

FARMINGTON, Conn., Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Beazley Group (BEZ.L), a leading insurer of professional liability insurance for design firms, has launched a redesigned web portal that gives clients and brokers access to industry-leading risk management materials.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/NY46066 )

"Good risk management is not only protection against hugely expensive and time-consuming professional liability claims," said James Schwartz, US architects and engineers focus group leader at Beazley, "but can also be an important source of competitive advantage."

The web portal was created to heighten firm-wide awareness of risk issues and to offer insights and solutions. It includes:

"As a leading insurer for design firms of all sizes and with more than 25 years of experience, we have a unique perspective on the types of risks that are most threatening to design firms' finances and reputation," Mr Schwartz said.

"Risk management is not the responsibility of just one individual in the company, but of the entire firm. We urge risk managers to share these tools with all of their employees."

Note to editors:

Beazley plc (BEZ.L), is the parent company of specialist insurance businesses with operations in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia. Beazley manages five Lloyd's syndicates and, in 2011, underwrote gross premiums worldwide of $1,712.5 million. All Lloyd's syndicates are rated A by A.M. Best.

Beazley's underwriters in the United States focus on writing a range of specialist insurance products. In the admitted market, coverage is provided by Beazley Insurance Company, Inc., an A.M. Best A rated carrier licensed in all 50 states. In the surplus lines market, coverage is provided by the Beazley syndicates at Lloyd's.

Beazley is a market leader in many of its chosen lines, whichinclude professional indemnity, property, marine, reinsurance, accident and life, and political risks and contingency business.

Originally posted here:
Beazley Creates Ground-breaking Risk Education Tools for Architects and Engineers

The urban development department has shown the door to 52 architects empanelled with Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) for failing to furnish information on approved building maps since 2009.

Legal action against them would also be initiated.

On Tuesday, urban development department secretary S. Siddharth told The Telegraph: "In December 2012, the department had sought details within 15 days about approved maps from the architects since the time of empanelment with the PMC. We did not receive any response, which made them liable for being categorised as defaulters."

The architects had been empanelled with the civic body in 2009.

On December 13, 2012, the department imposed a ban on approval of maps for any multi-storeyed building above 11-metre high till the proposed Bihar Municipal Building Bylaws and Building Codes come into effect.

The department, had also asked all urban local bodies to get details of approved maps from all certified architects that included height of the building, width of the road abutting the building, permissible and used floor-area ratio among others.

The department has already initiated the process of fresh empanelment of architects.

Siddharth said: "I have already moved the files for fresh empanelment and the process is expected to start within a week or two. However, the defaulting architects would not be eligible for fresh empanelment."

Developers, too, confirmed that no new building maps and plans are being approved by the municipal corporation at present, which may lead to escalation of the real estate price in the future.

"According to the norm imposed by the urban development department on December 13, 2012, no new building above 11 metres or G+4 is being approved. No building plans and maps are being sanctioned. This would create a gap in supply against demand in the realty sector. Accordingly, prices of new flats and property will witness a surge in the coming days," said Sachin Chandra, the president of Patna chapter of Builders' Association of India.

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Civic map anomalies cost architects dear

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

KMD Architects, formerly known as Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz, the San Francisco-based international design firm, announced today that Ryan Stevens has been named Chief Executive Officer. Roy Latka will continue to hold the position of President. The decision redistributes leadership of the firm as it prepares to celebrate 50 years of practice in 2013.

Ryan has made significant contributions to the architectural vision and the leadership of the firm since he returned 12 years ago, Latka said. His understanding of management and design are great pillars from which to lead the firm.

Having served as KMDs Design Director since 2000, Stevens appointment signifies KMDs commitment to continued design excellence and creative exploration. The decision to name Stevens as CEO, an individual firmly rooted in the design practice, represents a departure from typical professional service firms who tap individuals with backgrounds in management.

I am honored and excited to lead KMD, said Stevens. Our profession has great challenges ahead of it as we rethink the status quo of how to design and deliver exceptional buildings. We have a unique culture at KMD; one which questions presumptions and digs deeply into client goals. I look forward to kicking off the next 50 years.

KMD has seen other leadership changes during the past 12 months, the most notable being the retirement of founder Herbert McLaughlin this past summer.

Jim Diaz, a founding principal of KMD, said, This is an exciting time for our firm. Ryan represents a new generation of leadership for us. He has the right combination of design expertise, business acumen and marketing know-how to lead KMD into the next half century of our practice.

About KMD Architects

Founded in San Francisco in 1963, KMD Architects is a leader in architectural planning and design with projects in more than 30 US states and 15 countries. KMD has seven offices worldwide, including San Francisco, Santa Monica, Portland, Seattle and Mexico City. In the past two decades, KMD has received more than 200 design awards around the world. The companys web site is http://www.kmdarchitects.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130122005438/en/

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KMD Architects Names Ryan Stevens CEO

Designers, Artists and Architects are Called to Participate in the "Bad Design Awards".

Como, Italy (PRWEB) January 21, 2013

Bad Design Awards platform has especially been founded to collect observations, insights and ideas from participants who had sour experiences with various design awards, idea competitions and innovation contests.

Utilizing the Bad Design Awards platform, participants are able to report unethical competitions, misconducts in contests, issues in awards, cheating participants, competition organizers and sponsors. Participants and organizers are also able to provide their constructive suggestions and feedbacks regarding design competitions. Registered complaints will not be made visible to public; however competition organizers are given chance to log in and view all complaints made against them.

Bad Design Awards platform also publishes an annual white paper, presenting the most controversial issues regarding design contests without pin-pointing any of the competition organizers or participants. Within this white-paper, submitted complaints are de-identified and competition names are anonymized. The white paper includes four headings: 1. Policy suggestions for award organizers and competition hosts. 2. Guidelines for participants. 3. Latest trends in design competitions. 4. Statistics on most controversial issues regarding design competitions.

It is aimed that policy suggestions and guidelines included in the Bad Design Awards white paper could be used for organizing better design contests that not only respects designers rights, but provide more value to contestants.

Bad Design Awards platform does not provide or assign any ratings for the reported competitions in order not to encourage submission of false reports. Bad Design Awards platform does not publicly share any of the submitted comments. Comments are kept confidential to avoid bashing or incorrect submissions. However, competitions that have been reported multiple times are directly contacted and made aware of the submitted reports, so that solutions could be found or improvements could be made.

Designers and organizers could submit their insights on any of the design competitions by filling the "Report a Competition" form at http://www.baddesignaward.com

Bad Design Awards platform is supported by DesignCompetition.com which provides a listing of all design competitions and contests organized around the globe.

About DesignCompetition.com

Continued here:
Designers, Artists and Architects are Called to Participate

After plenty of time spent reviewing architect resumes and visiting facilities built by prospective architect firms, the Galesburg Public Library Board of Trustees on Monday will finally get to see preliminary designs of what a new library could look like.

The library board has been progressing its effort to build a new library facility in town so that it might be in position to qualify for state money in the spring. To do so, preliminary design plans have to be in place, and the board hopes to have an architect and a rough sketch picked out soon after Monday.

A design competition between the three architects vying for the librarys business will take place Monday at the library, 40 E. Simmons St. An open house will begin at 6 p.m., where residents will be allowed to inspect the plans close up and talk to the architects. Formal presentations will begin at 7 p.m. Board members have said there will be ample opportunity for the public to vet the finalists.

As long as someones a local stakeholder, they will be given the chance to ask questions, said Mike Kroll, the librarys Construction Committee chair before his death in December.

Nine architect firms sent in their qualifications to the library in October, hoping to get the new building project that could cost $15 million. Board members were impressed with the caliber of firms that applied, with some having completed modern staples like the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.

Site visits were conducted for four finalists, where board members were able to inspect previous designs and in turn get a better idea of what the Galesburg library should look like. Their verdict? It should be an exciting and unique addition to the community, but it should fit within the citys more prairie setting.

Some of the libraries visited in the more affluent Chicago suburbs would prove to be too expensive or too modern.

And while the designs presented Monday will surely garner passionate opinions both ways, it is important to remember the designs presented are just sketches, board members said.

We dont want them to think these designs are hard and fast, said member Mary Phillips. Throughout the evening, we need to reassure the public that theres going to be a working relationship, and there will be many opportunities for public input.

jward@register-mail.com

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Architects compete Monday for library project

Klingner & Associates, based in Quincy, recently bought a Trimble TX5 Laser Scanning System. The company has a branch here, Klingner/Metzger Johnson Architects.

According to a news release, the new scanner is a data collection system that processes and analyzes large datasets quickly and accurately. The scanner has the capacity to capture millions of 3D data points within industry standard formats, which is helpful when measuring stockpile volumes, surveying underground storage facilities and when doing topographic surveys.

Robert Johnson, branch manager in Galesburg, is looking at opportunities to collect 3D building data from building facades and difficult to access areas of building interiors in order to expedite designs for building renovations. The new technology will give architects a mold to enhance design efficiency while reducing design time. The new scanner was put to use Saturday at the Knox County Courthouse.

According to the company, Johnson feels the new technology will help with a multitude of projects, from as-built condition scans, historic structure documentation both inside and out to even unique needs, such as accident scene documentation.

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Architects use laser scanner on courthouse

Eco House Architects - Grlitz,Cottbus,Drezden,Zittau,Liberec
Eco House Architects Zgorzelec/Grlitz ( http://WWW.PROEKODOM.PL ) Design Architecture: - Architectural concepts - Interior Design - Buildings: residential, commercial, detached and individual houses - Decoration service: homes commercial - Visuals, 3d animations - Gardens Landscaping - Interior materials: wood flooring, top class carpets, kitchens, bathroom materials, best wood made windows, sauna design ( interior and garden ), wall details. All clients invited. Please contact our team, and talk about your needs. We can design and deliver best buildings and interiors. We can come to your house, shop or restaurant and give professional service. Please call +48 514 492 382. (Grlitz, Cottbus, Drezden, Zittau, Berlin, Liberec). We work for clients in Poland, Germany, Ireland, England

By: proekodom firma projektowa

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Eco House Architects - Görlitz,Cottbus,Drezden,Zittau,Liberec - Video

Rise against - Architects 8-bit cover
I myself am a huge rise against fan so I will be doing a couple of these. PUT ANY REQUEST IN THE COMMENTS AND I WILL DO IT

By: Aum Alex

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Rise against - Architects 8-bit cover - Video

Haydn rivers - Architects Audition - Alpha Omega / These Colours Don #39;t Run
My audition for Architects, with #39;These Colours Don #39;t Run #39; thrown in at the end because, why not? I had a bit of trouble matching the audio and video up, for some reason my Mac #39;s camera exported the recording a little faster then it should have been, so you may see the video jump about it where I have had to re-sync the video to match the audio. Other than that, everything you are hearing was done in one take, unedited so this can be a honest audition.

By: Haydn Rivers

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Haydn rivers - Architects Audition - Alpha Omega / These Colours Don't Run - Video