Categorys
Pages
Linkpartner


    Page 32«..1020..31323334..4050..»



    The latest planning applications submitted in the Borough of Eastleigh – Daily Echo - March 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    20/87310 - Single-storey rear extension including flue for log burner following demolition of existing garage, front porch, installation of flue and alterations to windows -7 Oakgrove Road, Bishopstoke

    20/87285 - Single-storey side and rear extensions; raise eaves and replace existing roof with dual-pitch roof with flat roof over rear extension; install solar panels, gas central heating, 12 rooflights and four roof lantern; increase size of car park plus repairs to existing building, new foul drainage path and tree works - Church Hall, St Pauls Church, Fair Oak Road, Bishopstoke

    CHANDLER'S FORD

    20/87442 - Erection of a detached two-bedroom dwelling with provision of dropped kerb from Westfield Crescent, and addition of single-storey side extension to 9 Westfield Road following demolition of existing attached store - 9 Westfield Road, Chandler's Ford

    20/87409 - Raising of ridge height to provide first floor living accommodation with two side and a front dormer, roof alterations to front flat roof element, new front porch with canopy and alterations to windows - 63 Park Road, Chandler's Ford

    20/87376 - Single-storey rear extension and garage conversion - 18 Kelburn Close, Chandler's Ford

    20/87402 - Two-storey rear extension, first floor front extension, roof alterations to single-storey elements on North East and South West elevations, alterations to windows, extension and roof enlargement to detached garage to incorporate storage space above with rooflights and new entrance gates with piers - 217 Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford

    20/87393 - Single-storey rear extension, new side dormer, extension to existing side dormer, replacement garage on reduced footprint - 5 Merrieleas Close, Chandler's Ford

    20/87345 - Addition of new trifold doors and stepped patio to the rear, new glazed Juliet balcony to replace existing, two rooflights to the pitched roof on the flank, a new flue and the repositioning of a satellite dish - 36 Cuckoo Bushes Lane, Chandler's Ford

    20/87341 - First floor side extension and addition of pitched roof on rear flat roof - 40 Oakmount Road, Chandler's Ford

    20/87294 - Garage Conversion incorporating raising of roof and single-storey front extension - 3 Oakwood Close, Chandler's Ford

    20/87251 - Car port - 11 Beech Close, Chandler's Ford

    EASTLEIGH

    20/87441 - Single-storey front extension - 9 Leander Close, Eastleigh

    19/87047 - Proposed single storey extension to ground floor Maisonette flat - 28 Selwyn Gardens, Eastleigh

    20/87401 - Single storey rear extension - 4 Romsey Close, Eastleigh

    20/87384 - Two-storey side extension, single-storey front extension, part loft conversion and alterations to windows - 15 Kenilworth Drive, Eastleigh

    20/87320 - Side extension -75 Twyford Road, Eastleigh

    FAIR OAK & HORTON HEATH

    20/87338 - Porch to front of property - 18 Eastleigh Road, Fair Oak

    20/87344 - Single-storey rear extension to detached garage to form study/games room with external changing room & WC - The Kestrels, 8 Chapel Drove, Horton Heath

    HAMBLE-LE-RICE

    20/87407 - First floor rear extension with juliet balcony and addition of juliet balcony on side elevation - 9 Kingfisher Close, Hamble-le-Rice

    HEDGE END

    20/87200 - Single-storey extension, connecting extension from existing double garage to existing house - Totford, 19 Grange Road, Hedge End

    20/87395 - Replacement front porch - 12 Ratcliffe Road, Hedge End

    20/87357 - Erection of boundary fence - 12 Maidman Place, Hedge End

    20/87296 - Alterations to roof to include hip to gable enlargement to front, addition of a side facing dormer window to western elevation,single storey side and front extension following demolition of existing garage and store - 4 Patricia Drive, Hedge End

    19/87083 - Single-storey side extension and conversion of existing garage - St Francis, 66 St Johns Road, Hedge End

    WEST END

    20/87356 - Proposed Garden Building with first floor office space - Winton, Botley Road, West End

    20/87337 - Single-storey side extension - Silver Birches, Allington Lane, West End

    Go here to read the rest:
    The latest planning applications submitted in the Borough of Eastleigh - Daily Echo

    A plug-and-play solar-powered battery backup solution for homes – pv magazine India - March 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The OneBox from Vision Mechatronics consists of a Lithium battery, hybrid inverter and solar charge controller to give a hassle-free solution for electricity backup in case of power outages. Users with excess solar power generation can save money with net metering by using its grid feed feature.

    Diesel generators are the most common means of electricitybackup during power outages. Besides being noisy and polluting, these are also the most expensive means of alternative electricity backup with an operatingefficiencyof25%, requirement for repeated maintenance, hassles of diesel storage and fear of diesel theft.

    Providing a clean and green option to diesel generators, Vision Mechatronics has installed in South Delhi a grid-interactive lithium battery based energy storage system coupled with solar rooftop power plant.

    The building integrated backup storage systemcalled OneBoxhandles the loads of an elevator (lift), five air-conditioners, two ovens, water pumps, slow chargingelectric vehiclepoints, common lighting of the building, and lights, fans and plug points for one full floor.

    The system offers ahigh peak discharge current, whichenables it to handle loads like lift and air conditioners (which require high starting current) witha comparatively smallcapacityof Lithium batteries. It also supportssinglephase outageand has a response time of 7 ms, ensuring uninterrupted supply and zero blackout.

    A hassle-free solution

    OneBox is a do-it-yourself hybrid solar solution that consistsof the worlds smartest Lithiumbattery, hybrid inverter and solar charge controller to give ahassle-freeplug-and-play solution for backup.It takes care of uninterrupted flicker-free power supply with response time of 7 ms, which keeps all electronic items unaffected by power cut and fluctuations, Vision Mechatronics director Dr Rashi Gupta told pv magazine.

    Inverters and batteries come preconfigured inOneBoxas per customer requirements. So, Users neither need to worry about the compatibility of the inverter and lithium batteries, nor about the complex wiring while installation, said Dr Gupta.

    Integrating solar panels inOneBoxnot only helps in reducing their carbon footprint but also makes the system cost effective andimproves power availability. Users with excess renewable generation can save money with net metering by usinggridfeed feature ofOneBox.

    Predictive monitoring ensures minimal downtime

    The differentiating factor in Vision Mechatronics Lithium battery is Active Balancing and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilitiesalong with predictive & preventive monitoring, which helps to increase the life of the battery.

    Predictive monitoring featuremonitors cell-level data to predict 15 days in advance that the battery/system needs attention. Generally,thecustomers receive an email in advance. Also, with the auto-on/off feature, the smart battery emails the cause of failure, enabling the customer to take corrective actions.

    Return on investment, viability

    OneBoxis a cost-effective and eco-friendlysubstitute for dieselgeneratorswith an ROI of about 1.7 to 3 years and an operating cost reaching grid parity, stated Dr Rashi.

    Recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards published safety and performance standards for grid-interactive energy storage systems as well as battery management systems for batteries, which is an important step towards standardization of new technologies like lithium batteries.

    India is globally the first country to publish a Battery Management System (BMS) Standard, and the BMS used in theOneBoxis compliant to the Indian standards, said Dr Rashi.

    See the original post here:
    A plug-and-play solar-powered battery backup solution for homes - pv magazine India

    Loft conversion inspiration:light-filled loft in Clapham is a masterclass in open-plan warehouse-style living – Homes and Property - March 2, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Conor and Kate Hardy wanted to replicate the warehouse-style living they'd loved so much in their twenties.

    "Our first rental flat together was a light and spacious two-bedroom penthouse in a modern converted office building," says Kate. "We loved the open-plan layout, perfect for entertaining. We had floor-to-ceiling glass and a wraparound balcony where we would sit and watch the sunrise over the city."

    When they started searching for a place to buy and came across this two-storey conversion in 2017, just a stone's throw from Clapham High Street, the first thing that stood out was the double-fronted bay windows, which gave it instant kerb appeal.

    But the really exciting part was the hidden gem of a loft, which spanned the entire length of the house.

    Success story:the mansard loft extension is finished with white walls and neutral bespoke fittings, to open up the space and capitalise on the light (Build Team/ Robin Bell)

    The lack of outdoor space was an issue but the house next door had a roof terrace, so the Hardys thought gaining consent to install one of their own would be straightforward.

    "We saw this as an opportunity to combine the best of old and new, maintaining the period charm on the first and second floor while delivering something surprising and modern in the loft," says Conor.

    With space in London at a premium, they also knew they could increase the value of the property.

    "We wanted to extend with a mansard loft instead of a dormer and chose a local design and build company called Build Team.

    "The architect at Build Team advised us to submit the planning applications as two separate projects one for the loft and one for the terrace," says Conor. If the roof terrace plans were rejected, they'd still be able to move forward with the loft project.

    This proved to be sage advice. The loft application was accepted, as long as they maintained the sloping roofline, but the roof terrace was rejected.

    To the couple's surprise, the council felt it wasn't in keeping with the local vernacular.

    Lofty ideas: Conor and Kate Hardy wanted to replicated the warehouse-style living they'd loved in their first rental flat in their twenties (Daniel Hambury)

    Converting the Victorian part of the building threw up challenges. "We realised quite quickly that we would need to level part of the floor, and then discovered much of the existing wood was rotten and needed to be replaced," says Kate. "When it came time to strip the wallpaper, nearly all of the plaster came off with it.'' They then went to appeal over the roof terrace.

    It took nine months to get approval, by which time they had overspent their budget by at least 25 per cent.

    And though on the whole the couple had prepared well for their project, there were issues they had never thought about.

    "We'd done our research, but with the project being a flat we had three party wall processes to go through," says Conor. "Each property appointed a surveyor and we paid for everything."

    Chic neutrals: an elegant living space done in easy-on-the-eye shades (Build Team/ Robin Bell )

    The flat is a success story, with the original first and second floors retaining period fireplaces and mouldings, and with Victorian-style bathroom fittings and tiling.

    "We wanted to preserve the character look and feel downstairs, so we just did the essentials we rewired, re-plastered, and re-plumbed new radiators," says Kate. "In the loft we wanted the open-plan space where we could entertain like we had done in our first rental, which is why we've installed so many rooflights and Velux windows."

    They chose white walls and neutral bespoke kitchen fittings to open up the space and capitalise on the light.

    They have achieved their vision of creating an uplifting, spacious entertaining area within a grand period property.

    Link:
    Loft conversion inspiration:light-filled loft in Clapham is a masterclass in open-plan warehouse-style living - Homes and Property

    Calgary Central Library is One of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries – The Daily Beast - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Its hard to pinpoint what I saw first as we approached the new Calgary Central Library in Alberta, Canada. Was it the buildings light fracturing hexagonal facade? The Light Rail Transit line disappearing into its heart? Or was it the two drinking bird motion-sculptures near the main entrance?

    (Yes, a drinking birdas in, that famous toy bird you may have sitting on your office desk right now, whose head bobs up and down in perpetual motion.)

    This 240,000 square foot ($245 million CDN) building designed to LEED Gold standard by architectural firms Snhetta and DIALOG, is a beautiful space designed to bring Albertas multicultural and multigenerational diversity together in one place. This is the latest selection for our monthly series, The Worlds Most Beautiful Libraries.

    Beast Travel Digest

    Get the entire world in your inbox.

    While visiting Calgary many things stood out to me. Near the top of that list is that it is a clean citya very clean citywhich is partially why despite the cold it is considered the world's fifth most liveable city. Another is that it is a city reflecting inward on itself, by which I mean most of its newest constructionlike Bow Tower or Jamieson Placeare glass icons. That glass is beautiful and it makes sensewith over 2,400 hours of sunshine annually, Calgary is one of Canadas sunniest cities.

    So maybe I shouldnt have been as surprised as I was when I first laid eyes on Calgarys Central Library, but even in this brilliant context, everything about the library told me its different. From its curved, ship-like form, to its lively glass hexagonal facings reminiscent of a mosaicthe library plays with light like no other structure in the city. That modular facade scatters the sunlight as you move towards it, bending along the surface and reflecting back the blues of the sky.

    If you like shiny thingsand I tend tothen youll be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

    Additionally, there are gaps included in the facadefull hexagonal facings mixed with partial pieces create openings that provide a window into the heart of the library at night, when the light reverses course, from flowing into the building to having it become a glowing and inviting source.

    Eager to get inside, I bounced up its sloping terraced steps to the main entrance, only to be stopped again by the sight of a stunning and massive wood-paneled archway, made of western red wood cedar from nearby British Columbia. The curved arch, my hosts tell me, is designed to reflect a local natural cloud phenomenon called a Chinook Arch, a unique weather pattern that only appears in a few areas across the globe, which in this case is the slopes of the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Alberta. The Chinook Arch is a rising sharp western wind that flows over a long mountainous barrier, dropping on the lee side of the range, forming a wide, half circle arc that can be seen for hundreds of miles. Chinook is a native word for snow eater, due to its warm gusting winds, which can reach over 60 MPH.

    The archway not only connects the building to the terrain and weather of the region, it also literally connects Calgary in all directions.

    According to Craig Dykers, a principal architect and founding partner with Snhetta, this is partly possible because of a unique architectural challenge: the train had to stay.

    The limitation of having a train run through the site opened many doors to unusual geometry, Dykers tells me, we had to follow the train line below us.

    The Light Rail Train divided the city, cutting off the downtown and the currently growing and trendy East Village neighborhood, where the library now sits. To preserve the rail line that runs in a half-circle under the library, architects lifted the library upward, which then created an opportunity for a thoroughfare uniting both parts of the city.

    Once I was finally on the insidethere it was again: the large curves and arcs. The building is curved. The arch is curved. On the inside, the stairways and floors ebb and flow in curves. This is a building that abhors straight lines. Bright white floors and walls lined with soft wood panels twist upward toward The Oculus, a massive eye-shaped skylight that floods each floor with light.

    As we learned more about First Nations culture, Dykers tells me, we saw similar shapes in their art and the way they express the spaces they build.

    The interior is somewhat like a great lodge, he adds, like the indigenous longhouse structures found in the region and toward the West Coast. The form lifts upward and leads your eye toward the light. These characteristics are also found in historical building traditions in the west, as we might find in buildings like the Pantheon.

    According to Dykers, the modern library is one that should not only reflect the regionlike the Chinook Arch or the great lodgeit should be a space designed to provide an opportunity for people to meet.

    Many contemporary libraries were built on the models that were developed either in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, says Dykers. Libraries go back 2000 years or more to the ancients in the Mediterraneanthe Greeks and the Romans, and Greek libraries, he notes, were really very lively placesplaces where people came to talk and discuss. They even had food in them.

    And this is the library that Calgary now has.

    On the inside, it is clear that thiswith its street-level cafe, interior coffee bar, and 2,400 square foot performance hallis a place for activity, conversing, and creating. Each floor of the library brings out that older model in its own way.

    The Jocelyn Louise Anderson Childrens Library on floor 1M, for example, is a 12,200 square foot room with beautiful high ceilings and places for children to play, climb, and blow off energy before collapsing to read a book or have one read to them. I stumbled over the many mounds of shoes discarded by kids everywhere.

    Or level three, a wide-open space provides the Teen Centre, where I saw high schoolers reading, playing board games, and gaming on large screens. This floor is home to a lot of tech, housing video conferencing facilities, audio and video production studios, and even a learning center to help immigrants get settled and acclimate.

    But if youre the kind of person who just needs some calm reading space, then never feartheres room for you as well. As you make your way upward in the library it gets quieter.

    On the fourth floor, for example, the TD Great Reading Room is an oval space with wrap-around wood-paneling, and oak tables for reading from the librarys 450,000 volumes in their collection. It is a quiet and warm room where the glow of the skylight is diffused through wood panels. This floor houses the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre and The Elder's Guidance Circle, where you can speak to Indigenous Elders or come to hear stories and experience ceremonies.

    The floor is an interesting architectural meeting point, where both sides of the buildings curvature connect at what some refer to as a ships prow. From this vantage point, you can overlook the train as it passes below. This might have been my favorite space. The orb-like ceiling lights hovered like stars and the high floor to ceiling windows lets the daylight stream through the hexagonal panels and engulf you. Paralleling the orbs above, the floor itself is divided into round carpeted sections where three chairs face a small table, making it easy to break-up this larger space up into small groups.

    But more than the rooms, it seemed like every corner and wall held some form of artistic message.

    Several Indigenous Placemaking installations mark the regions original connection to First Nationsthe library sits on Treaty 7 First Nations territory. Among the installations, for example are Roland Rollinmuds colorful painting Survival Harvest (Past), found on the Welcome Wall of Level 1, which depicts the history of First Nations in Canada as stewards of the land. On floor 1M, is Lionel Peyachews installation of Education is the New Buffaloa steel North American Bison, which is constructed out of language text from local Indigenous groups. The point: buffalo was once necessary for survival, but today education now has that role.

    On level three, a wall features Christian Moellers mosaic piece made of colorful book spines that, when you step back, reveal a goldfish eye watching you. Moeller is also behind the two drinking bird pieces, known as TRIOthe third was yet to be installed.

    It is easy to understand why this is seen as the largest cultural project in Calgary since the 1988 Olympics.

    All of this diversity brought me back to the librarys shining mosaic outside. Canada is a mosaic, not a melting pot, is the phrase that often distinguishes the cultural aspirations of Canada and the United States. It is that dream of a mosaic that seemed like a beautiful metaphor for Calgarys Library.

    Dykers tells me that the idea of Canada is a mosaic was not on their minds when they designed the facade. It is intended, he says, to be playful and to distinguish the building from everything else around it.

    Were happy when people have even their own associations that we didnt intend, Dykers tells me, it means that people are connecting to it and in different ways. And it is true, other people see snowflakes in the facade or books.

    Saying goodbye to Calgary Central Library and my drinking bird friends, its clear to me that this light infused, curve obsessed hub is designed to be an open, beautiful space for everyone.

    And perhaps nothing says that more when First Nations representatives came to consecrate the library, Dykers tells me, they gave him what he felt was one of the highest compliments, saying that the library feels at home in its place.

    See original here:
    Calgary Central Library is One of the World's Most Beautiful Libraries - The Daily Beast

    Open Houses This Week in the Sioux City Area – Sioux City Journal - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    A Putt from the Green!! This 4 bedroom, 4 bath home is perfectly positioned on the #5 green of the Dakota Dunes Golf Course!! Make your entrance into a dramatic 2 story foyer and enjoy over 3,500 square foot of finished living space and extend your living to the covered outdoor deck with sweeping views of the course. This Colonial style homes main floor offers wonderful family living space with a convenient formal living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, half bath and laundry. The 2nd floor has 4 bedroom, and 2 bath with the master bedroom suite complete with whirlpool tub and walk-in closet. The lower level completes the home with a spacious family room, den with great closet, large bath with steam shower, wine cellar and storage. With maple wood floors, tile bathroom floors, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, breakfast bar, formal dining, granite counters, stainless appliances, main floor laundry, steam shower, wine cellar and more, this home has a lot to offer, all in a relaxing surrounding, tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac. What a prime Location at a great price!! Dont get caught in the sand trap, call to see this house today!!!!

    View Listing

    Read more:
    Open Houses This Week in the Sioux City Area - Sioux City Journal

    Coronavirus concerns overshadow PV Expo in Tokyo – pv magazine International - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Those who did show up to PV Expo in Tokyo this week were greeted by infrared cameras and were kindly told to put on face masks, only to find a largely empty trade show floor, as coronavirus fears prompted many industry participants to take a pass on Japans leading energy exhibition this year.

    It was an unfortunate situation for exhibitors, organizers, and stakeholders in Japans renewables business, because 2020 could be another 7 GW to 7.5 GW year in terms of annual installations, according to RTS Corp., a Tokyo-based research outfit.

    On Tuesday, the day before the show, the Cabinet of Japan held a press conference outlining the governments plan to build a more resilient national power system. Weeks-long power outages in Hokkaido and Chiba prefecture have forced politicians to draw up a disaster resilience plan.

    We are aiming to establish a resilient and sustainable electricity supply system in view of the intensification of disasters that has changed the energy environment, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama said.

    The government endorses the value of distributed solar+storage. Additionally, the cabinet has tabled a bill regarding the feed-in premium, which is set to replace the feed-in tariff. To date, electricity companies are being forced to buy solar power at rates set by the FIT, which has been worryingly expensive. The country holds the world record when it comes to end-user power prices.

    In response to this, Japan has started to hold competitive tender rounds with undisclosed ceiling prices for utility-scale PV projects. The fifth round was designed to allocate 416 MW of capacity, but ended up only awarding 27 projects with a cumulative capacity of 39.8 MW. With the feed-in premium, solar plant owners would receive a premium on current market prices to refinance their assets, but the government has yet to determine the exact details so they can be signed off by parliament. Japans political elites aim to get it done by April 22, but overall the plan appeared to be welcomed on the trade show floor.

    Dominik Grtzner, representative director of mounting system supplier S-Rack, said that enough projects have been developed and tendered over the last few rounds to keep the industry bustling for a while. But RTS Corp. claims that utility-scale PV projects in Japan actually have a low commissioning rate of just 35%. Of the 21.9 GW of approved projects above 2 MW in size, just 7.2 GW have actually been commissioned to date.

    Empty booths

    The hall for PV suppliers at PV Expo was particularly empty this week, as exhibitors from China mostly decided to skip out on the annual show. This meant that PV Expo 2020 did not provide an initial glimpse of new module tech that will be rolled out this year, as expected. Thats unfortunate, as Japans New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has managed to produce a 30x30cm perovskite module with an efficiency rating of 16.09%. That said, Japanese PV module heavyweights such as Panasonic and Sharp stayed clear of the trade show floor this year, anyway.

    There were some developments in terms of products at the show, with Trina Solar announcing a 500 W bifacial module, for example. Beyond that, Japanese conglomerate Marubeni had a number of big announcements to make this week related to the acquisition of Taiwanese solar developer Chenya Energy. However, it didnt get the chance to share the news at the show, as its booth was completely empty.

    On the inverter side, Sungrow showed up with an AC-coupled solution, the ST159KWH-50HV, as well as a DC-coupled offering: the ST751KWH-D350+SG49K5J for C&I-scale containerized storage. The devices come in three-hour versions, as the company claims that under current C&I solar market conditions in Japan, such systems are the most economically viable option.

    Sungrow introduced the product to the Japanese market in 2019 and has already sold about 30 MW. The Chinese inverter manufacturer is now targeting the C&I storage retrofitting market, which it sees as particularly promising. It also offers a Japan-licensed version of its 100 kW string inverter. In addition, Sungrow currently has a 5 kW inverter in the licensing process on the residential side. Once cleared, the company hopes to capture about 10% of the traditionally hard-to-access Japanese market.

    The company also appears close to finalizing a 100 MW supply deal with Japans GS Yuasa. The agreement involves PV and storage solutions alike and could provide a significant boost for the companys business in the country. Thus far, Sungrow has supplied about 50 MWh of storage in Japan, and it has been involved in a few single-digit, megawatt-scale landmark projects throughout the archipelago.

    Current health concerns aside, PV Expo is part of a group show World Smart Energy Week that includes a Battery Expo and Fuel Cell Expo. The latter two were somewhat better attended, with more exhibitors in the halls. The reason could be that visitors and exhibitors from Europe and North America attended in greater numbers than their Chinese counterparts. Of course, the PV industry especially the manufacturing business relies heavily on Chinese suppliers, as shown by the empty booths at PV Expo.

    But the higher attendance at the other parts of the show can also be attributed to the fact that Japan has a very strong hydrogen and battery sector. The country currently hosts a significant amount of residential hydrogen capacity and a potpourri of companies from all over the world have come to join the party.

    Image: pv magazine

    One of those companies is Enapter, which showcased a modular electrolyzer approach in Tokyo this week. The device uses a new method in the electrolyzer process known as REM. The technology makes the device smaller and more efficient, and the hydrogen product more pure than rival PEM technology, which is the most widely used option at the moment.

    Enapter says its electrolyzer can produce 1 cubic meter of hydrogen at 4.4 kWh. Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, the founder of the company, put the future into perspective: Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry issued a hydrogen strategy by which it wants to achieve 1 cubic meter of hydrogen production at 4.3 kWh by 2030. So we are 10 years ahead, so to speak, he said.

    Despite the unusual circumstances at this years PV Expo, spirits were high on the trade show floor and analysts expect the Japanese market to continue to flourish. In short, the relative lack of exhibitors and visitors at the show this year largely came down to health-related concerns, and did not reflect market sentiment.

    Read the original post:
    Coronavirus concerns overshadow PV Expo in Tokyo - pv magazine International

    Prada Introduces ‘Hyper Leaves’ With Talk About the Intersection of Art, Fashion and Retail – WWD - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Mariah Carey and her costume designer, Michael Costello, want to give the people sparkles WWD got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Michael Costello's designs for Mariah Carey's Las Vegas residency.The show, which opened on Valentines Day and closes this weekend, features five looks, all done by Costello, with the exception of an Adrienne Landau feather coat he selected for Carey. The drama begins in a black, long-sleeve, hand-beaded, appliqud bodysuit with a sheer black chiffon skirt covered in black Swarovski crystals, a look Costello calls all legs for days. She then changes into a bodysuit with the Adrienne Landau ostrich feather coat, at which part Carey calls Costello on stage for a glam moment and he drapes the coat over her; a strapless hot pink sequined mermaid dress, Costellos favorite, that is totally Mariah, and either a white or silver gown, depending on how shes feeling, for a few ballads."She wont just put a dress on shes very into the process as far as the sketching, the fabric, the color, the cut. She knows her body so well and she knows exactly whats going to work on her body. Weve worked with so many celebrities before and a lot of them are like either just, make it black, make it white, make it blue, make it pink. But Mariah knows whats going to hit her in the right areas and whats going to accentuate her the best. Lets face it, shes got all the assets, Costello said. Tap the link in bio to see all of the fabulous looks. Report: @leighen : @denisetruscello #wwdeye#mariahcarey#MichaelCostello#lasvegas

    More:
    Prada Introduces 'Hyper Leaves' With Talk About the Intersection of Art, Fashion and Retail - WWD

    Iconic hackerspace Noisebridge is saved by donation of $150K bitcoin – San Francisco Chronicle - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    There arent many rules at Noisebridge, the pioneering 10-year-old hackerspace in San Franciscos Mission District. The first one: Be excellent to each other. The second: If you let someone in who hasnt been there before, you have to give them the tour.

    There is plenty to see. Spread out over the entire third floor of its Mission Street building, the space is a playground for creative makers. Theres a woodshop stocked with tools that smells sweetly of sawdust, a mini recording studio complete with guitars and keyboards, 3D printers, a laser cutter and a ceramic kiln. All of it is open to the public and available to use by anyone, free of charge.

    I think this place is sort of perfect, says Noisebridge regular John Backus. Its a creative home for lots of people.

    Its also in jeopardy.

    Since 2017, Noisebridge has been the subject of a complaint with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection for converting the space into a workshop without proper permitting. Violations included installation of a ventilation system and construction of walls and bathrooms without permits. According to members of the hackerspace, they now need to install a full sprinkler system on the buildings lower floors to be in compliance. A rough estimate prices those upgrades at $150,000.

    In an email provided to The Chronicle, the buildings owners wrote that they are not interested in doing the construction: The requested upgrades likely go over 150K and wont even be the last of the citys requests.

    The hackerspace also didnt have the funding for the project. It would have been a little more than our entire bank account, says Noisebridge treasurer Tyler Maran. We run entirely on month-to-month donations. Were not piling up cash over here.

    The only option would be to pick up and move.

    Then at 8:24 a.m. Thursday morning, Maran received an email that the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken had deposited $150,000 worth of bitcoin into Noisebridges account. The only acknowledgement of the donation was a tweet from Kraken about the sprinkler requirement: Sounds like a subtle way of saying ya'll neckbeards need a shower. Anyway, we got you. @noisebridge

    Within the hacker community, Noisebridge is an icon. Its been on Mission since 2009, open to anyone who rings the doorbell and walks up the rainbow-painted stairs. Theres no entry fee or membership charge, no official leadership or management running the show. Its open daily from about 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and hosts regular events from classes on 3D printing to the SF Stupid Sh*t That No One Needs and Terrible Ideas Hackathon 7 (March 28). About 1,000 people pass through the space every week and around 600 donate monthly via Patreon or a cash box affixed to the wall.

    It operates according to do-ocratic principles: If you want to do something paint a mural, put up a piece of art, build yourself a wooden storage locker because the metal ones are full youre free to go ahead, provided youre accountable to anyone impacted by the change and willing to talk about it. A set of shelves for hands-off works-in-progress is tagged with signs that say Do not hack.

    I started going to the space because I knew it had the equipment I wanted to use, but I stayed there because of the cool people, says Ruth Grace Wong, a Noisebridge regular whos on the board.

    The vibe inside Noisebridge is really motivating, really encouraging, really inspiring, she says.

    Its an iconic part of SF tech culture, Backus says. Its something that I think inspired a trend all around the world that this is how to cultivate a culture where people can be creative and do things just for the fun of it.

    The space is infused with the humor and inventiveness of its community. iZac, a Futurama-inspired bartending robot with a bucket for a body, overlooks the main workspace opposite a pastel portrait of Nikola Tesla on one wall. The Flaschen Taschen, a 10-by-9-foot video display made up of 1,575 beer bottles (that people from Noisebridge actually drank) each capped with an LED, blinks out colorful patterns.

    The tech industry, and the wealth it has brought to San Francisco, has both threatened and aided Noisebridge. The hackerspaces landlord has raised the rent twice over the past few years, from about $4,000 per month to $7,000 monthly, an increase Noisebridge was only able to handle thanks to a $100,000 donation from Handshake, a decentralized service for domain names with its own crytocurrency.

    There have been previous scares about Noisebridges finances and future such as whether it can afford building updates or make rent. Right now, the elevator that serves the third floor is broken.

    We pride ourselves on being ADA compliant, Maran says, referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Weve lost members of the community.

    This time around, it took Maran and other members of the Noisebridge community a while to understand how much it might cost to upgrade the buildings sprinkler system and allow Noisebridge to stay in its home of 10 years. The $150,000 estimate is just that, a guess at the price tag to modify a building that the hackerspace doesnt own.

    After Noisebridge reached out to its immediate community for donations, on Wednesday Backus tweeted a thread about the importance of the space and the threats to its future. Nothing I've seen better captures **pure SF hacker culture** than Noisebridge, he wrote. It's *surrounded* by companies and VC firms that brand themselves as loving the values that define Noisebridge. I wish they helped fund it.

    The next day, Kraken made its transfer. CEO and co-founder Jesse Powell quote-tweeted his companys response and added his own: Thanks for calling attention to this. Hopefully, were good.

    What the influx of bitcoin means for the future of Noisebridge is still up in the air, but the money opens up options.

    It was kind of a lost cause at first because we didnt have that kind of cash, Maran says. Were going to have to start talking to the landlord about it; were going to go to our upcoming hearing with the building department. Its a lot of work weve got to do now, if that means that we can stay, or if it means that we use that money to support us moving to another space.

    Already Maran and others have been looking into the latter, touring spaces designed and permitted to house the kind of work that happens within Noisebridges mural-covered walls.

    Weve always been searching for a forever home, Maran says.

    Leaving the Mission building, if thats what the community decides to do, will be bittersweet. The layers of paint and posters and clever signage and circuit-board chandeliers that cover the walls and hang from the ceiling form a physical history of a place that means a lot to a lot of people.

    Itll be really sad. Well have to have a party, says regular and board member Wong. Theres really a lot of beautiful murals there that well have to leave behind, but coming to a new space with a lot of blank walls, thats also really beautiful.

    Sarah Feldberg is San Francisco Chronicle Culture Desk editor. Email: sarah.feldberg@sfchronicle.com

    See the original post:
    Iconic hackerspace Noisebridge is saved by donation of $150K bitcoin - San Francisco Chronicle

    ‘Fast/Fashion’ sparks dialogue on clothing industry – The Bowdoin Orient - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Sophia WeiART, BUT MAKE IT FASHION: Textile artist Cat Mazza and members of her collective from UMass Boston will visit campus today to walk museum-goers through the Fast Fashion/Slow Art installation.

    When you walk into the Boyd Gallery on the second floor of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art (BCMA), you encounter Fast Fashion/Slow Artan exhibition that scrutinizes the contemporary garment industry through videos, installations and collaborations with contemporary artists and filmmakers.

    The walls are covered with digital projections and tablets that display videos of how garments are made, distributed, used and discardedwith 10 videos in total designed to make you pause and think.

    Theres a lot of information in these videos and also a lot of analysis and interpretation that the viewer can take, said Bibiana Obler, associate professor at George Washington University and one of the exhibitions co-curators. I didnt want people to come and just look, oh, how beautiful and then leave again, or how moving and leave again.

    This exhibition is meant to make people stop and think about their choices, critiquing the concept of fast fashion through documenting how clothes are made, used and discarded. Some garments are kept for decades while some are for one-time usethis duality is explored through visual juxtaposition.

    This is an exhibition that I think helps us to be aware of the many literal hands that may be involved in constructing the clothing that we wear, no matter what its origins may be, said Co-Director of BCMA Anne Collins Goodyear. But it also has made me more aware of the intellectual power of stitching, and the ways in which we may, ironically, sometimes deprive ourselves of creative engagement through the fact that we are constantly outsourcing so-called craft activities to third parties.

    The exhibition was first shown at the George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., and is now showcased here in Brunswick to highlight how textile policies are made and where the natural textiles are made. It was curated by Obler and Phyllis Rosenzweig, curator emerita at the Hirshhorn Museum, with organizational assistance from Goodyear and Allison Martino, BCMAs Mellon postdoctoral curatorial fellow.

    So the show opened in Washington, D.C., which of course is the policy-making center, and to travel here to Brunswick, where the town used to be centered around the textile mill up the road at Fort Andross, showcases the implications of textile policies and brings it full circle, said Goodyear.

    The center of the room has an Electroknit Dymaxion, a map designed by textile artist Cat Mazza and the Lattice20 Collective, a group of students from UMass Boston who helped create the piece. When it was first installed in D.C., the sections were laid out on the wall to highlight the geographic implications of the fashion industry, creating an international scope within the exhibition. At Bowdoin, theyre shaped into a geographically-accurate globe, mirroring how they were made.

    To continue the dialogues opened by the installation, Mazza and members of the Lattice20 Collective are coming to campus on Friday to walk students through an activity which showcases sustainability in the fashion world. The workshop will explain not only how the group created this centerpiece, but why.

    Fast Fashion/Slow Art will be on display until August.

    Read the original post:
    'Fast/Fashion' sparks dialogue on clothing industry - The Bowdoin Orient

    House of the Week: Magnificent Manlius transitional is a great home for raising a family – syracuse.com - February 29, 2020 by Mr HomeBuilder

    MANLIUS, N.Y. Sometimes it is the little things that make a house a home.

    Take Tas Fazili, owner of the magnificent Walker custom built home at 4036 Deer Crossing Run in the Windsbury Hills subdivision of Manlius. When he was asked what his favorite feature or room of the home was, he had many to choose from.

    He could have mentioned the wooded two-acre lot, the dramatic two-story foyer, the stunning great room or the beautiful master suite.

    Instead, he chose a small dining area off the kitchen, near the awesome brick double-sided woodburning fireplace. It is where his family spent their time together, his children working at their homework at the small table and window seat there.

    It is just a very cozy spot, with the fireplace and the views of the yard, Fazili said. It is a great home to raise a family.

    Fazili and his family moved into the 2001 transitional home about nine years ago. Raising a family there was one of the homes biggest draws.

    It was in a friendly neighborhood, with a big yard and was part of the Fayetteville-Manlius school district.

    The house was loaded with windows and was always bright and very airy.

    A professionally finished lower level was great for the childrens grandfather when he visited and for a very large casual family room.

    The gourmet kitchen with cherry cabinets providing an abundance of storage, a butlers pantry and even more storage in the lower level makes the home perfect for a growing family.

    In the relatively short amount of time that Fazili and his family have lived there, he has made several improvements and renovations.

    The beautiful hardwood floors have been exposed and much of the interior paintwork has been updated.

    Windows were added in a back room to create a three-season room with views of the back woods and the impressive swimming pool and landscaping Fazili had installed a few years ago.

    In the master bathroom, the bathtub was removed in lieu of a giant shower unit and three closets.

    I think it all worked well, he said.

    After almost nine years in Manlius, Fazili is moving out-of-state because of a work opportunity.

    He says that any potential buyer of the home is getting a beautiful, big house in a very peaceful neighborhood.

    For more information about the home, please contact the realtor, Jason Jay Caporiccio. His contact information is below.

    THE DETAILS

    Address: 4036 Deer Crossing Run, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

    Price: $675,000

    Size: 4,600 square feet

    Acreage: 2.03 acres

    Monthly Mortgage: $2,490 (based on this week's national average rate of 3.72 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

    Taxes: $19,162 (Based on assessed value of $522,600)

    Built: 2001

    School District: Fayetteville-Manlius

    Kitchen: Gourmet kitchen features granite counters and cherry cabinets. Like much of the house, the kitchen has been window which create a bright, airy feel. Owner theres the kitchen has a lot of room to work in and has a tremendous amount of storage space, including butlers pantry with a wet bar. Appliances include a gas cooktop, double oven and built-in refrigerator. The microwave is built into island. Small dining area is among the owners favorites for the family to gather. It is near a large window seat and the double-sided fireplace.

    Living areas: Visitors enter in dramatic two-story foyer. Views of the property can be seen from the homes many windows. The large great room features exquisite moldings, many windows and has the other side of the fireplace from the kitchen. The room makes entertaining a snap. A large front office could be remade into another bedroom. There is a formal dining room and a convenient first floor laundry room. Windows have been added to a three-season room which looks out onto back deck and wooded backyard. Hardwood floors have been redone as has much of the interior paintwork.

    Bedrooms: There are four bedrooms in the house. The master suite has many windows and looks out over the swimming pool. The three bedrooms upstairs are moderately sized, with a the largest being the princess suite which has its own attached bathroom. There is potential for more bedrooms in the finished lower level.

    Bathrooms: The master bathroom is very large, with double vanities and three closets. The Jacuzzi-style tub was removed, and a very large shower unit was installed. There are four full bathrooms and one half-bathroom total in the house.

    Lower level: The professionally finished lower level has a very big family room and has the potential to be used as an in-law suite, with a full bathroom and small-kitchen area. The space features daylight windows and glass sliders out onto the backyard and pool. There is always plenty of space for storage.

    Outdoors: Home is built on a two-acre wooded lot with a very large front yard and a sloping backyard. Owner says the property is private and very beautiful from spring through autumn. There is an inground swimming pool and back deck and stone patio. There is a three-car side loading attached garage. Owner calls the Windsbury Hills neighborhood very friendly.

    Agent: Jason Jay Caporiccio

    Associate Real Estate Broker and Your Concierge Agent of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties

    Address: 8233 Park Ridge Path, Liverpool, N.Y. 13090

    Phone: (315) 753-2878

    Email: yourconciergeagent@gmail.com

    Website: http://www.JayCaporiccioRealEstate.com

    House of the Week: Contemporary home in Volney blends privacy, convenience and beauty

    House of the Week: Owner calls herself faithful steward of Fayettevilles Sacre'-Coeur

    House of the Week: Manlius home was designed to resemble an Italian villa

    See our real estate transactions database

    If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

    Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

    Originally posted here:
    House of the Week: Magnificent Manlius transitional is a great home for raising a family - syracuse.com

    « old entrysnew entrys »



    Page 32«..1020..31323334..4050..»


    Recent Posts