Philips Hue is set to release an updated dimmer switch and a brand new "Wave Linear" outdoor lighting system in early 2021, according to hueblog.com and smartlights.de.

The popular Philips Hue dimmer switch, which has been around for some years and is often included in Philips Hue kits, is to see an update that brings a refreshed design. Instead of having four buttons like the current model, the new version is set to have only three buttons, with the middle two dimmer buttons being combined into a single rocker button. The "on" button is also gaining a small tactile marking so that users can find the correct button in the dark.

The general design has been updated to be more curvaceous and subtle, with matte white plastic being used instead of the current glossy white plastic. The base plate is also due to increase in size to 80mm by 125mm, in order to completely cover EU in-wall outlets. The current dimmer switch base plate is too narrow for this.

Moreover, Philips Hue will reportedly introduce a new "Wave Linear" outdoors lighting system. Wave Linear will integrate with existing Hue low-voltage outdoors products such as the Hue Lily, Hue Calla, or Hue Outdoor Lightstrip.

Designed to illuminate large outdoor spaces evenly with color, such as an exterior house wall, it will be able to produce up to 1,400 lumens of brightness and 16 million colors. The Philips Hue Wave Linear system will supposedly become available in Spring 2021.

Originally posted here:
Philips Hue to Introduce Updated Dimmer Switch and 'Wave Linear' Outdoor Lighting - MacRumors

A pair of new Philips Hue products have leaked today, providing a glimpse at what the smart home company has in store for early 2021. As reported by Hueblog, Philips Hue will release a new Wave Linear outdoor lighting accessory in spring of 2021, as well as redesigned Smart Dimmer.

The report explains that the Philips Hue Wave Linear will join the existing outdoor lighting category as a way to light up large areas evenly. It will reportedly measure in at around 31 inches wide, 2 inches tall, and around 3 inches deep.

The Philips Hue Wave Linear is wonderfully suitable to illuminate large areas evenly with one color, for example a house wall. With 20 watts of power, it can produce up to 1,400 lumens of brightness. It is a White and Color Ambiance product, so it can display bright white tones and up to 16 million colors.

Heres a look at the reported Wave Linear:

Secondly, Philips Hue is expected to announce new Smart Dimmer switch with a new and simplified design. The biggest change here will be that the the new model will feature three buttons, compared to the four buttons on the current-generation Smart Dimmer.

This will be accomplished by merging the two middle dimming buttons into a single rocker button. The new Smart Dimmer will also feature a tactical on button so that its easier for users to feel for it in the dark.

In addition, the material now looks a bit more noble, apparently a matt plastic is used. It is also noticeable that the corners of the Philips Hue dimmer switch are much more rounded in the next generation.

With CES set for January, its possible that this is when Philips Hue announces these new accessories, which are expected to support HomeKit. A release is reportedly scheduled for sometime in early 2021.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Read the original here:
Philips Hue expected to introduce redesigned Smart Dimmer, new outdoor lighting in 2021 - 9to5Mac

I have always loved light in many forms sunlight is my favorite and next would probably be candlelight. Once our Christmas tree is donned with lights, we have a tradition in our home to light it first thing in the morning and let it stay lit all day. Around our mountain home, things look pretty dark by 5 p.m. Thats when colorful outdoor lights come on and other holiday lights inside our home. These lights bring warmth and brilliance to those extra hours of darkness as we draw near to the shortest day of the year, theWinter Solstice on Dec. 21. Its no wonder that many of the holidays during this season feature light to shine through the darkness:

Hanukkah or The Festival of Light with menorah candles; Diwali, meaning rows of lighted lamps is a five-day festival of light; the lighting of candles in the Kwanzaa kinara; The burning of a yule log; lit-up Christmas trees, and houses decorated with Christmas and secular holiday light displays.

With all the emphasis on light at this time of year, its no coincidence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a "Light the World campaign, currently under-way.

Light the World is an invitation to transform the holidays into a season of service; its a worldwide movement to serve others as Jesus did: one by one.

Unlike 2019, to help slow the spread of COVID-19, this year you can make donations online or find specific Light the World service projects. Go to the Just Serve website and donate service, time, or funds.

There is a list of charities in the Denver area on the site which will recieve 100% of the donations given on the website. Volunteer activities can be suited toindividuals,small groups, and families. Many activities will be outdoors, and allwill comply with COVID-19 safety regulations.

Denvers Light the World 2020 campaign runs through New Years Day.

The site is http://www.justserve.org/lighttheworlddenver

Marie Hughes,

Conifer

Read more:
Letter to the editor: Sharing the Light One by One - Canyon Courier

The top home trends predicted for 2021 a permanent home office and resort-style living, indoors and out are directly connected to needs we discovered while staying put during the coronavirus pandemic.

Researchers at the real estate marketplace Zillow came up with 10 home updates people want to make it easier to continue to work, exercise, study and relax at home.

From Zoom rooms to smart-home technology, these trends will make homes more functional, comfortable and safe for the whole family, and in some cases, even add value, according to a Zillow news release.

In this weeks real estate gallery, we look at the top 10 trends for 2021 as predicted by Zillow and a Portland-area home for sale with that feature.

A heated, in-ground pool and relaxing outdoor areas are available at 3624 S.E. Rex St. in Portlands Eastmoreland neighborhood, which is listed by Katie Beymer and Jean Beymer of Oregon First.Oregon First

With nowhere to vacation, home shoppers moved pool to the top Zillow keyword search term in 2020. Waterfront and dock were also frequently sought.

For sale: A heated, in-ground pool and relaxing outdoor area are available at 3624 S.E. Rex St. in Portlands Eastmoreland neighborhood.

The 7,405-square-foot lot also has a putting green and garden space. An attached garage with high ceilings can be used by an artist, woodworker or car collector, or for recreation.

The traditional-style house, built in 1939 and remodeled and expanded in 2015, has a bonus room, media room, six bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,875 square feet of living space.

Resort-style living. Floor plan for multi-generational living, says Katie Beymer with Jean Beymer of Oregon First, who listed the property at $989,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a pool.

Home office in Portland Heights: 2434 S.W. 17th Ave. is listed by Natalie Strom with Yonette Fine of Living Room Realty.Living Room Realty

Being able to have a dedicated home office was the number one reason Americans working from home say they would consider a move, according to a Zillow survey. Employers who will allow telecommuting to continue after the pandemic is under control will make the desire for a Zoom room permanent.

For sale: A 1909 Craftsman house, built on a 6,534-square-foot lot at 2434 S.W. 17th Ave., has a home office with built-in counters and shelves in the finished basement next to a theater room.

The updated home has original features such as leaded glass, unpainted wood trim, wood floors and four fireplaces. There is a modern open kitchen with high-end appliances and an island.

The master suite on the fourth floor has 19 skylights and a view of Mount Saint Helens. There are four more bedrooms and three more bathrooms within the homes 5,519 square feet of living space.

Outside, there is a Japanese-style garden, sports court, level yard and a garage.

Pre-inspected and ready to go, says Natalie Strom with Yonette Fine of Living Room Realty, who listed the property at $1.95 million.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a home office or library.

11925 S.W. Belvidere Place can accommodate multi generations, says listing agent Joanne Doyle of Knipe Realty ERA Powered.Knipe Realty ERA Powered

Homes with a self-contained apartment in the lower level or in the backyard were used to shelter several generations of a family, especially when elderly members left retirement communities and young adults moved back home when colleges switched to virtual instructions and businesses closed due to the pandemic.

About one in six Americans currently live in multigenerational households, according to Generations United.

For sale: 11925 S.W. Belvidere Place in Cedar Hills can accommodate multi generations with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a home office, study room, home gym and 4,190 square feet of living space.

The daylight ranch, built in 1957 on 0.52 acres, has been restored and expanded with a two-story addition that allows for a main-floor master suite and lower-level guest suite.

Room for everyone, possibilities are endless, says Joanne Doyle of Knipe Realty ERA Powered, who listed the property at $1.2 million.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a floor plan for multi generations.

A gourmet kitchen is inside a custom estate on the Columbia River at 1525 N.E. Marine Dr. listing by Justin Harnish with Errol Bradley of Harnish Properties.Harnish Properties

A Zillow survey found 41% of people value a well-equipped kitchen more after stay-at-home orders closed restaurants. Most plan to continue to exhibit their culinary skills in the future, and home shoppers are looking for kitchens with bigger cabinets and an island.

For sale: A gourmet kitchen with an eating bar and pantry is inside a custom estate on the Columbia River at 1525 N.E. Marine Dr. in Portlands East Columbia neighborhood.

The Mediterranean-style house, built in 2005 on 0.61 acres, has five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and 6,310 square feet of living space.

Entertaining extends outdoors with a roll-up glass door, folding NanaWall, oversized patios and balconies. There is a man-cave with a bar and a 2,380-square-foot garage with heated floors.

A private boat dock can accommodate a 60-foot yacht.

Blocks to the Portland Yacht Club and golf course and PDX, says Justin Harnish with Errol Bradley of Harnish Properties, who listed the property at $2,748,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a gourmet kitchen.

11051 S. Riverwood Road in Portlands Riverdale neighborhood has a full outdoor kitchen, says listing agent Rosanne Vecchio of @HOME Property Group.@HOME Property Group

People see the value of having a large outdoor space after feeling cooped up during stay-at-home orders and wanting to entertain friends and family outdoors while socially distancing, according to a Zillow survey and Harris Poll.

Homes with a fire pit mentioned in the listing sold for 2.8% more than similar homes and those with an outdoor kitchen sold for 4.5% more, Zillow found. Smart sprinkler systems and outdoor lighting are other features that help a home sell up to 15 days faster than expected.

For sale: 11051 S. Riverwood Road in Portlands Riverdale neighborhood has a full outdoor kitchen.

The 0.7-acre property also has an apartment above the four-car garage that can be used as a home office, classroom or studio.

The traditional-style house, built in 2007, has a great room with a 30-foot-tall barrel ceiling and a grand gas fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with a huge pantry and a 132-bottle wine refrigerator, five bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and 7,500 square feet of living space.

Private gated lot with seasonal river views, says Rosanne Vecchio of @HOME Property Group, which listed the property at $2,170,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with an outdoor kitchen.

1874 S.E. Woodward St. in Portlands Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood was built in 2019 with smart features, says listing agent Greg Messick of RealtyNET.RealtyNET

Builders, designers and real estate agents report that coronavirus-inspired home projects, big and small, include installing easy-to-clean materials and surfaces; touch-less features, especially at the kitchen sink; self-cleaning, wall-mounted toilets; and improved fresh air systems such as heat recovery ventilators.

People are also preferring voice-activated faucets, robotic vacuums and electronic-assistant controlled lights to make life easier, says Zillow.

A Zillow analysis found homes with a smart light mentioned in the listing description sold seven days faster than expected, and listings mentioning a smart thermostat sold six days faster than expected.

For sale: 1874 S.E. Woodward St. in Portlands Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood was built in 2019 with smart features such as a security system with cameras as well as an electronic bidet toilet in the master suite.

The contemporary townhome-style condo has three more bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,328 square feet of living space.

There is an accessory dwelling unit on the main floor with a kitchenette, full bathroom and a full-size washer and dryer.

A large covered deck with a gas hookup overlooks a Zen oasis with a water feature and sprinkler system.

The Renaissance Home was customized with high-end finishes, including paint, carpet, natural stone, wood, lighting, custom-built blinds and draperies, and tile, says Greg Messick of RealtyNET.

The property is listed at $875,000. Homeowners association dues are $235 a month.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with smart features.

3750 S.E. Pelton Ave. in Troutdales Sweetbriar neighborhood is listed by Keith Iles of John L. Scott Sandy.John L. Scott Sandy

Since telework reduces the need to be close to urban job centers, shoppers in 2021 may opt for wide open spaces and smaller, more affordable communities, say real estate experts.

Newly pending sales for small cities, with a population between 54,000 and 137,000, has increased 34.3% since last year, says Zillow.

For sale: 3750 S.E. Pelton Ave. in Troutdales Sweetbriar neighborhood is listed at $349,000.

The ranch-style house, built in 1976 on a 7,405-square-foot lot, has laminate hardwood floors, a sunken living room with a fireplace, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,120 square feet of living space.

Two sliding glass doors open to a backyard adjacent to a green space. There is a patio, tool and garden sheds, boat parking, planter boxes and hot tub.

Modern updates throughout. Endless opportunity with this home, make it yours, says listing agent Keith Iles of John L. Scott Sandy.

See more Portland-area homes for sale in suburbs.

5138 N.E. 23rd Ave. in Portlands Concordia neighborhood is a converted church with a Zen-like private courtyard that links to a tiny house, says listing agent Tracy Knofczynski with Mark Gamble of Tilia Property Group.Tilia Property Group

When gyms closed, people recognized the need to have exercise equipment at home. When social activities stopped along with seeing loved ones to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the feeling of isolation set in. Some people who use reflection and meditation to stay mentally fit spend time at home in a soothing, meditation space.

In November, 4.1% of for-sale listings on Zillow mentioned health and wellness areas in the home as lockdown orders resumed and daylight hours for outdoor activities shrank.

For sale: 5138 N.E. 23rd Ave. in Portlands Concordia neighborhood is a converted church with a Zen-like private courtyard that links to a tiny house.

The structure, built in 1906 on a 4,791-square-foot lot, has two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and 2,123 square feet of living space.

The main level has an open sanctuary space with tall ceilings that could be lofted for additional living space. The lower level has a full kitchen, bedroom, bathrooms and laundry room.

Amazing space with vast potential, create new living space within these walls or use as live/work space, says Tracy Knofczynski with Mark Gamble of Tilia Property Group, who listed the property at $895,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a meditation space.

The flexibility of remote work and being home all day allowed more people to care for pets. A 2020 Zillow analysis found for-sale listings mentioning a pet shower or dog wash sold for 5.1% more than similar homes, while listings mentioning a fenced backyard sold 6.8 days faster than expected.

For sale: The 6,098-square-foot lot at 3245 N. Willamette Blvd. in Portlands Arbor Lodge neighborhood has a fenced dog run.

The 1958 house has refinished hardwoods, new carpets and windows, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and 4,285 square feet of living space.

There is a full basement, detached garage and updated landscaping.

Live on sought-after Willamette Boulevard and enjoy scenic views of downtown, the river and the West Hills from various rooms throughout this classic home, says John Taylor with Kristina Bullock of The Broker Network, who listed the property at $719,000.

See more Portland-area homes for sale with a dog run.

12005 N.W. Weaver Lane Lot 17 in Portlands Creekview Ridge is listed by Megan Talalemotu with Christina Smith of John L. Scott. Photo is of a similar house.John L. Scott

Interest in new homes has increased significantly on Zillow, up 82% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter a year ago.

A 2020 Zillow survey found more than a quarter of buyers who bought a new construction home did so to customize home features, while 37% chose to be the first owner because everything in the home was new and never used.

For sale: 12005 N.W. Weaver Lane Lot 17 in Portlands Creekview Ridge is scheduled to be completed in early 2021 and is listed at $859,950.

The energy-efficient farmhouse-style home, which has been certified Earth Advantage platinum, has 10-foot-high ceilings, extra large windows, an open great room, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and 3,260 square feet of living space. There is a covered patio.

Gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry, huge island and double ovens, says listing agent Megan Talalemotu with Christina Smith of John L. Scott. Homeowners association dues are $92 a month.

See more Portland-area homes for sale that are new.

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Want to search Oregon real estate listings and use local resources? Click here.

See original here:
Top 10 home trends for 2021: Ways to make it easier to work, exercise, study and relax - OregonLive

These nights are the longest and darkest of the year.

And this year, nights and days have been longer and darker than most.

Thats why it is great to see so many houses, businesses, churches and streets aglow, lit up, decorated and twinkling for the holidays. Christmas lights are the antidote to the place we find ourselves at the end of 2020.

We urge everyone to get out and see them this week.

A Joplin woman, Lynn Crouch, has launched a campaign, Joplin Lights and Luminaries, encouraging people to put out both on Christmas eve.

She is not alone.

The Dallas Morning News reported recently that the company, Christmas Dcor, which decorates homes and business with outdoor lights, has been popping.

People need joy right now, said Blake Smith, founder. And they are doing whatever they can to find it.

The company and its 300 franchises are reportedly on track to light up more than 50,000 properties this year, compared to 43,000 last year.

Unlike Christmas parades, family gatherings, parties, outings to Christmas shop and many other traditions that have had to be sacrificed in 2020, Christmas lights remain a tradition untouched by the pandemic.

(Humor helps too. You can find, if youre so inclined, toilet paper and hand sanitizer ornaments, one of Dr. Anthony Fauci, and even Santa with a mask. Christmas stores say these items have become bestsellers.)

John and Deborah Hird, whose home at 11 Quail Ridge Drive won the Globes second annual Home Holiday Lighting and Decorating Contest, said they do it because we like to try to bring a little bit more joy to the neighborhood.

Having decorated since moving there nearly 20 years ago, the family also have noted that Christmas decorating is contagious.

Now theres a superspreader event wed like to see happen!

Read more:
Our view: Christmas lights and humor are the antidote to 2020 - Joplin Globe

Young Architects

2020 Best of Design Award for Young Architects: Atelier Cho ThompsonLocation: San Francisco and New Haven, Connecticut

Atelier Cho Thompson is a bicoastal design and concept firm working between the disciplines of architecture, interiors, graphics, and design strategy. Its expertise and passions transcend the conventional boundaries between these disciplines, resulting in a rich cross-pollination of ideas and strategies. This integrated design approach produces holistic environments in which all elements are deeply related to each other and to the heart of a central concept. The firm pushes forward the architectural profession in three key ways: design excellence, business innovation, and community engagement. As a design firm, it believes in the power of collaborative, thoughtful, and forward-thinking design for all clients, whatever scale and budget they may have.

2020 Best of Design Award for Exhibition Design: Machine HallucinationDesigner: Refik Anadol StudioLocation: New York

Machine Hallucination is an immersive art exhibition of New York, by New York, and for New Yorka fitting tribute to one of the worlds greatest cities and architectural marvels. Commissioned by ARTECHOUSE in Manhattans Chelsea Market and exploring over 100 million publicly available photographs of the city through artificial intelligence, the 30-minute experimental cinema piece visualizes New Yorks story hidden deep in the citys consciousness. By utilizing AI, a data universe of the city can be created in more than a thousand dimensions, allowing Refik Anadol Studio to intuitively understand the ways that memory can be spatially experienced and the power of machine intelligence to simultaneously access and augment human senses.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: BaleinopolisDesigner: Studio Gang

Project Name: The Polaroid Project: At the Intersection of Art and TechnologyDesigner: IKD

Editors Picks:

Project Name: Architecture ArboretumDesigner: Besler & Sons

Project Name: Haus Scallop, Haus SawtoothDesigner: MALL

2020 Best of Design Award for Temporary Installation: Drawing FieldsDesigner: Outpost OfficeLocation: Lake Forest, Illinois

Drawing Fields was a temporary performance venue on the campus of Ragdale, a nonprofit artists community just north of Chicago. Drawing Fields utilized GPS-controlled field marking robots to draw site-specific, building-scale drawings on the Ragdale campus. Outpost Office proposed this years ring as a series of temporal performances rather than a conventional installation. Each drawing in the series explored a different theme. Drawing Fields 1 probed robotic kinetics, Drawing Fields 2 delineated socially distanced zones for a scattered audience, and Drawing Fields 3 saturated the campus with colorful patterns. The project adapted to the financial and ecological precarity of our volatile present. Each temporary installation was water-soluble, nontoxic, and disappeared with rain, sun, and growth.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Chapel for Luis BarragnDesigner: Robert Hutchison Architecture

Project Name: Societys CageDesigner: SmithGroup

2020 Best of Design Award for Digital Fabrication: Stereoform SlabDesigner: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Location: Chicago

Stereoform Slab examines the role of the ubiquitous concrete slab. It is an activation and an exhibition of a design method using advanced robotic fabrication to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete construction. Removed from its context, Stereoform replicates and abstracts a single-story concrete bay to create a simple architectural expression. SOMs research reveals that 40 to 60 percent of a buildings carbon footprint results from concrete slab development.When sustainable fabrication techniques are combined with robotics to create concrete formwork, material usage and waste are minimized. This new approach uses 20 percent less concrete, resulting in a 20 percent carbon reduction. At the full-building scale, carbon reductions of 25 to 30 percent through hyper responsive design and optimization are possible.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Hobbs State Park Monument Trail Campsite & Trailhead StructuresDesigner: Hufft

Project Name: London Timber PavilionDesigner: Schiller Projects and Novak Hiles Architects

Editors Picks:

Project Name: Rocket Mortgage Field House in ClevelandExecutive architect: GenslerEngineering, fabrication, and installation of custom metal feature wall: Eventscape

2020 Best of Design Award for Research: New River Train Observation TowerDesigner: Virginia TechLocation: Radford, Virginia

The New River Train Observation Tower design-build by Virginia Tech students and faculty sets multiple benchmarks for cross-laminated timber (CLT) research, design, and construction. Rather than import softwood CLT into oversupplied, hardwood-dominant forest regions of the eastern United States, the project team chose to think local to reduce carbon emissions. Following eight years of research, the team developed a structurally viable, high-performance local-species H-CLT product with low-grade wood. The H-CLT project is the first permanent building permitted for, and constructed with, hardwood CLT in the United States. The 30-foot-tall, 75-foot-long building sets a precedent for modular CLT construction and the upcycling of low-value local resources into high-value products in hardwood-dominant regions.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The DW (The Dwelling on Wheels)Designer: Modern Shed

Project Name: Fetch HouseDesigner: CallisonRTKL

Editors Picks:

Project Name: GET WELL! Educational Design Ideas for the Post-Pandemic EraDesigner: LUBRANO CIAVARRA Architects

Project Name: Immersive Space SeriesDesigner: Office of Things

2020 Best of Design Award for Architectural LightingOutdoor: ConstellationsDesigner: FUTUREFORMSLocation: Pensacola, Florida

Constellations is a dynamic and immersive artwork animated by flowing patterns and algorithmic formations of light and shadow. It is an iconic sculpture that merges digital craft and cutting-edge fabrication with data visualizations of abstract phenomena found in nature at a variety of scales. Constellations creates a theater-in-the-round that acts like a portal into an invisible world of dynamic visual poetry inspired by ideas of science, art, and technology. Located between the Center for Fine and Performing Arts and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, the sculpture anchors the landscape between the STEM disciplines on campus and creates an open ended framework for dialogue between the arts and the sciences.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: Belvedere Castle Renovation, Central ParkRestoration architect and client: Central Park ConservancyLighting designer: Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design

Project Name: PG&E Larkin Street Substation ExpansionDesigner: TEF DesignExterior lighting design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design

2020 Best of Design Award for Student WorkGroup: Volland House No. 1Designers: Design+Make Studio, a partnership between El Dorado and Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and DesignLocation: Volland, Kansas

House No. 1 began as the Edison, a kit house commonly sold by the Gordon-Van Tine company. It was probably delivered in the 1930s by train to Volland, Kansas, where it was then assembled in its current location. The Edison was a two-bedroom bungalow described in the Van Tine catalog as a snug little homecompact, easily heated, and with a room arrangement that is a wonderful space utilizer. The house was subsequently transformed from a generic bungalow into a dedicated artist studio and accommodation space for the Volland Foundation. Its customization was both careful and complicated, requiring immense attention to detail and subtle refinements that heighten the homes original features.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The BendDesigner: Kent State University

Project Name: Kaw Pavilion and Trail MarkersDesigner: University of Kansas Architecture

2020 Best of Design Award for Student WorkIndividual: Clearlake Wellness RetreatDesigner: Samuel Bager, Savannah College of Art and DesignLocation: Clearlake, California

With this wellness retreat in Clearlake, California, the designer Samuel Bager found it was vital to employ architectural intervention strategies at three different scales to engage a lush, natural context. The project creates a cohesive atmosphere through a series of architectural moments that embrace the local environment, all with the aim of enhancing ones perception of and relationship with nature. The separation of buildings on the site and the dispersion of programmed spaces foster privacy by distanceeven in public spaces.

Honorable Mentions

Project Name: The Asheville Museum of Algorithmic Art (MOAA)Designer: Amanda Ridings, Savannah College of Art and Design

Project Name: RecoveryDesigner: Sam Bager, Savannah College of Art and Design

Follow this link:
Presenting the 2020 AN Best of Design Awards winners, part 6 - The Architect's Newspaper

ACCIDENT The Bear Creek Church of the Brethren welcomes the public to join in its Outdoor Candle Lighting Service at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. The service will be COVID safe outside between the church and pavilion.

Visitors may wish to enjoy social distancing outside listening to the sound system or in their vehicles onsite at FM radio 102.1.

There will be lit luminarias; but for the candle lighting, please bring your own lantern, flashlight or other light source to use.

Enjoy singing your favorite Christmas carols as we worship together with special music, scripture and a meditation by our interim pastor, a spokesperson said. With this being a most unusual and difficult year, may we take time to thank God for sending His one and only son, Jesus Christ as a babe in the manger to become our Lord and Savior, saving us from our sins, and giving salvation to those who believe in Him. Let us rejoice together during this Christmas season as we remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Interim Pastor Jennifer Kreighbaum and the congregation welcome everyone to worship with them at Bear Creek Church of the Brethren, 1088 Brethren Church Road, Accident, just past the Accident Elementary School.

Read more:
Public invited to outdoor candle lighting service in Accident - WV News

French accessory maker Netatmo today announced that its Smart Video Doorbell with HomeKit support is now available to pre-order for $299.99 in the United States and $399.99 in Canada. The doorbell will begin shipping to customers in these countries starting January 6, 2021, as noted by the blog HomeKit News.

In addition to the Home app, the doorbell works with the free Netatmo Security app. Netatmo previously said that it is working to implement HomeKit Secure Video and will make the feature available in a free software update in the future.

Key features of the Smart Video Doorbell include a 1080p camera with a 140-degree wide-angle lens, infrared night vision, a built-in microphone and speaker for two-way communication, customizable settings like people detection zones, and IP44-rated water and dust resistance. Netatmo does not charge any subscription fees; instead, the doorbell is equipped with an 8GB microSD card for local video storage.

First introduced at CES 2019, the Smart Video Doorbell launched in Europe in September.

Read the rest here:
Netatmo Video Doorbell With HomeKit Now Available to Order in U.S. and Canada, Ships Early January - MacRumors

Thomas Edison patented the light bulb in 1880. Two years later, Edward Hibberd Johnson, who worked with Edison, got an idea to replace the candles on a Christmas tree with a string of colored electric lights.

The lights became for sale around 1890, but the idea didnt catch on widely in the U.S. Many Americans didnt trust electricity yet, and the bulbs were too expensive to be practical. A string of 16 bulbs sold for $12 in 1900, which is about $350 in todays money.

President Grover Cleveland helped make the lights popular after he used them to light a Christmas tree in the White House in 1895.

In the 1920s, General Electric created lights that were more accessible and less costly.

The tradition of outdoor light displays began in 1927 after the first safe outdoor lights were created.

Novelty lights started to make an appearance during the 1930s as a way to increase light sales during the Depression. This led to the creation of icicle lights, and other holiday themed lighting.

In the late 1980s, Americans got more competitive by trying to outdo their neighbors with elaborate light displays just like in the 1989 movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

View original post here:
The origin of Christmas lights | | richmond.com - Richmond.com

BURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --CIMCON Lighting, the leading global provider of smart city technologies, announced today that 23 New York cities and towns have selected its smart streetlight controls and NearSky smart city platform for initial or expanded deployment this year. When completed, the installation of the streetlight controls and smart city applications such as traffic analytics, noise and gunshot detection, air quality monitoring and road temperature measurement will help improve public safety, conserve energy and maintenance costs, and provide an easy way for these New York cities and towns to naturally progress along their smart city journey.

CIMCON's smart lighting system provides cities and towns with the ability to provide a better quality of lighting for residents and more effectively manage streetlight assets. Key benefits of the system include reducing energy costs through adaptive dimming during off-peak hours, significantly reduced maintenance and repair costs by reducing maintenance trips from typical "three trip repairs" to "one trip repairs", extending LED fixture life by eliminating day-burners and dimming, and providing superior asset management.

As the most prevalent piece of real estate in any city or town, the streetlight pole is capable of providing much more than lighting. It is the foundation on which to build a smart city and ultimately a new economy that we call the "Pole Economy". CIMCON's NearSky smart city platform removes the obstacles faced by cities and towns by providing Power, Permitting and Processing for devices located on or near the streetlight pole. The NearSky 360 hub device provides an easy way to power devices, meter the energy consumed by them, and deliver a secure communication network that can transmit data back into the cloud after processing it right at the pole. The NearSky 360 also removes the need for permitting as drilling into the streetlight pole is not required. A powerful onboard processor enables the platform to be able to provide data and access to 3rd party developers to create innovative applications that in the future can create new revenue streams for a city.

Cities and towns in New York have implemented several applications from over a dozen currently supported by the NearSky platform. These include traffic analysis, road temperature measurement, noise and gunshot detection, air quality monitoring, and more. The traffic analysis application is providing time stamped data on traffic volume, vehicle sizes and speed on two and four lane roadways allowing cities and towns to better understand and mitigate challenges related to rush hour traffic and other road conditions. The road temperature measurement application is using non-invasive sensors to provide cities and towns with accurate information about road surface temperatures in order to proactively treat roadways, especially during these winter months. CIMCON's air quality application is providing real-time, continuous measurements of key air pollutants, enabling cities and towns to make informed decisions about outdoor activities, alert residents during periods of poor air quality, and monitor pollution sources such as industrial facilities. The noise and gunshot detection application is providing the ability to easily monitor potentially dangerous situations in real-time through the receipt of audio and location data from an event scene.

The New York State cities and towns that are implementing CIMCON's solutions include: Oneonta, Port Jefferson, Utica, Greece, Tonawanda, Schenectady, Skaneateles, Salina, Homer, Fallsburg, Williamson, Cayuga Heights, Farmington, Butler, Ontario, Sodus Point, Clyde, Tusten, New Hartford, South Nyack and Hartwick, in addition to Sullivan County. The City of Syracuse is expanding its engagement with CIMCON, that was started in 2019 with the award of 17,500 smart lighting controls, and is now adding NearSky applications throughout the city.

"This has been a very productive year for CIMCON in the State of New York," said Anil Agrawal, CIMCON CEO. "This achievement is the result of tremendous collaboration between CIMCON and our local partners, and the trust that these cities and towns have bestowed upon us. We are committed to helping these cities and towns improve resident quality of life and city operations both today and into the future."

About CIMCON

With a heritage of over 25 years of innovation and experience in industrial automation and outdoor wireless applications, CIMCON provides the most proven and most complete smart city solutions to global cities and utilities. The company is the world's leading provider of scalable, intelligent wireless outdoor lighting management solutions for traditional, LED and solar-based streetlights, and the company's smart city platform provides an easy way to deploy, manage and maintain smart city devices and applications. Focused on offering solutions that provide the lowest "Lifecycle Cost of Ownership," CIMCON provides hardware and software technologies that allow cities and utilities to monitor, maintain and in many cases, monetize their assets and other devices on or near the light pole. CIMCON's "Just in Time Lighting," reduces energy, maintenance and repair costs while improving the quality of lighting services and enabling the path to a smart city. For more information, please visitwww.cimconlighting.com.

Follow CIMCON onLinkedIn,Twitter,Facebook, andYouTube.

Media Contact:

Heidi SporelDirector, MarketingCIMCON Lighting, Inc.Tel: 978-846-2659 Email: [emailprotected]

SOURCE CIMCON Lighting, Inc.

http://www.cimconlighting.com

Read more:
Twenty-three Cities and Towns in New York State Select CIMCON Lighting Solutions in 2020 - PRNewswire