Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) - A new generation of Japanese architects believes the world has fallen out of love with the 20th century steel and concrete skyscraper. They are pushing a human-friendly alternative that some say has roots in the elegant simplicity of the traditional Japanese tea house.

Instead of pursuing monuments that cry out with a message of economic power, these Pritzker Prize-winning architects are scoring success with a uniquely Japanese reinterpretation of the past.

Unlike their predecessors, who modernized Japan with Western-style edifices, they talk of fluidly defining space with screens and sliding doors, innovatively blending with nature, taking advantage of earthy materials and incorporating natural light, all trademarks of Japanese design.

Their sensibility is also a hit abroad, said Erez Golani Solomon, professor of architecture at Waseda University in Tokyo.

"Food and architecture," said Solomon, stressing how the two are Japan's most potent brands. "They are powerful - Japan's strongest cultural identity."

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Kengo Kuma, one of the star architects, finds he is in demand not only in Japan and in the West but also in places such as China, which has tempestuous relations with Tokyo but now boasts a growing fan base for Kuma's works.

Among the major China projects for Kuma are the recent Xinjin Zhi Museum, whose sloping angles and repeated tile motifs are characteristically Kuma, and the Yunnan Sales Center, a sprawling complex of shops, housing and a theater, where wooden lattice decorates the main structure overlooking a pond.

He also designs private homes for affluent Chinese who admire Zen philosophy and want to incorporate that stark aesthetic into their daily lives, he said.

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Filipino architects are to be commended for their contribution to the Kingdoms development, said Ghazi Al-Abbasi, an architect and secretary-general of the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). It goes without saying that the contributions of Filipino architects in national development during the past decade is well-recognized, Al-Abbasi said when he recently graced the induction of new officers of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). The event was attended by some 100 Filipino architects who are UAP members. He added that Filipino architects have participated in the development of various projects in the Kingdom. Mario A. Balboa, an electronics engineer and chairman of the Philippine Council of Engineers and Architects, also delivered an inspirational message. Filipino architects have participated in various global projects so that UAP members could take pride in their talents, he said. Labor Attache Resty Dela Fuente also attended the induction ceremony and also talked on the occasion, noting that architects are one of the key partners in nation-building. The new UAP officers, headed by Clamor Lecitona, were presented by Eldrid B. Refil, 2009-2011 charter president, and inducted to office by Labor Attache Dela Fuente. Asiddin K. Arabain, immediate past president, presented UAPs activities during his term, which included seminars, workshops and social services.

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SCE head lauds achievements of Filipino architects

If George Lucas indeed builds his vanity museum in Chicago, San Francisco's contribution may be that we helped nudge the "Star Wars" creator out of his aesthetic comfort zone for the first time since he started making sequels to his sequels and re-releasing his re-releases.

That's the intriguing twist to last week's announcement of a design team for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the shores of Lake Michigan. The lead designer will be MAD Architects, a Chinese firm whose lone North American project is a pair of curvaceous residential towers in metropolitan Toronto that could be squeezed metallic toothpaste tubes.

It's hard to imagine a style less like the theme-park classicism that Lucas offered up last fall when seeking to erect and endow a home for his collection of illustrative art at Crissy Field in the Presidio. When decision-makers turned him down after a combustive public competition, Lucas and his $700 million collection were lured to Chicago.

Because of this, some observers in the design world speculate that Lucas is an architectural agnostic. Metropolis Magazine's executive editor, Martin Pedersen, used the word "situational" in a blog post last week to describe the filmmaker's "remarkably flexible taste."

Instead, Pedersen suggested, "He just wants to get the damn thing approved. In architecture-adverse San Francisco - especially in the Presidio - that meant classical architecture."

When I sought to discuss the design shift with Lucas' press team Tuesday, the response via e-mail was a polite, "We decline to comment at this time and will let you know when that changes."

My guess, though, is that the creative vision pursued at Crissy Field is the one dear to Lucas' heart.

The evidence is in the structures that Lucas built for his cinematic empire before selling Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion.

The Marin resident billed himself as "primary conceptual designer" in press materials for the 2005 opening of his Letterman Digital Arts Center at the Presidio - a 23-acre complex that includes four oversize but immensely tasteful office buildings clad in red brick and white stucco, earnest updates of the military architecture nearby. Skywalker Ranch and Big Rock Ranch in Marin are detailed evocations of a genteel rural West, inflated to studio size.

"There's nothing wrong with replicating old architecture," Lucas told the New York Times in September as he prepared to release his Crissy Field design. "Basically, all of Washington is a mimic of the past."

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Lucas' architect choice for Chicago light years from S.F. vision

City Hall is looking for a team to add more than 100,000 square feet of retail space along the citys Riverwalk and generate enough money to help pay off the $99 million federal loan being used to extend the scenic walkway along the Chicago River.

The group of developers, builders, property managers and maybe even advertising pros would oversee not only the six-block section of the Riverwalk thats under construction along the south side of the river between State and Lake streets, but also the existing portion between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.

The details are found in recently released, 343-page city bid documents that ask would-be Riverwalk firms to offer their plans by Sept. 30.

Construction of this new amenity is expected to be substantially completed in 2016, the documents state. The new build-out will permit a continuous riverside pedestrian trail from Lake Street . . . all the way to Lake Shore Drive and the Lakefront Trail System, including Navy Pier to the east.

The developer would help the city cover some of its loan payments with money from the stores, restaurants, concessions, entertainment facilities and recreational boat docking. In addition, the city likely would try to repay the rest with fees from tour boats, event sponsorships, naming rights and advertising along adjacent streets, according to the bid documents.

The city is open to various ways to split up the pie with the management group, including incentive payments, a long-term lease with an upfront payment or an alternative structure that meets the citys requirements for a long-term partnership.

To sell the idea to potential developers, Mayor Rahm Emanuels administration touts Chicagos large regional population, growing tourism base, the Riverwalks prime location and ongoing development in the area.

With over 100,000 square feet of commercial development opportunity, the Chicago Riverwalk is a great example of how successfully creating land will capture future value, the documents state. The Chicago Riverwalk is a transformative place-making opportunity to activate the historically significant Chicago River year-round for both residents and tourists.

Considering the sometimes brutal winters that feature brisk, chilly winds along the river, the year-round component may be a tough sell, something the city concedes. In climates with weather uncertainty, some architectural designs that are becoming popular include tenting, retractable roofing, patio enclosures and adaptable awnings, according to the bid documents.

Shannon Breymaier, an Emanuel spokeswoman, said the city seeks a year-round destination that reflects the spirit of the city, and this potentially could also include some enclosed spaces.

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City Hall looking for team to manage Riverwalk

Published: Thursday, 8/7/2014 - Updated: 3 hours ago

NATALIE TRUSSO CAFARELLO BLADE STAFF WRITER

Small retail plazas are or soon will be popping up on major roads in Sylvania and Sylvania Township.

Next year, a new mini-plaza is planned at Timberstone Center on Sylvania Avenue at King Road in the city. The center has a Kroger as an anchor tenant.

Joe Swolsky, a broker for Essex Realty in Perrysburg, said a 10,000-square-foot building will be built by a partnership of several private investors. The mini-plaza would be built near Kroger gas station and close to the Sylvania Avenue. It would house retail stores, such as a hair or nail salon.

We put up a sign to see who was interested and weve had an unbelievable amount of tenants interested in that space, he said.

He said the mini-plaza at 7545 Sylvania Ave. would accommodate four small businesses, but said no tenants have been signed.

Soon, residents on the western edge of the township will have a new small grocery.

At 8675 W. Central Ave., near Shetland Road, owners have displayed the sign that the Sylvania Market is coming soon. Township officials received a liquor permit request for the space that was submitted by Hisham Zrien, owner of Table Forty-4 in downtown Toledo. Township Administrator John Zeitler said the space once housed a consignment shop and motorcycle shop.

The empty building is on about 3 acres zoned as commercial and is mainly undeveloped. On the site, next to the building is a sign by Justin Lorenzen, of Toledos Lorenzen Realty, which says his client wants to develop the land for retail use.

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Retail bubbling in Sylvania area

Alyssa Gilbert is running a zoo in her home these days.

After a fire gutted the building across from her apartment on July 12, the D'Ambrosio Drive neighbour has taken in three cats, two dogs, two bearded dragon lizards, a gecko, a ferret, a budgie and several fish.

I'm calling it the furry friends resort, Gilbert joked. I'm feeding and cleaning at least three times a day.

Gilbert, who also served food to the displaced families immediately after the fire, doesn't mind looking after the animal menagerie as their owners stay in hotels or with friends while their homes are being renovated.

The fire started in a second-floor unit of the three-storey apartment building at 101 D'Ambrosio Dr., in Barrie's south end, at around 9:30 p.m.

Approximately 50 people from 28 apartments were displaced after the fire.

Smoke and water damage caused approximately $500,000 damage to the building.

Close to half of the tenants have the mandatory contents insurance.

Tenants with insurance have had their furniture and personal items moved outside into large metal storage bins positioned neatly in parking spaces along the rear of the building.

Their possessions will be washed and held until they're relocated to another building, or moved back into their homes this fall.

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Restoration work underway at site of Barrie apartment fire

Foreign Office minister resigned with damning letter criticising the PM Nicknamed 'thestenographer' forfastidious note-taking in Whitehall Raises prospect of explosive, detailed account of her time in government Publishers liken it to diaries of ex-Labour spin doctor Damian McBride Ex-International Development minister Andrew Mitchell backs arms embargo

By Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor

Published: 07:21 EST, 6 August 2014 | Updated: 10:23 EST, 6 August 2014

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David Cameron is braced for further embarrassment from the resignation Baroness Warsi, as publishers clamour for the rights to her memoirs of life in government.

She dramatically quit the government yesterday with a damning condemnation of Mr Cameron's 'morally indefensible' policy on Gaza.

Baroness Warsi was well-known as a fastidious note-taker during Cabinet meetings and her account of life in the Coalition could prove explosive in the run-up to the general election.

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Will Baroness Warsi publish warts and all memoirs on Cameron's Cabinet?

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) -

?Here is a list of road projects around the Heartland scheduled for Friday, Aug. 8.

Bollinger County, MO

Route C in Bollinger and Stoddard Counties will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as crews seal coat the road. This section is located from Route 51 in Bollinger County to Route 91 in Stoddard County. Weather permitting, crews will be working Monday, Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 23 from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., including weekends as necessary.

Butler County, MO

East and westbound traffic will be restricted. Existing lanes of Route 67 from CR 323 to Route 160/158 will be signed as Route C. The north end of Route C (existing Route 67) will remain closed for about two months as work is completed at the intersection of Route 67, Route C, and CR 323.

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Route 177 will be reduced to one lane while crews perform pavement repairs. This section of road is located between Route 61 and Route J. Weather permitting, crews will be working Sept. 15 through Oct. 31 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cape Rock Drive will be closed between Crestwood and Oak Hills Thursday, August 7. Alliance Water is working to repair a leak on Cape Rock near Parksite Drive. Detour signs will be placed to route traffic on Cape Rock around the work area via Crestwood and Oak Hills.

The work should be completed Thursday. Drivers are asked to consider an alternate route to avoid the area of Cape Rock between Lexington Avenue and Perryville Road.

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Heartland road projects for 8/7

Barnes-Jewish Hospital officials are urging patients to bring no more than one guest to the emergency department while the hospital renovates the waiting room.

A temporary building has been placed outside the ER to serve as the temporary waiting room during the renovation, which is expected to be complete by mid-September, hospital officials report.

The renovation is expected to improve patient flow and create a more comfortable space for patients, the health system reports.

The Charles F. Knight Emergency and Trauma Center was built in 2002 and is a Level One trauma center with about 95,000 visits each year. This remodel is not part of the overall campus renewal project in the citys Central West End.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is owned by BJC HealthCare, a nonprofit health care system with 12 area hospitals and $4 billion in revenue in 2013. BJC HealthCare is led by CEO Steve Lipstein.

Samantha Liss is a business reporter at the Post-Dispatch. Follow her on Twitter @samanthann and the business section @postdispatchbiz.

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Barnes-Jewish Hospital begins ER remodeling

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