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Misc

How to specify HPL cladding?

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The reality of an architectural project begins to take shape when the work is materialized. For this reason, the task of specifying the products to be used becomes highly relevant within the creative process. When starting a project, architects often conduct a study of references to find inspiration for both the conceptualization of the work and its aesthetic, taking advantage of the vast visual content available on digital networks, which allows them to explore various application cases. This research is useful for understanding the final image one wishes to achieve; however, it is necessary to seek guidance from technical support teams to select products that ensure such an end is reached.

How is the construction of the Chacao Bridge progressing? Structural challenges and material innovation

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After years of discussion, the fixed connection between the Isla Grande de Chiloé and the Chilean mainland is becoming a reality. Expected to be completed in 2025, the Chacao Bridge will be a 2,750-meter-long suspension structure spanning the Chacao Channel, specifically connecting Punta Coronel to Punta Gallán. Currently, crossing to the island takes approximately 20 minutes by ferry, a service often subject to delays due to weather conditions. The bridge will reduce this transit time to just 3 minutes, regardless of external factors.

Construction Details: 6 Prefabricated Modular Bathrooms for Fast-Track Buildings

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The bathroom is an essential space for any type of construction. The Royal Spanish Academy defines it as "a room in a building with a sink, shower, bathtub, toilet, and other sanitary fixtures." This definition establishes that it is a functional space with a specific program, which, consequently, can be easily standardized. As these spaces have practically uniform dimensions, the installation of prefabricated bathrooms in various types of buildings is becoming increasingly common. These modular units serve as an excellent alternative when opting for a fast, cost-effective, and efficient construction method.

Architectural films as a solution for quick renovations

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There are various ways to remodel interior spaces, and it is not always necessary to break down walls or make structural changes that generate dust, noise, and odors. Sometimes a space can be greatly improved with simple yet significant touches that can be carried out quickly and easily, without the need for skilled labor or excessive expenses.

3M architectural vinyls allow for radical renovations, completely changing the look of a space without producing debris. Thanks to their adhesive technology, they can be applied to walls, ceilings, elevators, furniture, panels, and other existing surfaces, replacing their previous appearance with patterns and textures such as wood, concrete, carbon fiber, marble, solid colors, textiles, and more.

Learn to manage your BIM projects with this comprehensive Autodesk Navisworks course

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The BIM methodology is based on the comprehensive management of an architectural project throughout all its phases, as well as its entire lifecycle. To achieve this, we rely on a series of software tools that allow us to manage project information more effectively, significantly contributing to the reduction of costs and execution times.

Large-format surfaces: Continuous, clean, and minimalist spaces

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When describing a place we like, we generally refer to sensations rather than physical aspects. This occurs because space directly influences our emotional state. For this reason, when designing a specific environment, it is important to understand its use and the desired character, which is determined by the sum of various physical elements that form a harmonious whole. Among these components is the cladding, which covers surfaces and is often the only material we perceive. In this article, we will discuss large-format pieces specifically and their impact on space.

Water-Resistant Laminate Flooring: How It Works and Design Examples

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Indoor flooring must not only withstand foot traffic but also resist a range of daily impacts, including contact with cleaning products, waxes, and other liquids. With wood flooring, wear can be even more apparent, as water exposure can rapidly deteriorate its appearance and performance, especially if proper protection and maintenance measures are not taken.

However, new technologies continue to enhance the characteristics of laminate flooring, offering an appearance similar to natural wood while providing high resistance to daily wear and, specifically, moisture.

Feasibility studies: the key to a sound architectural investment

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Developing a real estate project from scratch is a major challenge, given the significant investment involved and the expectations placed upon it. The purchase of land, its study, design, construction planning, and subsequent stages entail a series of requirements and details that must be considered before taking any action. To determine the viability of a plan, it is essential to conduct a feasibility study—a determining factor for making sound decisions. In this article, developed by the team at Arquigestión, you will find the necessary requirements, as well as key concepts to understand the logic behind this requirement, from the macro to the micro level.

Touchless Bathrooms: Improving the User Experience with Touchless Technology

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In light of the pandemic we are facing as a society, we have begun to question various habits that we may have normalized for a long time. Consider our methods of greeting: is physical contact truly necessary to establish a greeting? We could look to countries like Japan, where people greet with a bow, or Thailand, with the "Wai"—a greeting performed by inclining the head with palms pressed together—or perhaps even a clap, as is the custom in Zimbabwe.

Physical contact does not only refer to people, but also to the objects we touch daily. One of the primary recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19 is hygiene, which is primarily maintained in the bathroom. Yet, how can we use a bathroom without touching equipment that has already been used by someone else? It is almost a contradiction. This question is even more relevant in public restrooms. Consider the typical sequence of actions we perform in such a facility; how many times must we touch an object?

What is thermolamination and how can it be applied in interior design?

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Carpentry is the term we have always associated with furniture manufacturing, but as interior design has taken on a more significant role in our daily spaces, the related terminology has diversified. This is why we have begun to hear about thermolaminated furniture, though we may not know exactly what it means. Fundamentally, thermolamination is an industrial process in which a plastic film is adhered to a surface to manufacture highly resistant and durable products, allowing for the design of distinctive, curved pieces.

How have large-scale projects been waterproofed?

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When constructing a building, it is essential to define the waterproofing method to be used, as this serves to protect the structure from structural failure, ground movement, and water or moisture infiltration. Therefore, whether for a roof, terrace, swimming pool, road, or underground structure, choosing the right solution is necessary. Selecting the correct protective and insulating barrier prevents damage and unforeseen issues, ensuring high durability and strong performance. However, the guarantee of an effective and secure system relies primarily on the integration of solutions that are compatible and adaptable to multiple substrates or complex geometries.

By examining various high-impact international urban projects—using systems developed entirely by Soprema—we will explain why it is important to consider waterproofing as an integrated system rather than a collection of isolated products.

How copper imparts antimicrobial properties to melamine

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The emergence and spread of COVID-19 have increased interest in understanding and analyzing the composition of the materials that make up the spaces we inhabit. On an average desk, it is possible to find more than 10 million germs, and nearly 80% of infections occur through contact with them. What material is your workspace, living room, or kitchen furniture made of?

Today, we are paying increasing attention to our daily environment, and it is beneficial to identify materials that allow us to reconcile these new concerns with the functions and aesthetics of the surfaces around us.

E-Commerce, Architecture, and Construction: Is It Possible to Buy Materials and Products Online?

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The COVID-19 pandemic, which is currently affecting more than 180 countries worldwide, has fundamentally changed how we interact with everything. Our social and consumption habits are restricted, and we have had to rely on digital tools to maintain distance while attempting to remain operational. In light of this new landscape, concepts such as "home office" and "e-commerce" are becoming commonplace.

A few weeks ago, we examined how architects are adapting to remote work, striving to maintain consistent production from afar. It is easy to see how the initial stages of the design process can be carried out from home, but what happens during the later phases when architects must work on-site, or select and specify the materials and products required for construction?

E-commerce, Architecture, and Construction: Is it Possible to Buy Materials and Products Online?

Subscriber Access | 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which is now affecting more than 180 countries worldwide, has changed how we relate to everything. Our social and consumption practices are limited, and we have had to rely on digital tools to maintain distance while attempting to remain operational. In light of this new landscape, concepts like home office and e-commerce are becoming common.

A few weeks ago, we looked at how architects are adapting to remote work, seeking to maintain adequate production levels from home. It is not hard to imagine that the early stages of the design process can be easily carried out from home, but what happens in the later phases, when the architect must work on-site or select and specify the materials and products necessary for construction?

E-commerce, architecture, and construction: Is it possible to buy materials and products online?

Subscriber Access | 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which now affects more than 180 countries worldwide, has changed how we relate to everything. Our social and consumption practices are limited, and we have had to rely on digital tools to maintain distance while attempting to remain operational. In light of this new landscape, concepts like "home office" and "e-commerce" are becoming commonplace.

A few weeks ago, we reviewed how architects are adapting to remote work, seeking to maintain adequate production levels from home. It is easy to imagine that the initial stages of the design process can be carried out easily from home, but what happens in the later phases, when the architect must work on-site or select and specify the materials and products necessary for construction?

Antiviral Bathrooms: Partitions and Accessories for Designing Healthy Spaces

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© Sanilock

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Until a few years ago, the direct relationship between architectural design and the various viruses we live with went largely unnoticed. At 0.00001 millimeters in size—a hundred times smaller than bacteria—their presence is as invisible as it is threatening. Due to the emergence of COVID-19, we are now more aware that their existence and transmission can be controlled through intelligent design decisions and the proper selection of materials.

While not all viruses are harmful to human health, bathrooms can be particularly conducive to the spread of viral pathogens due to their function as spaces for bodily hygiene and waste disposal. Which materials and products can help maintain the hygiene and health of these spaces?

Modular Bathrooms: How to Integrate Prefabricated Spaces into an Architectural Project?

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Prefabricated systems have become an effective option for completing projects that require standardized modular solutions, such as hotels, hospitals, residences, and residential buildings. The primary advantages of using ready-made modules are reduced labor time, optimal control, and project traceability. While the functional value of these systems—in terms of their quick and easy execution—is significant, the use of quality materials provides additional value. However, to understand how these modules function and are applied, it is first necessary to understand their origin and process.

Alchemy of Color: Artisanal Paints Created by an Architect and a Chemist

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There are various professions that, in our traditional view of work, seem strange or unusual to combine. This is the case for architect Leo Laniado and chemist Osiel Alves Pereira, who joined forces to produce handmade paints with extraordinary results. This leads us to consider the role of interdisciplinary integration in achieving more productive and comprehensive solutions. Is it multidisciplinarity, pluridisciplinarity, or interdisciplinarity? The case of Laniado and Alves demonstrates once again the success that comes from merging skill sets in the professional and, above all, creative spheres.

Architecture and Topography: 25 Projects with Different Approaches to Relief

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Sloping plots often present themselves as major challenges and therefore become a determining factor of the project by enabling various forms of approach, overlapping the ground, respecting its slope or even burying itself in it. To illustrate all these alternatives, we selected fifteen projects that present different solutions in dealing with landscape.

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House Plans Under 100 Square Meters: 30 Useful Examples

The challenge of designing a house with a tight budget and space constraints, together with the essential duty of responding correctly to the requirements of the user, is sometimes one of the most challenging and motivating tasks an architect can face. How can you take advantage of space most effectively? How can you avoid wasted material? How do you anticipate the possible future expansion of the house? And how do you develop a simple design that also delivers value to its inhabitants?

To help you in this process, we scoured our projects archives to select 30 houses that provide interesting architectural solutions despite measuring less than 100 square meters.

Applying Exposed Cork in Interior Architecture

How can we transport ourselves to natural environments when we are in completely urban situations? The materiality of our surroundings is an important factor that determines the atmosphere we inhabit. In many cases, the use of natural materials in interior architecture can help evoke nature in our daily spaces. In this article, we will specifically analyze the effect that cork has as a special resource in the design of interior spaces. Cork is the bark of a tree species called cork oak. When extracted from the tree, it is transformed into a useful raw product and can be applied to a variety of different uses.

8 Examples of Wind Powered Architecture

Wind energy is a type of renewable energy obtained from the wind, or in other words from the movement of air masses transferring from areas of high atmospheric pressure to nearby areas of lower atmospheric pressure, with speeds proportional to the pressure gradient. To take advantage of wind energy, machines called wind turbines or mills are used, activated by the movement of the wind as the propeller rotates. The propeller is in turn connected to a generator rotor that raises the speed of rotation to thousands of revolutions per minute, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy.

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Santiago Architecture City Guide: 41 Buildings, Complexes and Parks to Visit in the Chilean Capital

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Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia on indigenous settlements in the valley of the Mapocho River, Santiago is the capital and most populated city of Chile. This South American city is enframed by the Andes Mountains to the east and the Chilean Coast Range to the west, in addition to 26 island hills (cerros islas) scattered throughout the city. Some of these island hills have been converted into urban parks, such as Santa Lucía and San Cristóbal, while Chena, Calán, and Renca are in the process of expansion.

Approaching Personal Hygiene the Holistic Way: GROHE Sensia Arena

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Shower toilets are fast becoming the new standard when it comes to personal hygiene. GROHE Sensia Arena showcases the benefits of this all-encompassing approach with award-winning design, innovative technology and an undeniable feel-good factor.

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