Downton abbey architecture

On the grounds of the Serpentine art gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens public park, the latest iteration of an architectural spectacle has just opened. The Serpentine Pavilion, a prestigious annual architectural commission now in its 21st year, is a temporary public building featuring boundary-pushing designs by some of the top minds in the field. This year’s version, designed by Chicago-based artist and sculptor Theaster Gates , is a tall, dark, cylindrical building named Black Chapel . Intended to be a space for gathering and meditation, the spare interior is decorated with seven black tar paintings by Gates and lit from above by a central oculus. advertisement advertisement But beyond its artistic and architectural substance, this year’s pavilion has a deeper and more impactful message. To the greatest extent possible, Black Chapel was built without any materials produced by slave labor. A recent report suggests that slavery is … [Read more...] about This year’s Serpentine Pavilion reveals the shocking truth behind most modern architecture

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This month saw the newly completed National Museum of Qatar begin welcoming visitors into its architecturally impressive exhibition space, shops and dining venues. Complementing the breath-taking exterior design of French architect Jean Nouvel, it was Koichi Takada Architects who executed the design of its interiors after winning a global competition to take the project on in 2012. Inside the National Museum of Qatar. Oscar Rialubin Built on 1.5 million sq ft at the south end of Doha’s Corniche, the new museum boasts a prominent position in the city with dramatic architecture inspired by the unique mineral formation, desert rose. Koichi Takada designed the interiors to respect and complement this distinct structure, curating his ‘desert-scapes’ concept to create a local cultural experience for visitors and provide a narrative of Qatari history. “The architecture is a representation of the desert rose mineral … [Read more...] about Inside The New Architecturally Impressive National Museum Of Qatar

Representative image (Source: ShutterStock) Since coming to power in 2014 the Narendra Modi government has brought about several economic reform measures through a mix of legislative and policy changes. Here are eight measures that stand out. PM Jan Dhan Yojana: On August 28, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), promising to end “financial untouchability” through the world’s biggest banking-for-all scheme. The plan envisaged universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic banking account for every household, financial literacy, access to credit, insurance and pension facility. The objective was to channel all welfare entitlement payouts such as NREGA payments to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme. Eight years later the scheme has achieved far more than what was envisioned. As on May 21, 2022, there were 454.1 million beneficiaries banked so far with a … [Read more...] about Modi govt @ 8 | Eight reforms that stand out

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin As the world opens itself up once more to international travel, Berlin accommodates activities and sights for everyone from intrepid trailblazers to first-time explorers. Located at the heart of the North German Plain, this prominent stage of world history straddles the banks of the Spree providing nature lovers a city composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals, and lakes. What’s more, summer in Berlin entices both Berliners and visitors to take to the outdoors and discover the sophisticated interaction of the different ecosystems. Like many epic stories, the best Berlin journey has an express beginning and ending. The Airport Express (FEX), to be exact. Hop on right at BER Airport Terminal 1 or 2 and arrive at the station closest to your hotel quickly without the need to stress over traffic and parking. Once the adventure comes to an end, the Airport Express (FEX) transports you right back to catch your return … [Read more...] about Culture, Art, And Nature: Planning The Perfect Summer In Berlin

One thing the Olympics do without fail is give us a structured, consistent cultural barometer. Every four years, since 1896, the Games broadcast an orchestrated vision of the state of the world, and by extension, the state of design. A great example of this? The pictograms that represent each event (swimming, tennis, cycling, etc.), which are redesigned for every Olympics by a native artist or designer. Otl Aicher’s classic icons for the 1972 Munich Olympics are still revered amongst graphic designers, for example, while other cities like Beijing and Athens have chosen icons that reflected local flavor. advertisement Another way young designers contribute to the Games is through the “victory ceremony” design, which refers to the podia, costumes, makeup, and flowers that accompany the handing out of medals. Since millions of spectators end up watching many of the 4,400 ceremonies, they’re fairly important to the overall identity of the Games. Though usually a … [Read more...] about The Podium And Ceremony Outfits For The 2012 Olympics Are Crazy

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Akshay Kumar’s latest film, Samrat Prithviraj had had a dismal show at the box office and failed to live up to trade expectations. Released on June 3 and made on an estimated budget of $20 million, the film has earned $8.4 million in two weeks. The latest Hindi release, Nikamma , also proved to be a box office dud with a mere $0.193 million collection in India. Nikamma stars Shilpa Shetty, Shirley Setia and Abhimanyu Dassani. Meanwhile, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, continues to score big at the box office, even in the fifth week of its release. The Kartik Aaryan-starrer has earned $ 23.3 million after the fifth weekend. Interestingly, Kumar faces failure at the box office, even as Aaryan celebrates the success of a film which is a standalone sequel to Kumar’s 2007 film, Bhool Bhulaiya . Interestingly, the film has already landed online and is the second most watched film/show on Netflix NFLX India. The film was made on an … [Read more...] about ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ Earns $8.4 Million In Two Weeks, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ Bags $23.3 Million In Four Weeks

- A + A (June 23): Glossy, cosmopolitan Singapore is playing host to a very unusual balancing act. The city is one of Asia’s most expensive property markets — and at the same time, boasts one of the highest home ownership rates in the world. Liu Thai Ker, “the architect of modern Singapore,” is a big part of the reason why. As the chief architect of Singapore’s Housing Development Board, Liu was instrumental in establishing a housing model that has underpinned decades of astonishing economic growth. The 84-year-old Yale graduate personally oversaw the development of more than half a million public housing units. Now, almost 90% of the city’s residents own the well-designed, government-built apartments they live in. Since its independence in 1965, citizens have been able to buy these units at a steep discount, turning homeownership into a key way for Singaporeans to grow their wealth. But in the past few years — and especially since the pandemic, which plunged the … [Read more...] about The man who helped create Singapore’s housing boom is getting worried

SPM, STPM and UEC school-leavers will find the upcoming Education & Further Studies Fair – Series 54 of interest. To be held over two weekends in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, it also aims to benefit teachers, university students, working adults, members of the industry and the general public seeking higher education opportunities. For those planning to sign up for undergraduate and post-graduate courses, the fair will provide answers to the best colleges and universities, courses, scholarships and career possibilities. They can also seek advice from educationists and counsellors on the types of specialised training and academic courses available in Malaysia and overseas. Visitors can “shop” for a wide range of courses such as business studies, accountancy, hotel management, aviation, baking, beauty, broadcasting, law, applied sciences, communication studies, engineering, multimedia, IT and computer science, medicine, architecture, interior design, dance, nursing, … [Read more...] about Education fair for SPM, STPM and UEC school-leavers

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The electric power industry is going through the greatest revolution since its founding by Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla, George Westinghouse, and other pioneers. It is a revolution that reaches into every aspect of utility operation, from the preeminence of data to the shift from coal and natural gas generation to wind and solar. The changes are monumental and yet they are happening in an industry that is fundamentally conservative and risk-averse. To understand the dynamics at work, I conducted a virtual interview with three hands-on engineers from Burns & McDonnell , the Kansas City, Missouri-based engineering, construction and architecture firm whose customers are spread across the utility landscape, from rural co-ops to municipally owned utilities to giant, investor-owned companies. Burns & McDonnell is employee owned and has a complement of over 10,000 engineers, construction and craft professionals … [Read more...] about Burns & McDonnell Navigates Passage Between Electric Revolution And Supply Chain Crisis

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Despite being marked by the country’s famous fjords, Norway’s Northwest is often overlooked, with tourists preferring to spend their whole trip in Oslo or Bergen and surrounding areas. In the Northwest, the coastline is broken up into miles of idyllic islands where the North and Norwegian seas converge and weave further inland via bays, channels and fjords. Trondheim, located a little over 300 miles north of Oslo, is one of the area’s largest cities, offering cultural sites, viking curiosities, local eats and a vibrant city center ready to welcome foreign visitors. Highlights include the 11th century Nidaros Cathedral, Ringve Museum of Music History and the world’s first bike lift. Trondheim is easily accessible by airplane or train, and car rentals are available.While there is plenty to do in Trondheim, the remaining towns and natural phenomena that define the Northwest are just as enthralling, especially if you move through … [Read more...] about Trondheim To Ålesund: An Epic Road Trip Through Norway