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Glass Technology
Experience the entelligent window systems, with one touch of a button replace the color of your window from clear to blue or green, immediate privacy from transparent to transluscent or to an opaque state. Dont limit your design prowess in architectural applications. Visit the link
http://www.smartglassinternational.com yes its smart...
What types of products can be made from SmartGlass™ ?A growing number of product applications can benefit from SmartGlass™ technology. These include:
* Architectural windows, window coverings, skylights and interior partitions.
* Automotive windows, mirrors, sunroofs, sun visors and sunshades.
* Sunglasses, prescription glasses, ski goggles, helmets and visors.
* Point-of-purchase and advertising displays, billboards and road signs.
What are some of the benefits of SmartGlass™ products to end-users?Products using SmartGlass™ technology provide significant benefits to end-users. These benefits include:
* Control of light.
* Improvement in users' comfort and privacy.
* Greater security.
* Energy savings.
* Cost-effectiveness relative to either blinds or other smart window technologies.
* Durability - solid-state technology with no moving parts.
* Protection of interior furniture and other valuable items from UV damage.
* Exceptional optical qualities.
* Elimination of the need for expensive window dressings like mechanical louvers, blinds and shades that are used in architectural applications.
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Design and Build
Whether you are planning to build a house, an addition, or a student project, you'll find ideas and basic instructions in the resources listed here. This directory includes information about planning, designing, choosing materials, and estimating costs.
Building a new home begins long before the foundation is poured. Listed here are the five most important steps you must take to avoid costly mistakes during the construction process. For each step, follow the links for help and resources. And, as you move from dream house to real house, be sure to ask questions and share your progress on our architecture forum.
1. Plan Your BudgetBegin now to think about how much you can afford to spend and how much building your new home is likely to cost. Chances are you will need a construction loan and a mortgage. It's not too early to find out what size loan you qualify for. Also, knowing the approximate costs will help you modify your building plans to meet your budget.
2. Choose Your Lotwhether you are building your home in a suburban development or a site with sweeping ocean views, you will almost always need to choose the land before you select floor plans or other details. You (and any pros you hire) will need to investigate factors such as soil condition, drainage, zoning and building codes in the region.
3. Line Up Your TeamUnless you are a homesteader, you will need a team of experts to design and construct your house. Key players will include a builder, an excavator, a surveyor and a home designer or an architect. Many homeowners begin by selecting the builder or contractor. That pro then selects other members of the team. However, you may also opt to hire an architect or designer first.
4. Pick A PlanMany new homes are built using stock plans from a catalog. The builder or a home designer may make minor modifications in room size, window style or other details. A custom-designed home, on the other hand, is created specifically for the family which will live there. In most cases, custom-designed homes require the services of a licensed architect. Whether you opt for a stock or a custom design, you will be wise to choose a plan that will meet your needs for many years to come.
5. Negotiate A ContractBe sure to get a written contract which has been signed and dated by both the builder or contractor and the architect or designer. A contract for new home construction will describe the project in detail and include a listing of all the parts to be included in the house. Remember to amend the contract if you or your team make any changes to the project later on.
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Sacred Geometry
Are our buildings shaped by sacred numbers and hidden codes?
Architecture begins with geometry. Since earliest times, architects have relied on mathematical principles. The ancient Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius believed that builders should always use precise ratios when constructing temples. “For without symmetry and proportion no temple can have a regular plan,” Vitruvius wrote in his famous treatise De Architectura .
The proportion Vitruvius recommended was modeled after the human body. He observed that all human beings are shaped according to a ratio that is astonishingly precise and uniform. For example, Vitruvius found that the human face equals one tenth of the total body height. The foot equals one sixth of the total body height. And so on.
Scientists and philosophers later discovered that the same ratio Vitruvius saw in the human body – 1 to PHI (1.618) – exists in every part of nature, from swimming fish to swirling planets.
This divine ratio, or divine proportion, has been called the building block of all life.
Sacred geometry, or spiritual geometry, is the belief that numbers and patterns such as the divine ratio have sacred significance. Many mystical and spiritual practices, including astrology, numerology, tarot, and feng shui, begin with a fundamental belief in sacred geometry. Architects and designers may draw upon concepts of sacred geometry when they choose particular geometric forms to create pleasing, soul-satisfying spaces.
Absurd? Before you dismiss sacred geometry, take a few moments to reflect on the ways some numbers and patterns appear again and again in every part of your life.
Sacred Geometry In Your Body
When studied under the microscope, living cells reveal a highly ordered system of shapes and patterns. From the shape of your DNA to the cornea of your eye, every part of your body follows the same predictable patterns.
Sacred Geometry In Your Garden
The jigsaw puzzle of life is made up of recurring shapes and numbers. Leaves, flowers, seeds, and other living things share the same spiral shapes. Honeybees and other insects live structured lives that mimic these patterns. When we create a floral arrangement or walk through a labyrinth, we celebrate nature’s innate forms.
Sacred Geometry In Stones
Nature’s archetypes are reflected in the crystalline forms of gems and stones. Amazingly, the patterns found in your diamond engagement ring may resemble the formation of snowflakes and the shape of your own cells.
Sacred Geometry In the Sea
Similar shapes and numbers are found beneath the sea, from the swirl of a nautilus shell to the movement of the tides.
Sacred Geometry In the Heavens
Nature’s patterns are echoed in the movement of planets and stars and the cycles of the moon. Perhaps this is why astrology lies at the heart of so many spiritual beliefs.
Sacred Geometry In Music
The vibrations we call sound follow sacred, archetypal patterns. For this reason, you may find that certain sound sequences can stimulate the intellect, inspire creativity, and evoke a deep sense of joy.
Sacred Geometry And The Cosmic Grid
Stonehenge, metalithic tombs, and other ancient sites stretch across the globe along underground electromagnetic tracks, or ley lines. The energy grid formed by these lines suggest sacred shapes and ratios.
Sacred Geometry And Theology
In his best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, author Dan Brown used concepts of sacred geometry to weave a spell-binding tale about conspiracy and early Christianity. Regardless of your faith, you are likely to find that sacred numbers and symbols play an important role. Concepts of sacred geometry are expressed in the beliefs of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and other formal religions.
Sacred Geometry In Your Home
From the pyramids in Egypt to the new World Trade Center tower in New York, great architecture uses the same essential building blocks as your body and all living things. Moreover, the principles of sacred geometry are not confined to great temples and monuments. Sacred geometry shapes all buildings, no matter how humble. Believers say that when we recognize these principles and build upon them, we create dwellings that comfort and inspire.
Are some numbers sacred?
Why do certain shapes, numbers, and ratios show up again and again? Are our buildings shaped by sacred numbers and hidden codes? Can great architecture be expressed in a mathematical formula? Tell us what you think!
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Located in the cradle of civilization, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are home to historic temples and mosques, exquisite mosaics, and innovative modern construction. It's unlikely that you will want to travel to Iraq during these times of war, and you may want to exercise caution when undertaking a journey to other Middle Eastern countries. However, you can begin to explore the great buildings and monuments of the Middle East today via these photos and resources.
The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem is the
oldest surviving example of Islamic architecture
Built in the seventh century, the Dome of the Rock Mosque is the oldest surviving example of Islamic architecture and today remains one of the most beautiful. The outside of the mosque is octagonal, with a door and 7 windows on each side, while the inside is circular. The building is made of marble and richly decorated with tile, mosaics, gilded wood, and painted stucco. The mosque's builders and artisans came from many different regions and incorporated their individual techniques and styles into the final design. The dome is made of gold and stretches 20 meters in diameter.
The Dome of the Rock Mosque gets its name from the massive rock located at its center, upon which, according to Islamic history, the prophet Muhammad stood before he ascended to heaven. This rock is equally important in the Judaic tradition, which considers it the symbolic foundation upon which the world was built and the place of the Binding of Isaac.
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