Schindler makes history in Istanbul

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Schindler supplies elevators and escalators for first Europe to Asia rail connection under the Bosporus

One of Schindler’s most exciting projects came a step closer to completion with the opening of the world’s first underwater rail link between two continents, connecting Asia and Europe, in Istanbul, Turkey on 29 October 2013. Schindler’s contribution of 10 elevators and 63 escalators to the Marmaray Project included the challenge of fitting 4 escalators that are among the longest in Europe at 65 meters in length.

Reliable products for a challenging setting

Schindler products transport up to 75,000 commuters per hour to and from the subway line – that can be as deep as 56 meters below ground – safely, reliably and using as little energy as possible. With the support of Schindler’s expertise, the new Marmaray line gets passengers faster to their destinations. In fact, traveling the 76.3 km stretch is now 81 minutes faster than before. This will help Istanbul, one of the world’s most developing cities, to continue to grow and prosper.

 

From growth to growth in Schindler Turkey

“The Marmaray Project not only represents a strengthening of Schindler’s reputation for realizing landmark Turkish public transportation projects,” said Gaetano Conca, Head of Schindler Turkey, “it also contributes to the strong growth that we are currently experiencing in Turkey.”

 

Providing reliable mobility in public transportation

This success in Turkey is another example of Schindler providing tailor-made passenger mobility at large transportation facilities. With products that are precision-engineered, state-of-the-art, and use green technology to lower energy use, the Swiss company has long been a supplier of choice for builders and architects of major airports and rail systems around the world. You will find Schindler escalators, elevators and moving walks at some of the world’s busiest airports like London Heathrow, Los Angeles International Airport, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, at Frankfurt and Munich Airports, as well as in metro and rail systems in high-traffic cities like New York, Chicago, Madrid, Hong Kong and Beijing.

Yenikapı Metro Station, Marmary Project, Istanbul, Turkey

Schindler Escalators, Marmaray Project, Istanbul, Turkey

Johnson Controls and Hitachi Announce Global Air Conditioning Joint Venture

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Johnson Controls together with new joint venture will create world”s largest commercial air conditioning provider

MILWAUKEE and TOKYO, Dec. 3, 2013  — Today Johnson Controls, Inc., Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Appliances, Inc. (collectively referred to as Hitachi) announced that the companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for a transaction in which Johnson Controls will obtain a 60% ownership stake in Hitachi Appliances” global air conditioning business, excluding sales and service operations in Japan and certain other assets. The companies expect the joint venture to begin operations in 2014, subject to final due diligence and board approvals, definitive agreement on terms, required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

Building on the leadership of both companies, the partnership will include key products such as variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and inverter technologies supporting both the commercial and residential markets. The joint venture will combine Johnson Controls” global reach with Hitachi”s technology expertise.

“Technology leadership derived from its ongoing investments in research and development have established Hitachi as a key contributor to the global HVAC industry,” said Alex Molinaroli, president and chief executive officer, Johnson Controls. “The addition of these capabilities adds key technologies to our product portfolio. Combined with our existing $15 billion building technologies and services business, this investment positions Johnson Controls as the world”s casino online largest commercial air conditioning provider.”

A global multi-industrial company, Johnson Controls is a leading supplier of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, building controls, refrigeration and security systems for buildings. Through its Building Efficiency business, the company delivers solutions that increase energy efficiency and lower operating costs for over a million customers who are served through nearly 700 offices in more than 150 countries.

A global home appliances and air conditioning solutions provider, Hitachi Appliances, a wholly owned subsidiary of leading global electronics and infrastructure solutions provider Hitachi, Ltd., supplies high quality, efficient and reliable air conditioning solutions across the globe, from inverter based residential room air conditioners to variable refrigerant flow systems, and other air conditioning equipment for commercial and industrial use.

The proposed joint venture comes at a time when the worldwide air conditioning market is rapidly changing. Customers are increasingly demanding air conditioning options with better energy efficiency in response to an increase in energy-saving and environmentally-protective regulations.

“Both companies have a long and proud history of innovation and growth in the industry with similar values and cultures,” said Hiroaki Nakanishi, President of Hitachi, Ltd. “As the worldwide air conditioning business environment continues to evolve, we believe Johnson Controls and Hitachi”s partnership can supply integrated solutions to fulfill the needs of customers around the world.”

“This is great news for our customers who will benefit from the full range of solutions, equipment and service that Johnson Controls and Hitachi can offer them on a global scale,” said Molinaroli.

Hiroaki Nakanishi also said, “Alongside with this joint venture, we look forward to exploring further opportunities to collaborate with Johnson Controls and Hitachi”s broad building solution business capitalizing on IT-related technologies.”

IES Honours Illustrious Engineers at its 47th Anniversary

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The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) celebrated its 47 years of momentous achievements in facilitating the advancement of engineering in Singapore at its Annual Dinner held on 27th November 2013. Gracing the occasion was guest-of-honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education.

 

As a tribute to local engineers across the academic, industry and political fields, IES unveiled the second edition of ‘Who’s Who in Engineering Singapore’, a compilation to recognize and acknowledge more than 270 local engineers who have been instrumental in Singapore’s economic progress, nation development and enhancement of quality of life.

 

To boost the growth of four thriving engineering fields, IES also launched the Chemical and Process Engineering Chapter, the Environmental Engineering Chapter, the Marine and Offshore Engineering Chapter and the Systems Engineering Chapter at the dinner. These IES chapters aim to raise the profile of engineers in these disciplines locally and internationally, provide a professional platform for them to convene and offer them more training and career advancement opportunities.

 

IES conferred four senior engineers with the IES Honorary Fellowship, which recognises individuals who have made tremendous contributions in engineering to the nation. Dr. Prof Chew Yong Tian, IES Past President;  Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Keppel Corporation CEO; Dr. Ong Ser Huan, IES Past President; and Dr. Tang Kin Fei, Sembcorp Industry Group President and CEO will join other IES Honorary Fellows, including Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean; Ms Ho Ching, CEO of Temasek Holdings; and Mr Cham Tao Soon, Chairman, Audit Committee of UOB Bank in serving as local key role models to encourage youths to take up engineering.

 

Further, IES and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) presented the IES/IEEE Joint Medal of Excellence Award 2013, an award aimed at promoting engineering as a profession and recognising individuals for contributions in engineering with far-reaching best online casino impacts on society, to Prof Chong Tow Chong, Provost of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, for his contribution in the innovation and revolution of scientific research and education. In his various capacities, Professor Chong has set the direction of R&D for Singapore, played a significant role in promoting international collaborations within the industry, and inspired and guided his students, many of whom have gone on to make significant impact in their respective careers.

 

In line with its role to promote and enhance engineering education, IES will also sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to set up the IES-SIT Student Chapter and the IES-SUTD Student Chapter respectively. Under the MoU, IES will provide the Student Chapters with funding support and connect these future engineers to the engineering community.

 

At the dinner, IES also awarded some 13 top engineering students from National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with the IES Gold Medal, the top Electronics Engineering graduate of UniSIM with a cash prize, and two selected engineering students with the IES-Yayasan MENDAKI Scholarship to reward excellence in the pursuit of engineering education and encourage young talents to pursue an engineering career.

Singapore’s First Zero-Energy Green Gallery

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The Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) Heritage Museum and the City Developments Limited (CDL) Green Gallery has officially opened. Visitors to the two new amenities will be able to visit the ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition where they will learn more about the rich history of the 154-year old Gardens and Singapore’s greening journey over the last five decades.

 

To mark the opening, more than 50 activities were organised at the SBG for visitors to commemorate 50 Years of Greening Singapore. The new amenities and slew of activities are part of National Parks Board’s (NParks) efforts to raise awareness on Singapore’s green heritage and our City in a Garden.

 

‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition

The ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition on Singapore’s greening journey is the first exhibition to

be held at the CDL Green Gallery. Open from 30 November 2013 to 30 June 2014, the exhibition features different themes of green Singapore, from its historical landscapes, to the rich biodiversity. Visitors will have the opportunity to create their own city through an interactive game. The exhibition also gives a glimpse into future developments in our City in a Garden, such as Destination Parks and Round Island Route.

 

The three Destination Parks, Admiralty Park, Jurong Lake Park, and East Coast Park are estimated to be completed by end 2015, end 2016, and end 2017 respectively. The three large regional parks were identified earlier to be redeveloped thematically to attract Singaporeans from all over the island. They will feature recreational elements not usually found in public parks.

 

SBG Heritage Museum and CDL Green Gallery

The SBG Heritage Museum at Holttum Hall and CDL Green Gallery are located next to Botany Centre in the Tanglin Core of the Gardens. The SBG Heritage Museum features interactive exhibits and panels that share little known facts of the Gardens’ rich heritage, as well as rare artefacts including botanical books, paintings, and more.

 

Developed as an extension to the SBG Heritage Museum on Holttum Lawn by CDL, the CDL

Green Gallery is Singapore’s first purposefully built zero energy Green Gallery, making the gallery self-sufficient. It is built with several eco-friendly technologies, including two innovative features introduced in Singapore for the first time – the biomaterial known as Hempcrete (largely made from the hemp plant) and a prefabricated modular system. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has accorded this Gallery with the BCA Green Mark Platinum status – the highest tier of green buildings in Singapore. Clad with vertical green walls, the building is planted with selected species that attract butterflies such as the Plain Tiger and Chocolate Pansy. After the ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition, the CDL Green Gallery will feature other exhibitions on the cultural use of plants, botanical art, and orchids.

 

“In celebration of CDL’s 50th anniversary this year and in support of the Gardens’ nomination bid as Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are delighted to leverage our green building expertise and gather like-minded partners to contribute to the development of these green icons as our gift to the nation. Singapore has won many accolades on our economic success, we sincerely hope to do our part to help Singapore win international recognition of our cultural heritage,” said Mr Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director, CDL.

 

Both the exhibits in the Museum and the completed Green Gallery are supported by CDL, at a value of over S$2 million, in cash and in kind, through the Garden City Fund, a registered charity and institution of public character established by NParks.

 

 

De Rotterdam in Netherlands is Completed

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Rotterdam 3

Wilhelmina Pier Rotterdam, 21 November 2013 – The largest multifunctional building in the Netherlands has been completed. Not even 4 years after starting construction, MAB Development and OVG Real Estate have turned over De Rotterdam to its future users. After a period of finishing and furnishing, residents will start to move into this vertical city, designed by OMA, in early 2014.

De Rotterdam, in total 160.000 m2 of floor space on an area the size of just one football field, is a building that calls for superlatives. When, probably in the autumn of 2014 the entire building is occupied, around 85% has already been rented out or sold, the total number of people on the Wilhelmina Pier will be doubled. On average around 5,000 people will be in the building on a daily basis. Aside from being the most densely built-up piece of land in the Netherlands, this will make it the most densely populated area too.

‘De Rotterdam’, with its 60,000 m2 of office space, hospitality and catering covering around 1,500m2 , a four-star lifestyle hotel with conference and event facilities and 280 rooms, a car park with space for 670 vehicles, 240 apartments and leisure facilities will be a vertical city on the Wilhelmina Pier. The building at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge is already an unmissable feature of Rotterdam”s skyline.

New icon in the centre of Rotterdam

Rotterdam1

This next step in the birth of the vertical city was celebrated in the presence of alderperson Karakus, Jos Melchers from MAB, Coen van Oostrom from OVG, OMA architects Ellen van Loon, Reinier de Graaf and Rem Koolhaas and media representatives from all over the world, such as El País, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and The Daily Telegraph. H. Karakus, alderperson for Housing, Urban Economy, Real Estate and Spatial Planning and Project Councillor for the Rotterdam-Zuid district: ‘De Rotterdam is a wonderful building which even more firmly puts us on the map as a city of architecture. This is an icon for our city. Aside from this it also strengthens the connection to the city centre – a development that was commenced with the construction of the Erasmus Bridge casino online and the Kop van Zuid. De Rotterdam literally lures people across the bridge into the city”s southern district.’

Transparent beauty 

Rotterdam2  Rotterdam4

The signature of OMA/Rem Koolhaas can be found in every detail, for instance in the 8.5 meter high, light central hall that spans the entire width of the building with travertine wallcoverings and natural stone flooring, an impressive atrium, brass wallcoverings in the lift area and the reception. De Rotterdam consists of a 6-storey base approximately 30 meters high. On top of that there are 3 transparent towers with around 7 meters of space between each of them. The glass façade of the building means that there are floor to ceiling windows on all floors, which opens up the building to its environment.

According to plan
This means the largest building under construction in Europe was completed within 4 years, according to plan and within the budget. Mischa Molsbergen, Project Director of De Rotterdam C.V.: ‘This is a really unique achievement, made possible by the professionalism and enormous commitment of all parties involved in the realisation of this project. Aside from the fact that De Rotterdam is a beautiful new icon of the city, superlatives apply to every part of this building. To list but a few numbers: it”s a building with more than 7,500 spaces, based on around 40,000 drawings, with, on a daily basis, up to 800 construction workers on site at the same time. For this reason, as developers, we proudly turn over this building to the city and the new users and we are confident that this vertical city will function successfully.”

Recently a rental contract for office space in the East Tower was signed with Smallegange, a legal firm specialized in maritime and transport law, and the construction company Strabag.

 

 

New Fluke ClirVu® CV Series IR Windows offer ultimate protection for inspectors of high-energy equipment

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More than 99 percent of all arc flash incidents occur when a panel door is open, exposing workers to potentially lethal amounts of energy. The new Fluke® ClirVu CV Series IR Windows eliminate the need to open the panel door to take infrared camera readings, and with an installation time of five minutes or less, there’s no excuse not to protect workers’ safety.

The ClirVu CV Series offers the ultimate protection for the electricians, engineers, and inspectors who work around high-energy equipment. They are Torture Tested™ to the highest arc blast test ratings and, when properly installed, maintain a panel arc test rating of up to 63 kA.

Once installed, there’s no need to power down or remove panels — inspections can be conducted quickly, easily, and, most importantly, safely, often with little, if any, personal protective equipment.

Installation takes one technician five minutes or less. Simply lockout-tag out, punch one hole with a standard conduit punch without removing the panel door, attach, and secure the cover.

The AutoGround™ feature instantly grounds the IR window to the metal enclosure, eliminating the need to separately ground each metal component of the window.

The hinged cover is easily opened with a quarter-turn latch or key to perform infrared inspections. It also protects the window from accidental exterior impact.

 

Fluke® ClirVu CV Series IR Windows

Fluke® ClirVu CV Series IR Windows

For more information, visit: http://sg.fluke.com/cvseries .

Soneva Kiri & Alila Villas Koh Russey set new benchmark for future of private island branded residences

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Hong Kong, November 11, 2013 —Imagine a beyond 5-star “barefoot retreat” on an unspoiled Thai island accessible by private plane, or an exotic paradise being developed in Asia’s hottest new tropical destination on the ‘Cambodian Riviera’. Two new discreet luxury retreats are offering just that, and are helping to redefine the philosophy that ‘Privacy is the New Luxury’.

Located less than 200 kilometres apart in the Gulf of Thailand, Soneva Kiri, in Koh Kood, Thailand and Alila Villas Koh Russey in Cambodia represent two of the best examples of private island luxury lifestyle, both within a three-hour flight from Hong Kong, and are being introduced at the CBRE Luxury Resort Property Exhibition in Hong Kong from November 30 – December 1, 2013.

Two different design concepts developed for a luxury property investment opportunity, in two of Southeast Asia”s most stunning destinations; combining discreet, idyllic tropical surroundings with innovative design, a sustainable luxury lifestyle, attractive returns, and long-term value growth.

BAREFOOT LUXURY ON AN UNSPOILED THAI ISLAND PARADISE

Soneva Kiri

Soneva Kiri – Beach Villa Suite

 

Soneva Kiri – Junior Beach Retreat

 

Eva and Sonu Shivdasani require little introduction as the founders of Soneva Kiri, where 34  vast private homes remain for sale in this resort – voted “Best Development” in the Thailand Property Awards 2011 – and prices start at US$ 1.33 M for a one-bedroom pool villa and up to US$ 15M for a six-bedroom villa.

Since developing Soneva Fushi, the first ‘castaway’ resort as well as their home in the Maldives in 1995, their intensely personal vision of locally crafted, environmentally responsible lifestyle formed the basis of a successful collection of world-class resorts and spas. They pioneered the trend for back-to-nature luxury resorts.

Koh Kood, an unspoilt island to the east of the Gulf of Thailand, is a destination with few equals; perfect beaches, a lush tropical landscape, dramatic waterfalls and crystal clear waters. Soneva Kiri is the perfect hideaway on this unspoiled island 20 minutes by boat from Koh Chang Marine National Park.

And the Soneva Private Residences represent the ultimate expression of the signature experience and style for which Soneva has become world renowned; understated design and luxuriously spacious accommodation, uncompromising quality and service, and environmental sensitivity.

Built with materials from sustainable sources, they tread lightly on the earth by applying construction techniques that are adapted to preserve the integrity of the environment and local communities that surround them, remaining true to the Soneva values of SLOW LIFE (Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wellness, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experiences) and the brand mission of Intelligent Luxury.

Substantial in size, the villas occupy a built-up area of up to 840 sqm, on up to 6,250 sqm of land to ensure privacy. Purchasers can choose between one to six-bedroom Beach, Hill, or Cliff villas, for which each individual site has been selected with great care to combine seclusion and panoramic sea views, all with easy access to the resort’s facilities.

With abundant natural light amid verdant foliage, the villas comprise detached living areas joined by walkways. The sumptuous accommodation includes a master bedroom suite, guest suites, dining, seating and relaxation areas, steam room, spa suite, gym, pool (some with water slides), and spacious bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers. Bose sound systems are installed throughout and subtly hidden, while plasma screens are discreetly hidden in leather trunks at the bottom of king size beds. State-of-the-art technology provides efficient communication.

Each villa is fully serviced, including a 24/7 Mr./Ms Friday butler service.

Villa owners benefit from the resort’s services and amenities, which include a world-class spa, state-of-the-art gym, a myriad of water sports, and top quality restaurants. Electric buggies and bicycles are the mode of transport within the resort, which is landscaped with pathways lined with palm trees, lemon grass and local fauna right down to the pristine beach.

Discounted transfers to and from Soneva Kiri are by the resort’s private aircraft, just an hour’s flight from Bangkok to an island that feels like the Thailand of a bygone era.

David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia comments: “Soneva Kiri is undiscovered Thailand, Ancient Siam as it should be. Amid 150 acres of untouched tropical rainforest fringed with pristine beaches and enchanting オンライン カジノ mangroves, Soneva Kiri is, quite simply, the ultimate Thai escape and barefoot luxury at its best”.

A managed rental scheme means owners can earn income when not in residence, so the villa could prove to be a tax-efficient long term investment with no capital gains or acquisition tax.

With secured property ownership laws and a growing residential market, overseas purchasers can invest with even greater confidence and benefit from the lifestyle associated with it. These benefits begin the moment owners disembark at Bangkok International Airport, greeted by Soneva Kiri’s private airport representative, and escorted to the First Class Lounge to refresh and relax while customs facilities are taken care of. Owners or guests then board the private transfer to Koh Mai Si, Thailand’s only private resort airport, to be greeted with a smile by their Mr./Ms. Friday.

“With attractive returns, in addition to a range of owners’ privileges, Soneva Kiri has already sold over 15 private residential villas”, added CBRE’s Mr Simister.

Villa owners also benefit from a 20% discount on all resort facilities and services, as well as membership of the Soneva Club, its exclusive global private members only club.

CAMBODIA’S FIRST PRIVATE ISLAND BRANDED RESIDENCES

Alila Villas Koh Russey

A view of Koh Russey where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be developed

 

Alila, voted the coolest hotel brand since 2011 and rated in the top 40 global luxury brands in 2012, will be making its foray into Cambodia with Alila Villas Koh Russey. Having pioneered lifestyle investment projects with its crafted luxury branding for Alila Villas in Bali, its Villa Residences are home to the rich and famous. Both its Alila Villas projects in Bali have sold-out since it was first launched in the market.

Cambodia’s resort market only opened three years ago with the launch of Song Saa Private Island, a 45-minute boat ride from Sihanoukville in Asia’s newest tropical destination. The original villas launched in 2010 were sold out and prices doubled from launch to completion.

Now with the first luxury branded resort residences on Koh Russey under development, less than 25 minutes to Sihanoukville Airport and 15 minutes by speedboat from the Cambodia Coast/Sihanoukville town, this pristine private island on the deserted coastal archipelago is primed to be the next most sought after investment.

Framed by the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare and unparalleled location for an exclusive lifestyle experience, uniquely positioned as the only internationally branded resort and villa development along this coastline in the heart of the new Cambodian Riviera.

Managed by Alila Hotels & Resorts, this exclusive island development will feature 48 hotel suites, and a range of one, two- and four-bedroom pool villas for private ownership where owners can enjoy usage of their properties and maximise the rental income potential through a professionally managed rental programme operated by Alila.

Prices start from US$480,000 one-bedroom pool villas of 116 sqm, rising to US$770,000 for two-bedroom pool villas (209 sqm) and four-bedroom pool villas (620 sqm) at US$2 million. Additional two-bedroom duplex units (156 sqm) will be launched at a later stage, from US$480,000.

In a spectacular location amid Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago, the island paradise is a haven of tranquillity, embracing powder sand beaches, tropical forests, pristine bays, and dramatic headlands.

The development occupies an expansive 25 hectares, nestled between the Western Cape and a 2-km long bay, south of the island, assuring magnificent vistas and absolute privacy for residents and guests.

The master plan by renowned Singaporean architect Chioh-Hui Goh of Studiogoto is for a low-density villa community incorporating design elements sensitive to the Khmer Culture. With its adherence to Alila’s ‘Environs’ sustainability policy, Chioh-Hui’s architecture will similarly adopt the principles of Earthcheck’s benchmarking and certification criteria to minimise impact on the environment.

Chioh-Hui Goh , Principal Architect of Studiogoto states: “When you design for a destination, it is important to understand its geography, history, and culture – not to mimic, but to interpret with an architecture that enhances the essence and contextual relevance and yet remain timeless”.

Each villa features 75% of open space with terraces, a private pool, and garden. Considerable attention has been given to the location and aspect of each villa, maximising vistas and privacy with landscaped breaks between them.

The villas offer the luxury of private open space, with land plots ranging from 400 sqm to 3,500 sqm for the four-bedroom villas.

The entire hotel and villa project has a low building density of only 15% to total site utility, resulting in an abundance of natural and landscaped green space, which underlines the ecological credentials of the development.

“Alila Villas Koh Russey offers a rare opportunity to own one of the most beautiful residences imaginable, with timeless, ecological design, influenced by the Khmer culture and professionally managed by a well respected hospitality brand”, says David Simister, Chairman CBRE Thailand and Cambodia.

“The partnership with Alila Hotels & Resorts ensures that owners maximise their rental income potential, whilst enjoying the personal use of their villas. Obviously, renting attracts highest returns in peak holiday seasons”.

The two-bedroom pool villas embrace space and tropical resort living with over 200 sqm of built area in a 720 sqm land plot, enjoying stunning ocean and cape vistas, whilst the four-bedroom pool villas afford generous indoor and outdoor living areas set in over 600 sqm. Designed to accommodate families and guests, each of the villas feature a large living area, contemporary kitchen, sumptuous master bedroom, three guest bedrooms and an expansive outdoor terrace and pool area. Surrounding landscaping ranges from 1,800 to 3,500 sqm, with each villa orientated to capture the stunning land and ocean scapes. These Residences at Alila Villas Koh Russey compare to the best of Phuket and Bali, at a fraction of those prices.

Ownership of the two-bedroom and four-bedroom villas offers the flexibility to tailor for personal use and rental of the property, while benefiting from a range of à la carte hospitality services from Alila Villas Koh Russey.

Backed by an award-winning design team of architects, designers and artisans, Alila Villas is designed, built and operated to EarthCheck standards, integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of the enviroCityStar concept.

“Alila Villas represent a new generation of ultra-luxurious yet sustainable developments in some of the most spectacular locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, design and architecture, personalised hospitality and destination experiences”, concludes Mr Simister of CBRE.

“It is a unique opportunity for those wanting to secure a ‘first in market’ investment opportunity, with access to world-class facilities in a spectacular location, and benefit from the peace of mind of a professionally managed rental programme”.

A view of the 2km beach on Koh Russey. The island where Alila Villa Koh Russey will be completed

Flowcrete Delivers Level Best At Hong Kong’s New Cruise Terminal

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Flowcrete Group provided specialist flooring solutions for Hong Kong's new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Flowcrete Group provided specialist flooring solutions for Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

 

Flowcretehongkong2

 

Flowcrete Group has provided solid foundations for a landmark construction project at Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in East Kowloon.

The USD 1 billion new cruise terminal has been built on the site of Hong Kong’s former airport, which was long regarded as one of the most spectacular flight approaches in the world with a runway that jutted straight out into the sea.

Now, passengers approaching the runway will do so at crawl speed from some of the world’s most impressive and largest cruise liners.

Gleaming silver and representing an area roughly a half-mile long, the new terminal building designed by architects Foster + Partners, features a two berth dock capable of handling liners of up to 220,000 gross registered tonnage and processing more than 3,000 passengers an hour.

Inside, the terminal features airy check-in, immigration and waiting halls as well as retail and dining facilities alongside a vast rooftop garden offering panoramic views of the Kowloon peninsula and Hong Kong skyline.

With Asia increasingly being recognised as a hotbed for cruise industry growth, the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is expected to act as the gateway to the East for up to 3.7 million passengers by 2017.

Over 40,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s cementitious subfloor screed system, Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed, have been applied by Flowcrete Hong Kong, to serve as a surface underlayment within the main terminal facility prior to the application of floor tiles.

Flowcrete’s heavy-duty screed system, in thicknesses ranging from 40-60mm, has been installed in the customs, clearance and departure halls as well in baggage handling areas, back-of-house maintenance facilities and the spectacular overhead rooftop garden.

Isocrete Heavy Duty K-Screed is a robust, semi-dry cementitious screed system incorporating a proprietary K additive to produce an early drying, high-strength screed allowing for the early installation of moisture sensitive floor finishes or floor coverings.

The material is recommended for areas where heavy foot or wheeled traffic is expected on a continual basis. The system can be laid bonded, unbonded or floating – for weight saving and thermal or sound insulation – and can also be installed in conjunction with sound-proofing systems.

10,000 square metres of a second Flowcrete system, Flowcoat SF41 – a seamless epoxy floor coating material – has also been used to provide a hardwearing and slip-resistant floor finish in specialists back of house maintenance and baggage handling areas.

Representing a soft launch, the new terminal opened its doors to the Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas in June 2013 ahead of the facility’s full opening later in the year. A commemorative park, adjacent to the terminal, with an aviation theme is in the pipeline to pay homage to the former Kai Tak Airport.

The airport, which was moved to a new site at Chek Lap Kok some 15 years ago also featured 250,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s fast-cure Isocrete K-Screed system, representing – at the time – the company’s largest screed project undertaken.

 

For more information please visit www.flowcreteasia.com/singapore

New version of BIM solution for architects

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Germany/Munich, 12 November 2013 – Allplan is setting standards in CAD through collaboration, 3D modeling, Cloud and SaaS.

The claim: The best planning tool for architects

Accuracy, speed and cost-effectiveness are the requirements that architects have to meet. The right software solution enables them to exercise the design flexibility and creativity they need to be successful. Allplan was designed with this in mind: Software that is easy to use, ensures smooth collaboration with planning partners and optimizes work processes.

Location-independent collaboration with Allplan 2014
Thanks to the enhanced workgroup functionality, architects can integrate project partners and employees in their working environment across office and company boundaries as though all were working around the same table on the same design. This means location and time-independent access for virtual teams. No “e-mail ping-pong”, no loss of data – everyone works with the most recent version. Access rights are used to define who has what rights in the respective project. Data encryption ensures additional security.

Faster and easier 3D modeling
Allplan 2014 has a new extrusion function to make work with the 3D modeler even more intuitive. As a result, users can easily move or redraw outlines and extrude this vertically in the next step. This is particularly useful in urban design and for the fast “raising“ and changing of cubic volumes in the design process.

Further steps towards Open BIM, Cloud and SaaS
With Allplan 2014, Serviceplus customers also benefit from bim+ and Nevaris as connected SaaS solutions. The cloud solution bim+ with BIM server and innovative apps also enables the interlinking and visualization of Allplan BIM models on mobile devices. The interface to Nevaris is also new. With web-supported processes and cost control in real time, Nevaris is setting new standards for tender, award and billing.

Conclusion: Project work is easier, faster and more cost-effective. Errors are reduced. “With the Allplan BIM solution, our aim is to make the exchange of data and the collaboration between all those involved in the building process as flexible as possible, in the spirit of Open BIM,” says Dr. Jörg Rahmer, CEO Nemetschek Allplan Systems GmbH.

About Nemetschek Allplan
Nemetschek Allplan, with headquarters in Munich/Germany, is one of Europe’s leading BIM (Building Information Modeling) solution providers. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG, Nemetschek Allplan develops powerful software for architects, structural/civil engineers, contractors and facility managers. The core product Allplan provides a flexible and efficient toolset for the seamless planning of visionary architecture and innovative engineering projects. Currently available in 19 languages worldwide, Allplan covers every usage level of a BIM focused CAD system: from straightforward 2D drawings to 3D modeling including quantity take off and cost calculation. It also supports the OpenBIM initiative and the IFC standard to assure interoperability throughout the building life cycle.

For more information, visit www.nemetschek-allplan.com.

New Changi Airport Terminal 4

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Singapore, 6 November 2013 – The new concept for the highly anticipated Terminal 4 (T4) at Singapore Changi Airport has been unveiled at the T4 groundbreaking ceremony on 5 November 2013.

Appointed by Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore’s award-winning SAA Architects, the lead consultant and executive architect of the Architect & Design Consortium (Consortium), collaborated with UK-founded design firm Benoy Limited on the concept and interior design of the new terminal.

Set to redefine the travel experience, Changi Airport’s new terminal will be located along Airport Boulevard, and will accommodate up to 16 million passengers a year.

The 195,000m² building has been designed to celebrate both physical and visual transparency. The arrival experience will be surrounded by lush vertical landscaping and an impressive double-storey glazed façade. Inside, the concept is dynamic, vibrant and colourful with feature skylight lanterns illuminating the terminal. Gardens have been incorporated to enliven the airport interiors with green walls and an abundance of elegant tall trees growing beneath the natural light.

Yeo Siew Haip, Managing Director of SAA Architects, explained the complexity of the large-scale project, ‘Since winning the project in mid February 2013, the SAA-led Consortium worked hand in hand with CAG and Benoy to bring the design of T4 from concept to commencement of piling works on-site. SAA provided the Consortium leadership in managing concept refinement, stakeholder engagement, fast-track scheduling and value engineering.’

‘Finalising the overall design of T4 for the Main Contract Tender within the time frame we had is a feat in itself for the industry, especially with over ten consultants and specialists collaborating intimately in the intricate work scope, keeping the project on schedule.’

‘The planning agenda has centred on introducing efficiency and comfort to the travel experience’, explained Meeta Patel, Director at Benoy. ‘State-of-the-art facilities including self check-in kiosks and self bag-drops will provide travellers with a quick and easy airport journey. To shape the boutique atmosphere of T4, Benoy has created walk-through retail zones, Peranakan-inspired shop fronts and mezzanine dining hubs which will offer views over the central interior gardens.’

The main focal point of the building is the ‘Central Galleria’; a glazed, open space that visually connects the departure, check-in, arrival and transit areas across the terminal.

David Buffonge, Director at Benoy said, ‘We are extremely excited about Terminal 4 at Changi Airport. We believe in the concept that has embraced energy and motion; creating a dynamic yet timeless design in a welcoming environment. The terminal has been designed to provide visitors access to a new level of travel comfort outside their traditional airport experiences’.

‘SAA’s role as lead consultant and architect is not unlike a music conductor in orchestrating all processes to bring the design of Terminal 4 at Changi to reality. With CAG and Benoy, we strive to create a unique T4 experience that pushes the boundaries and inspires the traveller like never before,’ said Yeo Siew Haip.

The Consortium comprises a number of members responsible for various aspects of T4 including: architecture, design, civil & structural engineering, mechanical & electrical engineering, landscaping, acoustics and safety.

MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM

  • SAA Architects Pte Ltd – Lead Agency
  • Benoy Ltd
  • AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd
  • Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEA) Pte Ltd

PROJECT FACTS

  • Project location: Changi, Singapore
  • Developer: Changi Airport Group
  • Size: 195,000m²
  • Consortium Leader/Executive Architect: SAA Architects Pte Ltd
  • Concept Design Architect: Benoy Ltd
  • Interior Designer: Benoy Ltd
  • Completion: 2017

Kiosks

 

 

Departure Transit

 

Cultural Shops

 

Picture credits to SAA Architects