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Liberty Place achieves more than 20 percent energy savings with solutions from Johnson Controls

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Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district

Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district

Liberty Place is a new premium grade office complex in the heart of Sydney’s central business district by leading developer Grocon. Spanning five separate sites, including Legion House, a heritage building dating back to 1902, Liberty Place has a total of 58,316 square meters of office space and 2,800 square meters of retail space.

In recognition of the complex’s sustainable design and enhanced operational efficiency, it was conferred the 6- Star Green Star Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia and 5.0 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) by the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Johnson Controls’ integrated building solution, comprising a fully automated tri-generation system, enabled Liberty Place to achieve energy savings of 20 percent, moving it closer to its zero carbon emissions goal.

At the heart of the solution by Johnson Controls lies a fully automated tri-generation plant that is integrated into the daily operations of the building. The system allows for the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat and cooling in a single process. The comprehensive solution from Johnson Controls includes:

 

 

  • Energy-efficient YORK® YK centrifugal chillers and YORK YIA absorption chillers optimally configured in the chilled water system
  • Re-engineering of existing plant room to reduce footprint by a third
  • Re-engineering of pumping systems to reduce chiller pump power
  • Sabroe® SABlight air-cooled chiller to provide option of generating power via synthetic gas produced by gasifier or natural gas
  • Central Plant Optimisation 10 (CPO10) software powered by Metasys® to optimise the performance of the chiller plant
  • Metasys Energy Dashboard software to track savings from each perimeter and provide a holistic analysis of the building’s energy efficiency

“We have achieved a major milestone at Liberty place by managing a fully automated tri-generation system that is truly integrated into daily building operations. The fact that the entire system is running smoothly demonstrates the value of the integrated solution from Johnson Controls,” said Dru Spork, Grocon’s Sustainability and Services Manager.

To learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/libertyplace.

Montazure Phuket Launches at Singapore Yacht Show 2016

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MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia.

MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia.

MontAzure, an exclusive mixed-use community project in Kamala, Phuket, was launched at the Singapore Yacht Show 2016, unveiling an elite project occupying one of the last truly sizable plots of land on the island that stretches from the mountainside to an extensive beachfront site.

MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia – ARCH Capital Management (Hong Kong & Shanghai), The Narai Group (Thailand), and Philean Capital (Singapore) part of Pontiac Land Group – which have teamed up to launch Asia’s most exceptional resort residential development.

The development, which covers 73 hectares (180 acres, 454 rai) and is valued at over S$500 million (THB15 billion), includes Twinpalms, one of Thailand’s most celebrated independent luxury resort brands, and the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) who will open the InterContinental Phuket Resort in 2019.

The first phase is the Twinpalms Residences MontAzure that occupies 100 metres of absolute beach frontage. It will be operated and managed by Twinpalms when it is completed offering one and two-bedroom units with penthouses having access to a private roof top and pool with prices ranging from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums designed by Martin Palleros of Tierra Design which will be completed in 2018. Pre-sales have been brisk with over 37% of the units sold supported by the recent opening of the Sales Gallery and Show Suite.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums.

Twinpalms Residences MontAzure consists of 75 upscale branded beachfront condominiums.

Investors are invited to join in the management pool and benefits of a well-managed hospitality operation with attractive yields and owner usage up to 45 nights per year. Facilities include a residents’ lobby, beach front restaurant and bar, gym/yoga studio, pool bar, spa pavilions, library and lounge, outdoor event spaces and on-site management office.

Other key components of a project located in Phuket’s most upscale quarter, which boasts Andara and Amanpuri amongst its neighbours, includes 13 ultra-luxury private hillside estate villas called The Estates at MontAzure, with interiors designed by the legendary Jaya Ibrahim and architecture by Lek Bunnag. A future hillside development, an international beach club, a wellness centre, retail space and a 32 hectare (40 acres, 200 rai) nature reserve of primary rainforest completes the project.

MontAzure’s Managing Director, Roland Bleszynski, said: “We are very pleased to launch MontAzure at the Singapore Yacht Show. The participants here understand the quality of our partners and the reassurance that brings and appreciate that Phuket offers sophisticated marine support infrastructure and the most stunning cruising grounds in Asia.”

Prices range from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

Prices range from SGD400,000 to SGD3.6 million.

“Phuket has very strong fundamentals. The tourism industry will continue to boom, the infrastructure is well-planned with a new international aviation terminal opening in June and we have secured a prime beachfront site on Phuket’s sought after mid-west coast with superb potential for property and hospitality development.”

About The Twinpalms Residences MontAzure

Number of units:
75

Unit Types:
56 one-bedroom units, 19 two-bedroom units, with options for buyers to request three or four-bedroom units.

Ownership:
Foreign freehold available based on Thai Condominium Act

Prices:
S$400,000 to S$3.6 million

Site Area:
3.7 acres (15,000 sqm/161,000 sq.ft./9.38 rai)

Architect:
Tierra Design

Facilities:
Residents’ Lobby, Beach Signature Restaurant and Room Service, Pool Bar, Gym/Yoga Studio, Spa Pavilions, Library and Lounge, Outdoor event spaces, On-site Management office

Management:
To be operated Twinpalms Management

Developer:
MontAzure is a joint venture of three of the most prestigious property and hotel investment groups in Asia – ARCH Capital Management (Hong Kong & Shanghai), The Narai Group (Thailand), and Philean Capital (Singapore) part of Pontiac Land Group – which have teamed up to launch Asia’s most exceptional resort residential development.

Rigel Opens S$35 Million New Headquarters and Innovation Centre

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Image courtesy of Rigel Technology.

Image courtesy of Rigel Technology.

Homegrown green sanitation specialist Rigel Technology (S) Pte Ltd (Rigel) will pump in S$35 million into its new global headquarters and innovation centre at Changi Business Park – a move to boost business development in Indochina, South Asia and China.

Flushed with demand for high-tech, quality sanitation products in these countries, Rigel’s latest innovation centre is aimed at researching, testing and discovering new products. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art automation capabilities and test laboratories to fully support product innovation and quality manufacturing.

Founded in 1991, Rigel has since developed more than 200 new products through research and commands more than 50 percent of the local market share with majority of its work in the commercial sector. With the new innovation centre, Rigel seeks to expand its product offering by driving the development of 30 to 50 new and improved products per year. In order to support its expanding research development activities, the company also foresees a 40 percent increase in future hires of researchers and design engineers. Rigel also aims to increase its international market share via its existing hubs in Vietnam, India and China, which serve as stepping stones to emerging markets such as Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

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Mr Ng gives Mr Heng a tour of the new product introduction centre in the new facility in Changi Business Park. Image courtesy of Rigel Technology.

Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat officially launched the new S$35 million facility at Changi Business Park this morning. The six-storey building, with 16,000 square metre of gross floor area, has been recognised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for its green features and design with the Green Mark Gold Award 2016.

Mr Christopher Ng Eng Seng, CEO of Rigel, commented, “Today marks a historic milestone for Rigel in our 25 years of success. The new global headquarters and innovation centre will enable us to establish a stronger presence within existing markets in the region, and will also strengthen our capabilities to better serve emerging markets in the Middle East and Latin America. This is part of Rigel’s ongoing commitment to provide sustainable and efficient green products, which translates into greater cost-savings for our customers.”

The Rigel Innovation Centre also houses a research and development (R&D) incubation room on the second level, to stimulate ideation and brainstorming. On the same level, there is a complete suite of semi-automatic manufacturing line and test labs for quality control of invented products before mass manufacturing.

At the opening ceremony, Rigel also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three companies for deals worth more than S$9 million cumulatively. Under these deals, Rigel will supply and deliver with its customer care programme to leading real-estate developers in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia respectively.

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Image courtesy of Rigel Technology.

To date, Rigel has completed a number of prominent local projects that include MediaCorp’s Mediapolis@One-North, National Gallery Singapore, Changi Airport, Marina Bay Sands, and Singapore Sports Hub, as well as regional projects such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, Tianjin Eco-City in China and Mall Plaza Egana in Chile.

Rigel’s products have attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications at international level and the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme certification from the Public Utilities Board. Key products of Rigel’s R&D innovations include its proprietary LED hydro power faucets and showerheads, intelligent restroom systems that help to fine-tune settings on all Rigel sensor products, self-cleaning anti-bacteria sanitary ware and anti-bacterial rimless flush.

 

Artyzen Hotels & Resorts To Make Debut In Shanghai

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Artyzen Hotels & Resorts and Artyzen Habitat, Shanghai Lingang New City, 2021.

Artyzen Hotels & Resorts and Artyzen Habitat, Shanghai Lingang New City, 2021.

Shun Tak Holdings Limited subsidiary, Artyzen Hospitality Group (AHG), recently announced its third and fourth hotel signing in Shanghai within six months. Following the September 2015 signing of Artyzen Habitat and citizenM Hotels at the Hongqiao Shanghai MIXC development, AHG now confirms the debut of Artyzen Hotels & Resorts and a second Artyzen Habitat that will be co-located at the Shanghai Lingang New City.

The management agreement for the two new hotels was signed with Shanghai Lujiazui Xinchen Investment Co. Ltd, one of Shanghai’s key enterprise groups, which will oversee their 2021 completion. Lingang New City is one of six main developments that play an important role in the expansion of Shanghai. The new Artyzen Hotel and Artyzen Habitat will be situated in a vibrant area of the city, facing the famous Dishui Lake and connected to the line 16 metro station.

The two hotels are to be part of a mixed-use development consisting of a standalone convention centre, ballroom for social events, retail, various food and beverage outlets and serviced apartments. The development will complement the overall eco-system of the location, targeting business, MICE, family leisure and extended stay market.

Surrounded by Government buildings, office blocks, commercial facilities and the Polar Ocean Park, it is just 30 minutes drive to Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Disney Resort. Robbert van der Maas, President of Artyzen Hospitality Group, said, “The signing of Artyzen Hotels & Resorts and Artyzen Habitat in Lingang New City is a milestone for the group – it marks the debut of our upscale brand, Artyzen Hotels and Resorts with a strong owner Lujiazui Xinchen Investment Co. Ltd.”

“The Lingang location is rich with undiscovered local culture and history. In the early days, it was a traditional fishing village and port for the salt trade. This intriguing heritage will be celebrated in our hotels and shared with our guests” says Mr. van der Mass. The two new hotels will bring the Group’s core philosophy of ‘Art’, ‘Culture’ and ‘Emotional Wisdom’ to life in unique and contemporary ways, to provide culturally rewarding guest experiences and celebrate the regions heritage as a traditional fishing village.

Artyzen Hotels and Resorts is a high-end lifestyle hotel concept where local or regional traditions relating to craftsmanship, cuisine and culture are reflected upon then reinvented to create a contemporary design aesthetic and sensibility that weaves its way throughout every aspect of the hotel. It is a platform where the hotel plays a role in sharing and sustaining the local culture by immersing both guest and staff in a cultural discovery. The Lingang New City site will have circa 300 units.

Artyzen Habitat is a community-inspired hotel concept that caters to a new generation of traveller. Fuelled in part by insights distilled from the Airbnb phenomenon, the development of the Artyzen Habitat brand has focused on delivering upscale accommodations in a home-like environment and a public area that is active, efficient and social spaces that form the perfect eco-system for dining, working, mingling and relaxing, while generating revenue and buzz at the same time. The Lingang New City site will have circa 350 units.

Milan’s Torre Arcobaleno restoration is completed to mark Expo 2015.

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DCIM105GOPROThe modernisation work of the famous Torre Arcobaleno (Rainbow Tower) at Porto Garibaldi has been completed and was recently presented, under the patronage of Milan City Council and in association with the Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and Gruppo FS Italian e-railway authorities.

Dating back to 1964 and once upon a time an anonymous water reservoir on the site of the important FS Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station, the Tower was first renovated ahead of the football World Cup held in Italy in 1990, a project that turned a downtrodden public works into a highly recognisable urban beacon. Since then, the Torre Arcobaleno has been a highly significant building for the city, a distinctive symbol of Milan’s colour and creativity, and has gradually become known as a major landmark.

A number of top companies came together with those handling the first refurbishment since 1990 to enable this unusual urban structure – clad with more than 100,000 coloured ceramic tiles – to regain all its original brightness of 25 or so years ago to mark the amazing presence of Expo 2015. The partner firms in the Torre Arcobaleno renovation project, carried out with the supervisory approval of the City of Milan Public Works and Urban Furnishing Department as the guests of the Italian State Railways, were Bazzea – B Construction Technology, Condor, Fila Solutions, Mapei and Marazzi.

Now as then, in 1990, the project was prepared and the works organised by the Architecture Division of the Milan firm Original Designers 6R5 Network, represented by Francesco Roggero, Albino Pozzi, Rita Alfano Roggero and Kiyoto Ishimoto. The renovation – all the costs of which were met by the project’s partner companies and architects – is a gift to Milan and the millions of visitors it will be welcoming during Expo 2015. The works were completed in just 71days, employing 37 workers.

The colours of the Torre Arcobaleno express the desire to inhabit our planet intelligently.

The colours of the Torre Arcobaleno express the desire to inhabit our planet intelligently.

The Torre Arcobaleno forms part of the Wonderline project by Original Designers 6R5 Network, which has been running for a number of years, linking initiatives in the world of art and architecture with the theme of Colour. The colours of the Torre Arcobaleno express the desire to inhabit our planet intelligently, creating a harmony between technology, nature, innovation and tradition. The Garibaldi zone of the nearby Piazza Gae Aulenti is the acknowledged nerve centre of the city’s Business, Fashion and Modern Architecture scenes.

The zone, now restyled by futuristic skyscrapers, has adopted the Torre Arcobaleno as its “Colourful Ceramic Totem”, there to remind people of Italy’s Master Potters and the craft origins of an industry famous all over the world for its Italian Excellence.

Banyan Tree Group Expands Into Australia With $150-million Venture

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The view at dusk.

The view at dusk.

The Banyan Tree Group (BTG) recently announced plans for its first branded residences in Australia. The AUD150-million project and its 76 luxury freehold private residences will set a new precedent for the Brisbane property market.

Initial interest from buyers has been strong, thanks to the 2200-square-metre Kangaroo Point site’s views of the CBD, river and botanic gardens – in addition to its convenient location, proximity to amenities and the strong reputation of the Banyan Tree brand.

Taking its cues from the iconic location, the landmark building will feature a striking exterior, with three undulating wave structures. Each Banyan Tree Residence property is unique in its design, with the vision for Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane the result of a collaboration by the group’s in-house design team and Woods Bagot, an international design practice with offices in Australia.

Commenting on the development, Executive Chairman Ho Kwon Ping said, “The city was a natural choice given its 2.2 million residents and $135-billion-dollar economy. As the leader in the country’s infrastructure boom, there are strong growth projections for Brisbane as it continues to transform and evolve. Construction is slated to commence in the second half of 2016, with completion expected in late 2018. We are looking forward to bringing the Banyan Tree brand of international luxury lifestyle to our Brisbane development.”

Unit interiors at the new Residence.

Unit interiors at the new Residence.

Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane will include 76 freehold private residences over 10 levels: four penthouses (three with rooftop infinity pool and private garden terrace), 27 three-bedroom apartments and 45 two-bedroom apartments.

Owners will enjoy a secure lobby with 24-hour Banyan Tree concierge service, onsite Banyan Tree Spa and retail Gallery, premium dining venues and an exclusive rooftop garden with private function space, barbeque facilities, daybeds and an expansive infinity pool. The property will also feature additional private function spaces, gymnasium, and a secure underground car park. Residents will also enjoy proximity to some of the city’s best dining and cultural precincts, as well as schools, universities, hospitals and transportation.

Lobby View 160129

A view of the lobby.

Banyan Tree Residences Brisbane owners will receive access to the range of premium Banyan Tree services such as membership to the Banyan Tree Sanctuary Club, which entitles them to exclusive discounts and privileges through the group’s global network of resorts and spas and access to the Banyan Tree Private Collection, an exclusive destination club with a portfolio of villas in stunning locations like Tuscany and Provence.

Mining Industry Represented Through Architecture At New $20 Million Library

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The South Australia Drill Core Reference Library. Image by James Knowler.

The South Australia Drill Core Reference Library will hold 7.5 million metres of drill core samples collected over 130 years of exploration from across South Australia. The library has the capacity to display up to 2 kilometres of cores for inspection on a series of automated conveyor belts in the main viewing area.

Leading practice architectural design and engineering has combined to integrate function with striking form that honours the origins and visual characteristics of drill core. The building, which opened on February 17, also features conference rooms and a 3D viewing room, which uses virtual reality technology to give geologists a worms-eye view of geology and mineral deposits under the earth’s surface.

The library brings together samples previously stored at four separate drill core libraries spread across South Australia. The vast collection is midway through the shift into the massive storage warehouse at the rear of the building, featuring eight seemingly never-ending aisles that reach to the high ceiling. A hi-tech turret truck and forklift are used to fetch requested core samples to be brought to the main viewing area for inspection.

Architects Thomson Rossi were key partners in the South Australian Government to prepare a business case to look at the fundamental economics of such a project in 2011 and worked with multi-disciplinary engineering firm Aurecon before an advanced business case was commissioned in 2013. Funding for the project was approved in 2014 with construction starting in January 2015 and completed in December 2015.

The library is located in the Tonsley precinct. Image courtesy of James Knowler.

The library is located in the Tonsley precinct. Image by James Knowler.

The $19.8 million building is divided into three sections – administration, library and logistics – and has a total floor area of 7470 square metres. Thomson Rossi Director Simon Thomson said the firm was able to engage with the client from an early stage to establish the overarching design principals of vision, inspiration and iconography.

The library is located in the Tonsley precinct, the site of a former Mitsubishi car manufacturing plant, which has been converted into a modern hub for high-value industries.

Thomson said the “long and skinny” site at Tonsley was ideal because it had access to high-speed Internet, was part of a hub focused on innovation and would provide a catalyst for other mining related companies to set up in the precinct.

“It ticked a lot of boxes – it’s easy to access from the airport and there’s a lot happening on the site to make it an interesting place to be,” he said. “The vision of what this building actually should be was that it should be a beacon, it should be experiential and it should represent world’s best practice.”

He continued, “The previous (South Australian) drill core library had been rated the second best facility of its type in the world so we wanted to build on that and make the new one the best,” he said. “So as a beacon we saw it as a signpost for South Australian mining ambition and a chance to establish an exciting and iconic brand for mining in South Australia.”

The building is divided into three sections – administration, library and logistics. Image by James Knowler.

The building is divided into three sections – administration, library and logistics. Image by James Knowler.

Exploration companies in South Australia are required by legislation to provide the Department of State Development with samples of any core and cuttings taken during tenure. Core and cuttings are stored in the Drill Core Reference Library.

Thomson said the experience the firm wanted to create was of a world-class facility ensuring a positive impression for visitors. The other part of the experience was that it needed to be able to be used as an educational tool for university and school students. The building had to reflect the best practice in core libraries and embrace new technology and research in a collaborative environment.

Images on the themes of mining, outback, geology and the imagery of the drill cores themselves were used to provide inspiration for the design and look of the building. The front section of the building is clad in COR-TEN steel sheets that have a rusted iron look.

“In an abstract way we are trying to reflect the geology that this building is all about. Using the COR-TEN steel sheeting, which basically just rusts, it’s all about creating a building that is very raw as the raw materials of mining are but also from a pragmatic sense it’s recognizing that governments don’t have a lot of money to spend on maintenance so it’s a wonderful material that you never have to maintain and it continues to change as the building ages.”

The library brings together samples previously stored at four separate drill core libraries spread across South Australia. Image by James Knowler.

The library brings together samples previously stored at four separate drill core libraries. Image by James Knowler.

Thomson said the “dramatic” front end was designed to evoke images of mining sites. “There are some quite raw elements inside as well. We’ve used things like the polished concrete where you can see the aggregate, the carpet in certain sections is like looking at an aerial map of outback South Australia. We’ve got exposed ducting and perforated steel sheet that’s bolted together that forms the staircases so it’s that kind of a rough industrial look you might find on a mining site. At the same time we’ve made it a very convivial environment,” said Thomas.

The building also has several meeting and conference rooms of varying sizes, a kitchen area, laboratory and a lobby area to welcome visitors upon entry.

Deckshield takes Galaxy Macau to greater heights

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Phase 2 of mega casino Galaxy Macau’s development plan included the creation of a high performance car parking facility, ensuring that visitors to the resort would drive into a clean, quiet and visually appealing environment. The HK16 billion-construction project would see Macau’s new venue expand by 450,000 sq metres, with 3,600 hotel rooms and 500 more tables in the casino. This growth would see Galaxy Macau significantly increase both its footprint and customer volume.

To accommodate this expansion, a multi-storey car park that would reflect the site’s high standards of customer satisfaction, aesthetics and functionality was required. The resort knew that this was essential in order to provide a high quality visitor experience and to avoid delays, traffic congestion and failures from over-capacity and over-use.

Over 50,000 sq metres of high performance flooring materials was required to create the desired finish.

Over 50,000 sq metres of high performance flooring materials was required to create the desired finish.

Thanks to the success of Flowcrete Hong Kong’s work supplying floors for Phase 1 of the project, the casino’s operators once again turned to the resin flooring specialists to provide a high performance, reliable and long-lasting surface for its upgraded car parking structure. Over 50,000 sq metres of high performance flooring materials was required to create the desired finish. The main floor area was coated over a nine-month period using 20,000 sq metres of the flexible, polyurethane deck coating system Deckshield ID as well as 14,500 sq metres of Deckshield LBD, which has been designed to act as a barrier to protect against moisture rising from the substrate.

Deckshield ID has been specifically formulated to optimise the floor area within large, multi-storey car parks. Deckshield ID is exceptionally robust, which means that it can withstand heavy vehicles constantly moving in tight circles. The chemically resistant nature of Deckshield ID also prevents exposure to automotive fuels and oils from deteriorating the finish. To ensure that the car park is a quiet and calm environment, Deckshield ID’s texture has been designed to reduce unpleasant tyre squeals.

Galaxy Macau chose a sleek, modern grey colour for the floor finish, which not only created a contemporary aesthetic but it would also provide an effective backdrop for the bright yellow signage and demarcation. Underneath the finish, 10,000 sq metres of both Isocrete K-Screed and the damp proof membrane system, Isocrete M-Bond Extra, was applied to ensure that the floor build up was robust and that the finish would be protected from moisture rising out of the substrate.

2,300 sq metres of Deckshield IDSD High Grade was used on the multi-storey facilities ramp while 10,000 sq metres of Flowcoat SF41 3mm Composite was applied in the loading bay and back of house areas.

During Phase 1 of Galaxy Macau’s construction, which was completed in 2010, Flowcrete Hong Kong supplied 15,000 sq metres of Deckshield in the initial car park and 18,000 sq metres of Isocrete K-Screed in the casino’s basement floor.

General Manager of Flowcrete Asia, Francis Tang, said, “It is imperative that the building materials specified for a location such as Galaxy Macau live up to the high standards of the venue. For our work during both phases one and two of the casino’s development, this meant providing the required functionality to support the operations of such a large, complex site while also ensuring that the environment constantly conveys a clean, visually appealing image.”

He added, “The expertise and experience at Flowcrete Hong Kong combined with our high quality flooring materials meant that we were ideally positioned to meet Galaxy Macau’s needs. We are committed to working closely with the resort as it develops and grows over the coming years.”

AECOM and Pininfarina collaborate for winning design of new Istanbul airpot

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İGA has chosen an innovative design by AECOM and Pininfarina as the winner of an international design competition for the regional Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and technical building at the Istanbul New Airport. Unusually, the winning entry marries influences from the aviation and automotive sectors, with strong architectural design.

The AECOM and Pininfarina collaboration was chosen from a total of six entries from international architectural teams, including Zaha Hadid, Fuksas, Moshe Safdie, Grimshaw-Nordic and RMJM. The win marks AECOM’s first collaboration with Pininfarina, the design house renowned for its car designs for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, among others. The collaboration combines the expertise of AECOM’s architectural and engineering teams with Pininfarina’s distinctive architectural style that epitomises speed and movement, influenced by automotive design.

Yusuf Akçayoğlu, chief executive officer of İGA, said, “One of the world’s largest aviation projects, Istanbul New Airport’s air traffic control tower will be an iconic structure, visible to all passengers travelling through the airport. We were looking for a striking design fit for a 21st century airport while remaining sensitive to Istanbul’s unique heritage. We received excellent designs from all over the world and are delighted to announce the AECOM and Pininfarina team as the competition winner.”

The innovative design inspired by the tulip, a unique cultural symbol of Istanbul.

The innovative design inspired by the tulip, a unique cultural symbol of Istanbul.

The ATC will be the landmark for Istanbul New Airport, which is set to be the world’s largest new airport in terms of annual passenger capacity. The competition scope was to deliver the concept designs for the tower, showcasing contemporary sustainable architectural design that reflects the multi-cultural and historical characteristics of Istanbul city.

The AECOM and Pininfarina design evokes the aerodynamic forms used in automotive and aviation design, and includes an elliptical tower that will be visible to all passengers flying in and out of the new airport. The tower shape is inspired by the tulip, which has been the symbol of Istanbul for many centuries and is an important cultural reference in Turkish history.

Bernardo Gogna, senior vice president and director of global aviation, AECOM, said, “Our approach to this competition was to combine the expertise of a different design industry with AECOM’s in-house aviation architecture and engineering capabilities. Our goal was to bring Pininfarina’s values, which are grounded in tradition and craftsmanship, to the world of aviation. The result marries pure iconic beauty with true innovation.”

The design competition is the latest win for AECOM at Istanbul New Airport. Earlier this year it was appointed by İGA to deliver designs for all the airside works at the airport. The new airport will have an initial capacity of 90 million passengers per year. It will be located on the European side of the city, 35 kilometres from the centre on a site adjacent to the Black Sea. Subsequent planned phases will expand the airport to include six runways and three terminal buildings. When all phases are complete, the airport will have an annual capacity of up to 200 million passengers.

İGA is a consortium of five leading Turkish contractors comprising Cengiz, Mapa, Limak, Kolin and Kalyon. İGA was awarded the concession to build Istanbul New Airport as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and will also be the operator. In October, İGA secured a €4.5 billion loan from a group of six banks for the first phase of the project.

Flanagan Lawrence tops the competition for Szczecin Summer Theatre

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The back of the stage is enclosed acoustically by curved glazed screens.

The back of the stage is enclosed acoustically by curved glazed screens.

The award-winning practice has designed an acoustically optimised outdoor performance space, located in Kasprowicza Park, Szczecin, Poland. The brief called for design proposals to maximise the flexibility of the 1976-designed theatre for a variety of performances on the stage, and to add a new roof to enclose both the stage and the audience.

The underside of the roof, which covers the stage and front of auditorium, will enhance and project the natural acoustic for orchestral events. This is achieved by a roof, which is structurally independent of the existing arch, and is formed by a curved truss that serves as the edge beam to a single cable net structure. This net supports a series of inflated fabric roof panels and suspended acoustic reflectors. Two additional trusses span the stage to support the load of the lighting grid.

Jason Flanagan, Design Director at Flanagan Lawrence.

Jason Flanagan, Design Director at Flanagan Lawrence.

Said Jason Flanagan, “The doubly-curved roof form follows the natural slope of the amphitheatre on the existing hillside to retain the views across the park, and then dramatically lifts over the stage to provide the necessary height for the performance area.”

The back of the stage is enclosed acoustically by curved glazed screens, which offer picturesque views out to Rusalka Lake and create a scenic backdrop to performances. Flanagan Lawrence’s proposal will also up grade the 2,500 seat structure with additional facilities including a box office, bathrooms, a café and a refurbished backstage area. The original structure, including the concrete arch, was designed by Zbigniew Abrahamowicz and opened in 1976.