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Material and spatial contrasts define Barwon Heads House
CategoriesInterior Design

Material and spatial contrasts define Barwon Heads House

By Zarkon Group,

Australian studio Adam Kane Architects has renovated a cottage on a quiet coastal street in Barwon Heads and connected it to a barn-like extension by a glazed link.

Named Barwon Heads House, the project was designed by Melbourne studio Adam Kane Architects as a contemporary dwelling that embodied a “relaxed, coastal lifestyle”.

Black Australian cottage
Adam Kane Architects extended and renovated a cottage in Barwon Heads

Prior to Adam Kane Architects‘ renovation and extension, the neglected weatherboarded cottage was known locally as “the dump”.

Its transformation led it to be shortlisted house interior of the year in the Dezeen Awards 2022 and win the public vote for the same category.

Exterior image of Barwon Heads House by Adam Kane Architects
Barwon Heads House is clad in wood

Adopting a minimal palette of monochrome contrasts, the studio painted the existing cottage’s exterior entirely black, pairing it with a lighter extension clad in silvery-grey weathered wooden planks.

Beneath steeply pitched black metal roofs, this play of contrasts continues to the interiors, creating a spatial journey of “compression and release” that begins in the more compartmentalised cottage containing three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Interior image of the dining and kitchen area of Australian house
Contrasting colours and materials feature throughout

Moving through the existing cottage into the small glazed link and a dark corridor, Barwon Heads House’s extension opens up into a large living and dining space, overlooked by the main bedroom on a mezzanine above.

Full-height windows look out to Barwon Heads House’s garden to the north, while a narrow clerestory-level window opposite draws in light above its kitchen.

“Access to the extension is via an enclosed corridor, lined with black mottled joinery panels on walls and ceilings, and is used to conceal doorways into the rumpus, laundry and storage areas,” said Adam Kane Architects.

“The ‘journey’ through this dark corridor with a lower ceiling creates a sense of compression before a sense of release when walking towards the living room, where the gable opens up into the main space,” it continued.

Living area of Australian cottage extension
The extension has a deliberately simple finish

Existing features were retained in the cottage, while the extension has a deliberately simple interior finished with oak panelling and exposed concrete. Slabs of travertine marble are used as countertops, coffee tables and a large dining table.

“Heritage features are maintained through the use of the original lining board ceilings, as well as period skirting and architraves, which fit perfectly with the renewed tones,” said the studio.

“The timber lining helps blur the threshold between inside and out, delineating zones, making spaces feel more generous and contributing to the relaxed feel of the home.”

Black kitchen with stone worktops
It is designed as a spatial journey of “compression and release”

Adam Kane Architects was founded in 2015, and its previous projects include a bridal boutique in Melbourne with minimal finishes of concrete and marble.

Alongside Barwon Heads House, other projects shortlisted in the house interior category of Dezeen Awards 2022 include a home in Melbourne with a palette of “organic” materials by Brave New Eco and the renovation of a 120-year-old townhouse in Kyoto by Td-Atelier and Endo Shojiro Design.

The photography is by Timothy Kaye.

Reference

New material could lead to wound dressings that deliver medication on demand
CategoriesSustainable News

New material could lead to wound dressings that deliver medication on demand

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Researchers at Brown University have developed a material that responds to the presence of bacteria by releasing encapsulated medication. Although still in the research stages, the material could lead to the development of wound dressings that deliver medication only when it is needed. This, in turn, could reduce the use of antibiotics and the growth of antibiotic-resistant infections.

The new material is in the form of a hydrogel, a polymer that is sensitive to a class of enzymes called β-lactamases, that are released by a number of harmful bacteria. In the presence of β-lactamases the hydrogel’s polymer network breaks down, releasing the therapeutic nanoparticles inside.

Hydrogels are already used in wound dressings, and ‘smart’ hydrogels can be used to speed up or slow down the release of medication depending on factors such as temperature and pH. The Brown team hopes to continue developing its hydrogel and eventually test it in a clinical setting.

“We’ve developed a bacteria-triggered, smart drug-delivery system,” said Anita Shukla, an associate professor in Brown’s School of Engineering who led the material’s development. “Our hypothesis is that technologies like this, which reduce the amount of drug that’s required for effective treatment, can also reduce both side effects and the potential for resistance.”

Given the urgency of finding solutions to the issue of AMR, it is no wonder that Springwise has seen a number of innovations in this area. Recent developments have included the use of rapid gene sequencing to find areas with high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biomaterials that are naturally antibacterial. 

Written By: Lisa Magloff

17th June 2022

Website: brown.edu

Contact: brown.edu/about/contact-us

Reference

Is Graphene the Next Revolutionary Building Material?
CategoriesArchitecture

Is Graphene the Next Revolutionary Building Material?

By Zarkon Group,

Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter. 

What is Graphene? Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, making it the thinnest material known to man. Despite its thin composition, graphene is incredibly strong — two hundred times stronger and 6 times lighter than steel. First isolated by researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov from the University of Manchester in 2004, the material received the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, garnering increased global attention and interest. Graphene is durable and malleable, and scientists see promising architectural potential in the new material.

Graphene is also highly conductive and equally holds unique light-absorbing qualities. When it comes to conducting electricity, graphene rivals copper; when it comes to conducting heat, it trumps all other known materials. Meanwhile, graphene is nearly transparent, making it a suitable material for products such as touch screen devices, as well as light and solar panels. When mixed with plastic, graphene becomes a strong conductor of electricity, making it a potentially useful product in the satellite, aviation and automotive industries.

Although it is still in the early stages of research and development, there are many companies and research initiatives already dedicated to understanding the potential uses of graphene. Due to its unique property makeup, graphene can be used and applied in a plethora of ways, making it a worthwhile and lucrative material to research, study and develop commercially. This certainly holds true in the architecture and construction industry. Will this material have a revolutionary role in the design world? 

Properties of Graphene:

  • Thermal and electrical conductivity
  • Flexible and malleable
  • Extremely durable
  • Ability to generate electricity through exposure to sunlight
  • Transparent and lightweight
  • Antibacterial & resistant to ionizing radiation

Graphene as a Concrete Additive

In 2018, researchers at the University of Exeter found that incorporating graphene into concrete can produce a durable and water-resistant concrete composite. Researchers at the university suggest this composite material is two times strong and four times more water-resistant than any existing concrete. Through a new nano-engineering technology, the researchers suspended thin graphene in water, which produced an extremely resistant and usable concrete composite. Seeing that concrete releases high levels of CO2 into the air, this new composite material perhaps promises a greener alternative to traditional concrete.

The research was carried out in accordance with the British and European standards for construction, which ensures a safe material for architects to build with. Moreover, graphene’s water-resistant properties could equally be beneficial for sites that are difficult to reach and properly maintain — making this concrete composite not only durable but practical. It is possible that graphene-reinforced composites could be the future.

National Graphene Institute by Jestico + Whiles, Manchester United Kingdom. © Hufton+Crow Photography

Intelligent Cities

Some have suggested that graphene can easily up building’s intelligence. Architect Chenthur Raaghav Naagendran explains his research in a TEDx talk in Vienna, where he explores the possibilities of implementing graphene as a flexible skin for architecture. He proposes that graphene can be used to make architecture interactive, intelligent and adaptable. Chenthur’s research suggests that graphene could be used to replace traditional building materials and wires to create smart structures that respond to societal threats, such as global warming. Essentially, graphene can turn static structures into responsive agents.

Graphene in Paint

In 2017, paint manufacturer Graphenstone released a lime-based paint infused with graphene. Limewash paint has been around for centuries and has been revered for its breathable, bacteria-resistant, odor-absorbing and hypoallergenic properties. The company incorporated graphene into its renowned lime-based paint to create a thermal-regulating product. To resist heat from radiating through walls, the graphene present in the paint assists in capturing heat and thus improves a room’s insulation. Graphene’s thin makeup and durable properties mean less paint is required to achieve a corrosion-resistant and durable finish.

National Graphene Institute by Jestico + Whiles, Manchester United Kingdom. © Hufton+Crow Photography

Summary

Understandings of the role that graphene can play in the architecture and construction sphere are still in the early stages of research. However, there are promising concepts and graphene-present materials in development today. Equally, there are countless research initiatives and institutions dedicated to the commercialization of graphene. For example, the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester, designed by architecture firm Jestico + Whiles, is a world-leading research center dedicated to the research and development of graphene. Located at the very same institution where the material was first isolated, this institute demonstrates the UK’s dedication to remaining at the forefront of graphene commercialization.

Although there are still factors standing in the way of graphene commercialization — such as cost and maintaining quality during large-scale production — graphene could lead to more durable and thermally-regulated constructions in the future and is not to be overlooked.

Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter.

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Cosentino’s Latest Material Innovation Could Transform Sustainable Design
CategoriesArchitecture

Cosentino’s Latest Material Innovation Could Transform Sustainable Design

By Zarkon Group,

A leading manufacturer of surfaces, Cosentino’s products are invariably beautiful, resilient, and suited to a wide range of purposes. Whether you are looking for a kitchen countertop or a unique flooring or cladding system, you will find a reliable solution in one of Cosentino’s lines of synthetic or natural surfaces.

Among architects and builders, Cosentino surfaces are known to be innovative and high-quality, but one should also add visionary and socially conscious to the list of descriptors. Their newly developed HybriQ+ Technology, used for their versatile Silestone surfaces, blends premium minerals, quartz, and recycled materials with a sustainable manufacturing process that uses 99% recycled water, 100% renewable electric energy and a minimum of 20% recycled materials in its composition. Cosentino uses the term “Circular Economy” to describe their sustainable approach to resources.

All said and done, this process produces ZERO water waste. That’s right, zero with a Z. In 2022, this is welcome news indeed. The past few years have seen new attention given to the issue of water conservation as global water shortages have become a mounting problem.

The World Wildlife Federation summarizes the situation bluntly, writing that “Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared.” They add that global climate change has put even more stress on the world’s water supply, and that “By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.”

The need for sustainable manufacturing practices is, to put it simply, an imperative. Cosentino illustrates this point quite vividly in their new campaign to promote HybriQ+. Early on in the clip, a sobering montage plays showing plastic bottles washed onto beaches, clear cut forests, and other examples of the destructive impact humanity has had on the globe. The message is poignant: alternatives must be found, and fast, if our species will be able to secure a high quality of life in the coming decades.

The rest of the video provides insight into the HybriQ+ manufacturing process, cross-cutting images of the raw materials Cosentino recycles with scenes of the laboratories in which the company’s research and development team discover new ways to conserve resources in their manufacturing process. This video is a testament to the power of technology and human ingenuity to overcome even dire obstacles.

The video closes with a simple slogan flashing on the scene: “Welcome to our revolution.” And it’s true – such an approach to manufacturing is revolutionary, especially in an era when it is easy to save money by pushing costs onto the planet. As the company notes, “We take care of the present to secure the future.”

Cosentino believes that consumers need not compromise quality in the name of sustainability. In fact, those Silestone surfaces that have been produced with HybriQ+ technology are among the most beautiful the company has ever produced. The company explains that “the new mineral composition enables never before-seen effects in color depth, texture and tone.” Indeed, Cosentino has long proven that synthetic materials can be just as elegant and intricate as natural materials.

Moreover, Silestone is engineered to withstand the harsh daily use that kitchen countertops are subject to, including stains, acid and everyday nicks and scratches. Silestone also comes with a 25 year warranty. This alone is cause for celebration for the eco-conscious among us. Materials that are built to last will not find their way to a landfill anytime soon.

We recommend spending time on the Cosentino website to explore the myriad patterns and colors that are available. The website also includes great photos of their surfaces in action in real spaces for inspiration. There really is something for any design aesthetic, to warm Mediterranean hues to the industrial gray that has proven so popular in modern homes. Silestone also comes in three textures: polished, suede (or matte), and volcano. The latter is really cool, featuring a rustic, rough texture that would add warmth to a kitchen.

As Cosentino points out in their promotional material for HybriQ+, “the kitchen has become the heart and soul of our homes. It is where we cook, work, study, and share memories. It is only natural that the next world-changing idea will come from the kitchen.” So next time you need a sustainable surface for a kitchen redesign, Cosentino Silestone with HybriQ+ should be top of mind.

To learn more about Cosentino’s HybriQ+ Technology and request a quote, click here.

Reference

How Mega Project Iconsiam Pushes the Boundaries of Material Science
CategoriesArchitecture

How Mega Project Iconsiam Pushes the Boundaries of Material Science

By Zarkon Group,

Mega projects inherently push limits. As the largest design efforts to shape the built environment in a given age, they naturally drive innovation simply due to the sheer scale of their undertaking. But while their development tends to bring about novel approaches to design and construction when considered in whole, the innovations they realize in the application of individual architectural materials is often overlooked.

Mega projects need mega materials, which is why cutting-edge technical porcelain stoneware from FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti was a perfect fit for the larger-than-life Iconsiam development in Bangkok, Thailand. A massive, mixed-use complex featuring two residential skyscrapers, various cultural attractions and two malls, FMG’s high-performance MaxFine White Calacatta surfaces were used on the interior floors and exterior façade of Iconsiam’s malls.

The malls themselves, named Iconsiam and Iconluxe to differentiate each other’s brand offerings, are a maximalist fusion of all things Thai. Aspects of Thailand’s culture including art, food, and works from traditional and contemporary artisans are all synthesized under one roof in ways never before attempted. Designed to accommodate 150,000 daily visitors, Iconsiam and Iconluxe needed equally pioneering flooring and façade materials to perform well under extremely taxing conditions.

Designed to be utilized in large public spaces, Iconsiam’s floors are covered in FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta surfaces, in both matte and glossy finishes depending on their location. MaxFine White Calacatta Active Surfaces® slabs, featuring antimicrobial and air purifying properties, wrap a majority of the building’s exterior. Together they employ the latest technological innovations to achieve superlative scales of application, long-term durability, ease of maintenance, and environmental health.

Size is the defining feature of most mega projects, and that is certainly true for Iconsiam, with 5.6 million square feet of retail between its two malls. As a result, FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta surfaces cover over 118,000 square feet of floor space, while White Calacatta Active Surfaces® slabs clad more than 10,000 square feet of exterior façade.

At that scale, floor and wall panels need to cover a massive area without adding too much weight to the building’s structure or appearing unnatural. In this case, FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta surfaces were picked for their lightness and dimensions, with thicknesses between just one quarter and one half of an inch, and slab dimensions of up to five feet by ten feet.

The natural wear and tear that such a large area of wall and floor surfaces are subject to is substantial, requiring them to both perform well and appear fresh after years of foot traffic and environmental exposure. FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta slabs inherently resist wear over time by combining the good looks of stone with the durability of porcelain stoneware. As a result, they are fully waterproof, and resistant to chemicals, scratching, heat, fire, scaling, moisture, staining, and scuffing.

Maintenance and upkeep are likewise major concerns for a project with vast material quantities. FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta slabs on the floors of Iconsiam are non-absorbent, allowing them to be cleaned with minimal effort before drying quickly. Outside, the mall’s wall surfaces feature FMG’s Active Surfaces®, with antibacterial and antiviral (including anti Covid-19), anti-pollution, anti-odour and self-cleaning properties. Thanks to their self-cleaning properties, when subject to light and humidity these surfaces are able to mitigate the buildup of dirt on the slabs and allow for the natural action of rain to accomplish a majority of their needed cleaning.

Available for almost any application, FMG’s Active Surfaces® slabs on Iconsiam’s façade greatly contribute to outdoor air quality. In fact, under the action of light and humidity, FMG’s Active Surfaces® are able to convert polluting molecules like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds into harmless substances, improving the well-being of an entire neighborhood. Beneficial to both Iconsiam’s visitors and its neighbors.

Iconsiam’s Active Surfaces® also have an antibacterial and antiviral action. Using the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide combined with silver, when exposed to light these materials neutralize up to 99% of bacteria and viruses. A recent study by the University of Milan further confirmed that these surfaces eliminate up to 94% of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible of Covid-19) after 4 hours of light exposure. Moreover, thanks to the presence of silver, these properties remain effective even in the dark.

To see how FMG’s MaxFine White Calacatta surfaces can bring innovative solutions to your project, check out their website.

All images courtesy Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti

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