Bath Shower Home Design

From a crowd- funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restroom s, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem -solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.   1. TRUSS SYSTEM UNDERGIRDS MONUMENTAL STAIR Structure becomes art at a Massachusetts college library To invite exploration of its new academic library, Salem (Mass.) State University selected a light-filled and airy design. The site and program called for deep floor plates , so the Building Team devised a dramatic open staircase as a central feature to help break up the density. The engineering solution consists of a truss that supports the whole stair, with each step created from a triangular box beam that hangs off the truss. Stairs are stringer-free and accented with eye- catching red paint . Glass panels protect users while showcasing the design. The prominent feature is also visible from...

03/23/2015 In 2003, British biologist Goulson (A Sting in the Tale) bought Chez Nauche , “a derelict farm deep in the heart of rural France,” with the intention of establishing a wildlife sanctuary: “a place where butterflies, dragonflies, voles and newts could thrive, free from the pressures of modern agriculture.” Discussion in this nostalgic and earnest volume revolves around the plants and animals that live on Goulson’s “little corner of the French countryside,” and he reflects on his professional past while looking to the future. Ever the scientist, Goulson details the ways in which “creatures in the meadow” are connected to one another as well as to their surroundings. He champions their delicate ecosystem, urging readers to “cherish life on Earth in all its forms,” and he explains many of the roles that insects play. “They can be predators, parasites, herbivores or detritivores.” Some live in large colonies. Others spend years alone in the darkness. Chapters on the “extraordi...