Famous Architects

Architects have been and will remain at the forefront of designing the built environment that surrounds us. As professional experts in the field of building, design and construction, architects use their creativity to simplify the complex process of designing and build socially and economically sustainable cities and communities. Following are some world famous architects known for their unique creative skills, vision and contributions. Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright is one of America"s most famous architects. Although he had no formal education in architecture, he believed that his work as a farm hand in Wisconsin made him very perceptive and helped develop his spatial abilities.

Architecture Schools

An architectural career is both, demanding and challenging and involves a creative as well as a technical education. To be a top, professional architect one needs to learn the skills, techniques and computer aided software by attaining an education of the highest quality. Listed below are some of the best architectural school in America today. Westwood College Westwood College of Technology is committed to ensuring success in the career that you pursue. The Computer-Aided Design Program (CAD) is one of the best in the country and will help you to acquire the skills needed for a profitable architectural career. One of the top architectural schools, it boasts of rewarding hands-on-experience with training of the recently released AutoCad, combined with interesting lecture sessions and a rich laboratory environment.

Famous Skyscrapers

Architectural design has advanced to a phenomenal stage where every modern city would like to boast having one of the tallest buildings. While criteria defining the tallest buildings or skyscrapers differ widely, listed below are the ten most popular architectural marvels of our time. Empire State Building A world famous New York City landmark and sky scaper, it rises above the island of Manhattan, about a quarter of a mile into the sky. The observatory is located on the 86th floor, 1050 feet above the ground and offers the most breathtaking and panoramic view of Manhattan and beyond from within a glass enclosed pavilion. Besides the observatory there are several tourist attractions, including, restaurants, shops and banks.

Sustainable Green Architecture

Sustainable architecture is designing buildings keeping in mind environmental goals and sustainable development. The terms green architecture or green buildings are often used interchangeably with sustainable architecture to promote this definition further. In a broader sense and taking into account the pressing economic and political issues, sustainable architecture seeks to reduce the negative environmental impact of the buildings by increasing efficiency and moderation in the utilization of building materials, energy and development space. Similarly, green architecture denotes economical, energy-saving, environmentally-friendly, sustainable development and explores the relationship between architecture and ecology.

Feng Shui Architecture

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy focusing on the relationship between humans and the environment. It is a natural earth science which reveals how people are affected by their immediate surroundings. Since everything is connected, certain geographical, architectural and planetary conditions have the power to either improve or worsen our well-being. Feng-Shui is based on the laws of nature and provides us theories that explain why certain things happen in our lives. These theories stem from logical conclusions about natural cause and effects that have endured through time The Chinese philosophy dictates that everything is made of chi, or energy which is further broken up into the five basic elements of metal, fire, water, wood and earth.

Custom Goes Modular: Creating Your Custom-Designed Home

It may seem like a contradiction in terms to think of a modular home and a custom-designed home as one and the same, but with the creative and efficient building techniques developed by the current crop of upscale modular home builders, it's easy to construct a unique home off- site, ship it, and assemble it on the homeowner's land. Typically, an architectural engineer will sit down with a prospective home buyer and discuss design ideas based on a combination of the customer's housing needs and the parameters set down by the home builder. Homeowners can choose from a shopping list of features to be integrated into one of a variety of available designs, Once the details are settled on, the home is constructed in sections and then moved to the home site.

Architecture, the Timeless Gem

Unlike many other practical professions, architecture is an ancient discipline responsible for the design of structures and buildings whose roots can be traced back to thousands of years B.C. Architectural history can take you through the evolution of those structures that served as a landmark to remote civilizations, such as the Phoenicians and the legendary Tower of Babel, or the Egyptians and their incredible mortuary architecture, reflected in pyramids, tombs, and many other ancient buildings along the Nile River. In fact, the first big architectural design recorded in history was the work of Imhotep, Egyptian vizier, doctor, high priest, and scribe to King Djoser.

Let Your Life Shine With Antiquity

Antiques are the buzzword when it comes to exqui site home decoration. Antiques might have lost momentarily to the instant charm of modern furniture but they are surely making a strong comeback and making their presence felt in the extremely competitive furniture market. Antiques, however, have a niche market that does not feel the heat of competition because the art lovers are present in sufficient numbers to appreciate the pristine glory of antique furniture. Antique furniture makes for a perfect drawing room or bedroom. In fact, antique furniture is available in such diverse forms and content that the antique dealers have almost everything for every part of the home.

Construction Equipment Basics

Cranes, excavators, loaders and any other large equipment you might find on a construction site are considered construction equipment. While some of you might see construction equipment as hammers, saws, and other smaller items they are in fact construction tools. Are you looking for some construction equipment to help you with your next job? If so you need to know a little bit about the equipment available. Cranes: You can have many types of canes from the all terrain hydraulic crane, to the boom truck. A boom truck is a piece of construction equipment that has a flat bed with a crane on it rather than a smaller cab for the crane with tracks. This crane system can be used to haul the material as well as move the crane about while hydraulic cranes tend to need a trailer and then roll off to be placed on the ground.

Sustainability-The Future is Here and It s Full of Holes

by Leslie McKerns The future of building technology is here and it"s full of holes. The Swiss cheese exoskeleton shell of COR, the first sustainable, mixed use condominium in Miami, Florida is a hyper-efficient smart skin simultaneously providing the building structure, thermal mass for insulation, shading for natural cooling, terrace enclosures, armatures for energy producing turbines, and loggias for congregating at the ground level. COR, represents a dynamic synergy between architecture, structural engineering and ecology. The design is not only revolutionary in sustainable terms, but in visual impact. The impression of this building is arresting even in light of the current architectural trend towards irregular, non-linear features exploding upon the recent architectural landscape.