How to build a house (part 1)

Everyone is dreaming of the perfect home for themselves and their families. Either it will be a house, an apartment, or maybe even a carriage for travelers. Regardless of the type it is still should be your comfortable, warm, inviting home that you’ll be thrilled to come back to every day. There are plenty of options out there on the market, but we believe that your ideal home should be tailored just for you to cater to all of the special needs and demands. To avoid a tiring reconstruction process we suggest you consider the option of building your own home. It can be pretty challenging but the outcome will surpass all of your expectations, and your hard work will be as rewarding as the beautiful home you will be living in.

So what are the main stages of the house construction process?

Location

First and foremost is finding a location. Select a desirable place for your house. There are a lot of points to keep in mind when choosing perfect surroundings for your future home:

• Landscape and Climate. Consider the future exterior of your home, whether it will be a forest or a field, located next to the river or mountains, all of these will determine the climate and maintenance conditions for the house. For instance, you should keep in mind the possibilities of the landslide in the rocky landscape or the problems with floods next to the water. 

• Soil condition.  Recalling Roman architect Vitruvius' fundamental principles of architecture - firmitas (durability) is one of the main features of the building, therefore its foundation should stay robustly in the solid ground. If the soil of the plot is sandy, muddy, consists of clay, sludge or other unstable earth the owner should contemplate specialised foundation in advance.

• Infrastructure and utilities. To have access to all of the utilities such as electricity, water, internet or phone connection is crucial for a comfortable lifestyle. Also equally important is close location to schools, transit, shops, and other basic commodities.

The second part is an architectural project. You can’t create any construction without this step. It can be a professional project or even a sketch that you will forward to the engineers, but you need to visualize the future appearance of the construction and place it on paper otherwise you will fail in the first stages.

Take into account that before building, you’ll need to submit your project to the attorney's commission for approval, and without necessary skills and knowledge it will be a very time consuming and costly objective to accomplish without a vocational help. Furthermore, future construction may require additional contract administration and/or changes into the project as the work progresses. So to save your energy and nerves we advise you to work alongside an experienced architect to turn your dream home into a reality.

Design

This is the most exciting part of house creation. To design a house you firstly should imagine your future life there. Think about how many people would live there, what their arrangements and need are, this information you’ll need to determine your future floor plan - number of bedrooms, utility rooms, entertainment, and workspaces, etc. To start the drawing of your floor plan you can research some of the existing ones online, may take inspiration for the interiors and indoor spaces, try to sketch out the premises of your future home. You can add the furniture or facilities for your convenience and to easily recognize the rooms and their function.

After that, you can place and adjust the plan to the plot and start to think through all of the surrounding areas like patio, garage, terraces, pool areas, etc. So to sum up the pre-design stage you need to make a list regarding all of the potential premises and to do that you should:

• Determine the number of bedrooms by considering how many people will live or stay in the house, guest bedrooms, kids’ rooms, etc.
• Figure out the bathroom amount, you need to think through the correlation between money and comfort of staying in the house. Of course, even multiple people can use it in the bathroom, but the convenience of it is highly questionable. 
• Decide regarding your special needs, do you need a gym in your house, or maybe an office, playroom for your kids, or for adults. Figure out what space you can’t live without and put it on the list.
• Start to create the master plan (your house on the plot with all of the outdoor spaces).

When you roughly sketched out your plan start adding the important functional details that will determine the overall design of the house both interior and exterior. Show the sketches to your architect, he or she will check the location of the rooms in terms of the networks and utility location as well as insolation and many other conditions for the energy-efficient, ergonomic, economically responsible construction. You’ll need to establish:

 

• Functional spaces. Never forget about all of the storage spaces, utility rooms, laundry, and wardrobes, these are the key premises for a comfortable life, and they also can fill the non insolated spaces of the house. 

• Communication and networks.  For the most part, all of the ventilation ducts and AC systems should be gathered in one place for the maximum energy efficiency, for example, you can make your bathrooms in the opposite parts of the house or align them one under another on the different floors or close by on one floor to avoid costly work and material expense to build all of this air ducts, and don’t forget about your roof that will be covered in them, it’s not a good look and always shows off the inexperience of the designer. 

• Windows and insolation. Windows are the eyes of the house, they play a major role in your facade appearance as well as in the future spending on air conditioning or heating. Therefore you’ll need to keep in mind the facing of the rooms to catch or reduce the sunlight in addition to make the proportional and efficient windows. 

Everything that you’ve accomplished on the pre-design stage, the architect will embody into the drafts and visualizations, and then you can submit your project to the attorney's commission for approval. 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!!

Here at First Stay Realty Inc., We are here to find your dream home or dream tenant or best investment property that suite your need and help you to enjoy holidays without worrying about things getting done - First Stay Realty Inc. will take care of the tasks to keep your investments goals in order.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season from First Stay Realty Inc.!

3D printing and Frame CAD technologies influence on Canada’s housing

A huge breakthrough in the building construction industry began in 2014. Buildings started to made of concrete using a 3D printer. Everyone probably has heard of 3D printing by now.  The 3D printer is - it is a numerically controlled machine that uses a layered method of creating new objects. From prosthetic limbs, furniture, to aircraft and car parts, 3D printers are creating an increasing number of different products. But out of the vast benefits this technology offers, 3D-printed homes are perhaps one of the most significant, as they have the potential to solve many problems the architecture and construction industry face today.

High housing prices in Vancouver make buying a home an impracticable dream for most residents. Therefore, fortunately for many who want to buy a house, an affordable alternative will appear on the market - houses built using 3D printers.
The new construction solution is based on 3D laser printing of custom-made modular and steel beams and panels. The technology allows you to quickly create completely new tasks for printing. These steel parts are created taking into account the design of the building being built, and then sent to the construction site and assembled in a short time.

The construction company LifeTec Construction Group uses a 3D printer to print metal structures, which speeds up the process of building construction. The company is located in Vancouver.

Traditionally, large wooden trusses are used in the construction of small residential buildings. Their production noticeably slows down the construction process.

The new technology involves replacing wooden trusses with metal ones. There is an important feature - they are printed on a special 3D printer using Framecad technology. It was developed in New Zealand and has since been tested worldwide. Builders say construction is faster and much more efficient when trusses can be simply printed.

In addition to speed, builders note the increased durability of the printed structures. Printing also allows you to use less expensive labor during construction, which is especially relevant in Vancouver.

It is impossible to distinguish a 3D-printed house from a traditional house. A 3D printer lays the foundation of the house, pouring cement in layers. Then roofing, electricity and running water are added. For a small fee, customers can choose the settings for their future homes and thus design their own homes the way they want. A four-bedroom house will cost just $ 20,000. The foundation of the 2500 sq.m. house can be built in 24 hours.

Benefits of 3D House Printing

• Light metal parts are used, which are stronger and more durable than ordinary building wood.
• Easy and quick to assemble.
• Low labor intensity, this will help fill the lack of construction workforce.

Of course, 3D printing will be increasingly used in construction. So, the main US military department has already expressed interest in new technologies and has allocated a substantial amount for research. Similar projects involving public and private investors exist in other countries. This is not surprising - humanity is growing rapidly, and everyone needs housing, and three-dimensional printing is a quick and cheap construction option. Therefore, after 5-10 years, the expression "print a house" is unlikely to surprise anyone.

Architectural Bionics

Architectural bionics is a movement for the design and construction of expressive buildings whose layout and lines borrow from natural (i.e. biological) forms. The term "bionics" itself comes from the Greek word bion - an element of life, literally - living. Bionics is a science that borders between biology and technology. It solves engineering problems based on the analysis of the structure and vital functions of organisms. The first of those who turned to nature in his works was Leonardo da Vinci (the aircraft he created was based on the structure of a bird's wing). The first attempts to use natural forms in construction were made by the great Spanish architect of the XIX century, Antonio Gaudi. Park Guell created by him is called "nature frozen in stone."

Source: https://studbooks.net/2329823/nedvizhimost/arhitekturnaya_bionika

Source: https://studbooks.net/2329823/nedvizhimost/arhitekturnaya_bionika

It was these works of the great master that gave a start to the development of the bionic style architecture. Because before that Europe and the whole world have seen anything like it.

The architects of the whole world took bionics into service. Some adherents of bionics believe that nature has created the most aesthetic, perfect, durable and optimized designs.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, a world exhibition was organized in Paris. It was planned to erect a tower on the territory of this exhibition, which would symbolize the greatness of the French Revolution and the latest technological achievements. The competition of projects involved 700 works. The work of the Frenchman Eiffel won. This tower impressed everyone with its grace and became a symbol of France. Modern engineers made an unexpected discovery, the tower structure exactly repeats the structure of the human’s tibia.

Source: https://tass.ru/spravochnaya-informaciya/1080722

Currently, bionics is developing in many areas. Architectural and construction bionics studies the laws of the formation of structural organization of living tissues, analyzes the constructive systems of living organisms, explores the principles of saving material, energy and life support. A striking example of architectural and constructional bionics is a complete analogy of the structure of cereal stems and some modern building structures like Quadracci Pavilion by Santiago Calatrava. Revealing the secrets of the structure of living organisms, you can get new opportunities and methods in the architecture of structures.

Source: https://architime.ru/specarch/santiago_calatrava/2.jpg

 In recent years, bionics confirms that most human inventions are already “patented” by nature. For example, a twentieth-century innovation such as zippers and velcro fasteners was developed based on a study of the structure of bird feathers. In this case, the pen threads of various orders, equipped with hooks, that provide reliable grip.

In architectural and constructional bionics, a lot of attention is paid to new construction technologies. For example, in the field of developing effective and waste-free construction technologies, the development of layered structures is a promising direction. The idea was borrowed from deep-sea mollusks. Their durable shells consist of alternating hard and soft plates. When a rigid plate cracks, the deformation is absorbed by the soft layer and the crack does not go further.

Architectural bionics is an innovative style that takes all the best from nature: reliefs, contours, principles of shaping and interaction with the outside world. Worldwide, the ideas of bionic architecture have been successfully implemented by renowned architects in their beautiful creations such as the Cypress skyscraper in Shanghai, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Board building of the NMB Bank in the Netherlands, the Rolex Training Center and the Fruit Museum in Japan.

Source: https://inttera.livejournal.com/5534.html

Source: https://inttera.livejournal.com/5534.html

Technologies of architectural bionics.

Here are a few examples of some of the most common modern paths of bionic building development.

1. Energy Efficient House - is a structure with low energy consumption or with zero energy consumption from standard sources (Energy Efficient Building).

2. Passive Building (Passive Building) - a structure with passive thermoregulation (cooling and heating through the use of environmental energy). In such houses, the use of energy-saving building materials and structures is provided and the traditional heating system is practically absent.

3. Bioclimatic Architecture - one of the movements in the style of hi-tech. The main principle of bioclimatic architecture in harmony with nature: "... so that when the bird flies into the office, it doesn’t notice that it’s inside of it." In numerous bioclimatic skyscrapers along with barrage systems, double-skinned glazing (double skin technology) is actively used to provide noise insulation and microclimate support, coupled with ventilation.

4. Smart House (Intellectual Building) – is a building in which, the flow of light and heat in rooms and building envelopes is optimized using computer technologies and automation.

5. Healthy Building – is a building in which, along with the use of energy-saving technologies and alternative energy sources, natural building materials (mixtures of earth and clay, wood, stone, sand, etc.) are the main priority. Technologies that included in “healthy" home are air purification systems from harmful fumes, gases, radioactive substances, etc.

Source: https://signaturesustainability.com/passivehaus-passive-house/

In addition to the search for new ideas and forms, bionics studies life support systems, development and other mechanisms of the existence of natural objects, their reactions to external influences. Perhaps this new perspective of nature will show us the path to the architecture of the future.

Have a spooky time on Halloween. Don't get too scared though. Happy Halloween.

October 31st is the best day to be weird. nothing gives you a better day on Halloween than having a good hair day. Make sure you use a lot of scare-spray. Happy Halloween!

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2019!

May you enjoy a plentiful feast with good food, family, and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2019!

Sincerely,

First Stay Realty Inc.

Types of Interior design styles (part 2)

High-tech style

High-tech style (from high technology) in the interior design appeared in the early 1930s. Hi-Tech brings a sense of light and space into the interior, focuses not on the color scheme or pattern, but on the form and texture of architectural details and interior items.

This style is characterized by rapid, straight lines, an abundance of glass and metal parts. Hi-tech can be attributed to cutting-edge styles, it uses designs typical of industrial buildings. Hi-tech interiors are usually filled with technically advanced furniture and accessories, objects and materials related to technology: stainless steel and chrome surfaces, bent metal pipes, rotating seats, level modifications. Mobile partitions are widely used, capable of closing and opening the space, that allows you to change the layout. Technological design is everywhere: ceilings, walls, floors, stairs, windows, doors. The complete lack of decor is compensated by the “work” of the material: light on glass, chrome, wood polish, etc.

Source: https://firststaybc.com/properties/apartment/111-west-georgia-street/ 

Eco-style

Many people would like to live in harmony with nature. Most of them cannot remain indifferent when hearing the sounds of a stream and birds singing, feeling the fresh air and admiring the beautiful scenery. It’s not that easy, unfortunately, when you’re living in a large metropolis. However, there are options for getting a little closer to nature by changing your place. Given the needs and tastes of many people who prefer an eco-interior, designers have created a completely new style. Eco-style was created specifically for those who wish to live in harmony with nature, creating a clean and ecological interior in their home.

The creation of this style includes exclusively environmentally friendly materials, natural finishes and accessories. Designers working on projects in this style do not exclude the presence of modern technology. However, it is not too prominent, because the main distinguishing feature of this style is the rest from all digital technologies. The materials that are used to create this interior style have a natural texture, without any color. Large and spacious rooms are especially suitable for interior in eco-style. An important role is played by lighting, which must also be natural. Therefore, large windows are especially suitable here, and they should be wooden, not plastic.

Source: fsbc.com/Cranbery St, Vancouver, BC

Lots of wood, plants, eco-shaped details and natural ornaments – are the key features of the eco-style.

Kitsch style

The definition of “kitsch-interior” appeared relatively recently and it means a new-fangled category of interiors. The main idea of kitsch is a mockery of history and artistic traditions, tastes and styles. This is a kind of nihilism in architectural design, denying all its previous achievements. Frank tastelessness that becomes the principle of choice, and the striking incompatibility of colors and interior items are its main distinguishing features. For example, gilded stucco molding on the cornice, on the bright blue ceiling - large shiny stars, tubs with palm trees are symmetrically standing on the walls, and the floor is lined with ceramic tiles with oriental motifs.
Translated from German, the word "Kitsch" means - bad taste, botchery.
A kitsch design appeared in Germany in the mid-19th century.

Kitsch is easily recognized by the mixture of objects that, according to the logic of other styles, should not be mixed. If, for example, baroque is characterized by pomposity, velvet, gilding, art nouveau - smooth lines, wood and natural colors, and kitsch is a handmade Provence style pillow on a leather avant-garde sofa, an exquisite baroque pattern on bright pink walls combined with pop art furniture.

Source: https://firststaybc.com/properties/apartment/111-west-georgia-street/ 

Main features of Kitsch:

- Pronounced contrasts in colors and shades. For example, pastel colors alternate with bright, acidic colors.
- Classic and avant-garde furniture in one room and minimalist in the other.
- A mix of materials from wood and plastic to metal and wool, etc.
- The combination of antiques and modern products.
- The use of materials that mimic others - linoleum for parquet or stone, wall panels for wood, artificial animal skins.
- Mass production decor - figurines, sculptures, souvenirs.