Glass louvres are precision cut and customized for architecture enthusiasts

Brutalist building design is frequently decried nowadays as the epitome of ugliness and drabness that exhibits a general ambivalence towards its inhabitants. The fact remains, however, that the avant-garde architects at the forefront of this building style – Le Corbusier, for example – were really most enthused by the notion of making life more efficient. While beautiful but inefficient buildings increasingly require extra features such as brise soleil, glass louvres or external louvres to keep them aerated, insulated and well-lit, the likes of The Barbican in London has these kinds of sensible instruments already built into its structure. Of course, many people would not want to sacrifice old or attractive buildings that contain within in them quirks and memories. Most people would not want to rebuild whole towns and cities using Brutalist master Le Corbusier as a guide. But the fact remains that we still hanker after more efficient living and working spaces that are more comfortable because the air circulates within more freely and the sun does not come glaring in.

The brise soleil actually maximises heat flow through buildings, meaning that greatly contrasting ice-cold and stuffy rooms within the same building can be a thing of the past. Certainly, these features turn buildings into better ‘machines for living’. Intelligent and environmentally friendly as heat balancing systems, brise soleils have the additional benefit of helping to reduce our heating bills: you won’t find yourself turning a radiator up to full blast in one particularly chilly room any more because the device redistributes and balances heat fairly and appropriately between bigger and cold and smaller, usually warmer rooms.

At a time when we are all striving to be thriftier though gas expenses are rising, such a ventilation and heating system really is a worthwhile investment. Beyond the home, the office can also benefit from modern systems that maximise the efficiency of our offices. Very often workers delight in and benefit from getting direct sunlight as they work but in some buildings pleasant brightness can quickly turn into a headache-inducing glare. To minimize this unwanted side-effect an external louvre is recommended: consisting of extendible slats akin to a mechanical awning, this piece of architectural ingenuity can be rolled out at the times when the sun is at its harshest and rolled back again at will. glass louvres can function similarly but, tailored to the individual’s needs, are often the first choice of architectural style hunters.

Please visit http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.maplesunscreening.co.uk/

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ICT infrastructure for building connections in rural areas

There is general accord in the media that we all live computer-based lives these days. Apparently, the past few years have seen us all become Blackberry users, relentlessly downloading apps, obsessed with Twitter and even starting riots or revolutions through appeal to the social networking services. But of course, this is not the case for many of us who recognise the media to be viewing the world through a London, or at least urban-centric lens. In fact the use, and even availability, of new technological tools fluctuates greatly in the UK – usually prioritising the city dwellers. Those who live in rural areas, meanwhile, are often outsiders to the so-called broadband revolution. And these circumstances are undesirable, only exacerbating the UK’s North-South divide. Luckily, there are multiple plans underway to help narrow this divide: ICT infrastructure projects, next generation access programmes and community broadband services are all receiving increased investment. The benefits may regularly seem over-hyped but a large proportion of them are becoming indispensable for social and commercial relations today.

Take social networks and budget video calling services, for example: many parents with adult children and grandchildren find these internet resources to be a real blessing. Among their benefits are the way in which they allow frequent, low-cost conversation and sharing of important files such as videos and photographs of loved ones. Obviously this kind of contact will never overtake face-to-face family get-togethers but it does wonderfully complement real-life contact, above all in cases where sons and daughters are living miles away, even abroad. But praise of the above connections can all too often only be made by inhabitants of areas well-served by internet providers. As we have already acknowledged, the best broadband connections do not always get as far as Britain’s rural parts so the work currently underway to correct this unjust state of affairs is something we should support.

Dependable internet connections also have a positive influence on businesses. Next generation access projects are helping to secure these connections through ICT infrastructure developments. Certainly, it is becoming unthinkable these days for a company not to be searchable on google or for it not to be contactable by email. Business is often boosted through email correspondence and extra online advertising. Community broadband is therefore not only beneficial to friends and family but essential to Britain’s economy.

Please visit http://www.broadbandvantage.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

http://www.broadbandvantage.co.uk/

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