A mechanical engineer has developed a paperlike battery electrode that may improve tools for space exploration or unmanned aerial vehicles.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 22:44
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A mechanical engineer has developed a paperlike battery electrode that may improve tools for space exploration or unmanned aerial vehicles.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 22:43
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The prefab home firm Mima Housing of Portugal recently introduced a new line of tiny homes, which are slick, modern and affordable. They're calling them Mima Light, and perhaps the most striking characteristic of these homes is that they feature a mirrored base section, which makes it seem as though they are floating a few feet off the ground.
The Mima Light homes are available in a range of sizes and configurations, which includes the tech and add-ons to make them independent of the grid. The basic shape of the Mima Light home is that of a rectangular box. The smallest version has a floorspace of 232 sq ft (21.6 sq m), while the largest measures 348 sq ft (32.4 sq m). The home is built atop a set of wooden poles, and this foundation is hidden by the mirrored base.
The home features plenty of glazing, which lets in ample amounts of natural daylight and makes it appear more spacious as a result. Aluminum was used for exterior cladding, and there is a laminated glazed area in the middle of the rectangular home. The walls are made up of CLT panels, insulation and a layer of lacquered wood, which ads that extra bit of coziness to the home.
The interior features a living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom with a shower and a bedroom with a double bed. The layout itself is configurable, while the living area can also be resized and/or moved around according to the customer's wishes. It is best suited to be occupied by one or two people at most though. The home also features large glass doors at either end, which serve as the entrance to the home.
The standard version of the Mima Light home is designed to be hooked up to the grid, but they also have solar power available as an optional add on. It's not clear whether they will also begin offering a composting toilet and rainwater collection system in the near future, but that shouldn't present too much of a problem.
The prices for the basic version range from $31,000 to $41,000, depending on the size. This goes up based on the requested customizations and add ons.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 22:16
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The prefab home firm Mima Housing of Portugal recently introduced a new line of tiny homes, which are slick, modern and affordable. They're calling them Mima Light, and perhaps the most striking characteristic of these homes is that they feature a mirrored base section, which makes it seem as though they are floating a few feet off the ground.
The Mima Light homes are available in a range of sizes and configurations, which includes the tech and add-ons to make them independent of the grid. The basic shape of the Mima Light home is that of a rectangular box. The smallest version has a floorspace of 232 sq ft (21.6 sq m), while the largest measures 348 sq ft (32.4 sq m). The home is built atop a set of wooden poles, and this foundation is hidden by the mirrored base.
The home features plenty of glazing, which lets in ample amounts of natural daylight and makes it appear more spacious as a result. Aluminum was used for exterior cladding, and there is a laminated glazed area in the middle of the rectangular home. The walls are made up of CLT panels, insulation and a layer of lacquered wood, which ads that extra bit of coziness to the home.
The interior features a living/dining area, kitchen, bathroom with a shower and a bedroom with a double bed. The layout itself is configurable, while the living area can also be resized and/or moved around according to the customer's wishes. It is best suited to be occupied by one or two people at most though. The home also features large glass doors at either end, which serve as the entrance to the home.
The standard version of the Mima Light home is designed to be hooked up to the grid, but they also have solar power available as an optional add on. It's not clear whether they will also begin offering a composting toilet and rainwater collection system in the near future, but that shouldn't present too much of a problem.
The prices for the basic version range from $31,000 to $41,000, depending on the size. This goes up based on the requested customizations and add ons.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 22:14
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Southern Spain boasts of many cave houses, which are beautiful to look at and also serve the purpose of keeping the inhabitants cool in the searing summer heat. But the recently built House on the Cliff is certainly a step apart from the rest. With an exterior built to resemble a dragon’s head, and an energy saving design it is definitely worth noting. As if one could miss it.
The home was designed by GilBartolomé Architect of Madrid, and features an undulating zinc roof, which covers most of its façade. The roof is covered by scale-like protrusions and shaped to resemble a dragon’s head. The architects also made the home as energy efficient as possible, basing the design on the already excellent thermal properties of cave houses in general and going from there to create a home that needs no heating or cooling.
According to the architects, being partially buried in the hillside makes it possible for the interior temperature to remain a steady 67.1º F (19.5º C) naturally. To achieve this they created a 15.7-in (40 cm) air cavity between the retaining walls and interior that is able to store cool air. They also installed an efficient HVAC unit that monitors the interior temperature and controls the amount of air that is channeled inside.
The distinctive roof of the home is made up of a double curved concrete shell, which is packed with insulation. The zinc cladding was handmade, as well as hand-placed. The interior of the home is also stunning. The home features a large open plan living and dining area, which opens onto a cantilevered terrace. The two bedrooms are located on the second story of the home. Being partially set in a cave, the home also does not require any type of internal support columns or walls, and the architects decided to leave the space open as much as possible, resulting in a living are that can hold up to 70 people. All the furniture is also quite unique and was produced on-site out of fiberglass and polyester resin.
They also did not use heavy machinery during the construction process, but rather employed a large number of builders and laborers to construct the home. This not only offset the carbon footprint of the home, but also provided jobs to many of the local laborers.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 21:52
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Michael Weekes, an inventor, engineer and author, recently designed and built a unique tiny home. The Life Pod, as he is calling it, can function completely off-the-grid, and is no larger than a trailer used to transport jet-skis. Apart from using it as a getaway cabin, tent alternative, or guesthouse, Weekes also thinks it would make a great homeless shelter or disaster relief housing. It can also easily be towed on the back of a car, and has a very aerodynamic shape.
The Life Pod is made up of two geodesic domes that are basically turned on their side and held together by a 10-sided cylinder. The home features a frame made out of wood, which is covered with TPO foam and Luan skin. The home has two porthole-like windows and a door, and weighs only 1,500 lbs (680 kg).
The home is 13.25 ft long by 8.25 ft wide (4 x 2.5 m), which is tiny but not overwhelmingly so. However, what truly sets this home apart from the competition is the range of comforts and features it offers. It has a well-sized shower, a sink, and a composting toilet, as well as a hot water tank. There is also a microwave oven in the food preparation area. The home also features two 300 W solar panels and a battery. This set up takes care of most of the electricity needs, though there is also an electrical hookup, which can be used when needed. The main living area features a double mattress.
After building the Life Pod prototype, Weekes took it on the road for four months to truly test it out. He towed it across 800 miles (1,287 km) then incorporated all he learned into the final design. The Life Pod is now for sale and the basic version costs $19,900. The solar-power add-on costs a further $2,900. All the Life Pods are custom built so the wait time for one is around 12 weeks. Weekes will also start soon selling a build-it-yourself kit with plans and a list of materials for $399.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 22:36
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Researchers have developed a method for making super-wrinkled and super-crumpled sheets of the nanomaterial graphene. The research shows that the topography can enhance some of graphene's already interesting properties.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 23:38
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Transforming disused shipping containers into comfortable houses has become quite a fashion in the last few years. The best thing about using them to build homes from is the fact that most can be made into a comfortable dwelling in a very short amount of time. They are also affordable and can be shipped to anywhere in the world. Here are the top five best shipping container homes, which require minimal amount of work to built, but which still make for very cozy and comfortable houses.
1. Julio Garcia’s Artist Retreat in the Georgia Woods
Garcia designed and built this cozy home himself, using two repurposed shipping containers. He pretty much left them in their original state, apart from cutting away portions of the containers’ longer sides to make a larger interior space. The result is a spacious home that is modern and functional, yet stays true to the industrial past of its main building blocks.
2. Lulu’s DIY Shipping Container Home
Lulu is a single mother from Southern California who built her shipping container home on her own, and with no design or building experience. She was given the shipping container for free, and it took her about a month to cut out the openings for windows and doors with a saw. Lulu also used recycled or repurposed materials for the windows, doors, the bathtub, toilet and sinks. Her home only cost $4,000 to build.
3. The SurfShack Beach Retreat
Designer/contractor Hartman Kable built the SurfShack from a repurposed 8 by 20 foot double ended shipping container. He left the interior in its original state to retain the original weatherproof properties of the shipping container. He did, however, transform the interior in a number of innovative ways to ensure cozy living. He installed large glass doors on both sides of the container, which let in plenty of natural daylight and eliminate the need for additional windows. He also left the original cargo doors in place, which allows him to lock up the shipping container home when he’s away from it.
4. 640 Lookout Model by Cargotecture
If you’re looking for a prefab shipping container home the c-series 640 Lookout model by Cargotecture is an excellent choice. This model features a living area of 640 square feet, which consists of a spacious living room with a kitchen, as well as a bedroom and bathroom, a media room and a lofted sleeping area for guests. The Lookout is built from two shipping containers, that are placed together to form the single 16’x40’structure, and is delivered in two 40’ modules. On site, these can be assembled into a home very quickly and affordably.
The Zulu Queen is another prefab shipping container home, this one made by Colorado-based company Rhino Cubed. It is made from a 25-foot shipping container and feature 160 square feet of living space. This shipping container home can be taken completely off-the-grid, since it is powered by a 1250-watt solar generator, and also features a grey water recycling system. It costs $60,000 and comes fully equipped with all the necessary appliances and furniture.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 20:32
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Samuel Gonclaves is a Portuguese architect who has recently introduced a unique modular housing system, which allows for the assembly of a modern home in just three days. He has named it the Gomos System, and it was funded by 18 local companies.
In a nutshell, the Gomos System is made up of a series of singular reinforced concrete modules, which are prefabricated at a factory, and then joined together to form a home. A Gomos home is created in four stages, the first of which is the prefabrication at the factory. Next comes the prefabrication of interior and exterior finishings and features, followed by transportation and assembly on site. This means that the prefab modules already contain all the home’s final features when they are transported to the construction site. These features include interior furnishings, insulation, flooring, windows, doors, water facilities, electricity, and the entire external facade.
The Gomos System is also highly flexible, and each prospective owner can customize it to receive their dream home. Due to the modular nature of the process, the homes can be as big or as small as desired, and they can even be expanded over time by simply adding extra modules. Each gomos unit can measure up to 7.70 ft wide and 19.35 ft deep (2,35 m by 5,9 m) while they can also be adapted for construction on various types of terrain.
Large windows can be installed on the outside walls of the home, offering lots of light and letting fresh air enter the home. However, with the addition of more modules to the home, some of the rooms can become closed off internally and therefore much darker. To solve this, the Gomos home features two large glass walls at either end, as well as a number of skylights, which enable light to reach the innermost sections.
Among the optional features the customers will be able to choose from is a solar panel array. They can also choose among various types of external claddings, floor, paints, window frames, and more. The base model of the home will cost about $55,000, with the price rising depending on the optional features the client orders.
posted by FMP SteelBuildings @ 23:01
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FMP Steel Buildings is one of the premier steel building suppliers in the country. FMP Steel Buildings has some of the most competitive pricing in the industry, without sacrificing quality or schedule. FMP Steel Buildings offers steel erection services in many locations across the country. We can also provide full turn-key General Contracting and Architectural / Engineering services on projects in Colorado and adjacent states, depending on the size and location of the project. Inquire within about these services. Located in Denver, Colorado, FMP Steel Buildings is a steel and metal building supplier as well as a general contractor.Visit for more at http://www.fmpsteelbuildings.com
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