Affordable ways to build a new house

July 13, 2018

by trianglehomes with No Comment Architects architecture

Following are the 12 affordable ways to save money while building a new house on a budget: Low cost building Technique

The first tip is to hire a good architect. A good architect shall give you:

A good design- a good design equals a good house.
Efficient floor plan-optimal room sizes/ no wastage.
Sustainable design-low running/ maintenance cost.
Good finishes-finishes usually carry the biggest cost.

The second tip is to keep the design simple. A simple design means:

Floor plan-square/rectangular plans are cost-effective.
Open plan living-more daylighting and sociable living.
Space utilization-multiple space functions.
Roof design-complex roof design means more cost.

Buy stock plans- a fraction of the professional fees

Most of the plans can be amended on the site to suit the client’s needs with marginal costs.
Most of these books are outdated and lack any serious professional and design input.

Small is smarter

Scale down-Get rid of stuff/space you do not need.
Climate-design for regional climate.
Space utilization-use some spaces for multiple functions, such as; Dining custom study.

Hire the best builder- this is the most important tip.

Minor variation-A home build on a budget.
No time overruns- Build within the contract period.
Good workmanship- A home built without shortcuts.
Experience- Good connections with sub-contractors. Hence cheaper to buy in bulk at a discount.

Bid out your costs- compare costs| call referrals

The low quote could mean insufficient workmanship and it could result in expensive repairs and maintenance in the future.
The optimal quote could mean a builder’s discount and nice connection with suppliers.
The high quote could mean too many sub-contractors involved.

Shop for fixtures and fittings yourself- a good architect will give you:

Floor and wall tiles- colors and designs.
Toilets, wash hand basins, kitchen sinks.
Inbuilt ovens and cooker and sinks.
Flat pack kitchen cabinets and wardrobes.

Splurge strategically- the difference between being miserly and frugal.

The public spaces-kitchen, dining, and lounge use a higher degree of finish.
Private spaces-bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry use basis finishes and budget fixtures.
Internal doors-Paneled or solid core flush doors.
External doors-Steel security doors or solid hardwood doors.

Alternative construction methods

Structurally insulated panels(EPS panels)
Stabilized earth blocks (SEBS)
Upcycled shipping containers
Salvaging used materials- recycled materials and second-hand fixtures.

Shop out your mortgage

Cash down payment
Interest rate
Repayment period

Choose your friends- Avoid peer pressure

Do not fall to peer-pressure in the name of wanting to fit-in.
Do not build someone else’s house/design.

Manage the project- Don’t let the project run away from you.

The project is executed as per the design.
Stick to specifications and good workmanship.
To avoid any project overruns.
To avoid time overruns.

Triangle Homez is a construction firm in Kerala that provides all sorts of construction, building and interior designing services all across Kerala. Contact us for good workmanship and affordable pricing.

Top 10 famous buildings in the world

April 23, 2018

by trianglehomes with 2 Comments architecture Famous Buildings

TOP 10 FAMOUS BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD

Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest and Famous building in the world. Besides being the tallest building it also holds other world records:

Tallest free-standing structure
The highest outdoor observation deck
Building to hold the elevator with the longest travel distance
Tallest service elevator and several other records

The tip of the Burj Khalifa is known to be seen up to a distance 95 kilometers away from the structure.

At the zenith of its construction, 12000 workers were working on building the structure every day. The construction started in the year 2004 and was completed in 2009. The design resembled hymenocalis flower.

Chrysler building

The Chrysler building is an outstanding example of New York’s creative and artistic skyscrapers. Being completed in 1930 it was the tallest and Famousbuilding in the world.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is a beautiful ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra, India. Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who build the structure in memory of his wife Mumtaz. It took 22000 of his followers to finish building the Taj Mahal in 1643.

To get the goods to the construction site it apparently took a thousand elephants. The famous shape of the Taj Mahal, the one that makes it stand out compared to the other buildings is called Mughal architecture. The tomb itself is made up of complete marble and it is uniquely designed so that if the structure was to collapse it would fall away from the tomb of Mumtaz. And of course within these tombs is the sarcophagi of the emperor and his wife.

In today’s world, if you were to build it, it would cost 52.8 billion Indian rupees!!

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of the most famous and recognized structures of antiquity. The amphitheater was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and he built it on the side of New York’s palace to finally erase memories of the hated emperor. At the inaugural games over 9000 wild animals were killed for entertainment in front of an audience of 55000 people. There were also of course gladiators, Roman’s favorite spectacle.

Following the collapse of the empire, the Colosseum fell into ruin. But by the 14th-century architects had learned to admire the classical detail and then plundered the structure for building materials. Some of it went to build the famous churches in the world.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The field of miracles and one of the most extraordinary buildings in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Alongside is Pisa’s cathedral and baptistery, all clad in cream color marble and stone.

This famous landmark was begun in 1173 as a built tower for the cathedral. But even before the third tier was up, it had begun to tilt in the sandy subsoil. Building continued and the tilt increased defying gravity. In recent years the tower was closed in order to stabilize it. The lean was decreased by 15 inches.

In 2001 the tower reopened. It has been declared safe for the next 300 years.

Eiffel tower

Eiffel tower in Paris is the most visited paid monument in the world. The building is named after its main designer, French metallic structure expert, and engineer, Gustave Eiffel.

The iron lady as it is sometimes called hasn’t been always the beloved structure as it is today. During its construction phase, many protested against the construction of the tower. Even after its construction, the tower was highly controversial amongst the Persians.

Luckily for Eiffel tower haters, Eiffel had only the permission to keep it for 20 years and after that, it would be demolished. But as the tower was allowed to remain unscathed even after the time had expired as it proved valuable for the telecommunication purposes. Throughout the years the Eiffel tower has seen a lot. Today almost everybody loves the tower.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 located in the capital of Taiwan is renowned as the icon of modern Taiwan. Its design is reached with symbolism and tradition. Soaring to a height of 508 meters, the 101 floors represent a number that is considered perfect and auspicious in Chinese culture. There are 8 sections f the tower because the number 8 is also considered as auspicious.

Space Needle

Did you ever look at the space needle and wonder why it doesn’t collapse during high winds since it seems to have more mass towards the top?

Well, actually this iconic structure in Seattle is an engineering model and is one of the safest places in the world during extreme weather or ground conditions. Space needle can also withstand wind speeds up to 100 miles/hour.

The foundation of the space needle plays a big role in its stability.

Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is a 7 start hotel located in Dubai. The Burj Al Arab was designed by the British architect Tom Wright. Its construction began in 1994 and involved 3000 companies and contractors.

Dubai Frame

Dubai Frame is one of the newest architectural firms in the world opened on January 1st, 2018.

The phases involved in interior designing

March 20, 2018

by trianglehomes with No Comment architecture interior deisgn

Who is an interior designer?

An interior designer is someone who has been trained to use space effectively and join hand with the quality and safety of interior areas for making them aesthetically pleasing. He/she requires the combined knowledge of building codes, critical and creative thinking, phycology and technology for the purpose of improving the quality of life and increasing productivity. All of this is accomplished to protect your health, safety and welfare.

The following are the important phases involved in interior designing:

1. Programming phase

The programming phase is where the project is built brick by brick or decision by decision. The programmer researches current and projected needs in such areas as information, privacy and security. A thorough programming process is essential for or maintaining an orderly and cost-effective design process later in the project.

2. Schematic design

Schematic design is the initial design phase translating all the research gathered from programming into rough sketches and ideas for the client. Interior designers combine their skills of problem-solving, phycology, colour theory, environmental methods and codes to rearrange spaces in a way they would be intuitive and safe for future and current users of the space.

3. Design development and Material selection

The design development phase of the process refines concepts created in the schematic phase. First interior designers draw the building shell. The permanent fixtures and millworks are the next. Then they shall check out on the furniture and of course, they create a plenty of notes to make the object clear.

During the design process, the interior designers also select appropriate materials based on their application.

4. Perspective

The most common thing that a client sees is the perspective or 3D modelling on the space. This program is one of the greatest tools interior designers possess. The 3D model displays the design to the client easily.

5. Construction Documents

In this phase, the drawings created in the design and development phase are turned into working documents for the contractor.

6. Construction phase

In the construction phase, the role of an interior designer is to check whether the works conform to the contraction joints and specifications.

Interior design is about much more than aesthetics. It is a combination of a series of complex decisions to solve a problem.

How to decide between architecture and civil engineering career?

March 10, 2018

by trianglehomes with 2 Comments architecture engineering

This is a very common question. People are often confused about civil engineering and architecture. Although architects and engineers perform parallel functions in the design, the infrastructure of the building, etc., they are actually very different. There is big delineation between the two. The four points below explains the major difference between architects and civil engineers so you know which to choose when it comes to your career.

Character traits – architecture and civil engineering

Architects and engineers often approach problems and situations from a different foundation. Architects have a tendency to be more creative, think more outside the box and are more connected to the aesthetics of things whereas engineers have a tendency to be more quantitative, more numbers are driven, rational driven and are more reasoning. If you have a tendency to draw, be more creative and have a colourful type of personality and way of thinking then architecture is probably for you.

Design – architecture and civil engineering

Engineers rely on equations, formulas and scientific principles to solve problems, develop solutions and conclusions to whatever they are working on in their field. Whereas architects have the tendency to consider the spatial functionality, the connection to its surroundings, how things integrate into aesthetics and overall connectivity to neighbouring entities whether it be buildings or roadway facility or functionality of a park or something. The approach to the overall design thinking is different between the two.

Workflow – architecture and civil engineering

This is what architects have a big advantage. Because it comes out to feeling and energy, aesthetics, creativity and how it looks. Architects typically are the starters for the planning. They are the ones who create the blueprint. They are the ones who have the vision for what the engineers are going to build. Then the engineers take those vision and the blueprint and decide on how they are going to do it, what’s the most cost-effective approach for this, what is the right materials for this type of design. If you want to be in the creative part you want to be the architecting these types of concepts and you should probably go for architecture. Whereas if you want to calculate things in a data-driven fashion behind what is going on, then engineering is for you.

Curriculum -architecture and civil engineering

An architectural curriculum in university is typically going to little be more artsy and theoretical. It’s more about history and design. Whereas engineering courses involve heavy mathematics. If you don’t like math then you definitely shouldn’t be an engineer. The course includes engineering maths, calculus, statistics, structural analysis, structural design, concrete and steel design, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and so on. If math is a struggle for you and you still want to be connected to designing buildings and infrastructure, then go for architecture.

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