Laurence Grigorov, as director of a leading residential development company, keeps abreast of international design trends using such influences in upcoming projects the company is involved in. Laurence Grigorov is involved in luxury residential projects in Johannesburg, South Africa.
OMA’s design for Xinhu Hangzhou Prism integrates modernity into the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape. The complex will house a hotel, retail space, lofts and an atrium garden. Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, is known as one of China’s most beautiful cities with a high quality of life. The city is rapidly developing into an important tech-hub, home to some of China’s largest technology companies (including Alibaba Group Holding and NetEase) and a burgeoning start-up scene. Hangzhou competes with Beijing and Shanghai to attract China’s new-economy workforce and young tech graduates
The 50,000 m2 Prism is shaped by two radical oblique cuts through the building envelope, creating terraced lofts with generous scenic views. A large interior void creates a publicly accessible garden with water features and playgrounds.
A pinnacle reaching into the sky, the Prism pays homage to the ancient saying that the there is “paradise above, and Hangzhou below”. The Prism is complemented by an adjacent 35,000 m2 residential tower, reflecting the geometry of a prism in its façade, and will encourage the development of a creative community in the new CBD of Hangzhou. The design enables flexible programming and a broad repertoire of communal outdoor spaces, while maintaining a strong visual identity: striking in its form, archetypical yet contemporary.
As director of Johannesburg based residential property development company, Laurence Grigorov enjoys active exercise as part of his hobbies.
In order to maintain a healthy body and mind, Laurence Grigorov trains regularly at the gym. This allows Laurence Grigorov to still keep a healthy balance in life and has the added benefit of keeping him focused at work.
For regular lifters—and a whole lot of other people these days—protein is probably the most prioritized macronutrient. Protein forms essential components of muscle, as Dwayne Jackson, Ph.D., explains in the article “What Does Protein Actually Do In Your Body?”
But here’s one other thing lifters have been ahead of the game on: the knowledge that when they eat all protein, all the time, they can still obtain some of the benefits of protein by taking the amino acids that protein is made of.
No, I’m not going to jump into a discussion of the merits of branched-chain amino acids here. Why not? Because more research is indicating that those three aren’t where the story should end. There are nine essential amino acids (EAAs) in proteins—not just three—which your body can’t make on its own. And though it might seem like EAA supplements are new to the scene, there’s actually extensive research looking at their effects on promoting muscle protein synthesis.
Here’s a quick primer on the essential amino acids (EAAs), with the bodybuilder, lifter, or other hard-training athlete in mind.
L-Leucine is one of the three BCAAs; it’s integrally involved in muscle protein synthesis and acts as an activator of mTORC1. It’s the amino that gets the most press, and with good reason.
L-Lysine is involved in growth, tissue repair, and nutrient uptake.
L-Valine is one of the three BCAAs; it promotes muscle growth and tissue repair.
L-Isoleucine is one of the three BCAAs. It’s involved in hemoglobin synthesis and regulation of blood sugar and energy levels.
L-Threonine is involved in the creation or synthesis of protein in the body.
L-Phenylalanine plays a role in the synthesis of amino acids. It’s also a precursor for important hormones such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.L-Methionine is required for tissue growth and repair.
L-Histidine is involved in the synthesis of proteins. It also combines with beta-alanine to form the dipeptide carnosine.
L-Tryptophan is involved in the synthesis of proteins. It’s a precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin.
I don’t expect you to look at that list and understand everything. But one of the key themes that should pop out is that many of the essential amino acids are involved in protein synthesis—and not just the three branched-chain amino acids.
Essential amino acids can help maximize the hard work we put in at the gym to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. If you’re stimulating muscle protein synthesis you put yourself in a favorable position to gain muscle or at least not break down your existing muscle.
Most of the research data shows that you only need around 6 grams of EAAs around training to promote muscle protein synthesis. But on the flipside, a reduction in amino acid availability below base levels can inhibit muscle protein synthesis. So prioritizing these aminos, both in the foods you eat and the supplement you take, is a no-brainer.
Most high-quality pre-workout and intra-workout formulas will already contain BCAAs, leaving EAAs as the perfect post-workout supplement, especially for those who don’t consume dairy-based protein products. Alternatively, you can use EAAs when creating your own pre- and intra-workout mixes.
If you’re in a phase where you’re cutting carbs, calories, or both in the name of losing fat, getting adequate dietary protein and amino acids is even more important.
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