Zaha Hadid Architects OPPO Shenzhen headquarters

Laurence Grigorov, as director of a residential property development company, looks for inspiration from international architectural designs in order to keep abreast of development trends. This allows Laurence Grigorov to offer products that are relevant and modern.

Zaha Hadid Architects has revealed its proposal for four interconnected towers in Shenzhen, China, which will contain the open-plan headquarters for OPPO.

Set to break ground later this year, the amorphous OPPO headquarters is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to accommodate the continual growth of the company dubbed as China’s leading smartphone manufacturer. The headquarters will measure 185,000-square-metres, and in a bid to echo the company’s “commitment to connectivity”, it will contain a number of large atriums surrounded by light-filled open-plan offices.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ proposal for the OPPO headquarters was the winning design in a international competition – seeing off competition from the likes of BIG, SOM and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

The building is slated for completion in 2025. The highest of its four towers will contain 42 storeys, reaching 200 metres in height. The studio has dedicated two of the towers solely to open-plan office space. These towers will be linked by a 20-storey lobby and punctured by a number of large atriums. Meanwhile, the remaining two towers will serve as external service structures and contain all the building’s main circulatory routes.

This configuration is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to create open, uninterrupted floor space throughout the offices, and encourage collaboration between different departments as a result.

“Locating the towers’ service cores externally frees the centre of each floor from obstructions; providing uninterrupted views throughout the building that will enhance interaction between employees,” said the studio.

“The abundance of natural light, varied working environments and diversity of routes for staff and visitors to move through the building are all conducive to creative engagement and spontaneity.”

Though different in size, the towers will be unified by their sinuous glass forms that taper inwards towards ground level. This reduction in floor area is designed to cater for a large landscaped plaza planned at street level, which is hoped will provide “new civic space for the city”. Here there will also be an art gallery, shops, restaurants and a direct link to Shenzhen’s subway. Once complete, the OPPO headquarters will also contain publicly accessible dining, leisure and entertainment facilities on the 10th floor, and a public viewpoint at roof level.

Zaha Hadid Architects is an international architecture studio founded in 1980 by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. Today, it is headed up by Patrik Schumacher. Words and image courtesy of www.dezeen.co​ m

 

Therapy Program at the Johannesburg Children’s Home

A graduate from Wits Business School with a diploma in business management, Laurence Grigorov serves as director of Laurence Martin Developments, a residential development and construction firm in South Africa. Laurence Grigorov also supports local charities such as the Johannesburg Children’s Home.

A registered nonprofit, the Johannesburg Children’s Home provides homes for children who have experienced abandonment, neglect, or emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Since its establishment in 1892, the organization has tried to bring healing to children through a diverse range of programs, including therapy.

The home’s therapy program involves one-on-one sessions with the children from therapists who draw on techniques such as psycho-social counseling and play therapy to encourage full expression and the development of self-esteem. Therapists look for ways to enhance each child’s emotional health as well as promote skills in areas ranging from social interaction to sensory input.

Each member of the organization’s team works together to ensure all the child’s needs are met. For example, the occupational therapist looks specifically at ways to assist the children in developing competence for school, play activities, and taking care of themselves.

4 Healthy Shake Boosters You’re Not Using

Laurence Grigorov is director at a leading residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company specialises in high-end luxury residential developments.

As someone who enjoys exercise, Laurence Grigorov visits the health club regularly to maintain both his physical health as well as enjoying the mental benefits form regular exercise. Diet and supplementation plays an important part in Laurence Grigorov’s daily routine.

It’s easy to fall into a rut in your lifting routine, and the same is true for your protein shakes. If you’ve been using the same tired boosters in your shake and not seeing results, there’s a good reason for it. Protein powders are formulated to deliver the ideal ratio of macronutrients after a workout, but they don’t always focus on the micronutrients.

Why does it matter? Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are essential to muscle growth and repair. Post-workout nutrition is an opportunity to feed your muscles exactly what they need quickly and deliver otherwise hard-to-get nutrients in a convenient shake. If you know what to add to your protein powder, you can customize your shake to give your body exactly what it needs.

Here’s a list of the top protein shake additions that you’re probably not using, and why you should start adding them today.

1.  Turmeric

Turmeric has long been used in traditional medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory properties, and in modern times it has graced the pages of many a health-themed Instagram feed.

The primary active component of turmeric is curcumin, which studies indicate may help suppress the factors that lead to inflammation. Though this bright yellow spice appears in many traditional Southeast Asian dishes, the doses needed to produce any significant effect are much higher than would be found in a single meal and can only be obtained through supplementation.

To boost your shake, add 1/2-1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of black pepper prior to blending. The piperine in the black pepper helps make the curcumin more bioavailable.

 

2.  Baobab Fruit

The fruit of the baobab tree is commonly eaten in Africa and Australia and has a citrus-like flavor. It is high in vitamin C, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, and its leaves are rich in calcium and protein. Even the seeds are loaded with fat and healthy fiber, and powdered forms of this potent plant are available around the world.

Baobab fruit is associated with many health benefits. For one thing, it aides weight loss by promoting feelings of fullness and helping to slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Its potential benefits make this southern-hemisphere treat a perfect booster to your weight-loss shake. Just add a scoop of baobab powder to your protein shake.

 

3.  Plant-Based Omega-3s

While health experts have touted the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for years, we don’t often discuss the different sources of this supplement. Fish oil has become all but synonymous with omega-3s, but the plant-based versions may actually be easier to incorporate into your diet.

Flaxseed is 42 percent fat, and most of that comes in the form of alpha-linolenic acid, a precursor of omega-3 fatty acids. ALA has many potential health benefits, specifically the ability to reduce blood triglycerides and reduce the inflammatory response, both of which help fight heart disease. Unlike its fishy counterpart, flaxseed also offers a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Since all the goodness is inside the seed, add 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil to your shake instead of whole seed

 

4.  Prebiotics

Prebiotics are a type fiber that the human body cannot digest. They are food for probiotics—hence the name. Since probiotics support healthy gut bacteria, including prebiotics in your diet is the key to better gut health.

Whole-food sources of prebiotics include dandelion greens, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, barley, oats, apples, wheat bran, and cocoa. While some sources of prebiotics make more sense in a salad than a shake, adding a tablespoon of cocoa powder is an easy and delicious way to boost the prebiotics in your smoothie and feed the good bacteria in your gut.

Words and image courtesy of www.bodybuilding.co​ m

Montpellier Square in Durban

Montpellier Square in Durban

Laurence Grigorov, who is director of a residential property development company, is constantly keeping abreast of new developments and projects in Johannesburg as well as South Africa as a whole that provide an insight into current and future development and market trends. This provides Laurence Grigorov with the ability to adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs as required. 

A new project which is of interest to Laurence Grigorov is the Montpellier Square mixed-use development in Durban.

Montpelier Square is situated in the heart of Durban’s sought-after suburb of Morningside. Renowned for its superb location, Morningside is about 2 km inland from the Indian Ocean, close to Durban’s city centre, Golden Mile beachfronts, sports stadiums, good schools and shopping centres. The development is bound by Sandile Thusi (Argyle) Road, Montpelier Road and Cowey Road, creating a unique silhouette within the City’s skyline.

The 14-story mixed-use development comprises 113 luxury apartments positioned above 3,000m² of ground floor retail shopping. The retail offering will include a national anchor tenant as well as restaurants, convenience stores and general food and clothing retailers. There will also be 640m2 of prime office space, all formed around an existing underground Victorian reservoir. The reservoir was built in the 1800’s and abandoned due to the ever growing city’s demands, but will now form the heart of the development.

The vaulted brickwork structure is the centerpiece to the public square and retail component of the building. The iconic form rises around the protected heritage structure towards the uninterrupted views over Durban. The form is articulated in relation to the pedestrian movement, Florida Road and the adjacent public space. Composed of three elements, the spiral ramp suspended over the vaulted reservoir accentuates the heart of the development whilst providing drive-up access to the residential apartments.

Construction will start in the first half of 2020 and will be completed in the first half of 2022.

 

Words & image courtesy of Architect & Builder Magazine – August/September 2019