World’s tallest prefabricated skyscrapers set to be built in Singapore

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.

Architecture studio ADDP has designed a pair of 56-storey skyscrapers in Singapore that will be built using Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction, making them the tallest prefabricated buildings in the world. Named Avenue South Residences, the pair of high-rise residential tower blocks will be built within an existing housing estate in Singapore.

ADDP chose to contrast the existing building with a modern-looking structure that was designed using modern, prefabricated construction techniques.

“The site consists of two super-high-rises set against the original backdrop of four-storey heritage Art Deco apartments and an avenue of grand rain trees,” said Markus Cheng Thuan Hann, associate partner at ADDP Architects.

“Its location alongside the historical KTM Rail Corridor strengthens its eclectic quality of new versus old, geological heritage versus modern concepts of live-work-play,” he told Dezeen.

Both skyscrapers will be built using Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC), which the studio believes will make the 200-metre-high skyscrapers the tallest buildings built using substantial amounts of prefabrication. ADDP estimates that around 80 per cent of each housing module will be built off-site, with waterproofing, tiling, painting, glazing, cabinetry, plumbing and electrics completed before being delivered to be “stacked and joined together on-site”.

“As each module is almost 80 per cent finished off-site prior to assembly on-site, this will greatly reduce the construction time required on-site – as the modules are only required to be‘stacked’ and ‘joined’ together on-site,” explained Hann.

“This will enable the project to reduce wastage both on-site and off-site with better control of the production processes through a central materials and logistics platform.”

Large amounts of prefabrication had to be used for the skyscraper as the government had determined that PPVC had to be used on the site where the Avenue South Residences will be built.

“To raise construction productivity and fundamentally change the design and construction processes, the industry is encouraged to embrace the concept of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), where construction is designed and detailed for a substantial portion of work to be done off-site in a controlled manufacturing environment,” said Hann.

“The site of Avenue South Residence was selected and set a minimum level of use of PPVC, where this align with government’s initiative to improve construction productivity by up to 40 per cent in terms of manpower and time savings – depending on the complexity of the projects.”

The architecture studio expects to see a variety of benefits for using prefabrication to construct the skyscraper over traditional methods.

“It will encourage a better construction environment as the bulk of the installation activities and manpower are moved off-site, it minimises dust and noise pollution and improves site safety,” explained Hann.

“Besides, it also enhanced project quality control. Off-site fabrication in a controlled factory environment can produce higher quality end products.”

The prefabricated units will contain over 1,000 residences and be broken up by a series of 16 “pocket sky terraces” and larger communal terraces on the 19th and 36th storeys.

“The distinct 56-storey tall twin towers are characterized by their pristine elegance and sharp lines coupled with rhythmically located pockets of sky terraces,” added Hann.

When the project completes in 2026 the towers will overtake another pair of residential buildings in Singapore – the 140-metre-high Clement Canopy built by Construction company Bouygues Bâtiment International as the world’s tallest prefabricated towers.

Words and photo courtesy of www.dezeen.com 

‘It’s my primary goal’ – Xavi reiterates his desire to manage Barcelona

Laurence Grigorov has over 16 years’ experience in residential property developments as director of a leading South African based firm. Laurence Grigorov specialises in high-end and luxury residential developments and homes. 

Laurence Grigorov, who is an avid football fan and follows global football news closely with special attention on the Spanish La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez says his “primary goal” remains to coach the Spanish giants, but is focused on his current job of managing Qatari club Al-Sadd.

“I do not hide, and I have always said, that my primary goal, when it happens, is Barca. It’s my home and would be a dream,” Xavi told Marca, adding he was “fine” after testing positive for coronavirus.

“But now I am focused on Al-Sadd, excited about the new season. When Barca comes, in the short or long term, it will come,” Xavi said while emphasising he does not want to destabilise the current management under Quique Setien.

“Above all, we have to respect Quique Setien and I wish the team all the best,” he said. “Sometimes Barca plays very well, sometimes well, and sometimes not so well. But I like Setien’s idea, now and with his previous teams: to dominate and to make a beautiful game.”

Xavi’s name has come up repeatedly as a replacement for Setien, but club president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists he is sticking with his current manager.

“I have an excellent relationship with Xavi and we talked about many issues. But next year Quique Setien has a contract and he is the one we hired,” Bartomeu told Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo on Sunday.

“I feel good, although isolated, logically. And I’m looking forward to training soon,” he said.

Words & image courtesy of www.thenational.ae

Summary of Johannesburg Residential Property Market in Q2, 2020

Residential property developer and manager Laurence Grigorov is the director of Laurence Martin Developments in Johannesburg, South Africa. Specializing in high-end residential real estate, Laurence Grigorov operates properties in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.

Johannesburg’s residential property market has weathered a tough year so far in 2020 and remained relatively resilient despite depressed economic activity and market uncertainty. In Q2 of 2020 (April to June), for example, according to data from Lightstone Property, 5,792 bond registrations were filed at the Deeds Office, an 87 percent decline from a similar period last year. In addition, only 5,941 transfers, bonded and unbonded, were recorded in the Deeds Office that period, down 91 percent from a similar period last year.

Considering that no transactions were recorded in the Deeds Office for most of April and May, the relatively high June numbers provide hope to real estate professionals that the second half of 2020 will be better. Furthermore, the depressed economic activity has created attractive investment opportunities in both the northern and southern suburbs of Johannesburg, while lower interest rates now give buyers additional financing options.

10 Weight-Loss Tips for Beginners

Laurence Grigorov is director of a residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa that specialises in bespoke high-end luxury living. In his spare time Laurence Grigorov enjoys training at the gym as well as travelling.

Laurence Grigorov found an online article in www.bodybuilding.com written by My Obvi that highlights simple steps we can take to successfully start a weight-loss program:

Do you want to lose weight? Don’t be embarrassed! Living a healthier lifestyle is possible for everyone at any age. Losing weight takes patience, strength, and commitment. Some people will find it easier than others to shed the extra pounds. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Whatever happens, just keep going! Everyone’s weight-loss journey is unique, but what they all have in common is the desire to lose weight.

Here are some tips if you want to lose weight and some insight into the journey you will make:

Tip 1: Realize You Will Be Making Sacrifices

If losing weight were a piece of cake, the United States wouldn’t be waist-deep in an obesity epidemic. To lose weight, you’ll have to cut back on eating certain foods that are high in calories (like cake) or otherwise unhealthful, even though you may find them delicious. You don’t have to sacrifice taste, however. With a little creativity in the kitchen—and a basic internet search for recipes—you can have diet-friendly meals that satisfy your taste buds as well as your protein, carb, and fat allowances.

Along with cutting back on certain foods, you’ll also have to increase your activity to burn extra calories. Less TV, more exercise. You should continue to make these sacrifices until you reach your desired weight-loss goal, at which point you can loosen the reins a bit.

Tip 2: Make A Commitment And Stick With It

Many people start a weight-loss journey only to feel discouraged after a couple of weeks or months, at which point they quit. If you want to lose weight, you must stick with your goal. It will take a lot of commitment before you start to see a difference in your weight. Don’t grow discouraged if success doesn’t come overnight. (Warning: It won’t. And that’s OK.) Even though you may not see physical results, if you’re eating well and exercising, you may be building muscle. Gaining strength is a plus for your weight-loss journey because while you’re losing some fat pounds, you’re putting on lean mass, aka muscle.

Tip 3: If You’ve Started And Stopped, Give Yourself Permission To Start Again

You may reach a point where you decide to give up on your weight-loss journey for any number of reasons. It could be a life shock, a schedule change, or even simple frustration that you’re not progressing quickly. If you do stop, you’ll likely resume the habits that made you gain unwanted pounds in the first place.

Regardless, you can always try again. To quote self-help author Mel Robbins, “You are not a failure, even when you’ve failed. It’s an event, not a personality trait. No matter how many times you fail, it will not define you unless you let it.”

Tip 4: Build A Support System

Weight loss doesn’t have to be solitary. Find supportive friends and family to join you on this journey. Who knows, maybe they’ll decide to lose weight with you! In that case, you can plan days to work out or prepare meals together. You’ll also be able to hold each other accountable for mistakes and encourage each other to stay on the right track.

If you don’t have any friends or family members who want to come along, join an online weight-loss support group, where you can chat with other people about your experiences. You can also join a gym and take a fitness class where you’ll meet people who are trying to accomplish similar goals to yours. That said, the most important supporter you have should be you. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to continue the journey and accomplish your goals.

Tip 5: Accept That You’ll Never Follow Your Diet 100 Percent, And That’s OK

Unless you are infallible, there will be days, even on a diet, when you overeat. Don’t give up. Mistakes happen. The important thing is to accept that you made a mistake, learn from it, and try not to do it again. If you want to do something constructive after overeating, hit your next workout extra hard and burn some extra calories. Then, resume your diet.

Tip 6: Exercise—And It Doesn’t Have To Be In A Gym

Exercising will help you reach your weight-loss goals faster. You can train at the gym, or you can exercise in the comfort of your own home. BodyFit by Bodybuilding.com offers great options for both approaches!

 

Tip 7: Practice Patience—You’ll Need It

Weight loss requires patience. Depending on how much weight you hope to lose, it may take weeks, months, or even years to reach your goal. Given that it’s going to take a while, learn to enjoy your weight-loss journey. Rather than getting hung up on setbacks, focus on the small achievements along the way.

Tip 8: Dial In Your Diet

We’ve already discussed the calories-out part of the weight-loss equation, meaning exercise. Now let’s talk about the calories-in part, namely, your diet. If you want to lose weight, you probably need to cut some calories, unless you want exercise to do all the work—which is not feasible for most people. The goal is to eat below your maintenance calories every day to lose at least one pound a week.

Tip 9: Step Away From The Scale

One of the biggest mistakes people make on their weight-loss journey is constantly checking the scale to see if they’ve lost weight. Unfortunately, if you don’t see immediate results, you may grow discouraged. Again, this is a slow process. Only check your weight once a week or once every two weeks, not every day. Mornings, when you wake up, are the best time to check because your stomach is empty and you’ll get a more accurate depiction of your body weight. To keep yourself motivated, track your progress by writing down your weight every time you weigh yourself.

Tip 10: Remember Why You Started

You will want to give up at various times during your weight-loss journey, but always remember why you started. You knew it was going to be hard, but you decided to make the commitment to reach your goals. You’ll do yourself a disservice if you give up. Try to imagine the finish line and how happy you’ll be when you get to live with the results you’ve dreamed of. Nothing in life comes easy, and all of the hard work and sacrifices will pay off in the end if you get there—so do it!

 

Words & images courtesy of www.bodybuilding.com