You may wonder why I chose to talk about toliets but I learned a lot form looking at this bathroom today.Today was a vocational day in which I had the opportunity to visit with Paul McLoughlin, a property developer. He showed me around a few commercial contruction sites. My 6 hours of work went by so quickly because I learned so much! Developers are heavily regulated here in the UK. Increased demands for environmental purposes and handicap accessibility have come into effect within the last year and have made it more expensive to build. This bathroom was designed to not only be handicap accessible, but the colors are specifically selected so visually impaired people can differentiate the wall from the floor. Light sensors installed in the bathroom turn on lights automatically to save electricity and to make it easier for disabled people. Toilet seats have a backrest to make it easier for them to recline, a red emergency pull cord is installed so an alarm and lights display that a person is in need of help. Additionally, regulations are now demanding thicker insulation, energy efficient windows as well as sensors throughout the building so unused portions of buildings are not wasting any electricity. Pressure tests must be conducted to measure the level of CO2 emissions from every building and disposal of plaster sheets (sheetrock) has to be handled as hazardous material! BREEAM (environmental assesment methods) specifications have to be met for a developer to get an go ahead to put a building in operation.
Most commercial buildings here are constructed with steel framing 
but use no plywood, mostly cement planks and timber. Which also leads me to say that I was taken to the first building ever made with steel framing. Originally designed to store flax seed, steel framing came into birth when storing flax seed in wood-framed buildings was no longer practical due to its flamability. Needless to say, it is not the most pleasant building to look at but to the right is the very first steel framed building in the world. Pretty amazing. On my next blog I will talk about the works of William Telford, a master in architecture and development in these parts dating back hundreds of years.
but use no plywood, mostly cement planks and timber. Which also leads me to say that I was taken to the first building ever made with steel framing. Originally designed to store flax seed, steel framing came into birth when storing flax seed in wood-framed buildings was no longer practical due to its flamability. Needless to say, it is not the most pleasant building to look at but to the right is the very first steel framed building in the world. Pretty amazing. On my next blog I will talk about the works of William Telford, a master in architecture and development in these parts dating back hundreds of years.
2 comments:
It's funny that you titled it the way you did. This was the first phrase we learned in French and used every day on our trip! It's the normal every day things that you don't think about (and it doesn't even occur to you that they would be different) where you realize you are in another country. The worst for us was on an old farm where there was no toilet - just a hold and handle bars. Hope you don't run into anything that primitive!
Hi Yiyo,
I found your comment really informative and interesting. I wish people would start thiking about designing spaces like that here in the USA. I love the way you describe things and your writing is clear and concise. I am so proud of you! I hope you are learning and having fun.
LOVE YOU! Rosi
Post a Comment