Jayspace: Architecture

Sep 25, 2012

Open AD - Greenhouse

Sometimes you just got to get out of the office, but that’s not always feasible (rain, work, lethargy).Open AD attempted to solve this problem with their “green” office in Riga, what they call an “indoor greenhouse”. The design features an abstract white plane that cuts across the open plan, with an indoor “forest” of trees and potted plants embedded within it. The presence of the greenery not only engenders a more peaceful environment, keeping the office air clean and employees refreshed.

Enjoyable surroundings in an office have long been linked to productivity and general staff morale. The workers in this office space must surely be happy campers then. The mini-greenhouse zig-zags between desks, rising out from the “floating” white table, whose juts create niches for housing more plants and also couches for many relaxing breaks. The white walls and open windows also create the illusion of a brighter, bigger space, making employees feel less cramped and oppressed. The fun and fresh idea works all year long, providing a blossoming green atmosphere even in the dead of winter.

Sep 20, 2012

Spiral Cellars

All over the UK, a growing number of people are enjoying and collecting wine and prefer to store it close to home, rather than off site. But they also find that wine cabinets just don’t offer enough space – a capacity of 150 bottles is not a lot for someone who really enjoys wine. Yet for many aspiring oenophiles a conventional basement wine cellar is not a feasible option.

Spiral Cellars offers an elegant and economic solution, with wine bottles stored in a compact cellar arranged around a concrete spiral staircase.

Owners of premium homes are increasingly looking for an increased wow factor. A wine cellar adds to this cachet, as demonstrated by the growing popularity of Spiral Cellars, which sells around 200 cellars annually in the UK and has increased the number of installation teams to keep pace with demand.

^{Spiral Cellars are an elegant and economical solution to wine storage. Bottles are arranged in a honeycomb-like structure around a central spiral staircase. A range of five different depths are available, from 2 to 3m, depending on the required capacity. A 2m deep White Spiral Cellar can store up to 1,190 wine bottles, while 3m offers a capacity of 1,870 bottles, all stored in the correct climate conditions}

With 30 years of experience, Spiral Cellars is the UK industry leader in the supply and installation of concrete wine cellars. Spiral Cellars can be installed in houses, garages, outbuildings and even gardens. Commercial premises, such as hotels, restaurants and bars can also take advantage of this inventive cellar technology.

Spiral Cellars can accommodate all floor construction types. The unique precast concrete structure is effectively self-supporting and does not eat into usable floor area. This eliminates the need for an existing basement, or the excavation of new foundations. Incorporating a Spiral Cellar at the construction stage of building a new home, extension or during a refurbishment programme is the most cost-efficient method, as the hole can be dug by the main contractor or builder.

Full project-specific structural calculations are provided by Spiral Cellars’ experienced engineers and the company works closely with architects and designers to achieve optimum results. Spiral Cellars can meet architects at their offices to discuss live projects and offers architects and designers a 5% referral fee, which can be passed on to the client as an exclusive discount.

^{With a maximum excavation diameter of 2.5m, the cellar takes up very little space and a glass trapdoor makes a dramatic focal point in any room. Cellars can be easily installed in both domestic and a wide range of commercial premises}