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| Modern Concrete London House Sunken Below Street Level Posted: 18 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT When a newlywed couple decided they needed more space for their seven children, they looked no further than the garden behind their Victorian home in Battersea, London. But this is no playhouse or mother-in-law cottage – it’s a modern five-bedroom home sunken into a concrete courtyard to provide a sense of privacy and tranquility. Bringing the two families together without giving up their main home required a creative solution, especially since the couple wanted a two-story dwelling that would still meet local restrictions that prevent overlooking neighboring properties. An addition in the back garden was initially envisioned as a place for the couple’s older children to live, while they stayed in the main home, but with the arrival of a new baby, the couple decided they’d prefer to live in the new home themselves. Architecture firm De Matos Ryan excavated the garden to create a high-sided, watertight concrete courtyard that effectively drops the first floor to a subterranean level, making the home look single-story from the street. Shielded from view of the neighbors, the ground level is entirely encased in glass walls, while the upper floor gets light from skylights and strategically placed windows. A bridge leads from the second level to the street for easy access, while the courtyard between the two houses acts as a protected place for the younger children to play. Sinking the house below ground level also gives it a feeling of tranquility, removing it from the bustle of London without giving up any conveniences. Keep Going - Check Out These Great Related Dornob Articles: |
| Auto-Balancing Shoe Will Save Seniors From Dangerous Falls Posted: 17 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT Falls are a particularly scary problem for elderly people; they can result in injuries that take months to heal. One statistic states that one in three people aged 65 or older in the US has experienced injuries from falls, and the percentage only goes up as people age. Many elderly people are embarrassed to use assistive devices like canes or walkers. Israeli start-up company B-Shoe Technologies has developed a fantastically helpful new shoe technology that would keep seniors from falling. The B-Shoe (or Balancing Shoe) contains sensors and a small motorized mechanism in its bottom. When the sensors detect that the wearer is becoming unbalanced, it subtly shifts the foot backwards so the wearer remains upright. The shoes look just like regular shoes so there is none of the stigma associated with canes or walkers. According to the company, the movement is so gentle that it is barely perceptible to the wearer. The corrective action takes place quickly – much quicker than the often-slowed reflexes of the elderly – to prevent a fall. Test subjects have said that the movement is not startling and does help to prevent falls. The B-Shoe has been in development since 2008, and if the company’s crowdfunding campaign is successful they may have the shoe on the market by 2016. Keep Going - Check Out These Great Related Dornob Articles: |
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