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Architectural Vision and Appeal
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Learn how architects are finding innovative uses for ETFE, polyurethane, EPS foam, PVC and other plastic building materials.
Material Review: One to Watch
Paper thin, lighter than glass, nonstick, and recyclable: ETFE is what gave shape to the Watercube and the Bird’s Nest at the Beijing Olympics. Hannah McCann details how one architect is emerging as an ETFE specialist.
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Architectural Optimism
Reflections on The Beijing Watercube and The Eden Project in Cornwall, England.
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Surface Attention
Among this year’s recipients of the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Awards, design solutions featuring vinyl and resin siding and surfaces merited notice from award judges.
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You Say You Want A Revolution
Since its development in the 1970s, mainstream use of ETFE in construction projects has largely been limited to Europe. That trend may change, however, once its use as a building material is showcased in the new sports arenas at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In fact, the material’s incredibly flexible and resistant properties may just steal the show.
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Endless Louvers
Whether for historical or contemporary applications, residential or commercial, indoor or outdoor, structural or ornamental, polyurethane is quickly becoming the material of choice for today’s renovation projects. By taking advantage of polyurethane’s unique benefits, remodelers may more easily (and cheaply) replicate the look of vintage materials, while providing a moisture-resistant option for high-humidity areas.
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Innovations in Light and Sound
While plastic building products are often cited for their energy efficiency, durability, and cost effectiveness, their ability to produce eye-catching designs is sometimes overlooked. Similarly, some design/construction professionals do not consider the acoustic properties of certain modern materials. Two case studies demonstrate the innate aesthetic qualities of acrylics.
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Foam Eggs and Ham
Hand-sculpted EPS foam and other custom applications achieved the unique cartoon appearance of the environment desired by the design team for Seuss Landing at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure.
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Design & Durability with Vinyl Wallcoverings
Wallcoverings made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are not only durable and easy to clean, but they also allow eye-catching designs for residential, commercial, and healthcare projects.
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Cellular Polycarbonate Glazing
Not many materials can be delicate enough to let in the sun, but suitably durable to potentially withstand hurricane debris. Cellular polycarbonate can be an excellent choice.
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EIFS Solution for Pyramid Scheme
On the Las Vegas strip, plastic foams covered with polyurethane, polyurea, or exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) plastic coatings yield architectural marvels from medieval castles to New York City skylines, and the Luxor Hotel’s always impressive giant sphinx.
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Urethane Millwork Renovation Work
Durable and flexible, polyurethane millwork can be an excellent option for both contemporary and historical renovation projects.
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Classic Vinyl
Whether in an office, restaurant, retail shop, or family den, a room’s walls experience constant abuse. While paint and wallpaper are versatile decorating tools and establish a minimum defense, they are not effective in protecting a room’s interior against the habitual impact of human traffic. That’s a job for a vinyl wallcovering.
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Vinyl Siding Comes of Age
Improved durability and a vastly widened color palette have made vinyl siding an emerging choice for historic renovations. Armed with positive feedback from Canadian recycling projects and no longer decried as a negative material for green building, vinyl is overcoming homeowner biases, and taking its place as an effective and sustainable building option.
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Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is referred to as ‘resilient’ because it characteristically bounces back from the weight of objects compressing its surface. Many interior designers and architects recognize resilient vinyl flooring as an important material in their palette, particularly when creating spaces sustaining heavy traffic or that have to be kept meticulously clean
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The Expanding Role of EPS in Construction
From humble beginnings, expanded polystyrene has grown into one of the most versatile insulating materials in construction today, used in everything from insulation in walls, roofs,and foundations, to structural insulated panels (SIPs), insulated concrete forms (ICFs), and exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).
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