Author: AU News Bureau

Italo Rota, the Milan-born Italian architect, designer, and innovator, passed away at the age of 70. Throughout his career, Rota demonstrated a remarkable ability to weave together thought-provoking ideas, often challenging mainstream conventions with his avant-garde visions. Often collaborating with the Italian firm CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, his studio Italo Rota Building Office was involved in several high-visibility projects, including the design for the Italian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 and the masterplan for Romeโ€™s bid to host the World Expo in 2030. Born in Milan in 1953, Rota graduated from Milan’s Politecnico University, continuing his journey by working with the…

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Apple plans to construct housing units for its factory employees in India, as part of its initiative to improve the workforce’s well-being and security. The project, largest of its kind, is expected to be completed by March 2025. In a bid to improve the well-being of its workforce, Apple has unveiled plans to construct housing units for its factory employees in India. Over the past two and a half years, Apple has played a crucial role in job creation in the country, with more than 150,000 direct jobs generated. Now, the focus has been shifts towards providing better living arrangements…

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The MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) real estate sector, experiencing record sales and launches in 2023-24, faces a challenging situation with the anticipated increase in cement prices by INR 10-15 per bag. Despite heightened activity and demand, this upward trend in cement costs is poised to disrupt the sector’s momentum, as reported by Realty Plus. The cost escalation could lead to increased construction expenses, potentially affecting the profitability of ongoing and upcoming projects. Developers in the MMR, who have benefited from strong sales growth, might face margin pressures and could be compelled to adjust project pricing upwards. This situation could test…

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Chris Van Duijn, the globally acclaimed architect from the esteemed firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), urged aspiring attendees and practitioners to foster creativity and innovation in shaping ideas and architectural designs. He recently imparted his wealth of knowledge in a public discourse arranged by the Architecture Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Environment and Design (SED), in collaboration with the Berlin-based public relations agency Send/Receive. “In architectural design, even if it is functional like a box, architects can always find ways to innovate and be creative about it,” he said. Van Duijn spoke on…

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GROHE, a renowned global brand revered for its cutting-edge bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, recently hosted a captivating MasterClass as part of its latest venture, GROHE Intellekt. This initiative is dedicated to orchestrating distinctive workshops and sessions aimed at fostering insightful conversations within the industry. The Masterclass Series serves as a platform uniting visionary minds to inspire budding talents in architecture and design. Featuring live engagements with luminaries like the distinguished architect Sanjay Puri, who spearheaded the inaugural session, it serves as a profound wellspring of inspiration for aspiring designers. Drawing participation from over 30 students representing esteemed architectural institutions…

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Action Tesa, one of Indiaโ€™s largest manufacturers and a pioneer in latest innovations of MDF/HDHMR & Particle Boards in India, is proud to announce the expansion of โ€˜Action TESA Studio on Wheelsโ€™ into Southern India. This expansion brings numerous benefits to the market, builders, architects, interior designers, and consumers. With this initiative, Southern India customers can now easily access cutting-edge interior and building solutions without the need for extensive travel to explore the latest trends and innovations; this saves both time and resources. Furthermore, the initiative provides a platform for direct interaction with experts, enabling a deeper understanding of product…

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Royaloak Furniture has further solidified its presence in Assam with the inauguration of a new store in Tezpur. With this, the brand marks an impressive 168th store opening in the country. The grand opening ceremony was honored by the esteemed presence of Vijai Subramaniam, Chairman, Royaloak Incorporation Pvt. Ltd., Mathan Subramaniam, Managing Director, Royaloak Incorporation Pvt. Ltd and Prithiraj Rava, MLA, Tezpur Constituency. The grand launch event also witnessed guests from the Royaloak team, Kiran Chhabria, the Franchise Head; Thammaiah Kotera, Head – VM & NSO; Ashok Chetry, Franchise Manager and Rishi Agarwal, the Franchise Owner. This expansion underscores Royaloak’s…

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Operating cabinet doors with occupied and unclean hands can be inconvenient, whether it’s reaching for an extra ladle while cooking or attempting to load heavy files into an overhead cabinet. Thanks to advancements in product engineering and development, the integration of motion technologies into cabinet fittings has increased ease of use and functionality, enabling hands-free operations. Hafele introduces Indiaโ€™s first mechanism for cabinets, the One Touch Mechanism, which combines push-to-open and soft-close technologies into one unit. This innovation allows users to open or close cabinets with a simple push, simplifying daily operations and enhancing overall design functionality. Available in two…

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