Milena Villalba’s Post

Planned Communities: " data-image-caption=" A sleek, modern apartment building in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, rising above a bustling ground level that features a university campus, shops, cafes, and vibrant street life. The building’s facade is a mix of glass and concrete, with clean lines and minimalist design. Large balconies offer views of the city and nearby mountains. The lower floors host students and professionals, creating a lively urban hub, while the upper residential floors provide peaceful, contemporary living spaces. The scene captures the blend of education, commerce, and modern urban lifestyle in Jamaica’s capital. Urban sophistication, dynamic community, modern architecture. " data-medium-file="https://lnkd.in/eurfTZdX" data-large-file="https://lnkd.in/e9va62p8" tabindex="0" role="button" /> In Jamaica, Planned Communities are meticulously designed residential developments where homes, amenities, and infrastructure are thoughtfully integrated to create a cohesive living environment. These communities are often developed by a single entity or partnership and include features like parks, recreational facilities, and sometimes retail spaces, offering residents a balanced and convenient lifestyle. They are increasingly […] The post Planned Communities first appeared on Jamaica Homes. #jamaica #glossary #realestate

Mixed-use property: " data-image-caption=" A majestic, modern school rises from the heart of Kingston, its twin sleek glass towers connected by a dramatic, elevated skybridge that soars above a bustling city street, captured in a cinematic film still with the warmth of 35mm film, rich film grain, and a subtle vignette. The rooftop oasis, filled with swaying palm trees and lush tropical plants, provides a serene escape for students, while the boldly cantilevered gymnasium offers breathtaking views of the vibrant urban tapestry below. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the airy classrooms with natural light, framing the dynamic cityscape in a stunning display of modern, tropical design. " data-medium-file="https://lnkd.in/eXW883ec" data-large-file="https://lnkd.in/ejHTEauU" tabindex="0" role="button" /> Mixed-use property in Jamaica and across the globe represents a versatile approach to urban development, blending residential, commercial, and sometimes industrial spaces within a single area or building. In Jamaica, particularly in cities like Kingston and Montego Bay, mixed-use properties are becoming increasingly popular as they promote efficient land use, reduce the need for long […] The post Mixed-use property first appeared on Jamaica Homes. #jamaica #glossary #realestate

Is this the best seniors living development in Australia? With Architecture and Interior design by Marchese Partners | Life3A, we are proud that The Green at Tarragindi QLD has been given high praise in the weekly source, by DCM suggesting it could be the best seniors living development in Australia?   Quote from the weekly source: ‘We have visited hundreds of retirement villages across the country. In our opinion, the just-opened The Green Tarragindi Retirement Village by RetireAustralia is perhaps the best project we have experienced thanks to its suburban infill, the sense of space, the flow of communal areas, generous apartments, and bigger community interconnection.’ Is this the best village apartment? Is this the best new village infill project? (theweeklysource.com.au)

Cities are always work-in-progress. Buildings are mantained, new are contructed, and existing building are being rehabilitated. It is an ongoing flow of actions of transformations and adjustments. And sometimes street spaces are literally needed as temporary construction sites. Timing is everything, to limit unconvincies for others and to be efficient as possible. And with the reenforcement of exting urban area this will be become more often the reality in many cities. ... the Future Design of Street - association ... PORTO, Oct 2024

Work is continuing at pace on the transformational €15million Balbriggan Quay Street and Harbour project. A a number of key milestones have been passed. The stunning and complex project will create a high quality public amenity and premier visitor destination. It will revitalise Ireland’s youngest town. It will also create a unique, sustainable public open space. The 19,300 square metre site will include a multi-purpose plaza area and linear park suitable for markets, events, festivals and a host of other activities. Following the commencement of work in May, phase one has seen works at the Upper Town Centre Car Park at Mill Street commence and it will reopen at the end of October. The first stage of footpath works at Mill Street is complete. Footpath works are continuing along Mill Street and are expected to be fully completed in November. Works at the south side of the River Bracken river wall are nearing completion and works on the north side will commence soon. Enhancement works to the Bracken River within the existing open space between Quay Street and Mill Street, including widening of the water course, will encourage biodiversity. The biodiversity and environmental, archaeological and ecological impact of the work is being closely monitored.  A work compound has been established at the foot of the Harbour’s East Pier. Site works and construction has commenced on the Harbour block buildings and is expected to be complete by July, 2025. Work on replacing the toilet block with a modern facility, and the refurbishment of the RNLI boathouse, is expected to be complete in June 2025. Temporary toilets will be installed and will be in place throughout construction. Resurfacing of the Link Road and the Plaza, to be extended under the Viaduct, is expected to finish in September, 2025. Fingal County Council is working with the local community, businesses and stakeholders to mitigate any negative impacts during all works, expected to the completed by the end of 2025. #balbriggan #balbrigganharbour #fingal #construction #urbanplanning #architecture Our Balbriggan Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce Department of Rural and Community Development Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Stephen Harper, handed over Downsview Park and adjoining lands to Canada Lands Company who disfigured the park along Keele street building ugly condominiums/commercial spaces, then, a huge acreage inside to more numerous bird-cage condominium buildings, also, they squared off a huge portion for temporary entertainment stages, preventing us Downsview Community and other Park Visitors accessing the mound and parking, when there is any event taking place. No consideration was taken that the big splash that Canada Lands Company makes about encouraging bio-diversity in the remaining parkland, with a mini-forest, growing wild grasses instead of flowers, is all a hoax when the corporation is only interested in slowly (bit by bit) sucking up all of these grounds to their only interest - daily revenue to their bottom, line. Don't know if Harper gets a portion of that profit. But it seems Canada Lands Company has enamoured Doug Ford, Olivia Chow and City Councillor Pasternak, who are all so happy to appear in photo ops of this corporation, when they announce more and more of the land being built for their own ends. The hoax is the temporary entertainment clearing allows for ear splitting reverberations throughout the parklands when any event is taking place (because so far all these events have used big band speaker music that a building nearby echos the sound, making us visitors feel there is an earthquake happening). Imagine if we humans cannot bear the sounds vibrating the ground, what do you think the small animals in the forest are feeling? They will soon disappear if these concerts will be an ongoing disturbance. What biodiversity is that? (The neighbouring apartment units on the surrounding streets also vibrate with these sounds and way beyond bedtimes.) Now why is the Premier, the Mayor and the City Councillor then, not thinking of these issues. Why are these officials so "unaware"? Unaware, or, just don't care? Take a look at this: if they build this up, they need space for ticket-holders, so will the mound (like they do now when there is an event) too become part of the entertainment centre and here we go again - yet another big portion of the park is sucked up for revenue by Canada Lands Company. When/where is it going to end? Canada Lands Company operates all these land grabbing through a sub company that was not even administered as a Crown Corporation by going through the normal channels of passing through Parliament. Even though all these shenanigans were done through Stephen Harper and the Conservatives, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals who could have reversed some of this, and/or forced Canada Lands Company, a Crown Corporation to honour the rules, did nothing. The question is why? https://lnkd.in/gmmuC99T Then here's more land being sucked up: https://lnkd.in/geePKHk8

It was an absolute pleasure to help bring the Korako Whānau Papakāinga to Open Christchurch Architecture Festival last weekend. Thank you to Christine Korako, Nuk Korako, and Perry T Royal for opening your beautiful space to the masses. If I'm honest though, I nominated this papakāinga for inclusion in Open Christchurch for selfish reasons. . Professionally, I spend a lot of time trying to get enabling papakāinga policy into plans. Often though, these provisions are heavily opposed. Submitters will say that living next to a papakāinga will reduce their property values, increase crime in their neighborhood, destroy the amenity of the area etc... and I know part of this fear is because when many people see the word 'papakāinga' they think of caravans, portacoms, sheds, and other piecemeal developments. The Korako Whānau Papakāinga is a world away from those misconceptions! . By inviting people to see this beautiful (and much more typical, I might add) example of what papakāinga can be, I'm hoping that it becomes the new picture that pops into people's minds when they think of this typology. I also hope that every single person who visited (of which there were over 100!) shares their experience with their friends and neighbours, and that it all helps reduce that fear of the unknown that underpins many of these submissions. . If we apropriatly provide for papakāinga developments in our plans, we will end up with more developments like this. If we continue to make it almost impossible to build papakāinga, then we are more likely to get outcomes that aren't fit for purpose, which only perpetuates those negative steriotypes. We get the urban form we allow under our plans. If developments like the Korako Whānau Papakāinga are what we want more of, then we need to stop fighting papakāinga provisions and start supporting them. #papakāinga #rapaki #māoriarchitecture #royalassociates #perryroyal #christchurch #openchristchurch #planning #policy Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture & City Making

The relation of the building with the place where it is located is a recurrent argument in our work. To complete, to dialogue, sometimes with distance... but always trying to finish it. https://lnkd.in/dzh6gtwP #mateoarquitectura #residence #housing #landscapearchitecture #location

Ever considered buying on paper ? Buying a home "on paper" is more than just securing a property; it’s about investing in a carefully planned community and your future. Pre-construction projects like Carmel Heights in Zichron Ya'akov represent the pinnacle of modern living, offering diverse housing options tailored to meet a variety of lifestyles and preferences. Carmel Heights, a luxury development, is set in one of Zichron Ya'akov's most sought-after neighborhoods. Nestled near the serene Langa Forest and within walking distance to the vibrant midrachov, this exclusive project offers residents easy access to boutique shops, charming cafes, health facilities, and synagogues—all the essentials for a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. For those looking to invest in a community that promises both comfort and long-term value, Carmel Heights is a rare opportunity. What are your thoughts on projects? #RealEstate #ZichronYaakov #CarmelHeights #LuxuryLiving #InvestmentOpportunities #CommunityLiving

For my architect/designer contacts. What got you into architecture? For me, I knew from a very young age that design has the ability to impact lives. Better yet, it SHOULD impact lives. If it doesn’t, we aren’t doing our job to the best of our ability. The Abundant Village is an example of how even the most simple design concepts can greatly impact the lives of others. Check out this great blog post about BSB Design’s involvement with the project.