Dubai Architecture | Is it nuts?
Dubai Architecture in 2015
How to describe Dubai architecture? Extravagant, amazing, over-awing, or just plain nuts?
One blog certainly thinks it’s gone crazy. At one stage it had 15-25% of all the world’s cranes. The Dubai Waterfront will be the largest waterfront development in the world. There is an island in the sea that looks like a palm tree. Apparently you’ll be able to see it from the moon. And then there is to be the World Islands – 300 artificially created islands in the shape of the world. And in 1990 it was a desert town.
The Burj al Arab is the crowning glory of Dubai Architecture
The Burj has always fascinated. Is it the sail shape, its own little island, that it was built by a NZ company, the helicopter landing pad where Agassi and Federer played tennis in 2005 or the fact that it’s so private? There is no such thing as tourists in shorts and sandshoes wandering in to have a bit of a look around. Mere mortals like us have to have a ticket and the cheapest way of getting access is to book drinks at the Skyview Bar on the 27th floor. The minimum spend on drinks is AED 350 per person which is about 95USD right now. Afternoon tea will set you back AED 620 per person (USD 168.79) but I bet the cucumber sandwiches are jolly nice.
In 2005 (pre the tennis match) we were passing through Dubai and were able to acquire tickets to cocktails at the Skyview. Everything about the visit was amazing – from being checked out by the guards on the hotel causeway, to our first glimpse of the massive foyer and atrium, to the amazing drinks and the mesmerizing view of the gulf.
The amount of gilt was eyewatering
The décor was Dubai architecture at its best. The gilt was everywhere and the accountant with us was driven crazy by trying to calculate what it would cost them to change out their gilt for Metalier Classic Gold for example.
In 2015 when I wrote this blog and now in 2018 it is still one of my BHAGs to stay there. Not the 2015 visit which was a fleeting one. But next time!
If you’d like to talk to us about your stay at the Burj or how you can exchange your gilt for Metalier contact us here or fill in the form below.
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Marmite for the eyes | Modern architecture
Modern Architecture in London
One of the things about London I love most is the way that its exciting modern architecture sits so well with the many beautiful heritage buildings there. And I am doubly excited because shortly I’ll be in London. We stay with family close to Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) which has a panoramic view across London.
I have just found that Insider London offers tours of the modern architecture of the City on a Sunday afternoon. It takes 3 hours and costs 40 pounds. The Insider describes London’s modern architecture as being like “marmite for the eyes – you either love it or hate it”. It goes on to say that no matter what you think of it you certainly can’t help noticing it.
The buildings have quirky names
Only in London would you have a building called The Gherkin”. At 30 St Mary’s Ave “The Gherkin” is modern architecture design by award winning architect, Sir Norman Foster.
And then there’s The Shard, a dynamic and architecturally striking vertical city incorporating, retail, offices, a hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery.
The Inside-Out Building
The Lloyd’s building, sometimes called the Inside-Out building is a leading example of radical modern architecture known as “Bowellism”. The services for the building, like ducts and lifts, are on the outside of the building to maximise space in the interior. Bowellism is a very “English” term for the style. They say it how it is in Britain!
This building received a Grade I listing in 2011. This was only 25 years after it was completed in 1986. Historic England says it is “universally recognised as one of the key buildings of the modern epoch”.
It is our opinion that buildings should be of their age – without development we would not have such wonderful architecture as the art deco city of Napier.
We’re always keen to hear your views and to see whether Metalier can assist you to realise your ideas. Contact us here or complete the form below.
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Tiny house movement: A social revolution?
What do you think of the Tiny House Movement?
Examples of the tiny house seem to be popping up all over the internet. I’m fascinated and slightly awed by the concept. I’m not sure that I could do away with my “stuff”. However, like most people, if things are hidden away, you don’t miss them. I found a pair of shoes the other day in a box in the wardrobe. I can’t remember when or where I bought them but they are fantastic and I love them. But I was happy enough without them.
There’s a great website about The Tiny Life where they describe the movement as a social one. It is not just about living in a smaller space it also involves simplified living. A bit like being a nun or a monk without the confinement and, in some cases, no speaking – certainly no nice glasses of red wine or celebratory champagne.
One of the advantages of having a tiny house is cost. The website quotes American costs but there is no doubt that in most of the Western world huge savings could be made if we lived smaller. But tiny living is about more. It means:
- A tiny house
- Environmental consciousness
- Self sufficiency
- A simpler life
- Sound financial planning
- Life Adventures
There are a number of practical issues standing in the way of the tiny house movement. Building codes is one, access to land another. What about a loan – banks lend on small apartments but tiny houses? There is also fear – of change, of being different, of changing your lifestyle. There is also social pressure. How do you have a party in the winter for example?
Right now at I'm intrigued, and despite the found shoes, not really convinced that it’s for me. But it’s a very interesting concept and we’ll be watching it with interest and – who knows? I certainly like the idea of life adventures. The house in the picture looks liveable to me but I’m not sure I fancy living in a house on a trailer.
We’d love to hear what you think so email us or fill in the form below.
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Advantages of liquid metal - What are they?
The advantages of liquid metal are many.
In descending order of importance we suggest they are:
- Environmentally friendly
- Weight
- Cost
- Seamlessness & Curves
- Variety
The protection of the environment is so important that it is going to get an article all to itself. It’s by way of being one of the general advantages of liquid metal rather than a specific one.
Let’s look at the other advantages.
Weight is probably the most significant of the advantages of liquid metal over sheet or forged metal. We did an interesting comparison between Metalier liquid metal on a standard 2.4 x 1.2 sheet of 10mm MDF. The total weight of the panel was about 13kg against 35kg for the sheet metal. This meant it was easier to position and erect. The wall behind needed no extra strengthening to support the weight of the MDF. There was absolutely no way that anyone looking at or touching the panel which was rusted iron could tell the difference between sheet corten steel and the Metalier liquid metal coating.
Cost follows on neatly from weight. You save on expensive strengthening as well as saving on the actual cost of the product. It makes sense when you think about it. Sheet metal is sold by weight so it stands to reason that a sheet of brass at, say 5mm thick, is going to cost a lot more than a sheet of MDF or other cost-effective substrate coated with a Metalier coating that is .5 of a mm thick.
Seamlessness & Curves just don’t happen with sheet metal. You are limited by the sheet size and I’ve never found a sheet metal that could become round or oval. Foundry metal can be curved of course but at huge cost.
Variety is also one of the advantages of liquid metal. It is only with liquid metal that you can create textures and patterns such as lace and stripes and can mix colours together or have a pattern created with two different metals. It also follows any patterns in the substrate as shown in the featured picture.
There are many more advantages of course and we’ll tell you about them as we discover them. Contact us to see how Metalier can assist with your next project or complete the form below.
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Why choose Metalier's light metal coating?
One of Metalier’s most important attributes is that it is a light metal coating.
Lightness is sometimes the main reason Metalier is chosen for a particular job.
We’ve been working with a contractor to see how best to manufacture light fittings in the shape of pelmets. The architects wanted the look of real brass. Each fitting is a meter long and 200 x 200 mm deep so they are substantial.
There are three options. One is metallic paint, one is sheet metal and one is Metalier’s light metal coating. It was a good time for us to review the options again.
First because we were conscious of costs we painted a metallic paint on 10mm MDF. The brief was for 10mm thickness. The architects rejected the paint option as a solution. It looked like paint not metal, particularly in the brass colour.
Second we looked at sheet metal which is available in 2mm, 5mm and 10mm thickness. We haven’t recently looked at the cost of sheet metal. Even the man in the Metal Company said you won’t want to make these fittings in sheet metal. They’ll be too expensive and too heavy.
Making the fittings in 2mm sheet brass would be a similar cost to Metalier’s light metal coating but it would not give the desired thickness and chunky look. Even at 5mm thick the fittings would be very heavy and require extra ceiling bracing.
10mm was impractical because of the weight and the price was many many times the price of a Metalier solution. Not only was the price of the material more expensive. It is also more expensive to fabricate.
The third option was Metalier brass on 10mm MDF. It ticks all the boxes of reasonable cost and a workable light weight.
We are solution driven and immensely practical at Metalier. While we always hope the solution is a light metal coating, sometimes it’s not and we will always tell you when this is so. We love talking about new projects and helping you to make them work. You can contact us here or complete the form below. We love to hear from you.
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Liquid Metal Kitchen from Metalier
A liquid metal kitchen is good-looking and practical.
The kitchen is an ideal place to use Metalier liquid metal and some of Metalier’s most spectacular work has been completed in kitchens. The bar at Chapman Tripp lawyers’ common room and bar is an example of a liquid metal kitchen which was completed in a specialized silver metal.
The liquid metal kitchen at The French Café was finished in Metalier Nickel Silver. The kitchen bar at The Sugar Club in Sky City is in aluminium. Metalier recently completed a kitchen for designer Mal Corboy in antiqued brass.
A Liquid Metal kitchen by Metalier can be minimalist or it can be lavish, ornate and even outlandish. The Chapman Tripp kitchen is raw and minimalist – concrete and metal. It can be an ornate feature such as the aluminium bar at The Sugar Club which stands out, not only because of its faceted face but also because it is surrounded by a sea of brass.
As well as looking good, Metalier liquid metal finishes are practical and hard-wearing when protected by Metalier’s Nano Clear Coat. This clear coat protects the metal from tarnishing and spills are easily wiped away and the surface kept clean.
The Chapman Tripp kitchen also shows how fine the cabinetry detail can be. The edges of the cupboard doors and drawers are all coated with Metalier liquid metal. You simply could not achieve such a fine look with sheet metal – it would be too heavy and clunky.
Another important aspect of a Metalier liquid metal kitchen is that it will be unique. Not only is there an almost unlimited number of finishes that can be achieved, Metalier is hand crafted. This means that every kitchen will be different. Most of us want to be different and a handcrafted finish allows people to express their individuality.
Contact us now by email or telephone 09 376 7099 to find out the options of metals and finishes for your liquid metal kitchen or front door, or … just about your metal anything. Or fill in the form below.
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Metalier Copper Liquid Metal in the UK
Copper is “the” colour of the moment in the UK
A spectacular bar in Heswall, Merseyside has been completed using Metalier’s Copper Liquid Metal. We are delighted to showcase our UK distributors again - Craig and Alison McDonald of Granlyn, West Bromwich, Metalier UK do Metalier proud. We notice too that not only is copper liquid metal popular but angled bars seem to be as well. Think of the aluminium Metalier Bar in The Sugar Club and the brass Metalier Bar in The Grand Leicester Hotel.
Metalier Copper Liquid Metal Finish is not paint
There are many brands and varieties of copper paint on the market. For some applications paint is all that is required but for longevity, durability and authenticity you cannot go past Metalier’s real copper liquid metal.
Copper paints will usually contain a few metal flakes or even finely ground metal powder. The copper won’t be the major ingredient in the paint – that will be acrylic or enamel. So a copper paint will perform similarly to a paint. Most paints last up to 10 years. Metalier will last 25-30 years even outdoors. In fact it will probably last must longer.
Metalier copper liquid metal finish (and our other metals too) are applied in ratios of metal to binder in weight from 75 to 80%. As part of the Metalier process most of the binder is sanded away leaving a finish when complete of 95% metal. This means that it is strong and durable and very real.
Metalier Copper Liquid Metal Finish can also be textured
Copper liquid metal can be made less liquid by the addition of Metalier’s proprietary thickener. Patterns and textures can be created in the metal itself while it is still wet and malleable. Not something you can achieve with paint. You can also create lace effects – in fact what you can do with copper liquid metal is endless. And we love its warm rosy texture – we can understand why it’s so trendy at present.
Contact us by phone or email to get your next copper project started or complete the form below. We love to hear from you.
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Brass Liquid Metal in the UK
Brass Liquid Metal in a Heritage Hotel
Metalier’s Brass Liquid Metal features in a bar in a stunning fit-out by House & Hotel Interiors of The Leicester Grand Hotel. The hotel, which has a Grade II listing, has been transformed by designers Helen Hopper and Emma Kewley from a franchise Hotel into a “unique and luxurious destination full of personality”.
Metalier brass liquid metal finish – traditional yet contemporary
The designers wanted to use traditional finishes such as polished brass and to honour the history and heritage of the building. Metalier’s brass liquid metal enabled the introduction of traditional finishes in a modern way. The brass liquid metal was applied to a polygonal bar front which is finished with a marble top. The angles on the front of the bar are enhanced with shadows and light on the surface. The design is so inviting that it’s not difficult to imagine sitting at the bar and choosing from the wonderful array of tempting drinks.
Brass liquid metal finish fitted the budget
The designers say that the success of the project was due to contract UK suppliers, such as Metalier. It was their ability to provide solutions that made the design work. Emma Kewley sums it up this way: “working with suppliers like Metalier who can produce innovative surface finishes and apply them to bespoke joinery enables us to achieve a boutique feel to the hotel design, but all the time keeping within the budget”.
We look forward to working more with House and Hotel whose mission is to bring the personal touch to hotels and the bespoke to private houses, without the luxury price tag.
You can visit their website and you can visit Metalier’s UK distributors and European hub or you can contact us at HQ by completing the form below.
The Leicester Grand Hotel is owned by Jupiter Hotels. The amazing photographs were taken by Gary Woodford.
Email us for more information or complete the form below.
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Brass Hardware | Metalier Coatings
Brass Hardware has come of age | Metalier Liquid Metal
Brass Hardware is now modern and sophisticated, like the shelves at The Sugar Club above. It’s quite unlike the 1980s look and feel. Brass took a bit of a knock when aluminium hardware flooded the market with cheaper imports from China. Aluminium also suited the minimalist age. While minimalism still has its devotees, including us, there are times when a little more is required. And if we are really honest, we’re less minimalist than we used to be.
Metalier Liquid Metal transforms aluminium hardware into copper or brass
While there is always a time and place for traditional brass hardware made of the solid metal, Metalier offers a very cost-effective solution to having your hardware cake and eating it too. Both brass and copper, and also our mountain gold have been used in white kitchens to great effect. These warm colours warm up the kitchen. They look stunning, too, against black.
Metalier can change your cost-effective aluminium fittings into the metal of your dreams. You can co-ordinate the accessories throughout your home or office or retail outlet. Just think – taps, door handles, hinges, shelves, cupboard handles, push plates, kick plates and light switches can all be customized and unique to you. It’s great to have alternatives that don’t break the bank.
And just think of the metal options you have with Metalier – the “obvious” ones like brass, bronze, copper and mountain gold and the less obvious ones such as rose gold, blush aluminium, smoky bronze and gunmetal bronze. We’re also about to launch another lot of metals too – zinc, nickel silver, black copper, pewter and chocolate bronze.
If you would like to talk to us more about getting your hardware coated or to be kept informed about our new metal releases, contact us here or fill out the contact form below. We love hearing from you.
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Choose a metal design solution from Metalier - see why ...
A Metalier Metal design Solution – light, durable and it won’t break the bank
Metalier’s liquid metal coatings can solve your issues with a metal design solution tailored around your problem. Metalier coatings are light and extremely durable indoors and out. They allow you to use metal in ways that are simply not possible if you were limited to cast or sheet metals.
Metalier Coatings save you money
Most spectacularly Metalier metal veneers can provide a metal design solution for kinetic sculptures. On large kinetic pieces Metalier has the potential to save literally millions of dollars. Kinetic art is almost always made on a grand scale pieces designed to perform and entrance out doors in civic or national venues. The problem with grand scale pieces in sheet or strip metal is that they come with grand scale prices too. The durability of Metalier means that it can be used as a substitute. Metalier is the “go to” company to provide a metal design solution for kinetic art.
Metalier is very light.
The lightness of Metalier coatings means that it offers a metal design solution when weight is, or is potentially, an issue. Metalier specializes in producing amazing doors for homes, offices, and for retail and hospitality venues. In almost every case the customer wants to have the look and feel of metal but doesn’t want to have to do a work out every time the door is opened and closed. And no-one wants the extra expense of the strengthening required to support a solid or sheet-metal cladded door. See, it even sounds heavy just to say the words.
Metalier goes round corners and edges
With a Metalier door there is no way that you can tell that it is not solid metal. Because Metalier metals can be applied seamlessly to edges the whole door looks chunky and – well – solid. What more could you want?
We love the design featured on this page. It’s called “Arlo Agoseris” (Mountain Dandelion) by Mark Baltes and Ken McCall and it’s installed at Liquidity wineries in British Columbia – sounds like a great place to visit for the wines, the bistro and the art.
If you would like to know more about how Metalier can provide a metal design solution for you please contact us by phone or skype or email or complete the form below. We love hearing from you.