Ecobuild claims to be the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment – although that claim doesn’t sound very ‘eco’. Bigger? I though Small is Beautiful. Anyway…

Ecobuild show Excel London 2012 solar display

This show is focussing on “new eco thinking and challenging designs“. Although Eco is still outside the mainstream. New Building Regulations are very good for insul;ation – which is the main factor for an eco home. Other things tend to be a bit expensive, so stay in the luxury or niche market. Such as grey water recycling, sustainable materials (like hempcrete – hemp to make building blocks), straw, recycled materials, etc.

Ecobuild is at London’s ExCeL on Tuesday 20 – Thursday 22 March 2012. This is over in Canary Wharl to the east of LOndon, and is quite an interesting place, makes a change for Earl’s Court. Grand Designs is in ExCel, it is a very good venue for this sort of thing (vast consumer show).

Ecobuild show Excel London 2012 big crowds

So what’s on?

• more than 1,500 exhibitors – more! bigger! sustainable construction systems and products
• conference – with Sir John Beddington, Angela Brady, Greg Dyke, Monty Don, Stephen Bayley and others
• over 130 free seminars – these are promos by companies so be prepared, select with care
• many interactive displays which are fun – including Solar hub, Fabric first, Renewable heat and Natural, traditional and sustainable

Important
Before you go, make a list of what you want to do and see, or you will get swamped by the diversity and volume of things there.

To get a free ticket, register at:

Ecobuild 2012 at London ExCel tickets >

Where and When is it?

Tuesday 20 March 2012 10.00 – 17.00
Wednesday 21 March 10.00 – 18.00
Thursday 22 March 10.00 – 16.00

ExCeL London
One Western Gateway
Royal Victoria Dock
London
E16 1XL

See also our Building DIY pages on Green Building advice >

and

Building DIY pages on Solar power, solar thermal advice >

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

The Turbine Hall is the cavernous space where the workings of the power station – the turbines – did there stuff. Now is it given over to art installations, which provide a good focus for visitors, somewhere for the kids to run about, and the chance for artists to make a large scale work.

The current installation is called FILM by Tacita Dean and is yes it is a film piece.

Kids running about at Turbine Hall, Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Tacita Dean is an English artist (b. 1965) who works in a variety of media, including film. She likes to physically manipulate the film, and the large scale film she has created was made in the camera – which is an old technique to make experimental films, not using any modern digital post-production. Basically the film is shot in the camera (no editing or splicing afterwards, one take, then the actual celluloid is coloured, layered (montage). This might involve film printing in special machines but this is not mentioned in the notes. She has not used any scratch techniques – by which I mean actual scratching of the film surface to make lines etc – the effects are mainly overlay of images, dual or triple compositions, and a lot of colour blocks.

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

There are Dada and Surreal references, which is appropriate for this ‘retro’ film style, since hardly anyone does this kind of thing any more, it is all digital for YouTube.

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

This installation is part of the Unilever Series and is at Tate Modern until 11 March 2012, so plenty of time to see it. The file called ‘FILM’ is 35mm color and black and white, portrait format anamorphic, mute (no sound), looped, 11 minutes long. That’s a funny title – is Tacita Dean possessing all of FILM in this piece? Perhaps the Stan Brakhage bit. (He was an American non-narrative film maker in case you wondered – big in the 70s and 80s).

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

What is the connection to Building and DIY? I (the editor) used to hang out at the London Film-Makers’ Co-op in the 1980s, they had all sorts of this equipment for real film processing. Then the LFMC got moved from the large, messy, friendly (and sometimes noisy) premises over a Chinese laundry in Camden, to special new premises in Shoreditch, and it all went horribly wrong.

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Also Tacita Dean is using images of the power station in the film, as the backdrop for the manipulations and effects. The use of physical film is ‘retro’ as is the mundane practical old building, now converted to a modern art gallery for the leisured middle classes and hordes of students, and kids.

Here are some images from the piece, called ‘Film’. It is created sideways (90 degree rotation) so it is in portrait mode, and is huge, shown in a dark cinematic space.

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern London SE1

Tacita Dean FILM Tate Modern SE1

See our pages on PHOTOGRAPHING ARCHITECTURE & BUILDINGS >

And although not film – DIGITAL CAMERAS – COMPACT & DSLR >

Make the most of this weekend and the most of your home at The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Surrey!

When?

THIS Weekend!
Join us Saturday 10am – 5pm &
Sunday 10am – 4.30pm

Where?
A venue close to home: Sandown Park Race Course, Esher KT10 9AJ
Easy access by car, rail or air.

Why?

NOW 200 companies! 50 more expert companies to compare than last year

Save Money by comparing 1000s of products and services

Gain confidence when you Ask an Expert for free advice

Make the most of your plans -
Ask an Architect for FREE

Unmissable seminars to help you plan your project

Must see masterclasses
to help you stay on time and on target

Discover Tricks of the Trade with the
DIY Doctor

Discover eco-efficient products and
new technologies

How?

Book Now! The Box Office closes at 3pm on Friday – book now to get advanced tickets for ONLY £5!

Tickets are £8 on the door, and all under 16s go in free

Workshops on renovation, DIY, remodeling, building for amateurs.

There are Masterclasses and also open format Ask the Experts sessions.

Masterclasses are on:

9.30 to 10.15 am Walking Tours – Self Build & Renovation
These are on all day and comprise an expert walking and talking around the many standing exhibits in the centre.

10.30 to 11.15 am Is It For Me?

Some jobs are too big for beginners. So get an idea of the scope of a job before you create a disaster.

11.30 to 12.15am Finding and Funding Your Project
This covers financing for land, construction, materials, workers, insurance etc.

1 to 1.45pm Design, Planning & Sustainable Building

Just get it in budget. This is a hard one as things get added (let’s have a wine cellar!), or the spec improves (you are buying flooring and suddenly decide the better version is what you want) so always add a bit – perhaps 50%.

3.00 to 3:45pm Project Management

Don’t made horrible expensive mistakes. Hire an expert to run your job – you can still be hands-on.

4 to 4:45pm Walking Tours – Self Build & Renovation

More walk and talk with the experts.

Go here for Tickets and more details >

Hans Hause prefab modular building

There are new Hans Hause going up in Fife, Scotland and Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. Plus many others. Note none of these is in a large city. Excellent houses though.

There is also a new Hanse Haus DVD. This is a educational journey, and although aimed at the customer (obviously) it is also useful for students finding out about sustainable development and housing, modular buildings, prefab building, and that sort of area.

The DVD goes through these stages:

• fact-finding visit to their German offices and factory
• tour state-of-the-art factory
• see each home being constructed using advanced manufacturing technology
• see the house being assembled
• finally constructed on site in the UK

There is also a new image gallery of housing projects in the UK website.

They have also added a rolling news feature but this is a bit of overkill for a housing company – a blog is fine.

There are also customer stories about their builds. Very good stuff to learn about the process and get an inside view before you take the plunge.

Hans Hause buildings use passive heating (from people’s bodies, pets, lighting etc) and use very low amounts of grid energy to heat. Add a solar panel or two and you could be zero rated.

Have a look at Hans Hause new UK website >

And see our pages on DIY Building and Green building >

Also DIY recycled building materials >

Also have a look at Property development grants and finance >

Try Garden buildings and garden rooms and offices > as this is a related activity.

Dates are Tuesday 01 March to Thursday 03 March 2011.

There are 1300 exhibitors, all sorts and sizes, since everyone does green certified materials and processes these days. This is a fun show and well worth traveling to.

It has over 130 seminars on:

• Future energy
• Energy in buildings
• Sustainable architecture
• Regulations
• Many more

Also installations on Solar, Water, Refurbishment and Remodeling etc.

It says 600 speakers – which seems amazing – with Professor Brian Cox, human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger,
Baroness Susan Greenfield, Construction Advisor, Paul Morrell.

Plus 596 others!

Get your tickets for Ecobuild here >

Eco Technologies Workshop – Retrofit Your Home – 10am – 5pm

95% – 99% of housing is old not new – so green and sustainable technology has to be added to OLD homes and office snot just glamorous new housing.

• solar panels
• solar thermal
• insulation – all types natural, synthetic
• costs – very important!
• effectiveness
• ease of installation
• project planning for maximum effect

Tickets from the Buildstore website >

Many seminars.
11.00 – 11.30 Eco Technologies – What’s Available?
12.00 – 12.30 New Tricks for Old Bricks
13.00 – 13.30 Question Time – All Experts
14.00 – 14.30 What To Install & Where To Start

See our Green DIY and building index advice >

And Solar technology index advice >

Southfields cinema SW18 London - was Riley's snooker hall

There is a plan afoot to convert Riley’s snooker hall (once Jesters) on the corner of Wimbledon Park Road and Pirbright Road, Southfields London SW18, into a cinema.

Which it was originally.

Having been inside, it is a great building, proper full height ceiling and wasted as a snooker hall. Unless the vast space was for fag smoke. It looks horrible from the outside especially the blank walls on the sides.

Meeting is at 8pm 23rd Nov (Tuesday next week) at Gardens Tennis Club, 343 Wimbledon Park Road (past the petrol station heading towards Wimbledon Village and the tennis courts).

See this on Southfields cinema revival >

Robert Richman (a local) is the instigator of all this; he is thinking along the lines of the Clapham Picture House.

Needs community support; is a good idea, although the rather quiet nature of Southfields might not help ticket sales; and there is competition in both directions on the tube. And at Southside shopping centre.

But a boutique cinema would be fun to have. Kid’s shows Saturday mornings etc. What fun!

Perhaps it will expand over the years with more examples.

It claims to tell you which actual products were used, and which architects chose them. So it is basically advertorial, as certain manufacturers are in many of the buildings, so it is not really any use generally!

It looks nice though and is easy to navigate, like a product brochure you might accidentally find at the dentist.

WhoWithWhat com is supposed to be for researching latest products, used in trendy (ie, heard of by magazine readers) projects.

For example the extension shown in London N8 is stupidly expensive (ie, encourages you to spend more, fat chance) at .25 million UK pounds – and looks pretty hideous too, like a metal hoarding has crash-landed on the house. Whatever happened to green building (yes we know metal is recyclable).

How we suffer for your art… even the blurb says it is a “monumental feature”…

Ugly London N8 extension that cost too much >

Our own non-commercialised materials pages are worth a look before you run off and buy the most expensive ‘monumental’ thing for your neighbours to stare at… which is the name of the game for these ‘iconic’ jobs.

Building materials >

Extensions, basements, lofts >

Small green roof

That time of year again, the Big Green Home Show in Swindon off the M4. Many exhibits, seminars, Expert Alley (Ask The Experts) where you can get answers to your home renovation questions.

Dates: Fri 29 to Sun 31 October 2010
Where:
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon
Open from 9.30-17.00.

Car: M4 at junction 16, signposted Swindon West, Wootton Bassett. Down A3102, signposted Swindon, go left after 200metres.

Of course you should take public transport to Swindon centre then get out there on a Bus, which is easy.

Suitable for all DIY and professional builders, the exhibition centre is worth a visit if you have not been before – it is huge with many excellent permanent installations showing foundations, water recycling, walls, roof, even an old house being renovated.

Topics include:

Eco Technologies
Sustainable Building
Energy Efficiency
SAP Assessor & Code for Sustainable Homes
Environmental Buildings
Plot/Property Searching
Design, Planning & Building Regs
Building Control
Builders Merchants
Buying Materials
Planning
Mortgages & Finance
Insurance & Protection
Eco Project Management
Self Build
Building Work Guarantees

You can get tickets from here:

Big Green Home Show 2010 >

See also our Green DIY Building advice >