Friday, August 29, 2014

Ten Gorgeous Chateaux for Sale in France



    British daily The Telegraph has compiled a list of ten chateaux for sale, located in various areas of France. The buildings look spectacular and prices match the description.

1. Location: Raulhac, Cantal
Guide Price: €1.45m (£1.15m)

    The big headache here is going to be choosing which of the 13 impressive bedrooms you want as your own. The other hazard is that with 9,149 sq ft of space and 25 main rooms, you may get lost. Dating from the 16th and 19th centuries, this fairytale chateau offers a unique display of heraldic arms and a herbarium as well as the ubiquitous wine cellar, sauna, chapel.

2. Location: Chateau Forge du Roy, Dordogne
Guide Price: €3.9m (£3.11m)

    There are plenty of outdoor pursuits on offer at this former 17th century hunting lodge. As well as a swimming pool and gym there is a trout lake, a park, beautiful woods and nearby opportunities for canoeing and cycling. Afterwards, flop in one of the six bedroom suites, while your guests head for a well-earned rest in the guest house or gite.

3. Location: Chateau de Bussiere, Loches, Loire Valley
Guide Price: €2.7m (£2.15m)

    Rest assured the soaring slate spires of this graceful 13th century building have been regularly repaired and restored, so the elements will stay firmly outside. It has seven bedrooms, each with bathrooms and dressing room, while quirky features include a handmade antique stove in the kitchen and a Chinese sitting room.

4. Location: St Laurent de Chamousset, Lyon
Guide Price: €1.99m (£1.59m)

    Serious jet-setters need only apply. Set in 8.65 acres of glorious parkland, this early seventeenth century chateau has its own helipad so you are only a few blade-swirls away from the next party. However, with nine en suite bedrooms, a ground floor dedicated to reception rooms and a swimming pool, there is plenty of space to entertain at home.

5. Location: Essonne, Ile de France
Guide Price: €25m (£20m)

    A mini Versaille? Well, nearly. It was built in the architectural style of Louis XIII in the early 17th century, so the court of Marie Antoinette may well have flounced through a century later. Today, the 16-bedroom chateau set in 98 acres is a haven of peace - despite the odd hunting party or film crew. Fully renovated, it is for sale with an additional 50 acres of agricultural land and will be handy for the new metro linking Paris and Orly airport in 2020.

6. Location: Houdan, nr Paris
Guide Price: €1.49m (£1.21m)

    This family-sized five-bedroom chateau is set in just under 10 acres of manicured land and has a number of surprising features, including a large, two-way fireplace and some eye-catching paintwork. Besides an embarrassment of reception rooms, there is a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool and a guest house.

7. Location: Brantome, Dordogne
Guide Price: €1.06m (£847,000)

    Bob about in the salt-water swimming pool, amble through the orchard or saunter in the French-style landscaped gardens. There is certainly plenty to keep you occupied should you tire of wandering through this dreamy eight-bedroom chateau. And if you want to extend your empire, there's an option to buy surrounding properties and land.

8. Location: St Benoit du Sault, Indre
Guide Price: €795,000 (£635,000)

    The lucky new owners of this three-towered chateau will be able to give thanks in their very own chapel. Renovated to a high standard, the six-bedroom property also boasts its own 31 acre estate with river frontage, a barn and a smaller house.

9. Location: Chateau des Saules, Ansacq
Guide Price: €3.78m (£3.02m)

    Three Musketeers buffs will love the fact that the rogueish Cardinal Richelieu lived here in the early 1600s. Destroyed and rebuilt several times over the past 600 years, the chateau's most recent facelift gives it 1,968 sq ft of living space. And if you're security conscious, there's a well-kept 12th century moat to keep out marauders.

10. Location: Nr Cazals, Lot
Guide Price: €1.26m (£1m)

    A mere skip from the village shops, this charming chateau also benefits from nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three reception rooms, a chapel, beautiful Italianate gardens and a swimming pool. Best of all, there are still some unrestored rooms and cellars to divert you.



OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING
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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Skanska, the developer that chose OCTAGON to Green Court Bucharest, delivers project designed by famous architect Calatrava



Real estate giant Skanska, the developer of the office complex Green Court Bucharest, built by OCTAGON, has delivered a project impressive through architecture, size and execution: Florida Polytechnic University. The Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building that is the centerpiece of the campus was designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and built by Skanska, as part of a collaborative team of numerous design and construction partners.
 
You might be impressed by the project’s facts: this 160,000-square-foot structure was completed on-time and within the strict $60 million budget. This was accomplished despite such immense challenges as 90 percent of the structure being on a radius.
 “Completing this project makes my team and I feel extremely happy and at the same time somewhat sad,” said Chuck Jablon, the Skanska vice president who has overseen this project from the beginning. 

Of the design, Jablon said, “You can’t tell me that this design hasn’t captured you. Calatrava captures your curiosity on the drawings alone. Then, when you start building it and you see it evolve, he gets your heart. And when the building is far enough along so you can see the full design realized, he’s damn sure captured your soul.”
 
Inside, the roof’s exposed underbelly reveals concrete rakers that converge at an apex containing a skylight. A grand staircase takes center stage. Throughout the building, the concrete is clean and crisp – which required tremendous attention to detail and concrete craftsmanship from our team.

The complex rooftop system is supported by a concrete ring beam – 72 inches deep and 30 inches wide – that encircles the interior of the second floor’s grand common area. On the building’s radii, each column rotates on another angle. This building has about 300 radius points, with an incredible 90 percent of everything done on a radius. As Jablon said, “You see the radius – do you feel it?”

Calatrava designed the building to inspire students with a sense of optimism: “My first aim is to make an inspirational environment for the students and the professors and everyone working here.”
 
 
For more information click HERE
OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING
Phone: (+4)021.232.39.20
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