It’s the Era of Gated Residential Complexes. Bangalore Awakens!

Author: Sunil Khattri

The growth of Information Technology has presented the city with unique challenges. Ideological clashes sometimes occur between the city’s IT moguls, who demand an improvement in the city’s infrastructure and the state government, whose electoral base is primarily the people in rural Karnataka. According to the investors in the Indian realty, most mid size developers, be it at the regional levels have taken over a lot of load. Most of the property developers, Bangalore confesses have got more projects than they can execute. There have been many investments in residential homes in Bangalore off late.

Hence it is imperative to choose the ones that have worthwhile amenities, comfort and security primarily. The more popular choice nowadays is gated residential apartments. Bangalore is welcoming this concept with open arms.

Given the option of cleaner air, sunlight, less dust and mosquitoes, better view, no noise, privacy, who would not go for exclusivity and “a premium lifestyle”? That’s exactly what the residential homes in Bangalore have in store for everyone and not just the extravagantly lavish folks. After all it’s not an investment but a lifestyle choice, and people do not readily part with it. Fulfilling the needs of this emerging breed of global professionals is Total Environment, with innovative approach be it hi-tech corporate campuses or for that matter gated residential complexes. Bangalore is slowly waking up and adapting to this new-found lifestyle.

Promoted by young professionals from the Architecture / Construction and Information Technology Industries; Total Environment addresses a wide spectrum of design and construction needs ranging from commercial blocks to corporate hubs to gated residential complexes. Bangalore couldn’t have asked for more. Their core philosophy is to integrate spaces with the outdoors and always endeavour to bring the outdoors in. From construction to woodwork, painting to flooring, they use their own skilled teams that hail from different parts of the country. Carpenters from Gujarat, floor and tile laying masons from Rajasthan, formwork and shuttering carpenters from West Bengal, steel barbenders from Bihar and steel fabricators from Maharashtra come together to create architectural wonders which can only be envied by the other property developers. Bangalore is indeed proud of this committed team of new-age craftsmen.

To know more about gated residential complexes Bangalore visit Total-Environment.com or review the link.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/its-the-era-of-gated-residential-complexes-bangalore-awakens-662012.html

About the Author

Sunil Khattri is a professional content writer and well known Real Estate Market research specialist. For more information on gated residential complexes Bangalore please visit : http://www.total-environment.com.

Serviced Apartments – A New Culture in Accommodation

Author: Alex Pets

Hospitality Sector is among one of the fastest growing sector nowadays. The credit goes to increasing travel, tourism, and globalization of business and commerce. Apart from the regular tourists, a majority of travelers are business executives travelling abroad to onsite assignments. They need proper accommodation facilities with excellent comfort and luxuries.

Serviced Apartments rental is a new but popular culture in accommodation. The trend is getting equal popularity globally. One can find luxurious serviced apartments matching with the facilities being offered by multi star hotels. People find renting a serviced apartment, a cost effective and convenient option of accommodation while abroad.

Origin of Serviced Apartments Rentals

There are different reasons behind origin of serviced apartment rental concepts. There are mainly three reasons that led to the increasing number of residential apartments available for renting:

1. Nowadays, investing in real estate properties is a lucrative option of investment for future. People buy residential properties as an investment for future. These are not intended for their own accommodation. However leaving these luxury residential apartments unused may deteriorate their values. Therefore, people prefer renting them to others looking for accommodation.

2. Due to the fall of economy, it is hard for real estate developer to find enough customers for the luxurious residential apartments they built. They are not getting expected cost for their residential properties. To get attractive returns on their investment they started renting out these residential apartments.

3. Nowadays people prefer living in rented apartments while they are out of their home. A rented serviced apartments provides all the luxury and comfort as offered by five star hotels, but surpassing them in privacy, convenience and available space. Therefore, it is now a global trend of accommodation. Keeping the attractive revenues that serviced apartment’s rental can provide, several real estate players have entered into this segment.

What Makes Serviced Apartments Better Than Hotel Accommodation

A serviced apartment offers all the luxury of modern day living. People get well-furnished apartments with all other facilities like King/Queen sized beds, leather sofas, modern communication facilities comprising Internet and direct dial telephones, state of the art entertainment (including Big Screen LCD/Plasma Televisions, DVD players, Satellite Connections), gymnasium, swimming pools, shopping centers, and play areas.

People can have all the facilities of a five star hotel room on cheaper rates. So they prefer renting serviced apartments over hotel rooms.

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getting equal popularity globally. One can find luxurious serviced apartments matching with the facilities being offered by multi star hotels. People find renting a serviced apartment, a cost effective and convenient option of accommodation while abroad.

Origin of Serviced Apartments Rentals

There are different reasons behind origin of serviced apartment rental concepts. There are mainly three reasons that led to the increasing number of residential apartments available for renting:

1. Nowadays, investing in real estate properties is a lucrative option of investment for future. People buy residential properties as an investment for future. These are not intended for their own accommodation. However leaving these luxury residential apartments unused may deteriorate their values. Therefore, people prefer renting them to others looking for accommodation.

2. Due to the fall of economy, it is hard for real estate developer to find enough customers for the luxurious residential apartments they built. They are not getting expected cost for their residential properties. To get attractive returns on their investment they started renting out these residential apartments.

3. Nowadays people prefer living in rented apartments while they are out of their home. A rented serviced apartments provides all the luxury and comfort as offered by five star hotels, but surpassing them in privacy, convenience and available space. Therefore, it is now a global trend of accommodation. Keeping the attractive revenues that serviced apartment’s rental can provide, several real estate players have entered into this segment.

What Makes Serviced Apartments Better Than Hotel Accommodation

A serviced apartment offers all the luxury of modern day living. People get well-furnished apartments with all other facilities like King/Queen sized beds, leather sofas, modern communication facilities comprising Internet and direct dial telephones, state of the art entertainment (including Big Screen LCD/Plasma Televisions, DVD players, Satellite Connections), gymnasium, swimming pools, shopping centers, and play areas.

People can have all the facilities of a five star hotel room on cheaper rates. So they prefer renting serviced apartments over hotel rooms.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/serviced-apartments-a-new-culture-in-accommodation-903145.html

About the Author

Rent one-bedroom and two-bedroom serviced apartments in Melbourne at affordable rates and enjoy homely pleasure with all modern luxury amenities. For more information please visit: http://www.servicedapartmentsinmelbourne.com

Choosing The Perfect Home For You

Author: Deirdre Gonzales

What is the best philippines homes for your preference? Choosing a house should always depend on your own preference. If you’re a non-married, working person, then a house near or inside a business district is perfect for you. If you have a family, or just wanted to get out from busy streets of a city, then the perfect house for you or your family would be those which are found outside of big cities, in beautiful and relaxing places. But if you want both luxury and accessibility to major cities, then there are houses perfect for you. So what are these houses?

A house for the single, working folks
For those that works almost around the clock as well as a bachelor or a bachelorette, then condominium buildings and apartment buildings are perfect for you. Usually, condominium and apartment buildings are found inside a major city, in small footprints, such as those found in Makati City. However, there is a difference between these two. Although these types of philippines homes are similar in physical form, they are different in terms of ownership.

If you have the right budget to buy house, let’s say P500,000 to P1,000,000, then I suggest buying a condo unit in those locations. This investment doesn’t only allow you to be within walking distance from cities and major commercial areas, but it does also give a sense of permanence in terms of residence. But if you don’t have that kind of capital, then an apartment unit is right for you. Because apartment units are only rented or leased to tenants, Filipinos could easily find a residence near cities and major commercial areas without having to pay too much.

A house for the family or relaxation
For those looking for a house which could take you away from the busy streets of the city, or just wanted to raise a family outside of major cities, then the perfect place for you would be in a townhouse or a condominium complex. Townhouse in today’s market are now found in exclusive and luxurious complexes complete with high security and resort facilities such as swimming pools, gyms, parks and playground equipment. The only disadvantage is the cost. Townhouses are perfect for small to medium size families.

Other than townhouses, condominium complexes are also very popular among Filipinos. Similar to townhouse complexes, condominium complexes are also known to offer the same amenities, such as high security, swimming pools, gyms, parks and playground equipment. The advantage of condominiums from townhouses is its affordability. However, condominium complexes are usually perfect only for small families, a couple with a single child. This is because a condominium unit is usually smaller than a townhouse.

A house for every need
The perfect house that has everything to provide you with your needs is the ordinary house. There are still many available houses across the Philippines today, particularly those found near big cities. However, their numbers are slowly dwindling and finding a suitable place to erect a house is also another issue. But these types of philippines homes are usually the best in terms of housing for a family and even for single people.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/choosing-the-perfect-home-for-you-2243160.html

About the Author

Deirdre Gonzales is a business entrepreneur from Cebu City Philippines. She’s now based in Florida and writes in her spare time for various websites including Atayala.com

Latest Industry Trends for Buying Commercial, Residential Properties in Ncr

Author: Matinez

Gurgaon, the national capital region of India, being of sought-after importance is now the most demanding place for residents and corporates alike. Over the years it has been the addresses of the low-profile people and industries. But when it comes to investments in India, industry experts believe that investing in real estate of the national capital region can prove beneficial in the long run.

Delhi, the national capital of India, is ranked as the second largest market in the country with regard to size and socio-economic profile and with an affluent population comprising a cosmopolitan mix from across the country, the prediction is made that the capital value is in the line to increase. A number of real estate consultants believe that Delhi and its surrounding neighborhoods will make solid their recent gains in property prices and appreciate further in the coming two years.

In the residential sector, a major chunk of the leading real estate consultants assume that the national capital region will continue to generate demand and that investment in these areas and adjoining them will fetch returns of 8-10 per cent annually for the coming three years. Lately, the national capital region is experiencing demand for residential flats and corporate offices. Adding to the continuous demand for properties in the national capital region, the land prices and residential properties have increased manifold and are still on increasing trend. So, making an investment in the national capital region is a deal worth to be clinched.

When it comes to the retail sector in the real estate segment, Noida is already a hotspot for retailers and has been one of the leading cities in retail activity in the country. And this continued trend provides an ideal market for high-end retailers and causes the presence of all the premium brands in the city. Almost all Indian retail giants are making their presence in the national capital region looking at expansion plans. Primarily, retail expansion plan in the national capital region (NCR) is being developed in the new malls, located in the preferred retail destinations of Noida and Gurgaon.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/latest-industry-trends-for-buying-commercial-residential-properties-in-ncr-392180.html

About the Author

Martinez Collins has been associated with Real Estate. Having good experience in real estate India, her advice is very helpful for investment in real estate India and basically her in depth knowledge about real estate development in Gurgaon visit http://www.hotgurgaon.com/.

WWW.A4ARCHITECT.COM

From Nairobi CBD

Project: Hotel Development in Kenya, Nairobi-CBD-.
Client: Mr. I.O

From Nairobi CBD

Location: Nairobi CBD.

From Nairobi CBD

APRIL 2010

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a project proposal for the construction of a middle class Hotel on a parcel of land situated at Nairobi CBD.
The project has been conceived, designed and will be implemented by www.a4architect.com for Mr. I.O

The estimated development cost for the project is KES 355,500,000[USD 4,443,750].

The project completion period shall take 12 months from ground breaking to hand over.

Return on Investment shall be in a period of 1 year.
Total gross anticipated income per annum including food and beverage sales =388,800,000.00[4,860,000.00]

WWW.A4ARCHITECT.COM
A4architect is a dynamic property consulting company specializing in providing a one-stop service for the management and development of a variety of property development projects. It provides its clients, who may be property owners, developers or tenants, with the expertise to guide a project through the complex development process from concept through to building completion.
Depending on the requirements of their client, A4architect can provide a full or partial consulting service. The company’s involvement can vary from sourcing suitable sites, arranging local authority approvals, managing the professional team or providing a complete project management service.
The principals behind the firm have several years experience in designing and managing to completion several projects of various natures as part of design and implementation teams for leading Project Management firms in Kenya as well as the Government of the Republic of Kenya.

THE PROJECT
The project comprises the construction of hotel at Nairobi CBD, Nairobi on a subdivision measuring just about 0.25 acres.
The overall theme of the development would be one of maximizing on the plot use whilst maintaining reasonable individual privacy for occupants. The selection of the type and size of units to be erected as well as their layout has been done with the foregoing being foremost -A scenario where the property is developed to target the middle income bracket.

PHASED CONSTRUCTION
In order to ease the impact of the overall cost of the development it is proposed to carry out the construction in phases to be jointly agreed on with the client. The project can be phased in terms of vertical floor levels per floor as agreed with the client.
In order to enable planning of major infrastructural requirements such as water storage and soil water disposal right from the outset, a master plan of the entire development shall be evolved. Thus the capacity of some of the facilities may initially exceed the needs of the accommodation provided, but this would be done with the full knowledge that the development will grow to fully utilize the facilities provided.
Auxiliary features would include paved driveways and parking, extra water storage and planted landscaped gardens. The country ambience would further be enhanced by having strategically planted trees which would serve the added role of acting as wind breaks.

DEVELOPMENT BUDGET
The development budget is as follows:

80 No. self-contained accommodation rooms per floor for 5 No. Floors=400 No. Accommodation rooms.
Cost of construction per room fully furnished=KES 40,000 per square meter.
Area for each unit =16m2.
Total cost of construction for 400units = KES 256,000,000[USD 3,200,000]
Cost of construction for Restaurant, Kitchen, Laundry and Offices=
Restaurant-60m2
Kitchen=30m2
Offices-20m2
Laundry-20m2
Store-30m2
Total =160m2.
Total estimated cost of construction = KES 355,500,000[USD 4,443,750]

1.00 Building details
1.10 Type of unit :middle class hotel units.
1.11 Number of floors :5
1.12 Number of units in each floor :40
1.13 Gross floor area per Unit m2: 16
1.14 Building Cost per m2-fully furnished :40,000
1.15 Building cost per unit :KES 640,000 [USD 8,000]

1.16 Overall building cost : KES 260,000,000[USD 3,250,000]

2.00 Construction cost
2.10 Preliminaries 6,500,000.00 [USD 81,250] 2.5% of item 1.16
2.11 Building works KES 260,000,000[USD 3,250,000]
2.12 Infrastructure 39,000,000.00 [USD 487,500] 15.00% of item 1.16

2.13 Subtotal – Construction cost 305,500,000.00 [USD 3,818,750]
3.00 Incidental costs
3.10 Professional fees 26,000,000.00[USD 325,000] 10.00% of item 1.16

3.12 Land Cost- [0.25 acres] KES 50,000,000.00 [ USD 625,000]

OVERALL PROJECT COST 305,500,000.00 + 50,000,000= KES 355,500,000[USD 4,443,750]

INCOME PROJECTIONS
1.10 Accomodation Units
1.11 Projected price/unit per day KES 2,500 [USD 31.25]
Occupancy rate-90%
1.12 Overall room sales revenue per month=KES 27,000,000[USD 337,500]
1.13 Gross anticipated income per annum[room sales] =KES 324,000,000[USD 4,050,000]
TOTAL GROSS ANTICIPATED INCOME PER ANNUM INCLUDING FOOD AND BEVERAGE SALES =388,800,000.00[4,860,000.00]
1.14 Return on Investment/Repayment period= Approx. 1 year.

LOCATION
This is a new extension of Nairobi CBD and is situated within Nairobi’s Central Business District . The Nairobi CBD is served by an all weather road with the site of the proposed construction being found 15 kilometers from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Nairobi CBD is connected to the mains water supply from the Nairobi City Council and also has easily connected electricity supply.
The immediate locality consists of subdivisions each measuring an eighth an acre. Developments in this area are commercial in nature. The majority of the buildings here are well constructed and maintained.

MARKET DESCRIPTION
Given the proximity of the site to Nairobi’s CBD as well as the good communication available, the site would realize good returns on a hotel development.
The site is located 15 km from an International airport and is opposite the largest bus park in East Africa.
The planned development intends to maximize this potential by creating accommodation that is spacious whilst at the same time making optimum use of the space available.
Currently, most Hotels in Nairobi CBD experience a near 100% occupancy rate on a daily basis. The planned development would thus meet an existing need.

COMPETITION
In the locality of the planned development, there are no hotels which cater for the middle class. The closest competition perhaps comes from the low cost hotels in Gikomba area. These are however not impressive in terms of the room sizes and quality of service offered.

SALES PROJECTIONS
It is planned to start marketing the development even as the construction begins.
The room sale price for each unit has been set at KES 2,500[31.25USD]. This is the average charged by comparable hotels such as Kahama hotel in Ngara and Blue Hut hotel along Park road. The price is justified by the upgraded quality of the planned development in terms of finishes, design, and quality of service.

EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT
A4architect will in this provide the client with a full design/build service. This shall include

1. Design and specification
Architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings shall be prepared and necessary approvals sought.
During the various stages of the design, the client shall be kept fully informed and client approval sought prior to proceeding to the next stage. The engineering design shall be done by registered engineers under the guidance of A4architect. Detailed specifications shall be developed with close consultation with the client.

2. Project estimates
Subsequent to completion of the design, a firm estimate shall be done for the project

3. Preparation of tender and contract documents
After final design has been done and client approval obtained, tender documents shall be drawn up for the general and specialist contractors. The specialist contract documents shall be prepared with guidance from the relevant engineers.

4. Tendering
Selected contractors shall be invited to tender for the various work packages. We shall then analyze the tenders returned and forward our recommendation to the client.

5. Contract documentation
With the contractors have been selected, we shall draw up the required contract documents and enter into contract with the contractors on the client’s behalf.

6. Project management
Subsequent to the contracts being signed and mobilization to the site, we shall provide superintendence and project management. This will entail ensuring that the project is brought in on time and under budget by constant monitoring of operations on site and remedying any issues that may prevent timely completion or cause expenditure to exceed the budget.

7. Contract administration
We shall handle all matters relating to the various contracts including but not limited to stage payments, performance bonds, extensions of time and relationships between the various traded involved in the project’s execution.

8. Sales and marketing
In conjunction with an estate agency approved by the client, we shall produce a presentation package to be used in the sales and marketing of the units.

PROJECT TIMELINES
a) Design to Tender
The design to tender process will take a total of 2 months. This will include commissioning of all engineering design, preparation of bills of quantities and obtaining of all relevant approvals for the development.
b) Construction
Construction of the entire project is estimated to take a maximum of 10 months.

MARKETING AND SALES
Marketing of the properties is planned to start even before ground is broken for the start of the construction. This will serve the dual purpose of creating awareness of the availability of quality hotel service and to confirm the validity of the market intelligence.
A4architect will undertake marketing through the mass media and especially through the internet using a virtual presentation kit that will include a walk through movie of the development.

FEES STRUCTURE
Overall fees charged shall be 10% of the final contract sum. The fees shall be spread over the various stages as follows:

Fees Due
A
Inception
Inception and client brief
Physical survey and information review
Sketch design and basic project proposal
5% of fees.
B
Design and design development
Final design and presentation with budget estimates
Final specifications
Engagement of consultants and preparation of electrical, structural and mechanical services
drawings
Development approvals
30% of fees.
C
Pre-tender process
Preparation of tender documents for general and specialist contractors
Identification of suppliers for client supplied items to be fixed by contractors
Shortlisting of general and specialist contractors
10% of fees.
D
Tender process
Tendering for general and specialist contractors
Tender analysis
Contract award by client on advice of Project Manager
15% of fees.
E
Project Administration
Co-ordination meetings conducted by Project Manager
Close control of work schedule
Monitoring of quality of works and ensuring compliance with specifications
15% of fees.
F
Project Accounting
Budget control
Certification of stage/progress payments
10% of fees.

G
Project closeout
Completion inspection with client
Preparation of final account in conjunction with general and specialist contractors
Preparation of schedule of making good defects
10% of fees.

H
Post contract administration
Final inspection after elapse of defects liability period
Confirmation of making good defects after retention period is over
5% of fees.
Total
100% of fees.

Notes on fees structure
1. Negotiations and any other work arising from the submission of application to the Local Authority or the submission of application to the local authority of the statutory bodies constitutes additional services to be charged for on a time basis.
2. Normalization of contract will be by the signing of both copies of a document mutually agreeable to both parties.
3. Fee notes which will be issued on completion of stage B, C & D respectively. Fee notes for stage (A), & (B) will be based on Project Estimates at those stages.
4. The payment from stages E to H will be based on the final project costs. These will be paid on a pro-rata basis as the project progresses and will be submitted immediately following the issue of certification of contractor stage payments.
5. In the event that the client selects a phased implementation of the project, fee notes for stages A, B and C shall be based on the estimated cost for the entire project while fee notes for subsequent phases shall be pro-rated to the value of the phase being implemented.
6. All fee notes will be processed, authorized and paid within ten calendar days of the fee note date.
7. Reports or opinions requiring formal client approval are to be discussed and approved within five working days of receipt of the request from the project managers by the client.
8. Disbursements resulting from the execution of the consultant’s duties including reproduction of drawings and documents, fax messages, traveling and food and accommodation expenses outside Nairobi etc. do not form part of this agreement and will be charged at cost.

Prepared By
Frank Gichuhi
www.a4architect.com
+254 721 410684
A4architect.

Have you ever considered looking into shipping container homes? If the answer is yes, then you are in for a real surprise. For starters, shipping container homes are the most environmentally stable and sound form of home development on the market today.

Using only a tiny percentage of the typical materials to build most standard homes, costs and labor to actually create one of these is astounding compared to constant price increases of your average house today.

The overall structural strength of a shipping container allows the builder to develop multi-story dwellings, offering a larger living space without expanding its footprint. The heavy corrugated steel framing allows the unit to withstand 65,000 lbs of stacked weight.

It has been estimated that 86% of the materials used to build a shipping container house have been recycled. Also, the main foundation design is not as expensive and uses a fraction of material which is much quicker to assemble.

If you are concerned about the transportation infrastructure of these containers, no need to worry because it already exists, so the container homes can be easily moved by train, ship or truck, thus reducing major transport time.

Everything needed to complete the final product is delivered in one trip. An investment is already made by not having to pay extra money for several deliveries and separate construction materials.

Many people today have explored the possibility of getting a shipping container house. With a little research on the internet, you will be amazed at what is available today. The cost of regular constructed houses are sky rocketing as we speak. Even the materials being used are getting cheaper and seem to not last as long as they once did in the past. With the money you can save by investing into a container home, a bright future is in store for you.

Anyone who would like more information on shipping container homes, please visit my site below.
Container House

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_A_Lee

Shipping container houses should be very secure for one big reason. In case there is a high home robbery rate in your area. Now don’t be scared, it’s when you leave the home that it gets robbed. Every Country around the world has issues and in many countries there is crime. So it’s always a good idea to build a home that will keep out any uninvited guests.

There are few shipping container companies that specialize just in security reasons alone. In Costa Rica, there seems to be a growing trend in security for homes because of petty theft. I have been there and have seen many homes with steel or iron cages over the windows. One thing really nice about container homes is that usually the container is made of corrugated steel and are real safe.

Most standard ISO steel shipping containers are made of heavy gauge steel and are impossible to break into, unless you have an electric saw with a steel bid and electricity and you plan on making a lot of noise.

The point is, is someone is going to take a piece of machinery to break into your home then they are probably going to get in no matter what. However, the odds are in the container home owner that no one will be breaking into your steel can. Crime and theft is always going to happen no matter where you are in this world, whether its a dirty city or a sunny tropical paradise like Costa Rica. The main thing is to take care of this and you should have no problem.

Shipping container homes are becoming a very popular item of late. If you are interested in obtaining more information on Container homes in Costa Rica or just details on them all together then please visit: Container Homes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_A_Lee

By: Sam Bullman

We mean the shipping container here, not beer kit container. The 20 feet shipping container, 20’x8’x8.5′ in size, can accommodate a mobile dwelling unit, with beds and furniture that fold into the wall, for example. Shipping containers come mostly in the standard sizes of 20 feet, 40 feet and 45 feet high-cube (the last with a height of 9.5′). If desired, containers can be customized in various ways, by constructing containers of a different dimension, or converting them into, say, houses.

Containerization

Containerization facilitates inter-modal freight transport, i.e., container ships, railroad cars, and trucks can all accommodate standard sized containers. There are also standard containers for use in aircraft. So you can transport a container from the interiors by truck or railroad to a sea or air port, and send them to a distant location where the transport process is reversed, say, from ship to truck. Specialized container handling equipment can easily transfer the containers from the one mode to another.

Streamlining of freight transport operations lowers costs, and leads to lower freight charges and increased trade. It was in the 20th century that standardization of container sizes and container-handling equipment gained momentum and appeared as an important innovation in logistics. Initially standardized with 8’x8′ cross-sections and multiples of 10′ lengths, containers became increasingly popular starting 1950s.

Purpose-built container ships and railcars gave momentum to container-based freight operations. The containers were transported unopened from origin to destination, being transferred from one kind of transport vehicle to another as needed. Containers could thus travel across sea, land and air with practically no disruption.

The cargo could be tightly packed into the containers with minimum wastage of space. This was in contrast to the significant storage space wastage (not to mention time wastage) that would be involved if the cargo as such were moved individually to, and stored in, the cargo holds of standard ships.

Standardization of containers involved not only their dimensions, but also corner fittings, reinforcements and identification markings. Standard pallets that fit neatly into the containers were used to pack merchandise. Container capacity is expressed in TEUs or twenty-foot equivalent units. These standards have now been accepted worldwide.

Containers used for air transport have a different set of dimensional standards that are much smaller in length, width and height.

Containers come in many types. There are ‘dry van’ containers for boxes, bales, pallets, drums, etc, ‘reefer’ containers that are temperature controlled from -25 degrees to +25 degrees centigrade, bulk containers for bulk materials and heavy machinery, tank containers for liquids, and other kinds of specials including those with rolling floors for difficult-to-handle cargo.

Container Related Issues

Containers enhance security as the contents are not visible and the doors are sealed in a manner to detect any tampering. Cargo did not “fall off” the trucks as was common in earlier days. On the other hand, the fact that containers are not typically opened meant that they could be used to transport contraband.

The increased efficiency of container based cargo handling typically leads to job losses, and moving work to inland from waterfronts.

Where two-way cargo movement is not balanced, empty containers can accumulate at certain places and transporting the bulky empty containers is often not cost effective. To handle this issue, containers are often converted to other uses.

About the Author

Sam Bullman writes about Container please visit www.bullmans.co.uk for more details.

(ArticlesBase SC #362203)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The Container Streamlines Freight Movement (and Can Become Offices, Shops and Houses)

By: Lynn Bulmer

The problem of affordable housing has been a problem in many areas of the world for a long time, even before our current economic turn for the worse happened along. To combat this problem and also to address the issue of sustainability, some architects started looking at alternative building materials.

One of the building materials that they discovered was used shipping containers; in many parts of the world makeshift dwellings had been made out of these large metal boxes previously but no one had really played with the idea of using them to design a house with all the amenities of home before.

Shipping containers come from anywhere that ships large quantities of goods; the containers are pre-packed then put on boats and/or trains and the goods are delivered all over the world. Due to the expense of shipping the used empty containers to locations that need them from locations that don’t, sometimes they end up just sitting around empty. It is reported that it can cost more to ship a used empty container than to just buy a new one!

Due to the materials used to make shipping containers, they can be easily recycled into new containers and other steel items, but using them “as is” to build homes can save energy as well as recycle the materials. There are a number of concerns that some people have about these container homes but there are also many advantages as well.

Some container home naysayers say that a container home is nothing more than a do-it-yourself mobile home and would rather not see their ugly construction in their towns and cities. However, other than a similarity in the size and shape of the basic building block of a container home, and the industrial-feel of it’s steel sides, there really is no comparison between the two.

A mobile home lacks the hardy construction of an all-steel shell and the stackabilty of the engineered container building block. Whereas the mobile home is rather dangerous in a high wind-speed storm, the container home is more than strong enough to withstand the high pressure. Buildings constructed out of shipping containers have a modern building block feel to them, often reminding an observer of an oversized Lego structure.

Shipping container homes can be made “from scratch” if you want to design your own home, with pre-designed plans, or pre-fabricated; it’s all up to you. They are generally fast to install, mould-free and termite-proof. Some pre-made varieties are also designed to work completely off-grid so that they are ideal summer cabins or homes for people who want to live in nature.

Container homes may just be the option that many people could benefit from in these tough economic times; however, with the problems in some areas to allow permits for alternative types of housing it might be a while before they’re available as widely as they could be.

About the Author

View the many Washington D.C. homes for sale at LynnBulmer.com. Let Lynn be your guide to Forest Hills real estate.

(ArticlesBase SC #1144433)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Shipping Container Construction: One Solution to Affordable Housing

By: Rosie Cubbin

With the help of container conversion service, used steel shipping container can be used for many applications. It is so strong and durable that after using it in the field of export and import, we can again use it for constructions. It was first used by the U.S. to make command centers and medical facilities in Korea. Now many designers and architects use it widely all around the world. It is best because it is easy to transport, readily available and above all it is suitable for the construction of the 21st century.

Possible usages of used containers

Shipping containers are good for many applications and alternate uses. Used container is found to be used as a building unit for manifold constructions need such as for offices, storage units, toilet blocks, garages, laboratories, sheds, site offices, club houses, canteens etc.

Converting a shipping containers

Used shipping containers can be modified to great extent adding many utilities and extensions. Below are given what can be done with a shipping container.

• Enhancing external appearance-with the help of various types of cladding the external appearance of containers can be enhanced
• Increasing the length of containers- if needed the standard size of containers can be increased. Further more two or more containers can be joined together.
• Installing utilities – Windows, heating, air condition, and standard doors can be added to make it practical cost effective accommodation for many uses.

Choosing containers conversion service

There are many container conversion companies around the world. It’s important that you deal with right kind of containers Conversion Company. Check their knowledge, design, working process and customer service.

Its better you deal with a local container conversion company which will help you to visit their inventory and talk to them about your need.

Experienced container conversion will be able to advise you in selecting the right type and size of container and specifications of. This will able find the most suitable and cost efficient unit.

Check whether the conversion company allows you to visit their completed or work in progress unit. The availability, cost effectiveness and modifiability makes shipping container makes it possible to use shipping containers in many ways. To use the containers for alternate uses, container conversion service plays a significant role. That is why you should be careful to select a very good company who helps you to get the right kind of container, helps you in preparing specifications of your needs and give you prompt and personal service.

About the Author

Rosie Cubbin writes about Shipping Containers, to know more about Shipping Containers, visit http://www.csshippingcontainers.co.uk.

(ArticlesBase SC #655047)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – How to Choose Steel Shipping Containers Conversion Service?