Building – Shanghai Metal Corporation

HIGH SHANGHAI : SKYSCRAPERS IN THE BIGGEST CITY OF CHINA

China is the biggest expanding country in the world right now. With it’s population of over 1.35 billion, this ever-growing country has also BIG DREAMS to fulfill.

Literately, these dreams are made of metals. Lots and lots of metal are needed to build SKYSCRAPERS.

Especially in Shanghai, skyscrapers have an imposing figure in the city. You could even consider it’s main symbol as an urban landscape view of buildings and skyscrapers.

The Bund, Shanghai (as seen on Google Images)

Therefore skyscrapers are not just basic human construction, they are symbols of economic success and prosperity of one’s city and country. Some people think that buildings mean a realized and achieved dream.

This building, called the SHANGHAI TOWER, is the tallest one in China and second world’s tallest with it’s 600 meter height and 128 floors.

As cited from dznworld.com :

As the skyline’s most prominent icon, the tower’s transparent, spiral form will showcase cutting-edge sustainable strategies and public spaces that set new standards for green community. Shanghai Tower will house Class-A office space, entertainment venues, retail, a conference center, a luxury hotel and cultural amenity spaces.

Like we said before, skyscrapers are synonym of economical success. The very name of this supertall skyscraper confirms it all : SHANGHAI WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER, is the second tallest building made in Shanghai.

China’s architectural design are known for it’s originality too. The Oriental Pearl Tower, with it’s famous shape is very well-known in the city and by others who have visited the city of Shanghai.

“The Golden Prosperity Building” also known as the Jinmao Building or Jinmao Tower again, reflects this idea of success in the city.

There it is, Shanghai as China’s biggest city, offers also the tallest skyscrapers in the world. An international city like this one has to show the world and it’s people that it can keep up with everyone’s expectations. These skyscrapers are known worldwide for their outstanding height, as China’s economical situation and influence keep on growing to have higher goals in the future.

Simple elements like metal can contribute to achieve bigger dreams and that’s what Shanghai Metal Corporation can provide you !

As representatives of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metal quality products in the global field. As a major producer of stainless steel, copper, aluminium, steel and other metal products and service, we essentially are committed to the universal use that metal can offer by delivering overseas and promoting environmental sustainability.

To know more about our company please visit our website. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Maria // SMC Editor

#AddingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Maria // SMC Editor

IMPORTANCE OF METALS IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE

Whether you like it or not, metals play a BIG PART in our everyday life. We interact with them differently as each of them has it’s own properties : some are used as supporting elements for buildings, smartphones, transportation. Some are used for decoration by artists and sculptor or some are used to display wealth, like gold for example.

That being said, we have tendency to overlook the importance of metal because we confront them directly or indirectly everywhere, therefore perceiving their presence as self-evident. Oh and also, some of them are imperceptible to human eyes so this may contribute to our lack of understanding metal in our life.

So let’s explore these hidden but common metals we interact with everyday shall we ?

COPPER for example, is a type of cheap metal used by companies to conduct electricity. The average American will use more than 1,000 pounds of copper in their lifetime ! You can find them in your ALARM CLOCKS, DENIM JEAN BUTTON, PORTABLE AUDIO DEVICES or your DOORKNOB and even in your GRANOLA BARS ! Copper is essential not only for everyday objects but also for our own body.

Next on the list is STEEL. Like Copper metal, you can find it almost everywhere too. Taken for granted, they are in buildings, machinery, cars, galleries and statues. So can you imagine our world without these elements ? It would be hard to conceive another element as useful as these metals. When the word Steel is pronounced it also means RECYCLING. Each year, the US alone recycles no less than 80 million tons of steel, which works out to about 70% of the world’s total steel recycling

Another metal important for our future is ALUMINIUM. Thanks to its strength, low weight and good potential for recycling Aluminium is as useful and flexible as it’s other metal brothers. It’s properties also allow to build high buildings, transportation and also for packaging, the most common use that this metal is known for.

Not to mention other types of metal, these three principles are maybe the most commonly known by public although people easily tend to forget their usefulness.

Apart from the referred objects we just mention, the crazy thing about metal is that it has a really wide range of function and can be used by any types of profession. Physicians and architects take advantage of these metals by constructing impressive buildings industry while some artists see these elements as pure physical support in which they transfer their imagination and creativity.

See how great metals are ? As representatives of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the global field. As a major producer of copper, aluminium, steel and other metal products and service, we essentially are committed to the universal use that metal can offer by delivering overseas and promoting environmental sustainability.

To know more about our company please visit our website. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Maria // SMC Editor

#AddingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Maria // SMC Editor

MoMA’s “Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980”

Today we are excited to bring you to New York into the famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This famous museum has been important in developing and collecting modernist art and is often considered as one of the most influential museum of modern art in the world. You can discover various collections about architecture & design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, etc.

The Museum of Modern Art – New York. Photo from blog.artsnapper.com

Wondering what’s happening right now in MoMA? From March 29 through July 19 2015, the museum documents a dynamic period in Latin American architecture between 1955 and 1980 – Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980. In 1955, MoMA staged Latin American Architecture since 1945 and now is the 60th anniversary of that important show!

“This period of self-questioning, exploration, and complex political shifts also saw the emergence of the notion of Latin America as a landscape of development, one in which all aspects of cultural life were colored in one way or another by this new attitude to what emerged as the “Third World.” The 1955 exhibition featured the result of a single photographic campaign, but Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955–1980 brings together a wealth of original materials that have never before been brought together and, for the most part, are rarely exhibited even in their home countries.”
(Quated from MoMA)

As mentioned in a review from The New York Times, from Cuba to Chile, Mexico to Argentina, cities in the region boomed. The task of providing everybody with homes ultimately proved unmanageable: proliferating slums outpaced new construction; poverty rose. Even so, what got built through the 1970s in places like Havana and Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Lima included some of the most inspired architecture of the modern age.

The Bank of London and South America in Buenos Aires. Photo from Metropolis.

The National School of Plastic Arts in Havana. Photo from Metropolis

Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer's Plaza of the Three Powers in Brasilia — Plaza of the Three Powers in Brasilia. Photo from architectmagazine

Miguel Rodrigo Mazuré’s project for a hotel in Machu Picchu (1969). Photo from Metropolis

Rogelio Salmona. Torres del Parque Residencial Complex, Bogotá, Colombia, 1964-1970. Photograph: Leonardo Finotti © Leonardo Finotti. Click above to see larger image. — Torres del Parque Residencial Complex, Colombia. Photo from Metalocus.

The exhibition’s goal, said curator Barry Bergdoll, is to “reinsert Latin America into our history of modernism and modernization in architecture.”

The collection covers every aspect of Modernism – diagrid skycrapers, abstract landscapes, megastructures, cities of slabs and we can admire a broad range of works, including urban planning, innovations in housing (both individual and multi-unit), university design, and civic and public spaces. More than 500 original works are on display—many shown for the first time—and include drawings, models, archival films, and photographs.

Latin America in Construction — Model of Headquarters for the Banco de Londres y América del Sur, Buenos Aires (1966) by Clorinda Testa and SEPRA Arquitectos. Photo from Archidose.

As one of the leading manufacturer and supplier in the production of metal products, Shanghai Metal Corporation provides first class products and services in building materials. Check out our main products such as container houses, fasteners, steel grating, roofing materials and steel building. Feel free to contact us for any question, our English-speaking staff will be more than glad to help you. Don’t forget to follow us on social media to get the latest update of our products and offers.

Sources : The New York Times, Archdaily, Architect Magazine, MoMA, Metalocus, Architectural Record

Ayu P.//SMC Editor

The coolest student-dorm is made of CONTAINERS!

No doubts! The coolest dormitory of all time is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Why this student-dorm is so unique? Because is made from old silos and shipping containers! The project was recently realized by the full service management company Citiq Property Services (PTY) Ltd. Here is how the company displayed this amazing idea.

“Citiq recently purchased two sets of the disused grain silos in Newtown, Johannesburg. Through creative design and leading edge architecture, the plans are to develop energy-efficient buildings that are both contemporary in design and contribute to the urban regeneration of Newtown. Conversion of Mill Junction, the first set of silos, to student accommodation started at the beginning of 2013 and was completed in early 2014, just in time for the new student intake.”

(from citiqproperty.co.za)

Mill-Junction-07 — from http://www.domusweb.it/en

As it was stated by DomusWeb website, the five silos used to build the dormitory were abandoned and grain was once stored there. Recycled containers were then placed, one on top of the other or one next to the other, both on the side and on top of the five silos. The dormitory can today host about 400 students enrolled in different school or universities thanks to the strategic location of the dormitory. This is for sure one of the most extraordinary example of how shipping containers can be used in a very fashionable way for a worthy purpose.

If you wonder how a single/double room looks like FastCoexist website provides you with the answer! How you can see from the pictures below, living in a container house/room looks exactly the same of sleeping in a ‘tradition’ house.

Not only! This amazing dorm partially made from recycled shipping containers offers numerous common areas to students such as game and computer rooms, libraries, gym and kitchens, and even a climbing wall!!

Untitled design (2) — from http://www.fastcoexist.com/

Wondering container-house might be the perfect solution for you and your family? Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection of container houses. Visit our website and do not hesitate to contact us.

Scan the QR code below and stay informed about our latest updates:

Stefano// SMC Editor

Transport made easy!

As the one of leading supplier and manufacturer of metal products in China, we know best about what type of containers are suitable for transporting what type of goods. At SMC, containers being one of our most popular products, we assure you of the best quality, secured containers which enable goods to be transported safely.

Our open top containers are perfect for businesses that deal in large, industrial size equipment. This container enables goods of unusual shape and size to be loaded onto the container and transported to their place of need. The removable top of this container comes handy especially when transporting goods such as mining and construction equipment,machinery, building materials and other mega size equipment.

Open top allows goods to be secured and left in their natural shape, hence they are transported freely.

To learn more about how our open top containers can best suit your needs, visit our website and see our full product range.

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Lebo Seopane// SMC Editor

Credits: SMC website, Google images

Reducing Energy Consumption of Buildings

The “Trias Energetica Concept” suggest that we should first find a way to reduce energy consumption before developing alternative energy source, such as renewable energy. It is possible by avoiding waste and implementing energy-saving measures.

Energy efficient buildings are buildings that have the capacity to reduce significantly the energy used for cooling and heating the building (without considering the energy and the equipments that are used to heat or cool the building). Below we are going to show you the important points that help your building to be energy efficient.

1. Bioclimatic Architecture

This approach takes into account the local climate and environmental conditions in order to develop the best possible way to use environmental sources of energy. In order get the most benefit from natural sources, it is necessary to :

Have an efficient building shape : reduce the surface in contact with the exterior and the building, interior spaces are arrange according to their heating requirements
Have an appropriate techniques of enveloping the external of the building (use the correct colors and surface) from solar heat in winter as well as in summer and also to collect solar radiation (which acts as a “free” heating and lighting systems).

The graphic below shows the impact of building shape on annual heating energy for a small building in a cold climate.

Graphic from www.buildingscience.com

2. Thermal Insulation

This technology has proven to be very efficient as it saves energy and also money. It is suited for cold places, as it keeps the building warm and reduce the energy needed for heating. It is also greatly efficient for hot regions, as it keeps the heat out from the building and reduce the need for air conditioning.

Check this website to see what sort of insulation to use.

Photo from www.homebuilding.co.uk

3. Air Tightness

Air leakages should be reduced at maximum in order to have a comfortable and energy efficiency buildings. During the design and construction stage, great attention must be invest to seal gaps.

Most existing and recently built buildings are far from being airtight and create financial and environmental costs. A “leaky” building needs more energy for heating or cooling and allow humid air to penetrate, degrading the structure of the building and the effectiveness of the insulation.

Image from www.corbwell.ie

4. Ventilation

This is a system controls the penetration of air through the building and allows to deliver fresh air and take out stale air in combination with the designed heating system and humidity control, and the fabric of the building itself.

To learn more of the importance of ventilation, visit this website.

Image from www.completecoolroofsystems.com

Shanghai Metal Corporation is an expert manufacturer and supplier in the production of building material. To help you build energy efficient building, we can provide you with our top quality materials, such as mineral wool for thermal insulation. We also accept any challenging construction projects and will be glad to help you. Visit our website to see more and contact us if you need further information. Also follow us on social media to discover and be updated of our new products.

Source and original article : isover
Featured image from : greenwizard

Ayu P.//SMC editor

The New Building Trend : Green Building

Green building, also known as green construction or sustainable building is a building structure that is “environmentally responsible” and “resource-efficient”. It has the objective to reduce the negative effect of built environment on human health and the natural environment by :

Efficiently using resources (energy, water, etc.)
Protecting occupant’s health & improving the employee’s productivity
Reducing environmental degradation (waste, pollution)

According to a study, green building construction is increasing across the globe as it is more and more viewed as a long-term business opportunity. More and more building owners and developers switch from new building design to a more green building. Green building is hitting the mainstream, therefore, to distinguish themselves, developers focus more and more on designing green building.

Graphic from World Green Building Trends

There are different factors that drive the construction of green building and they vary around the world. Australia, USA and European Countries are mostly influenced by business factors (market & client demand). Singapore, UAE and South Africa are more influenced by regulation (government’s policies) and ethical reasons.

Several green building certification has been established and may attract competitors. One of the most notable are LEED and BREEAM. Below you can discover some buildings that has been awarded with a green building certification.

Taipei 101, Taiwan

This skycrapper is the tallest and largest building of LEED Platinum certification in the world since 2011.

Abad Nucleus Mall, India

This mall is India’s first LEED certified gold-rated green mall.

The University of Texas, USA

This is the first academic building in Texas to receive LEED Platinum certification.

Shearer’s Foods plant, USA

We have here the first food manufacturing plant to receive LEED Platinum status.

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, USA

This is the first convention center in the world to have received the Gold and Platinum LEED rating.

There exists thousand of other construction that has been awarded as green building and the number keeps increasing. We are getting more and more involved in fighting against environmental degradation. Shanghai Metal Corporation cares about the future and participate in reducing energy consumption. We offer solar panel that can be designed according to your projects and drawings. We also have eco-friendly material for buildings and we can help you with many types of construction projects. Please feel free to contact us if you need further information. Also follow us on social media to have a quick update of our products.

Credits to : wikipedia, World Green Building Trends, bdcnetwork
Photos : google image

Ayu P.//SMC editor

The Need to Add Aesthetic Value in Modern Architecture

In today’s modern era we can observe that important constructions become more and more aesthetically innovative. More and more buildings receive their outstanding title from their stylish form. Obviously, throughout history, we weren’t the first one to put effort in the aesthetic details. Famous palaces such as the Taj Mahal, Palace of Versailles, Summer Palace, Alhambra and many others have gain their popularity today thanks to their aesthetically pleasing construction. They are also well known because of their historical functionality and story. There exist plenty other palaces which had important function but are less popular, one of the reason is because they do not stand out aesthetically.

This phenomenon can also be observe in modern constructions. Good-looking buildings are more popular and can have an important impact on the image of their representative city and attract tourists. Below, we have some of the most famous building designs which have, without doubt, played an important role in tourists attraction.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai

This amazing sky-crapper is the tallest man-made building in the world, at 829.8 m (2,722 ft), having over 150 floors ! The decision to build Burj Khalifa is reportedly based on the government’s decision to diversify from an oil based economy to one that is service and tourism based.

Space Needle, Seattle

This futuristic observation tower is the symbol of Seattle, having nearly 20,000 people a day used its elevators to enjoy its observation deck at 160 m (520 ft) and the rotating SkyCity Restaurant.

Salomon R. Guggenheum Museum, New York

This art museum is the permanent home of a renowned and continuously expanding collection of diverse style of art. In 2013, nearly 1.2 million people visited the museum, and it hosted the most popular exhibition in New York City.

Llozd’s Building, London

Who would ever thought that this sci-fi building is located in London ! One of its key feature is its 12 lifts which are located on the exterior to get more space in the interior of the building, hence its nickname : The Inside-Out Building.

Canton Tower, Guangzhou

This stunning sky-crapper was once the tallest building in the world. The rooftop at 488 m is the highest and largest outdoor observation deck in the world. 16 transparent cars can carry you for an amazing sightseeing on a track round the edge of the tower’s roof

Grand Lisboa, Macao

This 47 floors hotel is your alternative destination of Las Vegas. Its casino offers 800 mass gaming tables and 1000 slot machines. The star of The King of Gambling, Stanley Ho is on permanent display at the casino, which is said to be one of the largest diamond in the world !

There are still dozens of other examples of stylish buildings and their number keeps growing. Shanghai Metal Corporation is the leading specialist for building materials from the floor until the roof with plenty of options. To see more, please visit our website or send us your inquiry. Our English speaking staff will guide you to find your wanted product with the best quality and price. Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media.

Ayu P.//SMC editor

Mega Project: Kingdom Tower

Currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is the soon to be Kingdom Tower, which once construction is complete will be, by far the tallest building in the world at over 1 Kilometer tall. With construction having started in 2013 and a scheduled 2019 completion date

The tower will feature a flagship Four Seasons Hotel and serviced apartments, A class office space as well as luxury condominiums and the world’s highest observatory. There will be an outdoor platform on the 157^th floor for private use of the penthouse residents. The building will also contain a number of swimming pools throughout for use by the hotel and condos.

Putting this into perspective the current tallest building in the world is the Burj al-Kalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which stands at 830 meters. The illustration below compares the prospective Kingdom Tower with existing buildings as well as those currently under construction. This clearly shows the extreme of its height and makes it hard to believe that the owners originally wanted the tower to be 1 Mile high!

The Kingdom Tower will cost a proposed $US1.25 Billion and will involve 500,000 cubic meters of concrete and 80,000 tons of steel, giving it the strength it needs to withstand winds and any potential natural disasters.

As a world leader in the Metals producing and supply industry Shanghai Metal Corporation stocks metals in a range of forms and can customize specifications to suite your requirements. To contact us please visit our website Here. For more updates on this and other exciting developments follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin. Or by using your smart device, scan the QR code below!

Dominick F.// Editor SMC

Sources: Wikipedia; SkyScrapers Center;

Scaffolding: An Essential in Consturction

Looking around nearly any construction site you will almost always see scaffolding erected as an essential part of the sites day to day operations. Scaffolding serves many purposes; firstly, to protect workers from falls or provide a rail so that they can work at height with ease. Secondly scaffolding, when in a modular fashion or along the side of a building can act as a walkway or internal ladder so that other parts of the site can be accessed.

Scaffolding has been used ever since humans have been building constructions of significant height, given its necessity. In fact cave paintings that date back to over 17,000 years ago in Northern France suggest that scaffolding was used to reach the ceiling. The Ancient Egyptians and early Chinese used it to build many of their taller structures.

Just as changes have been made in our buildings, advances have occurred in terms of the materials used in Scaffolding, with wood and rope being the norm in days gone by, to now having metal scaffolding and fasteners being the most commonplace. However Bamboo is frequently seen in less developed parts of Asia and even the heavily developed city state of Hong Kong, as pictured below.

Shanghai Metal Corporation, being a worldwide leader in the supply and manufacture of Galvanized Steel are proud to be a part of the formation of tubing that is essential in making scaffolding structures, with a particular emphasis on galvanized steel for use in outdoor applications. This product offers a rust resistance and extreme strength allowing its safe use on a construction site. To find out more about these products or to discuss customization and individual requirements please visit our website Here. For more updates on this and other exciting developments follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin. By scanning the QR code below with your Smart Phone you can connect to our app.

Dominick F.//SMC Editor

Sources: Wikipedia; Raynes Park Scaffolding;