Our New Children

A new addition to the family is always an exciting and busy time.  From this point on the new parents will have to sacrifice their independence and freedom as they become inundated with new responsibilities and concerns.  This attention and responsibility used to be reserved for new children; however, as the developed world has seen birth rates plummet to all time lows children are slowly being replaced with pets and in particular dogs.

There are approximately 78 million dogs in the USA which means that there are more dogs than there are children under the age of 18.  This new found obsession with dog ownership is strongly linked to other demographic trends such longer work weeks, lower relative wages and a change in social values. Nicknamed “Generation rex” these dogs have literally replaced children for many people across the world and they have been receiving the treatment and care that would otherwise be reserved for a child.

The unconditional love and affection of a dog seems like an easy choice when compared to the diaper changes and temper tantrums that many parents dread.  Not surprisingly this love is reciprocated by dog owners which has led to the birth of an industry completely dedicated to dogs.  Everything from clothing to spas our dogs deserves only the best products and services.  You would do anything for your child and the recent trend shows that we will do anything for our dogs.

Shanghai Metal Corporation has been following this trend and is dedicated helping our furry friends achieve the best quality of life.  Your dog will love our dog house. You’ll love it too! A great value, this dog house features a classic barn look, an asphalt shingle roof with sheet lining, and a raised floor. It is completely non-toxic and naturally weather-resistant. For outdoors or in the house this dog house will make a great place for your dogs to get the rest and relaxation they deserve.

For our full list of products that we offer check out our website here. Be sure to join the conversation in our LinkedIn group, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Try also our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Jordan S.//SMC Editor

http://qz.com/197416/americans-are-having-dogs-instead-of-babies/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabid/dogs-like-babies_b_1965296.html

http://www.weather.com/lifestyle/pets/replacing-kids-with-pets-20130214

http://nypost.com/2014/04/10/more-young-women-choosing-dogs-over-motherhood/

http://www.roflzoo.com/smiling-dog.html

http://www.smcbuildingsystem.com/Dog_House–pds7509.html

Picture credit: flickr.com, srdpottery.com

Beautiful Luxury Hotels Under the Sea

Is anybody worried about global warming? Due to rises of average temperatures, the polar ices are melting. At its extreme the world could turn into a planet as described in Kevin Costner‘s movie, the Water World where people are forced to live on floating platforms as all the habitable areas are under the risen sea level. Wouldn’t it be good to plan human underwater residences in advance? The hotel industry has taken the first steps.

Probably the world’s smallest underwater hotel and one of the road builders of the underwater architecture industry, The Utter Inn, is located in the Lake Mälaren in Västerås, Sweden. The hotel is a cabin complex that has an outdoor patio and an underwater sleeping berth capsule three meters under the water level. The cabin system is designed for two people and can be rented for $165 a night (source).

A Swedish company has also designed an underwater hotel that operates four meters under water surface in the eastern coast of Africa in an island called Pemba. The Genberg Underwater Hotels‘ design of the Manta Resort allows people to sleep in a deep blue ocean while the the capsules custom designed underwater spotlights attract various sea creatures to mesmerize the residents (source).

The island of Fiji is implementing an underwater hotel project. Poseidon Underwater Resorts is going to be opened in a 5,000 acre lagoon 40 feet under sea level. The resort is stated to be “the world’s first permanent one-atmosphere sea floor structure and world’s first true undersea resort”. The Poseidon will have 24 suites with an area of 550 square feet. Customers can also enjoy literature in a library, relax in a spa or even get married in an underwater wedding chapel. One week is estimated to cost about US $30,000 per customer.(source)

Probably the most insane construction project the world has ever witnessed is going to be implemented in Dubai. Dubai’s previous project to build an underwater city of Hydropolis in 2006 did not take off as expected but now a Polish firm Deep Ocean Technology has come up with the concept of the Water Discus Hotel. It will be comprised of a series of scifi-styled discs that have 21 floors below sea level.

The offers its customers a beautiful view to the Persian Gulf from two-person bedrooms. In addition to the unusual accommodation, the proposed hotel is to include a diving center, underwater tourist vehicles, a spa, garden areas, an above-water terrace, and a helipad for guests. (source)

 

The construction and real estate industry have found their extremes today from the oceans and from space. While the world witnesses these gorgeous buildings to be built, the traditional construction industry keeps steadily on going on ground. As one of its pioneers, Shanghai Metal Corporation strives for premium quality in its construction projects. For more information about our projects, please visit our website and follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). How about scanning also our QR code?

Tuomas P. // SMC Editor

Pictures and original articles:  Inhabitat, Inhabitat, Hotel Chatter, Designboom, Humble Homes

The Cliff House Defines the New Extreme of Prefab Architecture

An Australian Company Modscape has come up with a design of a five story building clinging to the side of a cliff in southwest Victoria Australia. The Cliff House resembles the house of the Marvel comics character, the Ironman Tony Stark.

The real life Ironman house is equipped with a carport, a living room, kitchen, an open-air spa, BBQ room, three bedrooms with one having an en suit bathroom and a larger bathroom. The only entrance of the cliff house is at the top floor from where an elevator or stairs take the residents to every prefabricated level.

 At the lowest floor, the home opens up to another outdoor space, which seems to float above the water. Patio furniture, an outdoor kitchen and a jacuzzi tub extend the luxurious feeling of being above the ocean. The minimized amount of furniture emphasizes the connection to the ocean and the horizon.

The Cliff House’s design is inspired by how barnacles cling to the hull of a ship. Like barnacles, the house is anchored to a cliff by steel pins. The house works as a natural extension to the cliff bringing an absolute connection with the beautiful ocean.

Perhaps some people would hesitate about coastal erosion and how it affects the house’s steel fasteners. Fortunately, the former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects Maxwell Hutchinson has said in BBC’s interview that there is no reason why the design should not be structurally sound. Cantilever beams drilled into the rock could support the building just as crampons support a climber. Hutchinson also mentions that the building costs might become high because the people in the industry tend to dislike everything unusual.(source)

Shanghai Metal Corporation is also an experienced builder of prefabricated homes. We offer modular houses, hotels, villas and offices. Please visit our website for more information. Please also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Try also our mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

Tuomas P. // SMC Editor

Pictures and original articles: Business Insider, BBC, Gizmag, Comicvine, Inhabitat