Archives for September 2012

September 13, 2012 - No Comments!

Solar Farm Approved.

[h6]Installation of Photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, on 13no solar park ground mounting systems.[/h6]

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We just received planning approval for the areas first small Solar Farm. The project is part of an ongoing farm diversification project at Dunamallaght Road, Ballycastle.
Renewable energy technology and the current government grants can help drive down farm outlays as well as helping reaching European targets on emissions & renewable energy.
View Planning Application.
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September 6, 2012 - No Comments!

Culmore Organic Farm Plans Approved.

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Laverty Architecture just got in Planning Approval for 204 Monocrystalline solar cells to a milking unit on Culmore Organic Farm, Kilrea.
Culmore's organic, pesticides free, low carbon vision of farming is to be commened and it was nice to be part of  the project.  They grow the best spuds in the country in my opinion and I am already trying to think up an excuse to visit David to grab some more.
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[contentdivider]Culmore Organic Farm's website. http://www.culmoreorganicfarm.com/
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September 6, 2012 - 2 comments

“An idea is salvation by imagination.” Frank Lloyd Wright.

 [h6]The Fountains at Ballycastle Seafront.[/h6]
I can safely say that my 17month old son's favourite thing in the world is the fountains at Ballycastle Seafront. Although not originally designed for kids to run and play in, it has quickly become a centre of fun and activity on a decent day in the summer. The council spotted this and placed seats around the fountain for parents to watch their kids dart through the fountain. Ballycastle seafront looks better than it ever has with the new artwork, seating signage etc. The fountain area has become the the unofficial kids play area at the seafront. Its somewhere parents can sup a coffee while the kids burn off some energy. There is a great buzz around it on a sunny day.
[contentdivider][h6]The Wee Pier Old & New [/h6]
I have fond memories as a kid playing at the Small pier. Before the  modernization of the harbour the sea was our playground.  Today the town is missing a family fun area where kids can play and parents can relax knowing the kids are safe.

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[h6]Arcadia Activity Pool Portrush.[/h6]

My kids had a great time in the kids pool at the Arcadia in Portrush and it got me thinking. Something like this would be great at Ballycastle seafront. The Arcadia pool is tucked away out of site and is sheltered by a wall from the onshore winds. An activity pool would present a whole myriad of issues though. The seafront is a large open space which means it can't be tucked away. Some would argue that an activity pool in plane view would detract from the sculpted vistas and artwork.Others would argue that kids are the best form of art and interaction beats appreciation every time.
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[h6]The idea. Ballycastle Seafront Activity Pool?[/h6]
The sketch in this video is only a doodle and hasn’t addressed the problems building such a pool would raise. How do you secure it at night? Keep it clean? Stop sand blowing off the adjacent sand pit into it? How do you leave space for the amusements? Is it worth the investment considering our weather? I could go on........ but it is an idea and ideas can grow, change and eventually happen.

September 5, 2012 - No Comments!

New Website Live

 

[h6]"If we can design buildings we can design a website. "[/h6]

 
Its been a long time coming, but finally lavertyarchitecture.co.uk is online. I decided to design and build the site myself so I could update it quickly and regularly. How hard could it be, its just like a building. They are both made up of interlinked components which function together to provide a user experience? A tenuous link I know.

 
[h6]Code holds a website together, not mortar and fixings. [/h6]

Thankfully my friend Alex from www.pixelapes.com was on hand to guide and inform as well as fix thinks when I broke them.
Much head scratching ensued, but eventually it all fell into place. It was fun to learn something new and I enjoyed building the site in the evenings. Even pondering a career change until I realised how complicated web design is when you look under the hood of user friendly web design software.
I get great job satisfaction in my job by walking around buildings I designed. Seeing a family use and enjoy spaces you helped them realise is hard to top. I got a little bit of that feeling browsing through my completed website but I think I will stick with my day job.