On the Money is a monthly advice column. If you want advice on spending, saving, or investing or any of the complicated emotions that may come up as you prepare to make big financial decisions you can submit your question on this form. Here, we answer two questions asked by Vox readers, which have been edited and condensed.I have a personal adviser that I pay to manage my investment portfolio but Im not sure whether I should continue paying this adviser. My investments are with Vanguard because of its low ETF fees. I have a total of four ETFs: VTI, VXUS, BND and BNDX. These ETFs are spread out between three accounts. My wife and I each have a Roth IRA, and we also have a taxable brokerage account. Two of the ETFs are in each account. Should I continue paying my Vanguard advisor to manage this portfolio? Dear Advised,The portfolio your adviser created for you is extremely well balanced. Its also extremely diversified, in the sense that it includes an enormous variety of individual investments within four larger categories. You and your wife are currently invested in four exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are designed to track broad segments of the market:VTI: the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETFVXUS: the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETFBND: the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETFBNDX: the Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund ETFIn other words, you are invested in four ETFs that are made up of many, many smaller investments within the indices listed above total stock, total international stock, total bond, and total international bond. Since youre effectively invested in everything, your portfolio is likely to increase in value as long as the market itself doesnt crash. This kind of investment strategy is designed to get you through the ups and downs of the market without a lot of risk, especially because Im assuming your adviser is gradually adjusting the ratio of stocks to bonds as you and your wife approach retirement. Stocks offer greater growth potential than bonds but come with greater volatility, so a good investment adviser will slowly shift more of your investments over to bonds as you age. (Since bonds are less volatile, a bond-heavy portfolio should lose less of its value if the market drops before or during your retirement years.)That said, a target-date retirement fund does exactly the same thing, and you dont need to pay an adviser for that. Should you combine finances with your partner?How to cope with inflation and lifestyle creepHow are you supposed to start investing?Do you have questions related to personal finance? Submit them here.Vanguard personal advisers offer additional services beyond portfolio rebalancing, including guidance on how to withdraw money during retirement and strategies on how to manage the taxes associated with investments, so you may have the opportunity to get more out of your advisor than you would out of a target-date fund. Its also worth noting that your typical target-date retirement fund is likely to come with a higher expense ratio than a Vanguard ETF, costing you more money over time. VFIFX, for example, which is Vanguards target-date retirement fund for people planning to retire between 2048 and 2052, has an expense ratio of 0.08 percent. Your VTI ETF only has an expense ratio of 0.03 percent, which means that less of your money goes towards administering the fund.Im not suggesting that you drop your adviser and transfer all of your investments into a target-date retirement fund. Im not a professional investment advisor myself, which means I cannot provide specific investment advice plus, I have an extremely limited knowledge of your situation. However, I can suggest that you talk to your adviser about the full range of services they offer and ask yourself whether you are interested in taking advantage of those services.If you decide youd rather manage your investments on your own, you could always keep your current portfolio as-is and rebalance it yourself, adjusting the percentage of stocks to bonds every few years. If you are planning to retire in 2050, for example, you can take a look at Vanguards VFIFX glidepath and literally replicate it with your own ETFs. At age 40, for example, VFIFX puts roughly 55 percent of your investments in stocks, 35 percent in international stocks, 8 percent in bonds, and 2 percent in international bonds. By the time you reach age 65, VFIFX has adjusted your investments to include 30 percent stocks, 20 percent international stocks, 25 percent bonds, 15 percent international bonds, and the remaining 10 percent in short-term TIPS, which are inflation-protected securities.If that sounds too confusing, or if you arent sure whether you have enough time to schedule and track regular portfolio reallocations, you may want to just stick with your current adviser. Its also worth noting that a good investment adviser may be able to keep you from making impulsive decisions, such as selling during a temporary downturn and may also be able to advise you on other financial issues such as how much to withdraw during retirement. They may even be able to help you with estate planning, if thats important to you and your wife. Feel free to ask your advisor what you can expect over the next few decades, and use that response to help you decide whether or not to maintain the relationship.No matter what you decide to do next, your current portfolio puts you in a great place to get started.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

'Gotta unbox 'em all' it seems, as Pokemon grabs yet another world record, this time for a marathon 24 hour unboxing stream for its latest card game set, Surging Sparks

Call of Duty players will have to make two big purchases costing around 50 to get the latest version of the Replacer skin, and fans really aren't happy about it

Segas movie plans make no sense without this important first stepMichael BeckwithPublished November 26, 2024 1:00am There are at least six Sega movie projects in the works (Sega/Metro)Films based on Sega Mega Drive classics like Streets Of Rage and Shinobi could be the best news retro gaming fans have had in decades.Video game movies are nothing new, but the idea that they could actually be good is. Thanks to box office success stories like The Super Mario Bros Movie and Uncharted (not to mention The Last Of Us and Fallout on TV), game companies are more eager than ever to partner with Hollywood and leverage their IPs as a means of boosting sales and making some extra money.Its a perfectly fine strategy and audiences have often enjoyed seeing their favourite games turned into genuinely good films. The days of video game movies being universally embarrassing seem to be over, even if Borderlands makes clear theyre not gone forever.The success stories appear to have emboldened game companies into rummaging down the sofa in search of anything they can mould into a potential blockbuster, regardless of whether it makes any sense to. Sega, in particular, is going overboard with its movie projects at the moment, even though very few of its classic properties have a coherent story.What Sega movies are coming out soon?Currently riding high with its live action Sonic The Hedgehog movies (with a third due in December), Sega has plans for no less than six movie adaptations in the near future. Not for any of its current titles, but for long-dormant IPs from the 90s: Streets Of Rage, The House Of The Dead, Space Channel 5, Shinobi, Comix Zone, and Eternal Champions.At the risk of sounding mean, who is talking about Comix Zone or Eternal Champions nowadays? Even Space Channel 5, arguably the most famous of those six, isnt all that relevant in the 2020s, with Ulalas role as the face of Sega rhythm games taken over by virtual pop star Hatsune Miku.Wed be remiss not to acknowledge the 2020s have seen a Streets Of Rage revival in Streets Of Rage 4 and a House Of The Dead remake. But the former, while successful, has hardly turned Streets Of Rage into a household name and the latter simply wasnt very good.No doubt Sega intends to capitalise on its big retro video game revivals. At The Game Awards 2023, Sega teased new entries for a range of once-forgotten franchises. However, only two of those Streets Of Rage and Shinobi are confirmed to be getting movies.So far, Sega has no plans to make a Comix Zone sequel or remake Eternal Champions (an obscure Mega Drive fighting game that few people liked even at the time), so theres not even any cross-promotions to fully take advantage of with a movie. Are you excited about all these Sega movies? (Picture: Sega)It all seems very random and risky when you remember these old IPs dont exactly offer much of a story framework for a film. The 80s and 90s were a time when stories werent at the forefront for a lot of games (barring exceptions like Final Fantasy) and were simply excuses to justify why youre running through levels.Sega does at least seem aware of this. In this VGC interview, the companys global head of transmedia, Justin Scarpone (who was an executive at Disney for 17 years), acknowledges the challenges the company faces in marketing these movie projects to both nostalgic fans and the younger generation.If we try to reinvent these IPs, how do we connect?, he said. Which platforms and how do we evolve the lure for these IPs that are lesser known, frankly speaking? And how do we connect with new generations?The answer seems to be by telling a good enough story, with Scarpone using Shinobi as an example of a game thats extremely light on lore and characterisation.There are some episodic or, lets say, iconic moments in the old franchise games that we can call out in the movie script or in the reboot of the game. But I think we have to do a lot more because games in 2025 or 2026, the level of storytelling and gameplay has just obviously evolved tremendously. If were too careful, I think well under-deliver, creatively speaking.Why are so many video game movies bad?On one hand, something like Shinobi offers a degree of freedom when it comes to narrative. Its original story and protagonist, Joe Musashi, are so ill-defined that they can be fleshed out without contradicting anything.However, this lack of narrative also means players all have their own preconceptions of the tone of the game and Joe as a character. Unlike Sonic or Kazuma Kiryu, theres no agreed foundation to draw on, meaning any personality Joe gets, or story hes given, can easily anger certain purists for contradicting the Shinobi that exists in their heads.Of course, movie adaptations not being true to their source material is hardly anything new, for video games or anything else, but its interesting that despite being a critical and commercial flop, 2K claims that the Borderlands movie still caused an increase in game sales even though there hadnt been a new one out in years.This explains why video game movies almost never have an official tie-in, as publishers merely license out the property but dont put their money or reputation on the line, in the event that its a flop or a laughing stock (or both, in the case of Borderlands).But Segas situation is different. People are still playing Borderlands games and Borderlands 4 was recently announced. Nobody has thought about Eternal Champions and the rest in 30 years, so unless the movie is a massive hit Sega get nothing out of the deal except the initial licensing fee.What retro games is Sega going to reboot?Theres a very good chance that, on some level at least, Sega is simply taking Hollywood investors money and not asking any questions, since video game movies are hot at the moment and movie execs are clearly looking to sign up whatever they can get their hands on. After all, a Space Channel 5 movie doesnt make any less sense than Pac-Man, Days Gone, Bendy And The Ink Machine, or Just Dance.More TrendingBut if Sega want any long-term benefit out of the deal the sensible thing would be to make new games based on these franchises, which would not only rejuvenate their back catalogue which has laid dormant for more than 20 years now but also create new story elements for the movies to adapt.The original Shinobi didnt have a memorable story but the new one could be different. However, even then its difficult to understand why games as unloved and unremarkable as Comix Zone and Eternal Champions are being fast-tracked ahead of Sega games like Phantasy Star and Panzer Dragoon, which already have a story and remain popular today.Hollywood clearly has it in mind that where superheroes dominated cinema in the 2010s, video games can do so in the 2020s and beyond but comic books are a storytelling medium and, in general, 90s and early 2000s video games were not.The best-case scenario for this problem is for publishers to revive their older games with modern storytelling techniques and get them ready for adaptation that way. The worst-case scenario is that the eventual Eternal Champions movie is an authentic adaptation of the original game and ends up making Borderlands look like a cinematic classic.Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Its probably best to try and hide a bit better than that (Rebellion)It might not be Sniper Elite 6 but Rebellions latest game is looking to add a suite of new online options and multiple player characters.Rebellions World War 2 era Sniper Elite franchise is one of the gaming worlds hardy perennials. The first Sniper Elite game was released in 2005, nearly 20 years ago, and its most recent iteration, Sniper Elite 5, came out in 2022 so Rebellion hasnt exactly been shy about keeping its momentum going over that period, even with Atomfall coming up as well.You wont have to wait long for another instalment of its distinctive third person Nazi elimination action either. Sniper Elite: Resistance will be one of the first new releases of 2025 and while its not a numbered sequel it is doing its best to evolve the concept in more subtle ways.In the grand tradition of long-running franchises, Sniper Elite: Resistance will be a mid-cycle game Sniper Elite 5.5, if you like. We had the chance to play it, via the game-streaming service Parsec for an hour. But before jumping in, producer Lauren Davidson explained what Sniper Elite: Resistance is all about and what new features it contains.Resistance is intended as a standalone addition to the Sniper Elite canon, with a full length single-player campaign. Rather than series stalwart Karl Fairburne, it puts you in control of Harry Hawker, a British Special Operations Executive agent (who has had a co-op supporting role in some previous Sniper Elite games).Davidson also teased a new mode for the franchise, entitled Propaganda, which will centre on finding propaganda posters hidden around the levels. Once you find one you will then be able to step through it and play as a French Resistance operative, in a series of missions that have time-sensitive objectives.Davidson added that the series Axis Invasion online mode will return, allowing you to step into other players campaigns as an Axis sniper. Plus, the game will have a competitive 16-player online mode as well as a three-player co-op Survival mode, in which you and two others will be able to take on waves of enemies.Our hands-on playthrough was a demo consisting of the third level of Resistances campaign. Unfortunately, since it was an early demo, it lacked the checkpointing that would be in the final game, so once we died, we had to restart the level. Without further ado, we jumped in, playing via Parsec on a gaming laptop, but using an Xbox Series X controller rather than keyboard and mouse.A briefing screen delivered in typically authentic 1940s newsreel style provided a hint as to Sniper Elite: Resistances overarching storyline: Harry Hawkers mission to find out more about a legendary new weapon being developed by the Nazis, dubbed a Wunderwaffe, and supposedly so powerful that it could end the war.In the demo level, Harry finds himself in Fourviere, a district of the French city Lyon, where unusual activity pertaining to said weapon had been sighted by the local Resistance. A large number of Gestapo officers have set up a base in the Hotel Terminus, while unusual amounts of traffic in the nearby train station suggested something was also going on there.Harrys brief is to gather intel in the Gestapos offices and inspect the Hotel Terminuss basement, and to scope out the train station. Hes told that Resistance operatives investigating the train station have disappeared from contact, bringing about an optional mission to re-establish contact or find out what had happened to them. Its not just Indiana Jones that hates these guys (Rebellion)Harry starts at one of the highest points of Fourviere, overlooking a patch of grassland and a major city square, in which much Nazi activity can be perceived. It swiftly becomes obvious that Resistance will be the best-looking Sniper Elite game yet; its visuals are super crisp and the environmental and level design shows an impressive amount of verticality (always welcome in a sniping game).As is the convention for a Sniper Elite game, Hawker is equipped with a pistol, sniper rifle, and an assault rifle as well as a grenade, a full-health-restoring medical kit, some bandages, and objects such as bottles that can be thrown to cause distractions.Different ammo types can be equipped for each weapon, such as armour-piercing, although at the start of the mission, he only has standard ammo. Looting dead enemies and finding supply drops throughout the course of the level is key to building up a more diverse loadout and some of the Nazis killed also yield some interesting weaponry.Gameplay-wise, Sniper Elite: Resistance is comfortingly familiar. Reaching instantly for the sniper rifle, we targeted a lone Nazi infantryman and hit the right bumper to hold our breath, at which point, time slowed down slightly, the targeting reticule turned red, and our successful shot launched the deliciously lurid x-ray killcam, following our bullets trajectory as it ripped through his body.Sniper Elites famously rigorous enemy AI soon pitched into action. In the square opposite, we took out some long-distance targets, divided between infantrymen and leather-jacketed Gestapo operatives. A lorry full of enemies pulled up and we explored the possibility of environmental kills, planting enough shots into its engine to cause it to explode.Enemies took cover, necessitating some patience while we waited for them to raise their heads slightly. We also managed to take some out while they were on the move, earning a ribbon (which contribute to upgrading Harry Hawkers attributes in the full game, as opposed to the demo we were playing) for achieving five sniper rifle kills in 60 seconds.Having cleared the initial area, we started to move towards our twin objectives of the Hotel Terminus and the train station. On the way was a marked resistance safe house, which had clearly been compromised, since it contained Gestapo operatives rather than resistance fighters who had to be taken out at close range with the assault rifle.As we moved through Fourviere, more elements of the familiar Sniper Elite gameplay became evident. Hawker has a powerful melee takedown, which can be used to either kill or incapacitate, and generators can be turned on to mask any movement noise you might make. If you cant be bothered to hide bodies, you can booby trap them instead with grenades. Alarms are everywhere, which can be taken out by sniping or disabling them manually once you take out the enemies around them.More TrendingThe level was long, had several stages and was enjoyably involving. As is typical for the franchise, the gameplay is rigorous and challenging if you make a wrong move youll be swamped by reinforcements. Scuttling around to escape last-known positions is vital; luckily, it was always possible to find a new place to hide and snipe, as long as you keep your bearings.In other words, Sniper Elite: Resistances gameplay was exactly what you would expect from a new instalment of the franchise, and the gunplay felt as polished, smooth and perfectly fettled as ever. Sadly, we didnt manage to find a Propaganda mission, but those should add even more variety to the single-player gameplay.From what we saw, Sniper Elite: Resistance will offer exactly what you would expect from a Sniper Elite game, albeit with the best visuals yet seen in the franchise, an even greater stamp of authenticity, and a rollicking Second World War plot. Its not Sniper Elite 6 but it is the next best thing.Formats: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCPrice: 54.99Publisher: RebellionDeveloper: RebellionRelease Date: 30th January 2025Age Rating: 16 You dont only snipe (Rebellion)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Scientists are racing to find out

As we learned late last week, the beloved Muppet*Vision 3D attraction at Walt Disney World has been confirmed to be a part of the closures to make way for Pixars Monsters Inc. land slated for the Disney Parks super-charged expansion in the works. Then, over the weekend, it was officially announced that Muppets Courtyard, the home of the Muppet*Vision 3D, will be demolished without any third-act efforts from the Muppets to save their theaterthough Henson nerds have expressed how much like a Muppet movie it would be to make a last stand. But as things are often subject to big changes at Walt Disney World, its the end of an era for the cherished cinematic 3D chaos of Muppet*Vision. What makes it all the more bittersweet is that it was the last Muppets project to be helmed by their creator Jim Henson. It features timeless animatronic work (Statler and Waldorf heckling along on the balcony, a walk-around Sweetums) as part of the show.In a statement on Instagram, the Jim Henson company shared the following: Jim Hensons final project was Muppet*Vision 3D, now regarded as a true theme park classic. Innovation was always Jim Hensons north star, and his trailblazing career led him to a unique challenge: a truly immersive Muppet experience where audiences are part of the happy chaos of the iconic Muppet Show. Originally debuting in 1991, Muppet*Vision 3D combined 3D technology with real-world practical effects, alongside animatronic and live Muppet characters. The result was a one-of-a-kind Jim Henson experience, and an unforgettable capstone to Jims magnificent career. As we learn of the shows upcoming closure in its current form at Disneys Hollywood Studios, we look forward to Muppet*Vision 3Ds next act. Image: Sabina Graves, io9/Gizmodo Muppets Courtyard featured the whimsy and wonder of walking around the set of a Muppet production backlot, with statues of Miss Piggy aboundinglike the Ms. Liberty fountain, which we hope just gets re-homed at the Muppets new place of residence (more on that below). At least we wont miss the truly atrocious (yet somehow cult-beloved) slice house PizzeRizzo.While the Monsters Inc. Monstropolis will take up the space as its currently occupied, the Muppets wont be going far at least. In fact, they will play the starring role in the re-imagining of the Rock n Roller Coaster (currently headlined by Aerosmith) at Hollywood Studios. This news came along with the announcement of Muppet*Vision 3Ds closure. Its a little concerning, given that pairing the iconic family franchise with one of the parks most hardcore coasters could alienate introducing the Muppets to children; that was easier when it was baked into Muppet*Vision as a gateway to get them interested in The Muppet Show and spin-off movies on Disney+.Heres hoping that perhaps Rock n Roller Coaster gets new ride track akin to the interactive level of Epcots Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind but maybe just a tad bit more family friendlyand that could indeed be what Disney Imagineering has in mind, and not just giving it a new coat of paint. Lets see them go all in Muppet-ifying it with a lot of Electric Mayhem. Image: Disney Experiences Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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LEAD VIP Room Store / TEKI DesignSave this picture! Tatsuya TabiiStore, Retail InteriorsHiroshima, JapanArchitects: TEKI DesignAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:23 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Tatsuya TabiiManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: KAMO CRAFT Construction: KPWMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Used clothes give the image of being cheap and easy to buy. Many products are available in a wide variety with no gaps between them.What is called "vintage, has been carefully passed down from generation to generation. They have increased in social value due to their historical background and rarity.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!I think it would be good to have a space just for vintage clothes, not just used clothes. We wanted to create a place where only the products float and are displayed in a showcase. We aimed to create a place where people could enter the showcase and face the products.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Clothing will be treated as a more sustainable entity by being passed on carefully, not just worn out. I hope it will be such a place where we can rediscover the value and sense of value.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Hiroshima, JapanLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeTEKI DesignOfficeMaterialSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on November 26, 2024Cite: "LEAD VIP Room Store / TEKI Design" 25 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/986248/lead-vip-room-store-teki-design&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Concrete Sandwich Office Building / NOMALSave this picture! Roh KyungArchitects: NOMALAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:664 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Roh Kyung Lead Architects: Minyuk Chai, Bokki Lee, Seyeon Cho More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!'Wider, Higher, Cheaper' -'Wider, Higher, Cheaper' is not a new trend. In architecture, where real estate value as an asset cannot be separated from its relationship with the building, finding the maximum area of the building-to-land ratio and floor area ratio is also essential. The theme of the Korean Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition was the 'Floor Area Ratio Game,' it dealt with Korean architects' efforts over the past 50 years to achieve the maximum floor area ratio. At that time, the low interest rates and relatively high land prices reduced the burden on building owners by making a structure to pay for construction costs through a loan secured by land, which led to the growth of the multi-family housing market. Many architects implemented various methodologies in this trend, such as the floor area ratio game.Save this picture!'But, beautiful' - It is almost the end of 2024, and the situation has changed. Due to the long-term effects of COVID-19 and global war, interest rates have risen, loans have become difficult, and construction costs have increased significantly. On the other hand, construction on-site faces the aging of field technicians due to changes in industrial structure and generations, making it difficult to standardize quality standards. In these changing circumstances, solutions and concerns were needed to maximize construction volume, minimize costs, and increase constructability. Despite this, aesthetic sense is an essential issue for neither the client nor the architect.Save this picture!'Additional Game' -A triangular pyramid-shaped building originally occupied the land with road diagonal restrictions and north-facing diagonal restrictions for sunlight rights. The road diagonal restrictions were abolished in 2015, and the height of the north-facing diagonal restrictions was recently relaxed from 9m to 10m. This allowed the existing land room to increase its maximum volume, and some of the inconvenient slanted wall space due to the road diagonal could be changed vertically by filling the building coverage ratio and floor area ratio.Save this picture!Like the slogan of the floor area ratio game, the shape of the building was increased to the maximum volume of the land. The first floor was made into an indoor space, excluding the number of parking spaces, and it was built vertically up to the third floor. A terrace and a sloping roof were created from the fourth floor onwards due to the diagonal restriction on sunlight rights. To minimize costs, the existing core, west, and south sides were maintained as much as possible, and the east and north sides were demolished to secure additional space with a new steel structure. Additionally, a terrace was secured on each floor by utilizing the 1m eaves depth not included in the total floor area. It was a fierce 'addition game' to ensure the building coverage and floor area ratio.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!'Subtraction Game' -On the other hand, the form was a 'subtraction game.' It tried to simplify by using the minimum elements and ready-made products. Semiconductor-combustible urethane panels (aka. sandwich panels) were used as the prefabricated construction method's exterior walls to meet the insulation standards while minimizing construction. Pedestals were used for the terraces to facilitate construction and drainage, and the slopes applied were covered with only one layer of corrugated steel sheet over the waterproofing, making it convenient for maintenance with the prefabrication construction method. The rainwater pipes were also exposed using ready-made products to make maintenance easy and to match the design.Save this picture!According to the client's opinion that he wanted an exterior like exposed concrete, the exterior insulation system was used, and concrete was carefully applied like porcelain glaze on top of the sandwich panels. The windows were also minimized to the extent necessary for lighting, ventilation, and firefighter entry windows, prioritizing the criteria of reducing interference with neighbors on the adjacent land.Save this picture!'Easter Egg' -The design intention was to make the steel building look like a concrete building, but the truth about steel structures was exposed here and there. The steel structure of the interior ceiling is visible through the front window, and the raw H-beams are visible through the gaps in the piloti columns. It was left as a bit of humor in the facade that could look hard and bleak. Of course, these parts are subtle Easter eggs only architects can recognize and understand.Save this picture!'Tightrope walking' -A renovation has the disadvantage of a limited scope of construction, but variables due to aging have a significant impact on the project plan. The smaller the building, the more substantial the increase in cost due to variables. That's why renovations are like tightrope walking. Fortunately, this project was able to transform an existing building into a usable and comfortable space by renovating it at a relatively low cost. No perfect solution exists in a rapidly changing era and society, but the appropriate solutions are vital to clients and architects.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Seoul, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeNOMALOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on November 26, 2024Cite: "Concrete Sandwich Office Building / NOMAL" 25 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023993/concrete-sandwich-office-building-nomal&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream