Novel Apartments in Japan Photo Essay

Novel apartments have been designed in Japan, with unusual access ,utility, space saving and functionality.

Kazuyo Sejima designed this nine-unit apartment in Yokohama with an undulating inner court. Each unit has access to either its own garden or roof terrace. The glimpses into this maze-like open space adds a unique character to the surrounding neighborhood.

This timber framed apartment accommodates four artists. The small bedrooms are lifted five meters (16.4 feet) above the ground on the triangular corners of the building. The open-air covered courtyard is shared by the residents as their communal studio and gallery. The exterior stairs to bedrooms are sometimes used as seating when there are performances in the gallery.

Sou Fujimoto devised multi-unit housing by literally stacking house-shaped units one atop the other. The topmost units are accessed by exterior staircases, like vertical renditions the narrow alleyways one finds in Tokyo.

This five-story apartment building heightens the contrast between perceived mass and void. Each of the upper level units of accommodation is separated by an outdoor corridor.

This colorful apartment in Tokyo is intended to awaken human senses. The inside is as colorful as the exterior and finished by different materials (tatami, pebbles, wood, etc.) are used. The living / dining even has bumpy floor to challenge it’s tenants.

NE apartments in Tokyo are a novel take on the home residence: a block of eight apartments in Japan designed exclusively for the motorcyclist

Photography of the apartment interiors reveal incredibly efficient if compact living spaces for one, and the interior layout of the block as a whole is a veritable rabbit warren of a design

Sources:

https://www.japlusu.com/news/new-approaches-apartment-living-japan

http://www.gizmag.com/motorcycle-apartments-tokyo/23008/pictures#4

‘India Corruption Risk’ Ernst Young Report.Scams Echo.

The echoes of the Bribery, Corruption in High places ans Government’s unwillingness to take action, are now reverberating through the World.

Earlier Reports of GFI and Financial Rating Agencies used to call India not too friendly for speedy growth due to slow implementation of Economic Reforms, now the tone and tenor has changed.

Now the issue id Corruption and bribery.

Ernst &Young has called India as ‘ that fraud, bribery and corruption are seen as significant risks in India’.

It estimated that

‘Businesses in India recorded losses worth a whopping Rs 6,600 crore last year with a significant portion of these frauds occurring in the financial services sector that includes banking, investments and insurance businesses.

63% of the total fraud cases in FY12 were reported in the financial services sector, banks being the most common victim of frauds followed by insurance and mutual fund companies, according to Fraud Indicator, a first of its kind report by Consulting firm Ernst & Young.’

Considering the number of zeroes following the scams, this estimate is quite low.

Read the Full Report.

Ernst &Young Report India.

 

‘Even allowing for a recent slowdown, the Indian economy continues to grow faster than many other G20 countries.

However, with Indian GDP growth rates below the trend of the last decade, pressure on companies to meet expectations is rising, increasing in turn, the risk of fraud, bribery and corruption.

Although India continues to be a favored destination for foreign investment, with 71% of respondents to our 2012 India Attractiveness Survey keen to invest in the country, growth opportunities are constrained by regulation and bureaucracy.

A recent report from the World Bank ranked India 132nd out of 183 economies for ease of doing business, and as low as 181st for dealing with construction permits and 182nd for enforcing contracts.

Similarly, the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report for 2011–2012 ranked India 96th of 142 economies for burden of government regulation.

The combination of a market with significant investment potential and a high level of bureaucracy has resulted in many seeking to bypass, accelerate or influence decisions. Media coverage from India has featured a series of corruption scandals over recent years, including a number involving national and state government representatives.

Coverage intensified in 2011 following high-profile protests over the pervasiveness of corruption in the country.

Given the extensive media coverage, it is not surprising that fraud, bribery and corruption are seen as significant risks in India. This is shown by the fact that 70% of India respondents to our survey think that bribery and corruption are widespread in the country and 72% believe that management is likely to cut corners to meet targets.

These findings are consistent with the decline in the ranking of India on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (down from 3.5 to 3.1 and from 72nd to 95th place in the rankings between 2007 and 2011).

With fraud, bribery and corruption risk so high on the domestic and international agenda, it is essential that companies with a presence in India actively address these risks.’

http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Services/Assurance/Fraud-Investigation—Dispute-Services/Global-Fraud-Survey—a-place-for-integrity—India

 

You can download The printable version of The Report at the Link.

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Related articles

• Indian economy lost Rs 6,600 cr due to frauds in FY12: E&Y

 

Businesses from Home

 

Life as a Consultant (Photo credit: Ikhlasul Amal)

 

1. Marketing Consultancy

 

If you have served for several years in a particular industry, and have acquired the know-how that it takes to become an expert in the field, why not consider the role of a marketing consultant? You could start your business by offering your services to known customers, and expand the base as the business grows.

 

2. Web-Based Business

 

If the world of the World Wide Web is your abode, starting up a business as a web designer or developer is not a bad idea. The set-up costs would include investment in computer systems, and the word is ‘go’ from there on!

 

3. Photography

 

 

 

If photography has been an interest area all your life, why not turn this hobby into a business? All you need is the right equipment and the right digital tools to set ball rolling. What’s more, you could even opt for video photography to enhance the scope of work.

 

4. Online Trading

 

If you feel that the rise and fall in the stock market is the main cause of the fluctuations that happen in your heart, your soul lies in the share market. You can operate a business right from the comfort of your home as you offer consulting as well as trading services to your clients.

 

5. Real Estate

 

 

 

Property rates rising and falling make many consumers seek the advice and assistance of brokers or agents. If you have an interest in the field, you could take up real estate consultancy or brokering as an option to set up your business from home.

 

6. Automotive Parts

 

So, are you a car enthusiast and never imagined that you could turn your passion into a business idea? Well, here it is. You can tie up with manufacturers of parts and build a client base that requires them, but does not know how to contact the makers directly.

 

7. Pet Care

 

Animal lovers need not fret, for there are various options for them to start a business from home too. You could associate with a veterinarian hospital to know what products to purchase and hire one or two young helpers who love animals too.

 

8. Wedding Planning

 

 

 

While considered a female domain, scope for men to enter the industry is enormous too. However, you need to have the knack and organisational skills required for this job. You also need to have a good relationship with caterers, interior decorators, florists, hotels and various other service providers.

 

9. Food Catering

 

Did you think that cooking was just something that a homemaker had to do? Wrong! You can make a profession out of it, too! And that too right from your own home! All it requires is acquiring the right resources, gauging the tastes of your potential clientele, and of course, being a food-lover!

 

Gardening

 

Now this does not mean you mow the lawns and water the plants in the houses of other people. This implies establishing your own set-up or nursery, wherein you can not only house plants and flowers of all kinds, but also provide equipment, training and consultancy to avid garden-growers.

 

Starting your own business, that too from home, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, cautious planning can help you turn a venture into a huge success. Make sure you know what your area of interest is!

 

http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/10-businesses-start-home-090106138.html?page=all

 

 

 

Subject and Predicate.

 

We normally speak of something. When we say ‘SUN’, we speak of the star that gives us light; when we say cricket, we mean a particular game. So, whenever we make a sentence, we speak about something or somebody. What we speak about is called a ’SUBJECT’.

Fine, I want to speak about India. Now I say ‘India’ – Does this give any complete meaning?  No. It remains a word. To make a sentence, I            have to say something about ‘India’ – only then it will give complete meaning.  If I say, ‘India is a democratic country’ – we understand. Therefore, to make the sentence completely understood or comprehensible, we have to say something about the ‘subject’. i.e. India (we speak about something) – is the subject; is a democratic country (we say this about India – predicate). Now, the sentence gives you the            complete meaning.

India  (subject)  is a democratic country (predicate). What we    say  about India, i.e. ‘is a democratic country’, is called  Predicate.

The word Predicate means ‘saying something about something.

Hence, in a sentence, WHAT WE SPEAK ABOUT IS CALLED THE ‘SUBJECT’

And

‘WHAT WE SPEAK ABOUT THE SUBJECT IS CALLED ‘THE PREDICATE’.

Example:

ALL MATTER IS INDESTRUCTIBLE  -

ALL MATTER – SUBJECT    IS INDESTRUCTIBLE  -  PREDICATE

 

I SAW A SAW TO SAW A SAW   -

I SAW   -   SUBJECT      A SAW TO SAW A SAW   -  PREDICATE

STILL WATERS RUN DEEP

STILL WATERS  -  SUBJECT        RUN DEEP  – PREDICATE

 

 

 

Indian Hundred Rupee Issued by The East India Company.

Indian Rupee Issued by The East India Company

Thanks. ,Srinivasan Rajan.