Construction Market Will Continue to Slide in 2009, According to McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook

Report says to expect a 7 percent decline to follow 12 percent drop in 2008 as financial upheaval continues.

McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The

McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), today released its 2009 Construction

Outlook, which forecasts a drop in overall U.S. construction starts for next

year, as the tough funding environment continues, construction projects are

deferred, and financial stress gradually eases. Against this backdrop, the

level of construction starts in 2009 is expected to decline 7%, to $515

billion, following a 12% decline predicted for 2008.

Single family housing for 2009 will be down 2percent in dollars, corresponding to a 4percent drop in the number of units to 560,000 (McGraw-Hill Construction basis).

Multifamily housing will retreat 6percent in dollars and 8percent in units, after the sharp plunge witnessed during 2008.

Commercial buildings will drop 12 percent in dollars and 15 percent in square feet, similar to the declines experienced in 2008. Stores and warehouses will continue to lose momentum, the office correction will be steeper, and hotel construction will finally pull back after its lengthy boom.

Institutional buildings will slip 3 percent in dollars and 6percent in square feet, as the financial crisis affects funding coming from states and localities.

Manufacturing buildings will plunge 32 percent in dollars after an exceptional 2008 that was lifted by the start of several massive oil refinery expansion projects.

Public works construction will fall 5 percent, given flat funding at the federal level combined with restraint by state and local governments.

Electric utility construction will retreat 30 percent after surging 55 percent to a near record amount in 2008.

The 2009 Construction Outlook was presented at the McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook Executive Conference in Washington, DC, which brought together top management from all parts of the construction industry, including firms involved in building product manufacturing, architecture and design, contracting, engineering, industry associations and other industry professionals.

This year, the conference also unveiled a new report that analyzes industry trends for building products and industry players and provided a preview of the 2009 Green Outlook: Trends Driving Change, a first-of-its-kind outlook report on market size, trends and opportunity across green building sectors and regions.

For more information, visit http://construction.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0249-295230_ITM_analytics .

1st Japanese Rock Gardens | Art of Japanese Rock Gardens

The Japanese rocks gardens using stones and rocks design, it is essential element in their design. Nothing features in Japanese rocks garden. there is types of rocks and stones used together with some basic of japanese rocks garden. In Japanese rocks garden we can find elemnent of budhism.

The first stone classified to be introduced into Japanese gardens was the 'Shumisen' - a collection of stones, where the Buddha lives in the main central stone and his disciples are the smaller stones around the Buddha. Stones and rocks are symbolic representations of real or mythical land forms.

There are 4 main types of stone groupings in a Japanese rock garden and each type has a name and a meaning. These stones and rocks can be used in many combinations so if you are thinking of designing your own Japanese rock garden or adding to what you already have there is plenty of scope for creativity!

1. 1. Stone is called 'Soul Stone' it is low and vertical.
2. 2. The 'Body Stone' which is as a rule tall and vertical in shape.
3. 3. Other type of stone is called 'The Heart Stone' or 'Flat Stone' - and that's exactly what it is.
4. 4. 'Branching Stone ' or Arching stone and last but not least is the 'Ox Stone' which can also be known as the 'reclining' stone.

All of these stones are included in Japanese rock gardens and Japanese gardens because of their 'positive' meaning and influence but, as you know in life for every positive there is usually a negative and so it is in Japanese gardens. 'Bad' stones and rocks can be put into 3 categories and these are never used in Japanese rock gardens.

1. Firstly, there are 'Diseased Stones' these are stones that are withered or have a misshapen top.

2. Secondly, comes the 'Dead Stone' this is a stone that is obviously used as a horizontal one and vice versa

3. the 'Pauper Stone' which is a stone that has no direct connection to any other stones in the garden.

small japanese garden concept

Small Japanese gardens are simple and amazing. I particularly everybody like the small Japanese gardens and this is what I am going to be writing about here.

Small Japanese gardens are very much about nature and a natural looking garden is considered to be the 'ideal' garden.

Rocks are one of the most common things used in Small Japanese gardens especially the smaller ones. They are easy and simple, natural and can be really effective. Sand is also commonly used along with a range of wild plants.

People like how the Japanese feel that they have to separate there small garden from the outside of the home. this concept really fantastic.

There are basically 5 types of components that should be included in small Japanese gardens.

Below the basic concepts that the Japanese use to create there small Japanese gardens. If you have a small garden which is in a sunny location I highly recommend that you look into making a Japanese garden:

Rock or Ishi - this means rocks are the foundations of Japanese gardens. Wide or arched in a natural looking way, this gives depth to the garde adn Stones used are often tall,

Water or Mizu - The Garden's expert says water is supposed to remind us of the relentless passage of time. Water is calming and is a great way to make the garden look natural.

Plants or Shokobutsu - If the plants are said to have a meaning in Japanese gardens, is to remind us that every season that passes away. Plants play a secondary role to the rocks in Japanese gardens, water gardens, unlike other cultures.

Ornaments or Tenkebutsu - Make frequently used in Japanese gardens, Japanese gardens are very small. These ornaments add an additional interest in traditional Japanese gardens.

Borrowed or Shakkei - This is usually something from outside the garden. The Japanese say it can be things from far, near, high or low.

Japanese Gardens: Travel Impressions 2

Japanese gardens have been around for centuries. They have been, and continue to be the source of inspiration for poets, writers, painters, sculptors and the general public. The Japanese garden is closely linked to the Japanese tea ceremony. Their idea is to awaken the spirit to the realization of our humility in our relationship with the world and the universe around us.

It emphasizes the connection between the body's movements and the mind. It was during the Heian period (794-1185) that gardens came to be viewed in this way. They separated from a solely religious purpose and began to include more secular motives such as the tea ceremony, amusement, contemplation and recreation.

The Japanese garden takes several forms. The one most recognizable to me is the one which includes guided paths and water features that serve to guide a visitor. There are also dry gardens, where racked sand is used to represent ripples on the surface of water. A typical garden has a center, or viewing point. This is usually a home or a place where tea ceremonies are held with a purposeful view of the garden.

I visited the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden located at Cal State Long Beach. This public garden, unlike private ones, includes a wide variety of environments. The most obvious is the pond you come upon when you enter. It contains islands, water plants and rock features. It is crossed by an arching bridge and Koy, orange and white in an almost Pinto pattern, swim in large schools.

I visited the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden located at Cal State Long Beach. This public garden, unlike private ones, includes a wide variety of environments. The most obvious is the pond you come upon when you enter. It contains islands, water plants and rock features. It is crossed by an arching bridge and Koy, orange and white in an almost Pinto pattern, swim in large schools.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6602004