How To Build With Social Network

www.stavebnictvo.sk exists in a slovak version only so far, but it is an interesting project so that I decided to introduce it here anyway. It is possible thanks to Martin Prochazka, one of four project developers. Martin is a 3D architectural visualizer with international practices from gmj.net and vize.com, his present works are available at www.cadrender.sk.

 

Stavebnictvo is simple translated as building industry. Well, the project is young, about one year and it has the form of a social network with a specific orientation - building. All members are checked professionals from the field of architecture, statics, law, developers, management, interior design, construction company etc.

So together they produce organic cooperation, sharing photos, videos and experiences. By advising to each other they create self promotion in the same time. Developers of the portal care to keep the hidden marketing always with a human face.

 

Membership is for free, even we do not find there any annoying banner, the ID photo is obligatory. Holy truth is that informations have added value when the source is known. The portal is connecting people, delivering the education and supporting traditional values - members are getting good reputation based on their activity, it is a real thing that somebody who is deciding among different construction suppliers for example to build a

family house, is commending his savings to the company that has quality among priorities.

Quality can be promoted by cool animations or also by willingness and spent time for advices to those that budget is limited. In a portal forum, questions are usually answered the same or the next day and of course there is a newsletter - every two weeks.

 

More than just a forum

 

Articles are added mainly by members. The portal also has an agreement with worldarchitecturenews where other hot topics are imported from. All sections from the building sector are available, very useful are manuals how to fill in formal documents or which offices are needed to be visited for this or that process, legal help, which software to use and much more than just a forum.

A cooperation with the with Faculty of Civil Engineeringof the Technical University of Kosice is started. The web portal will promote this faculty that needs to make it in the fight between other similar faculties or study directions. For this purpose workshops and articles will be helpful.

 

After one year portal asks already for redesign, growing amount of practical information is challenging. It is interesting that project is completely informal yet, however it starts to be a barrier, for example when guys are offered with sponsor gifts for online competition and it cannot be accepted just because of a legal form. Technically the site runs under the social network system Ning, based on the open source software from Google - OpenSocial. For example it is also possible to embed photos and videos in any comment. 

 

A web shop is planned, but this time-consuming upgrade is not in hurry. All four developers have already full time jobs which they enjoy. But they have the knowhow and are open for cooperation with investors who see the opportunity in the online building sphere. And there they could pull out some more aces from their sleeves…that guys secretly speculate about something like IKEA augmented reality, but a bit more for buildings and like a service for architects.