the seaside villa by alessandro isola & supriya mankad
located in a private bay down the coast from izmir, turkey, the interior of a 'seaside villa' developed by alessandro isola & supriya mankad as part of a larger complex. the design intent was to conceive a strong internal identity given the anonymous quality of the outer shell. proximity to the ocean and rich turkish context lent themselves as natural influence for the space marked by the use of rich elemental materials and objects like the teak roots, thick solid tables made of suar and tamarind, where metals such as copper and bronze contrast between a vibrant mix of colours, fabrics and geometric patterns.
Department of Architecture Co., Ltd. | Shadow House
in Architecture by editor — September 25, 2012 at 1:15 pm
The owner’s brief for his residence seems at first rather simple – his bedroom on ground floor, another bedroom for his mother and sister on second floor, a large interior living space, and an outdoor terrace for the mother who enjoys outdoor leisure. However, a great challenge comes with the site location. The plot is situated at a busy 3-street intersection in an up-scale residential estate that forbids the use of any kinds of fences. This constraint poses serious questions on privacy of the residents living on ground level as well as the problem of trespassing car headlights at night.
Totan Kuzembaev Architectural Studio | Pirogovo
in Architecture by editor — September 25, 2012 at 6:50 am
Located near the Klyazminskoe Lake, “Pirogovo” health resort area got a new residential building with the intriguing name of “Makalun” (not a Russian word either – translator’s note). Its author, Totan Kuzembaev, has once again demonstrated his virtuoso skills in working with wood, at the same time endowing his creation with traits inherent to Chinese architecture.
amor de cosmos makes this impossibly nice Architectural Digest style home the standard in this thread but there are many other interesting styles out there too without being a 5 million dollar starchitect designed residence.
japanese firm kidosaki architects studio has recently completed the 'house in asamayama' for a client who spent years looking for the right site. perched on a steep incline, the house projects out at a tangent from the roadside, almost navigating over a sea of trees towards mount asama. three reinforced concrete planes act as stilts for the base of the residence where a steel structure frames the livable space. a clerestory on the southern facade brings natural light into the private bedrooms while the public areas are arranged in a linear fashion with a glass wall oriented towards the mountains. an outdoor terrace wraps the northwestern side so the owner may be outdoors at the forefront of the landscape. wood planks wrap the exterior of the dwelling to create a dialogue with its natural environment.
the 'mejiro house' by japanese firm MDS blocks unwanted views from onlookers while maintaining a light-filled interior within the densely populated downtown of tokyo, japan. when viewed from the street, a cast concrete volume rests above a first level garage and entry. a solid privacy wall capped with plants mediates the public zone and property, concealing a double-storey courtyard which carves into the earth. daylight can then enter the living spaces in the basement and ground levels through a wall of transparent glass while maintaining privacy from passersby and neighboring homes.
MJMDA | Age skewing Age
in Interiors by editor — October 9, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Things and places could just lie in disrepair for decades: motionless and decaying. As they lie there, taking on unwelcome intruders, environmental attack and corrosion, they long for somebody to re-establish a need to use them. Inanimate objects may not really be just that. They interact with each other and us to give us an experience. But it takes time, effort and investment to bring about a force of transformation over these objects. This force of change is something that takes courage to grapple with. And our urban fabric requires evermore an effective force with the right skills to bring about the change we all require to live better. In relation to these skills time is a particular variable. Projects can have definitive targets and take a very short time, and others may be more indefinite requiring their own time. From six weeks to six months to a year or four the relative timing of a project to the potential lifetime becomes almost indistinguishable.
bamboo houses shape ibuku's green village community in thailand
working in conjunction with the green school in bali, the 'green village' is a community of ecological houses sitting along the ayung river, within walking distance of the educational facility. local balinese practice ibuku has designed several houses that co-exist with the natural landscape, using bamboo as its only building material on a multitude of scales. the houses are amongst the first structures that use very traditional building methods and local craftsmen that result in a high quality structure and life. architect elora hardy explains the sustainable nature of the entire project:
'even sustainable timber can’t begin to compare with bamboo as a conscientious building material. with very few resources or attention a bamboo shoot can become a structural column within three years, and that house could stand strong for a lifetime.'
Casa Atrevida / Luz de Piedra Arquitectos
Arquitectos: Luz de Piedra Arquitectos
Ubicación: Playa Preciosa, Puerto Jiménez, Osa, Costa Rica
Equipo De Diseño: Luz Letelier + Pietro Stagno
Quintessential Conversion: The Ultimate Warehouse Loft
A historic 1880′s warehouse in Melbourne, Australia has been converted into a stunning luxury home with high ceilings, exposed red bricks walls and dramatic archways. The addition of new wood floors, white drywall and a modern kitchen make the space livable without overpowering it.