Together with its extensive rear garden it has been transformed into a modern family home. The Client’s brief was to extend and remodel the house at ground and first floor to provide a light filled kitchen dining space connected to a vibrant family room that opens out to maximize the potential of the large garden. The design seeks to reconcile the individual elements o...
creating a form that references the region’s vernacular architecture, the design team worked alongside engineers AKT II who ensured that the structure would stand up to the challenges presented by the site, including strong winds, heavy snowfall, and treacherous landslides. replacing a 50 year old bivouac, the shelter forms a new symbol of refuge. the outer form and t...
In order to maintain the rural character of the location, the assignment came with strict regulations limiting the volume allowed above the ground level. These limitation eventually proved to give rise to a rather sophisticated design filled with spatial solutions. With the volume limited, Waterstudio decided to make a floor under ground level, providing extra surface...
The twist here was that the house had to be highly accessible whilst avoiding the ‘institutionalised’ feel that many homes for people with impaired mobility occasionally suffer from. The site presented us with a few challenges. First of all, it was set between 2 traditional, low lying thatched cottages that were identified by the planners as being of architectural signi...
The site lies within an Area of Special Character that is made up of predominantly traditional pitched roof houses, so the design of the new house had to mediate between the clients desire for a contemporary house and the planners requirements for a pitched roof form. The design also had to appear modest from the front to respect the 2 storey properties either side. The...
We wanted to catch the spirit of the house. We wanted immediately to find the germ of our project. The apartment is on the third / last floor of a beautiful late 18th century construction. Finely dosed historical references define the façade. A warm yellow color covers the walls. Andrea accompanies us while talking about the house. He shows us the various rooms. On...
In this residential project our design team embraced the clients brief through simplicity of layout, subtlety of light, use of honest materials, clean lines and well-executed details. This Edwardian residence in Elwood was dark and pokey, but had the makings of something beautiful. A family of four with two teenage boys needed room to expand. Converting the attic an...
Each unit is constructed from high quality, eco-efficient materials (primarily renewable timber), creating accommodation that is so well insulated, that they require little or no heating, even in winter months. This presents further valuable savings as the cost of energy rises. The Y:Cube units are 26sqm studio-like apartments, for single occupancy, that arrive on sit...
The client requested a complete reconfiguration of their existing home. Our approach for the house was to retain the original external envelope and consolidate the haphazard series of rooms and staircases to improve access and circulation. The palette of materials and finishes was strongly influenced by the collection of antique Asian furniture and artefacts that had ...
The house takes its inspiration from the abstract color field paintings of Kenneth Noland and Josef Albers. Various shades of blue connect the house, sited on the ridge of a hill, to the the sky that serve as its backdrop. Blue is also a reference to how the house “sails” along the top of the hill like a ship. Orange, as the complementary color, creates a dynamic contras...
During the daytime, multiple openings on the facade allow the light to pour into the living rooms, the studio and the two levels above - from 3 different directions. At night, the wood blinds treated with the exact same finish as the facade hide the windows and allow the monolith to become all black and quiet once again.
The house, built in the 1930’s required a fresh approach to unlock its potential and provide a modern family home. Key to the works was the change in location of the principle access and the remodelling of the entrance. This opened up a more logic sequence of spaces from the loggia, entrance hall, thorough to the kitchen; dining & open plan living area. Augmenting the ...
OFIS architect’s description The project developed from an architectural design studio at the Harvard Graduate School of Design led by Rok Oman and Spela Videcnik from OFIS. In fall 2014, studios of thirteen students were facing the challenges of designing an innovative yet practical shelter to meet the needs of the extreme alpine climate. Inspired by the vernacular ...
The house is conceived as a very simple masonry volume: “the foundation of the family” which overlooks a beautiful river valley. The spaces most used by the teenagers, their bedrooms, a TV area, and sports equipment storage, are all placed on the ground level. Durable surfaces such as a radiant concrete floor are used throughout this level. The formal areas of the house...
The shape was determined by the views and climatic factors such as the sun movement and prevailing winds. The internal sides of the L shape plan face a generous orchard under development on the East side that will further enhance, in combination with the swimming pool, the coolness of the courtyard. The pool has a vanishing edge to further emphasize the coexistence of gr...
The dynamic quality of the surrounding landscape becomes integral to daily rituals. With its glass enclosure, the main living space is exposed to both the forest and larger views of the sound, Hope Island, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond. The upper floor, tucked beneath the overscaled protective roof, is highly insular and protective by contrast and house...
The uphill land extends as a green roof over the underground portions of the home-terminating on the gently curved roof of the living room. All utilities, including the 5000 gallon water storage tank, were placed underground in order to preserve the surrounding landscape.
Conceived in plan as a U-shaped form, this residence features a courtyard that allows for a private retreat to an outdoor pool and a custom fire pit. The master wing flanks one side of this central space while the living spaces, a pool cabana, and a view to an adjacent creek form the remainder of the perimeter. A signature masonry wall gently curves in two places signify...
The apartment, located on the third floor, enjoys a privileged position overlooking the quiet courtyard. The renovation has escavated the typical elements of the 19th century era that had been hidden by previous interventions. The original hardwood beams and planks have been recovered from the ceiling; the floors were completely redone with the traditional milan woo...
Generally, the site area in Japanese cities is smaller than European and American. Therefore, the concept of this house is the sense of liberation with the securement of privacy by the harmony with interior space and balcony First, living – dining where all families are, is designed an atrium and big two windows to get a lot of sum light, also the interior walls are b...
Three simple ‘slipped’ orthogonal box forms break up the bulk of the building and give it it’s striking sculptural quality. The top floor is clad in milky, translucent glass planks, which continue past the roof deck to create a high level ‘sky garden’. Designed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5, it features ‘energy piles’ utilising a solar assisted ground source he...
Built on speculation, this tropical modern residence is located on Di Lido Island in Miami Beach. Open water views of Biscayne Bay informed the design of this six-bedroom home. The Master Suite and Great Room feature walls of glass, while generous overhangs protect the home from the elements. Natural light floods the entire home as a result of a strategically placed entr...
The client wanted a house where he could enjoy the company of his kids and many friends intensely. For that purpose, he asked for ample and various entertaining areas, such as a cinema room, a recreation room for the children and a sauna. And being a sports enthusiast, he wanted the house to feature a large gym room and a long swimming lane as well. From the main entr...
After moving along a curved wall that guides the visitor from the exterior of the plot into the center, one reaches the main entrance into the house. Upon entering through the main door frame, the space opens up to reveal the swimming pool and the public living areas of the house. The form of the residence is reminiscent of the movement patterns of a mop, from which ...
Through a long cut in the landscape the house is anchored on large surrounding. Under the ground level the bedrooms are located at this long sectional patio. The large living with dining area, kitchen, study area and playing area are located at the ground level and the 1st floor. Through voids, roof lights and high passages a tremendous spaciousness is created. The space...
Västermalms Atrium is a large residential project, located right next to Skanska’s new headquarters in Kungsholmen, central Stockholm. The project – which includes 165 apartments, underground parking, a kindergarten and additional spaces – consists of two large building-volumes, positioned in the shape of a V. Opening up towards southwest, the volumes frame a bright a...
Designed by Felipe Assadi in Los Vilos, Chile, the house in Bahía Azul is a stance towards designing on a slope. Or rather, it is the synthesis of such a stance, a pavilion that is slanted to take in the slope of the hillside where it is located, with the program developed on several semi-levels that are internally related – horizontally, of course – taking into account...
Because of the concern remained about the credibility of embankment and retaining wall built along the housing development, the foundation was laid on natural ground beneath the lower tier which was more reliable as the supporting stratum. The steel-made volume for public rooms floats over the retaining wall and above the upper tier for better view. Private rooms are arr...
Upon persuasive encouragement and expert advice the client agreed to retain the front elements of the building. Following the removal of a previous addition, the extensive brief requested an upper level addition, garage & pool. Our choice (given depth of the site) was to separate rather than attach the new works to the rear of the existing building which availed textured...
All living and sleeping quarters look out over the garden and the lake. A central void connects the groundfloor with the first floor and links the cozy, raised up sitting area with the kitchen and eating area. The large open fire place between the void and eating area aids in creating different zones while maintaining one flowing living area. On the first floor the la...
Constructed by Aidlin Darling Design the interior of this rural home is decorated in a warm palette and in a variety of textures. The design responds to the wide diurnal temperature fluctuations of its arid climate and integrates deep overhangs, passive ventilation, photovoltaic electricity, solar hot water and radiant heat.
The design looks to update the existing architectural vernacular on one hand while offering a challenging juxtaposition with the new built form. This contrast is clearly evident not only in the application of colour, but in material and form. The program for the house is for a four bedroom house with two living areas and a study. The existing cottage contains the bulk...
A glass connector bridge links the bedroom to the rest of the house. This house reflects our focus on play and romanticism. Trees and bridges evoke peace, solitude and memories of the escapes of childhood.
On the first floor we located all public spaces such as vestibule, double height living & dining room, library, kitchen, family room and a wood workshop. On the second floor we have a second more private family room, 3 bedrooms (each one with their own walking closet and bathroom) and laundry. Finally on the 3rd floor we have a service room. To create textures and cou...
Young architect Nozomi Nakabayashi has completed a small magical get away space called Hut on Stilts. Hidden amongst a small oak woodland, Hut on Stilts stands high above ground as a small magical get away space to spend the night, to ponder and to inspire ideas for the client, who is a writer. Lower level provides an open deck area and the upper level is a comfortabl...
The getaway is completely solar-powered, and boasts a host of features that help keep the line between home and nature very thin. We don’t know who gets to enjoy this incredible retreat, but we can daydream that it might be one of the 10 Forbes billionaires said to be living in the UAE. Read on to learn more about this unique green retreat. The home has everything you...
