Qual Hill House

The Sag Harbor-based studio Bates Masi Architects have designed the Qual Hill House. This 3,400 square foot contemporary residence is located in Amagasett, New York, USA and sits on a 2.1 acre lot.

“At the first meeting, the clients introduced both their family and growing art collection. They were particularly excited about a new artist, Vik Muniz, whose works based on photographs of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis provided a delightful discovery upon closer inspection: paintings of the iconic images rendered in peanut butter and jelly. This moment of discovery and playful deception became the design concept of the house”.

As you approach the house by the winding driveways, the gabled form, massive chimney, and shingled siding are all reminiscent of traditional houses on eastern Long Island. When looked at closely, the singles are, in fact, a woven screen of oak surveyors stakes, similar to those that dotted the steeply wooded lot when the clients first saw it. The massive chimney that anchors the house to the site isn't solid at all, but is actually made of thin concrete panels.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Copenhagen White House

Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, The Fredensborg House is a single-family residence designed by Norm Architects. The residence is built on five small plateaus connected by steps, reflecting the shape of its surrounding terrain.

“The house aesthetic is derived from inspirations brought about by the labyrinthine mountain village architecture, those that you may find familiar in Southern Europe, the architecture of Chinese temples, and in the works of modernist Danish architecture Jorn Utzon”.

The many tile roofs of the Fredensborg House overlap each other, resonating the movements of the slopes in design. The colour palette of the roof consists of four different yellow and brownish tones in a mix, to achieve a natural imperfection. “It gives a seemingly harmonious and charming miniature scene like that of a traditional Southern European mountain village, when the roofs are viewed from the highest point of property”.

A feeling of serenity and calm was one of the main goals for this house. To achieved this goal, the use of different contrasting materials was minimised. In order to suit the elements of the buildings surroundings and stay true to its natural form, a lot of local materials were used. The exterior of the residence consists of yellow tiles, yellow brick and black painted wood. The interior is made up of raw grey walls, brushed natural oak floors and white ceilings. This consistent use of the same materials “throughout the house is what gives this labyrinthine structure a cohesive look and feel as being one continuous space. It is the choice of local materials that provides the same harmony as you find in old villages where everything is constructed from what was accessible around the village. The use of natural materials, that had some imperfection gave the house an authentic aesthetic - like that of an aged and well treasured structure which only becomes more beautiful as it decays”.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Hi-Macs House

The Hi-Macs House has been designed by the German Studio Karl Dreer, in collaboration with Bembe Dellinger Architects. Located in Upper Bavaria, Germany, in the direct vicinity of the lake Ammersee, this contemporary two story home was completed in 2010. A new generation of natural acryl stone, entitled HI-MACS is used to make the residence look spectacular and help light flood in every room.

This newly constructed house acts as a clear contrast to the Upper Bavarian native construction style of typical dark wooden windows and gabled roofs. Reduced aesthetics of modern construction are used with a flat roof, cube towers and clear basic forms. These ideas represent a desire for minimalism and symmetry.

The stairway to the upper floor is filled with an enormous amount of light as it is trapped. Solid oak flooring is used to provide a cosy feeling against the high white walls, the large glass surfaces and the white interior.

“The upper floor also captivates with its overlapping spaces: Bedroom and bath - two connected rooms which are only separated by a creative room partition element. Invisible closets and an electric sliding door for separation of the rooms are also installed flush here - operated at the push of a button”.

“The fitness and wellness area and the family office are located on the upper floor of the left cube. A shower, wash basin, shelves and small seating options made from HI-MACS are also included here. The neighbouring sauna has also been made completely out of HI-MACS - only the benches are made from aspen wood. Identical in construction to the upper floor of the right cube, a retracted, shortened wall unit separates the wellness area from the office - a flat screen television is located on one side and a picture panel is located on the office side. Extensive glass surfaces, a white interior and oak floors round out the room’s appearance. Wall heating in the shower and floor heating in each room continue to be standard here”.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Carpinteria Foothills Residence

The Carpinteria based studio Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis has designed this Carpinteria Foothills Residence.

Originally completed in 2010, this 6,655 square foot single story home is located in the small ocean side city of Carpinteria which is in the south eastern parts of Santa Barbara County, California, USA.

The residence is designed to seamlessly open onto the panoramic coastal ridge top site via expansive operable glazed walls. “The glazed transparency is balanced and the home is anchored in place by substantial cut native sandstone walls”. The architectural design evolved from the clients desire for a home that is a tranquil place for living, art and retreat.

Included in the home is a master suite, one guest room, a study for two, a more contained den and a informal open living space. The strategy for the site was to separate the guest house, pool and pool house from the main house, by locating them amongst oaks on a lower terrace. The smaller structures were much easier to place around the mature oak trees without disturbing their root systems.

The main living space and study were placed further away from the edge to ensure that they were quieter areas away from the distant free way noise. The courtyard was created to give an “inward oriented counterpoint to the distant vistas. A flat roof modernist scheme complemented the couples taste for modern art and furniture”.

The design itself was limited to a simple palette of materials and forms.”A European window and sliding door system was used to minimize the frames and optimize the glass. These glass alls were framed between large stonewalls constructed of the local Santa Barbars Sandstone, and volumes contained in plaster walls with an integral colour (pantry, guest room, master bath and closet, storage area). The flat roofs were supported by steel columns separated from the curtain walls”.

“The landscape design became a hobby of the owner who studied local native plantings that were both fire resistant and drought tolerant. Some large oak trees were brought in to augment the existing oak grove, further nestle the house into the site, and create a foreground to help frame the spectacular views”.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Blanca Sanchez Modern Bathroom Interiors

Designer Blanca Sanchez of Halo Design Interiors have designed a series of interesting bathroom projects. These bathrooms were designed for two large residential mansions in one of the most exclusive residential housing areas of the United Kingdom. The exteriors for both of the houses are classical neo-Georgian, with imposing front elevations. Both houses were “built high on a hill, with extensive views over the surrounding estate, with views as far reaching as 25 miles away”. The similarity between the two houses however ends here. The younger clients of the first house wanted a more clear, contemporary edge to the interior, which of course included the bathroom.

Timeless materials and highly skilled craftsmen were used to create bathrooms which “were not only reminiscent of the most exclusive hotels in the world, but were also comfortable and welcoming for this young family. The main cloakroom was a feature room, with a wall completely clad in a horizontal bevelled mirror, reflecting a bespoke linear design composite stone basin, overlooked by a cluster of sparkling Swarovski downlights. By contrast, the other project was driven more by the client’s desire to reflect its classical roots, but again with an up to date edge. The master bathrooms hark back to the art deco era, with the finest veneers and shadow-gap detailing, complimented by solid stone detailing. The rest of the bathrooms flowed from this, bringing in warm wood veneers such as walnut and oak and feature porcelain, with small pebbles encased in resin in one room and metallic mock crocodile skin effect in another”.

Special thanks to Freshome for the above images.

Openhouse Project

The Californian based studio XTEN Architecture has designed the Openhouse project. This 4,500 square foot two story home was completed in 2009 and is located in Hollywood Hills. This area is “an affluent and exclusive neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, USA".

“The Openhouse is embedded into a narrow and sharply sloping property in the Hollywood Hills, a challenging site that led to the creation of a house that is both integrated into the landscape and open to the city below. Retaining walls are configured to extend the first floor living level into the hillside and to create gardens on two levels. The front, side and rear elevations of the house slide open to erase all boundaries between indoors and out, connecting the spaces to gardens on both levels.”

Glass is used as the primary wall enclosure material for the Openhouse project. There are forty four sliding glass panels which are seven feet wide by ten feet high. These are “configured to disappear into hidden pockets and allow for uninterrupted views and access to exterior terraces and gardens. There are also fixed glass walls, mirror glass walls and light gray specular glass panels which lend lightness to the interior spaces”.

The glass walls are “visually counterweighted by sculptural, solid elements in the house rendered in stone, dark stained oak, tinted concrete and plaster”. Cut pebble flooring is used throughout the house, decks and terraces as a way of continuing the “indoor-outdoor materiality, which is amplified when the glass walls slide away.”

“The building finishes are few in number but applied in a multiplicity of ways throughout the project, furthering the experience of continuous open spaces from interior to exterior”.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Fraser Residence

Designed by Christopher Simmonds Architects, this Fraser Residence exhibits a range of modern design lines and contemporary furniture. The perfect floor plan and materials were all chosen when designing the Fraser Residence.

Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the house was awarded Best Custom Urban Infill - 2011 Greater Ottawa Home Builders association (GOHBA) Design Awards.

The interesting features of the house are designed to help the inhabitants live a comfortable, modern life. “Juxtaposed volumes define the exterior appearance of this modern home while interweaving special volumes define the expansive interior. The house takes advantage of its sloping site by inserting the garage into the lower level. This allows the elongated porch and glazed projections of the living spaces to define the home’s character in the streetscape. Subtle earth-toned brick, stained cedar siding and dark bronze aluminium glazing systems form the neutral exterior palette. Dark oak floors and cabinetry contrast the white surfaces of the gallery-like interior”.

Special thanks to Freshome for the above images.

DD California Home

The DD Southern California Home was designed by Peggy Dupuis, interior designer, Dale Naegle, Architect and her husband, a civil engineer and international builder.

The property with an ocean view and with a north west orientation and setting sun proved to be the source of inspiration for the home. With two stories, the contemporary home offers an amazing view from each room. There is also an spectacular roof terrace, where on a clear day you can view the coastline of Mexico.


Inside, the decoration and its furnitures are refined, “using blackened white, grey, graphite, black, stainless steel along with the use of solid oak wood furnitures, entry door and parquet floor. One of the centrepieces of this house is the 7 meter curved wall with decorative sand base red paint” which adds warmth to the house.

Special thanks to Freshome for the above images.

Stylish Gothenburg Apartment

With a bright and comfortable style yet with simple interior design lines this Gothenburg apartment draws “inspiration from truly amazing sources”. The entrance features stylish anthracite tiled floors where there is also a sliding door wardrobe covered in mirrors. This acts as a way of greeting the guests to the apartment and making the space look larger.

To the right there is a spacious living room which also includes a dining room that can accommodate 6 to 8 people. The natural light from the glass wall spreads right across the living space and brightens up the apartments entertaining areas.

A glazed balcony, which is also accessible from the master bedroom, ensures that natural sunlight enters the apartment during the morning. A small wooden deck overlooks the street and is accessible from the living room through large sliding glass doors. The kitchen, which is fully equipped, opens to the private courtyard. The apartment also features two bathrooms.

Parquet Oak Flooring is used to bring consistency across the apartment. The flooring gives the entire apartment a sense of warmth throughout.

Special thanks to Freshome for the above images.

The East Windsor Residence

Alterstudio have designed this East Windsor Residence in Austin, Texas.

The extraordinary views “in the heart of the city and a small buildable footprint limited by restrictive easements prompted” the creation of this thin, three story home. The main living spaces and master suite are on the top floor, which is essentially a one bedroom loft with 270° views. “A 16’ ipe screen envelopes the body of the house, and rests delicately atop a base of long courses of black Leuders limestone”.

Visitors to the residence enter through a pivoting glass door, “where the natural stone gives way to its dressed counterpart, and is immediately greeted by a stair of massive ebonized oak treads floating above twin steel channels, and hanging in a three story vertical space. Beyond, an etched glass wall captures the projected shadows of a stand of giant bamboo, and a band of clear glass directs one’s gaze out to a private garden.”

“Punctuating the ipe facade are two steel box windows, their mirror like reflection or deep shadow are posed against the filligree of the screen. In the evening this screen transforms into a lantern revealing a collection of spaces behind. The screen also holds possibility of transforming the building when two 10’ sections dramatically unfold and reveal the formal dining room”.

The upstairs of the residence is designed to embrace the expansive view “with an unmitigated ceiling plane that provides a surface for reflected light, while the screens 18” extension above the floor level gently corrals the visitor. Adjacent power lines to the west are eschewed, although a constellation of portholes arrayed across this wall embrace the dramatic western light and enliven the facade from the high street beyond. Here, an open plan is accentuated by laminated low-e corner glazing, twin Akari lanterns and sliding panels. Exquisitely matched Lacewood veneer cabinetry and a marble bathing area punctuate the ensemble and add a sense of finesse and delicacy throughout.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

Swinley Forest Replanted

More than 85 acres of woodland in Berkshire which were destroyed by a forest fire have been replanted with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

The blaze, which took place in Swinley Forest, lasted for three weeks in May 2011 and damaged 100,000 trees, most of them pines.

The Forestry Commission has since spent six months clearing the area ready for 60,000 new trees to be planted. More fire retardant species such as oaks, aspens and alders are to be planted on the forest boundaries.

Many of the volunteers were evacuated from their homes as the flames spread through the area. These volunteers will create ponds to form natural barriers to try to reduce the risk of fires spreading.

Nick Hazlitt, who is a forester with the Forestry Commission, said they were also hoping to promote wildlife on the site, which is important for ground nesting birds, dragonflies and damselflies.

“My job is to try to design and establish a robust multi-purpose forest which will be sustainable in the long run,” he said.

“One which is economically sustainable with a continued supply of much needed sustainable timber and acts as a carbon sink but equally more robust in terms of fire, pests and diseases.”

“We’re also taking the opportunity to build in some more opportunities for habitat and wildlife.”

Last Friday up to 300 people were expected to start replanting in the most severely damaged area of Crowthorne Forest with species including sweet chestnuts, sequoia, Douglas firs and mountain pines.

A number of experts also came to help the volunteers, which will included members of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service who brought the forest fire under control.

Pam Warhust, who is the Chairwoman of the Forestry Commission, said: “It’s just incredible to witness the passion and enthusiasm volunteers have for forests all over the country, especially in the case of Crowthorne.”

“There is an emotive connection and when people make that decision and commitment to volunteer, it is a great leveller and brings unexpected pleasure and joy in many different ways.”

Special thanks to Geograph.org.uk for the above image.

Iconic “Urban Retreat”

Architect Paul Rudolph, in the 1960’s, transformed this 19th century carriage house into a four story home which is located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York city, USA.

According to Architectural Digest, the residence, “commissioned by a real-estate lawyer, was later sold to fashion designer Halston, who used the living room to host bacchanals for his famous friends.

Its most recent owner, the late German-born industrialist and photographer Gunter Sachs, replace the wall-to-wall carpeting with white-oak floors and added balustrades on the precarious mezzanine and catwalk.

The rudolph scheme otherwise remains intact”.

“We look at it as a piece of art,” said Noble Black, a broker at Corcoran Group, who is listing the house along with Bonnie Pfeiffer Evans and Carmen Marques Perez.

“There are no comps for a house like this”.

Special thanks to Home DSGN for the above images.

Koerner Hall

Kuwabara Payne Mckenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) have designed this Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada as a part of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s TELUS Centre for Performance and Leaning.

The design of this 1135-seat concert hall is based on the classic shoe-box shape of some of the world’s finest concert halls. It features two balcony tiers above the main orchestra level, and a third technical balcony. “Juxtaposed against the shoebox form of the hall, the wood balcony fronts and curing walls create a warm, sculpted ‘liner’ within the rectangular form. Sightlines and adjustable acoustics allow for a broad range of concert types including live televised broadcast”.

“The signature element is the ‘veil’ of undulating oak ‘strings’. The ‘veil’ form the backdrop for the chorus at the first balcony level, then hovers over the stage below the fixed acoustic canopy, extending into and over the hall at the technical balcony level. The strings act as part of the acoustic reflection when under the canopy, and then become acoustically transparent over the rest of the space”. The balcony fronts and seats, as well as the hall floors are all made from natural oak which contrasts against the “undulating black plaster panels that line the hall and resonate the dark stone that wraps the exterior of the Hall”.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

AR Design Studio Boathouse

The Winchester-based architectural firm AR Design Studio has designed the Boathouse Project. Originally completed in 2008, this contemporary week-end retreat is located in the Lower Mill Estate in the Costwolds. This area is a range of hills in the West Midlands of England, UK.

This “boathouse was conceived to serve as a tranquil retreat, the concept being that it should float over the lake.”

Consisting of a 4-legged steel frame structure, the Boathouse sits on concrete piles which are sunk into the lake.

Although the construction and appearance of the Boathouse is highly contemporary, it also manages to acknowledge its rural setting. This is achieved through the use of traditional materials such as neural oak and slate.

“The large expanse of sliding glass panels affords spectacular, uninterrupted views of the surroundings and the overhanging roof provides ample shade on a hot summer’s day”.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images.

Norwich Residence

This Norwich residence located in Hollywood, California and is the personal home of the architect Clive Wilkinson.

From the start, the intention of the design was to address two separate issues. “From an urban design perspective, it needed to conform to City of West Hollywood design guidelines and fit into a small scale residential neighbourhood, at the same time as transitioning in scale from the adjacent commercial strip of Melrose Avenue. In response to interest from friends, it also needed to provide a kind of prototype for an economical ‘starter urban house’ that would accommodate the new young urbanite lifestyle”.

“The second goal was complicated by specific site conditions: the lot was a non-standard trapezoidal form, widening towards the rear, as well as having a commercial building to the north that overlooked the site”.

The interior of the residence seeks to address contemporary California living with one unified social space which acts as the heart of the house. This space comprises living, dining and kitchen areas. The bedroom are simple spaces which are easily re-convertible into studio or office type uses.

“There is a raw expression of structure throughout the house - ceilings are exposed diagonal wood sheathing with a sprayed insulation roof on top”. The flooring for the residence is either smooth concrete, or wide plank quarter sawn oak, or white rubber stud. The use of this oak in the main living area gives a feeling of warmth and an inviting feel to the room.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

Downtown Montreal Penthouse

The Canadian interior designer René Desjardins has completed the interior design of this penthouse apartment in down town Montreal, Quebec.

The apartment consists of two zones: on one side is the living room, dining room, kitchen and the living area/home theatre whereas on the other there is the private quarters of the client and his son. A warm environment was created through the use of whites and shades of grey and brown.

In the main room, “the floors are finished in planks of ash baked to a warm caffe latte. A great interior wall of white oak stained a charcoal grey forms a perfect backdrop, maximizing the sense of space and turning the focus to the spectacular view and the contemporary furniture.” All of the baseboard heating units have been covered in ash to match the floors.

The dining room and kitchen are located at the far North end of the main room. The dining room table has a solid French walnut surface with a patinated steel base and is able to seat ten people. “The kitchen is very simple yet has a very strong presence. The cabinets feature countertops of charcoal granite quartz and are faced in glass, creating bright surfaces that reflect the cityscape. A door leads to the outdoor terrace, which runs the length of the dining room”.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

Split-Level House By Qb Design

Qb Design have completed the Split-Level House located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Situated “on a vacant corner in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, this newly constructed house stitches itself into the neighbourhood by responding to local cues”. Curved brick corners are used to “negotiate the irregular street grid, while the cadence of typical rowhouses and a palette of brick volumes and stone bases are translated into a new vocabulary”.

Inside the house a palette of bleached and blackened oak is used. Polished concrete and patinaed steel contrasts against the rich wood. This contrast between these materials gives the home a highly unique feel, yet one that works perfectly. “The split-level section adapts these traditional elements to a modern language of continuous spaces and vast glazed openings”.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

Karlusic Residence

Hirsch Bedner Associates have designed this Karlusic Residence in Melbourne, Australia.

One of the key features of the home, is in the front yard, where there is a 30 year old Japanese Maple. Rather than removing the tree, the designers looked to base the design of the residence around the Japanese Maple and nature.

Simplicity is used, so that attention is not attracted to the architecture but to emphasise the nature around it and the positioning of the Japanese Maple. The designers describe this as the “spine of the House which runs down the length of the house”. “This spine actually lines up with the Japanese Maple and creates a direction and an importance on the Japanese Maple. Whenever you cross the spine of the house you basically cross the energy of the Maple”.

The garage is situated at the back of the house where its door is hidden in a “natural zinc finish that weathers to a subtle grey patina”. Numerous landscaped elements are incorporated such as the textured water wall along the steps towards the front entrance.

The interior finishes of the residence are very warm and natural. For the flooring, a French Smoked Oak wide board is used in a lime-wash finish. This finish in the grain gives creates a interesting texture, pattern and depth. “So one side of the spine is finished in the wood and the other is finished in a Portuguese limestone. The split in finishes emphasise the spine but also reflect the different uses in the space. For instance the limestone falls in the higher traffic areas such as the kitchen, dining, laundry, powder room, corridor and study; Whereas the smoke Oak falls in the lower traffic areas, such as the lounge and family fireplace room”.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

Small Apartment With Oak Flooring

This two room apartment is located in Sweden and includes a number of inspiring elements. Inside it manages to join “together modern elements with classic ones and even vintage details”.

The living room features a large sofa, a TV cabinet and a reading area. Although the apartment itself features few wooden additions, one of its most prominent features is its use of classic oak parquet flooring. This gives the apartment a very warm and natural feel against the modern elements.

Next to the living room is the slightly elevated, all equipped kitchen. Oak is once again used here on the worktops to give an uniform appearance. This also acts as a nice contrast to the “matte white tiles that line the wall up to the ceiling”.

The bedroom of the apartment also features a vintage fireplace which only adds to the warmth and character of the interior.

Special thanks to Freshome for the above images.

The Ojeni Apartment

The Turkish design studio Autoban, has completed this apartment interior which they have refurbished and filled with their own furniture designs.

The apartment is situated “between one of the chiquest streets in Beyolu and the lively heart of Tünel” and manages to boast stunning views over the whole of historic Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

It has been completely restored so that it will suit the busy lifestyle of its residents. This has been achieved through the use of compact features “such as kitchens which fold away to present a more clean-cut living space”.

Oak flooring is used throughout the apartment to give a complete feeling of warmth. This also adds even more character and personality to the apartment.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images.

New Woodland Planted in Weymouth

In an attempt to attract and support wildlife, a new woodland has been planted in Dorset. More than 500 native trees have been planted at Horselynch Plantation by 120 school children and local people.

By planting these trees, it is hoped that it will attract wildlife species such as rare bats, green and great spotted woodpeckers and speckled wood butterflies.

The oak, ash, hornbeam beech and hazel trees have all been added to compensate for habitat which was lost due to the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road.

The land brought by the Dorset County Council will become part of the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s adjacent Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve.

The conservation officers of Dorset’s Wildlife Trust, Samantha Dallimore, said “I was amazed by the number of local people that turned up to plant trees.”

“It gives people pride in their local green space. The trees should look great in about 10 years’ time, and the area should look like a fledgling woodland in about 20 years.”

A further 1,000 trees are set to be planted on the land, which spans about 1 sq km, in the new year.

This project has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme.

Special thanks to the BBC for the above image.