Block House

The Australian studio Taylor + Reynolds has recently completed the Block House project. This two story contemporary home is located in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

This family home is a homage to the many houses built in the leafy inner eastern suburb of Kew during the 60’s and 70’s. The selection of natural, unadorned materials - particularly concrete blockwork - set the building modestly into the site and street.

"Through contrast in colour and texture, the facade is horizontal by nature, reading as two interconnected bands. The first floor, rectilinear in form and clad in dark stained Western Red Cedar is set upon a secondary form consisting of concrete blocks and render to match".

"A simple rectilinear form is transformed into a dynamic and exciting living space through the interplay of materiality and detail, light and shadow, solid and void. Texture within the block laying pattern is a significant element in the whole; a typically flat and utilitarian material is transformed, becoming a sculptural element delineating the homes’ spaces. Light dances across the blockwork accentuating the depth of pattern through the movement of shadow, creating a feature wall. Timber oak flooring is juxtaposed against the concrete blocks, establishing a sense of warmth and lightness within the home".

"The design is open plan and the living spaces flow freely from one to another. Function is defines through changes in level and materiality. Upon entry, the tiles surface steps down to the kitchen and living room which are delineated through the use of joinery. A full height unit has dual functionality; as an element of the kitchen. Behind smoked mirrored glass the pantry, fridge and bar are concealed. Meanwhile, from the living room, the unit is clad in dark timber veneer and again screening the TV wall unit. The house is orientated to the north with the living area opening out onto the pool and garden creating a wonderful entertaining zone".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Casa G

The Oslo based studio Gudmundur Jonsson Arkitektontor completed the Casa G project in 2009, and is located in Iceland.

"The concept of Casa G is based on reading and feedback to the landscape it exists on. The characteristic landscape situation and view differences distinctively in each direction. Towards south the view to the sea and islands, towards north the characteristic triangular mountain, towards east the glacier and towards west the river and canyon".

"Those elements are the creator of the project, the transitions between the landscape views giving the entrance from the north and the curved plan giving a vitalized focus towards the seaside in south. When turning back the north view towards the mountain is as well enhanced with the widening view due to the fan-shape of the tilting wooden wall. being a mediator between the northern and southern landscape characteristic".

"The guest-wing of the building stretches to the canyon and the river towards west. Thus the building concept is a composition and dialog of views and experiences of the various nature at site".

"The ground floor and basement is covered with the Icelandic  “Blágryti” (bluestone) which is dark greyish-blue with minimal pattern and structure. When mounted without gaps in variety in lengths and depths it gives a homogenic and neutral exclusive floor".

The first floor is covered with broad pre-treated solid oak flooring.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Twisted Cabin

The Norwegian architectural firm JVA has created the Twisted Cabin. This 3,875 square foot contemporary home is located in Kvitfjell, Norway and was completed in 2011.

"High in the mountain, 1000m above the ocean and close to the ski slopes, the cabin reflects the contours in the terrain to make room for a large family on holiday. The cabin has seven floor levels connected differently to the surrounding terrain. These levels give various internal and external views".

"The facades and roof is cladded in larch wood, and the whole interior is mainly in oak wood to give a warm feeling in the wintertime".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

New Edinburgh House

The Ottawa based studio Christopher Simmonds Architect has recently completed the New Edinburgh House project. This two-story contemporary home is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

"The linear composition of this house and site is interrupted by the volumes of lightwells, stairs and courtyard. The resulting interpenetration of views and space along the home result in strong indoor / outdoor connections".

"Heated exposed concrete floors ensure comfort in the presence of large glazed areas. Cabinetry in matte white lacquer and stained ash veneer flow through the interconnected kitchen and dining spaces. Reclaimed white oak boards clad the exterior volumes".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Design for Living Project

The London based studio Daniel Hopwood has completed the Design for Living project in July 2012.

"The 1200 square foot apartment is located on the first floor of a building with a Georgian facade situated close to London’s Regents Park. The apartment overlooks a street lined with late 19th century red brick mansion blocks that have terracotta, stone and render detailing. The space is divided into three rooms, one with an open-plan kitchen leading into a reception room that has 16-foot high ceilings. A mezzanine overlooking the double-volume space has been configured as an additional study area".

"The clients, who enjoy entertaining at their 5400 square foot home in the countryside, had a clear design brief: the relatively small pied-a-terre needed to be configured in a way that would maximise its potential for hosting dinner parties. Design inspirations could be drawn from the late 1960s to complement the clients’ mid-century furniture collection".

"The kitchen was relocated from a room at the rear of the apartment and repositioned into the apartment’s large reception room. This emancipated the small room from its functional use and allowed it to be transformed into a second, albeit smaller, reception room".

"A spiral staircase was removed and replace with aluminium straight-run stairs that have open risers and a simple stainless steel balustrade. Through this links the vertically separated spaces, a sculptural wall in rough sawn oak was designed to further harmonize the arrangement and provide partial privacy for the kitchen and study areas". The reduction of colour and materials creates a pared down appearance through the use of an oak dining table and wide-plank oak floors.

Stockholm Penthouse

This four bedroom, three bathroom and 19 feet high ceiling apartment is located near Humlegården, a major park in Östermalm in Stockholm, Sweden.

"The top-quality apartment lets in a fantastic amount of light through a total of 84 m2 of glass, including 14 skylights, five large dormer window, a Spanish balcony and an amazing seven metres of windows and doors facing the terrace".

"The lift opens into a spacious hall right in the apartment, near a built-in closet and a guest bathroom in subdued colours. A tasteful stairway leads from the hall up to the second level, which has an awe-inspiring ceiling height of almost six metres from ceiling to floor, and large transom windows that maximise light flow".

"The layout is clearly divided into a private and more social sphere. The living room plus kitchen account for almost 90 m2. The private units, which consist of four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and storage spaces are separate, but there are connecting rooms that encourage communication and togetherness".

"In addition, the lower floor includes two bedrooms, a guest lavatory with shower, and a Spanish balcony fronting on Runebergsgatan, with a lovely view of the city. This floor also has a lounge area, a spacious bedroom, as well as a fantastic bathroom with a steam sauna".

"Large open areas and spacious rooms, a voluminous eight-metre mezzanine and a high and unobstructed view describe this home. A fireplace, a lift that takes you right into the apartment, a large terrace facing northwest, oak plank floors throughout, spotlights by Flos, waterborne sub-floor heating, (electric coils in the wet rooms), and built in speakers by Lindh. This is an extraordinary home that exudes light and volume from a ceiling height of almost six metres, with glass windows and doors that are just as high and long. This is a perfect layout for both large events and intimate meetings".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Ottawa River House

The Canadian studio Christopher Simmonds Architect has recently completed the Ottawa River House. This contemporary home consists of three levels and is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

"To move through this home on the Ottawa River is to enjoy a carefully orchestrated sequence of encounters with its picturesque natural setting. Views and light penetrate the spatial composition throughout its interlocking interior volumes".

"The starting point for the planning of this house was to identify a place on the site which afforded a view of Parliament Hill, and to locate the principal living spaces there. An elongated entry with a natural cedar planked ceiling brings visitors by way of the southerly courtyard to the very core of the site and the home. The result is a home with stunning views, and which enjoys both an intimate connection with the courtyard and a more expansive connection with the river".

Dark stained, quarter-sawn oak flooring is used alongside white porcelain tile. Cabinets in dark stained ash contrast similarly with the white quartz countertops.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Silverhurst House

Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Architects together with VIVID Architects and Antoni Associates have designed the Silverhurst House in Cape Town, South Africa.

"VIVID Architects prepared the initial concept design for this home, a contemporary reboot of the more classical architectural styles. SAOTA - Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects and Antoni Associates were then appointed to refine & develop the design and oversee the project to completion. The facade is Georgian inspired but the modern aspect of the look is driven by a dynamic of recessed and projecting panels and cubes that create courtyards and terraces that articulate and add interest to what is a highly organised shell. The interiors, by Antoni Associates, are equally sculpted".

"Entering the house, a large light-filled entrance hall divides the two ground-floor wings which consist of a series of living spaces that open out to a private courtyard and the very edgy Franchesca Watson landscaped garden beyond".

"For the design ethic within the house, ultra-slick finishes and a futuristic home-tech edge were chosen. Stripped back ceilings with recessed details cleverly hide curtain tracks and act as a mechanism through which wooden feature walls can disappear out of sight, lending each room a clean crisp finish. Clusters of directional spotlights were selected to add ambience and subtly highlight architectural nuances, such as the floating stairs.

Throughout natural materials are used to add warmth and texture throughout. Stone flooring extends from the main entrance through most of the internal and external spaces giving way to fumed oak floors in the living and dining area, as well as American cedar for the doors and pergolas and Ipe for the pool decking.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above information and images.