Single Family House

Spacelab Architecture have created this contemporary residence in 2012 for a family located in Athens, Greece. The designers have configured the home to maximize the outdoor space, because of the site’s awkward triangular shape.

"The scheme was developed on two levels. On the ground floor, big glazing surfaces allow for a dialogue between the interior and the exterior. This level houses the sitting and dining areas as well a the kitchen".

"The first floor appears to be more protected, with smaller openings. Thus, privacy is achieved for the three bedrooms that are located there".

"The facades if the house were treated with a layering of overlapping materials. Apart from the glazing, the solid parts of the walls are covered with tadelakt. A second layer of metal frames with wooden plank infill is added on. The fencing of the site is done by a series of vertical metal plates with a second layer of armed glass to reduce the street noise".

Throughout the interior, different types of wood has been used. Oak flooring, black pine cabinets, antiqued oak for the kitchen cabinets and knaki lacquered oak for the staircase.

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Shadowboxx

This contemporary residence is a 2009 project by Olson Kundig Architects and is located on Lopez Island, Washington, USA.

"The walls can be opened and part of the roof can be lifted to provide the occupants with the experience of camping outdoors while enjoying the comforts of home".

"Shadowboxx responds to a desire to facilitate an intimate understanding of its setting and explorers the tradition of gathering around a fire".

"The site for this island retreat is a remote, windy point of land in the San Juan Islands in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Tucked between a thicket of trees and a rising bank, the house angles toward the bluff with its fifty-foot drop to the sea and view of the Olympic Mountains beyond".

"Composed of several elements - living space, bathhouse, and private guest room - Shadowboxx sits in a natural clearing created by the strong winds that force back the trees from the rocky bank".

"Inside the home, layers are revealed slowly. A gallery runs the length of the house, with rooms spilling off it. Two steel-clad doors slide open to reveal the main living space, called the cloud room for its ever-changing atmospherics".

"A steel chimney pipe opens to both the cloud room and the gallery and kitchen area, and doubles as a structural support. Exterior awning shutters face the water; they can be closed for protection from the elements or for the security when the owner is away".

"Tactile materials are used throughout, including rammed earth floors, reclaimed oak floor planks, unpainted gypsum board and steel walls, corrugated steel siding and roofing, and reclaimed scaffolding planks for the ceiling".



Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

One Oak Chalet

This One Oak Chalet is located in Combloux, near Megève, a town which well-known as a ski resort for its proximity to the Mont Blanc in the French Alps.

"The house itself is made of rustic wood, but its decoration brings in a touch of modernity and quirky character that makes the chalet truly singular".

"Everything is larger than life in 540 square meters of pure, a 3 floor property with endless views of the Mt Blanc, its mountain range and the Chamonix valley".

"The Chalet accommodates 12 people in 6 bedrooms. It has 4 double bedroom suites with en suites, bunk bed room and the Master suite on its own floor".

"All bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows and their terraces with their own dramatic views of the mountains and the rolling country side".

A traditional, natural feel runs right through the chalet, thanks to the use of natural materials such as the oak flooring.

"The chalet is situated in Combloux. It is 5 minutes drive to the famous Princess ski lift and 7 minutes drive to Megeve village".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

KNRDY Restaurant

Suto Interior Architects have completed the design of this steakhouse and bar, located in Budapest, Hungary.

"The base for the design was a high headroom 250 m2 space partly encompassing the inner court of the more than a hundred years old building. The most spectacular of the restaurant is the guest area, it can sit 40 guests, with its great glass portals it allows us to take a look inside. From the street we can see the cross-sectional view of the restaurant, through from the wardrobe, which is hidden behind the SICIS mosaic wall picturing a city view of New York, until the bar. Before entering we can take the pleasure by seeing the collection of chairs and tables from Tom Dixon, the red bar chairs designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and the classic lights by Artemide Tolomec unusually placed above the leather benches".

"The counterpoints of the light coming through the wide shop windows are the black and dark grey wall surfaces and the dark materials. The contemporary furniture look more elegant in front of the plastered white and brick walls, which are slackly left at their original states, as the lights are more extraordinary directed on them".

Warm, clear oak flooring has been laid into a parquet pattern, and is surrounded by Mirahe Heritage collection of gres tile surfaces bringing back the atmosphere of age old abbeys.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images and information. 
 

Shoffice

Platform 5 Architects have designed the Shoffice for a house in London, England.

"Shoffice (shed + office) is a garden pavilion containing a small office alongside garden storage space located to the rear of a 1950’s terraced house in St John’s Wood with the brief requiring the shoffice to be conceived of as a sculptural object that flowed into the garden space".

"The glazed office space nestles into an extruded timber elliptical shell, reminiscent of a wood shaving, and forms a small terrace in the lawn". The interior is oak lined, including oak flooring, and fitted out with a cantilevered desk and storage. "Two rooflights - one glazed above the desk with another open to the sky outside the office bring light into the work space".

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above information and images.

The Yacht

The French interior designer Frédéric Flanquart recently completed the interior of this 915 square-foot apartment atop a building on the Parisian "Grands Boulevards".

"Following the creation of the Lodt des Innocents, Frédéric Flanquart Interior Architecture and Design have set themselves a new challenge, with the renovation of the Yacht: an 85m2 apartment located on the last floor of a building on the Parisian Grand Boulevards, opened up onto a large passageway, reminiscent of a ship".

"The Yacht features a large entrance, providing access to all bedrooms and the living room. This communal area also opens out onto a passageway, in which the kitchen and dining room are located, both benefiting from a fantastic panoramic view. Both the master bedroom and the guest room boast private bathrooms. Positioned on an angle, the entirety of the Yacht bathes in natural light, creating a wide variation of lighting tones throughout the day". The warmth of the Perigord Walnut furniture is therefore enhanced, working in elegant harmony with oak flooring.

"Noble and refined materials such as Baccarat Crystal, full-grain leather and Macassar Ebony were used during the renovation of the apartment, creating an elegant and contemporary environment. Chrome steel and Burgundy Stone add a hint of masculinity, whilst the play of soft lighting brings a final touch of calm and serenity to this unique location".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Seaside Residence

Stelle Lomont Rouhani architects have completed this seaside residence, located in Southampton, New York.

"An existing non-descript structure, perched above the crest of the dune between the ocean and bay, was thoroughly transformed". Clearly defines volumes, simple, durable, yet elegant materials and details were utilized, instilling a strong connection between the indoors and out.

"An infinity edge pool was placed between the house and bay, bridging the two bodies of water and screening the street. The public spaces were located on the upper floor, extending out onto a series of decks. A wooden cantilevered trellis extends through the house from ocean to bay. The lower floor is separated into guest and owner spaces. The master bath extends out onto a private, louvered deck, allowing ocean and bay breezes while maintaining privacy".

"Highly efficient mechanical and lighting systems, an extensive insulation package, high performance glass and sun shading reduce the structure’s overall footprint. Assemblies, materials and finishes were chosen for their simplicity, sustainability, and low maintenance, coexisting with the sea, sand and vegetation of the site. They include aluminum doors and windows, weathered cedar rain screen siding, matte plaster interior walls and plain sawn oak floors".

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images and information.

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.

Möllmann Residence

Wannermacher + Möller have designed the Möllmann Residence near Bielefeld, Germany.

"The Möllmann residence is located in a residential area, mainly comprising detached houses, outside Bielefeld. The traditional regional architecture served as a point of orientation for the exterior of the house. In accordance to the barns that are popular for agricultural use in this rural region the residence was designed as a lengthened, rectangular structure with a double-pitched roof without overhang. The masonry facades on three sides in quarry stone also refer to the traditional architecture in rural regions".

"Although the house includes formal references to regional traditions the character of its interior is still consistently modern. The open plan allows the rooms to flow into one another and the complete glazing of the side of the building shell that faces the garden allows the inside to melt into the outside. Numerous built in storage elements, benches and storage rooms provide sufficient storage inside the house to allow the main living ones being kept free of objects for everyday use".

"Reductions to only a few materials and colours - Italian sandstone for the floor, white plaster for walls and ceilings, oiled oak for the benches and glass and grey aluminium for the windows - gives the rooms a soothing calmness. With the support of a minimum of furnishings the architecture develops an ascetic austerity.

Special thanks to Contemporist for the above images and information.

Contemporary Vancouver Penthouse

The designer Robert Bailey has completed a penthouse apartment in downtown Vancouver, Canada. This place is designed as a luxurious space that can be the perfect place to entertain family and friends.

"Situated on the 47th and 48th floors of the Fairmont Building in Vancouver, this 6400 square foot penthouse is an amazing oasis of peace and relaxation. The designer understood the client’s needs immediately due to the previous collaborations and knew this home had to be comfortable and visually quiet".

"This contemporary loft has soft, warm, neutral tones, huge floor to ceiling windows, gorgeous views and a simple, yet sophisticated style". The designer chose to use neutral materials, such as wide plank oak flooring in a bleached style, walnut doors and millwork, taupe stone and marble. Moreover the space is very functional and well divided. There is an open floor plan, the living room and office being separated by a wall which has a stunning painting on one side and hi-tech television on the other side, both of them being centrepieces of each space.

Special thanks to Decoist for the above images and information.

Glen 2961 House

The Cape Town based studio SAOTA has recently completed the Glen 2961 House in collaboration with Three 14 Architects. This three story contemporary home is located in Oranjezicht, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.

"The clients who lived in an existing house on the property needed to rebuild the house in order to suit the demands of their family. The site on Glen Avenue in Higgovale faces in a Northerly direction, with its boundaries on the South East. Although the wind conditions are tough, the site’s moderate slope allows the design to engage with different levels of the garden adjacent to the areas of the three level lounge".

"The client appointed SAOTA - Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects to complete the design of the new home. The clients bravely followed their architect’s advice to see the bigger picture and re-start on a clean slate. The new home was to respond to the site and garden closely, to allow enough space for the family’s diverse requirements - whilst create separate private spaces within the house, and respond to the fierce winds which seasonally hurtle down Table Mountain yet provide a relaxed, homely character in the spirit of Higgovale".

"SAOTA relied on robust uncluttered finishes of off-shutter concrete for soffits and various walls, painted bagged brickwork, specialised polished concrete topping and oak cabinetry and ceilings. To amplify the sense of openness of the rooms and the gardens, the living rooms have large openings of sliding aluminium doors - this openness is further enhanced by glass handrails to successfully blur the boundaries of interior and exterior. The kitchen remains the focus of the first floor area, and the main outdoor braai terrace is a generous layout with outdoor sitting and dining areas. The upper level of the house - to which one approaches on arrival at the property - accommodates 4 en-suite bedrooms with good views and a large study/library area. The garage screens the courtyards from the street".

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Haus am Weinberg

The Amsterdam based architectural practice UNStudio has recently completed the Haus am Weinberg project. This 6,650 square foot contemporary home is located outside of Stuttgart, Germany, between the town and a terraced vineyard.

"The Haus am Weinburg is located in a setting that is at one time rural, yet suburban. The location of the villa affords pastoral views of the stepped terraces of an ancient hillside vineyard on one side and cityscape vistas on the other".

"The inner circulation, organisation of the views and the programme distribution of the house are determined by a single gesture, ‘the twist’. In the Haus am Weinberg the central twist element supports the main staircase as it guides and organises the main flows through the house. The direction of each curve is determined by a set of diagonal movements. Whilst the programme distribution follows the path of the sun, each evolution in the twist leads to moments in which views to the outside become an integral experience of the interior. This is enabled by the building’s load bearing concrete structure which is reduced to a minimum. Roof and slabs are supported by four elements only: elevator shaft, two pillars and one inner column. Through the large cantilever spans, a space is created which enables all four corners of the house to be glazed and column-free.".

"The interior of the Haus am Weinberg is arranged into spaces of varying atmospheres and spatial qualities, with the four glazed and open corners allowing daylight to reach deep into the house. The materialisation of the interior of the house further accentuates the overall atmosphere of light by means of natural oak flooring, natural stone and white clay stucco walls speckled with small fragments of reflective stones".

"Custom made features and furnishings are also integrated to blend with and accentuate the architecture. In contrast, at the core of this light and flowing structure is a multi-purpose darker room, dedicated to music, masculine conviviality, and the hunt. In this room the ceilings and walls have especially designed acoustic dark wood panels which transform from an articulated relief on the ceiling into a linear pattern as they descend the walls and meet the dark wooden floors".

"The volume and roofline of the Haus am Weinberg react and respond directly to the sloping landscape of the site, where the scales and inclinations of the slops which sculpture the vineyard setting are reflected in the volumetric appearance of the house. The design of the garden landscaping extends the organisation of the house, with the garden forming a continuation of the diagonals of the floor plans and each division creating different zones for function and planting"

Special thanks to HomeDSGN for the above images and information.

Dalene Cabin

This beautiful cabin, which was designed by Tommie Wilhelmsen, is located in a spot which offers privacy along with the view of the sea thanks to its secluded location. Located on the island of Rennesøy, the cabin is laced extensively with floor-to-ceiling windows in its top floor which offer those who reside the perfect view of the blue waters.

The Dalene Cabin opens up towards the south to offer plenty of natural ventilation and sunshine while it uses dark firpannels on the outside. Oak flooring and oak features are used on the inside to ensure the aesthetics of the home are just about perfect.

"Concrete is used wherever necessary, but it seems like the designers have mostly preferred wood with the one used on the outside being more resistant to the rough weather that can hit the region once in a while".

Special thanks to Decoist for the above image and information.