Due to the high level of registration demand for the Cambodian Sustainable Housing Design competition organizers have decided to extend the time available to register by one week to give hopeful applicants more time to register.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The aim of this competition is to design houses that promote health, are safe to live in, are affordable and attractive. Encourage and reward design excellence at a small scale which integrates function, structure, details and the needs of those living in Cambodia.

Research, respond to and highlight the unique aspects of designing a home through consideration of contextual and environmental factors. Encourage the employment of sustainable design in all aspects of the proposal.

COMPETITION STRUCTURE

This is a single stage competition with the aim of identifying the most appropriate proposal, which best satisfies the general and specific objectives of the contest.

SITE SELECTION

There are a number of distinct housing typologies in Cambodia from stilt houses and floating housing that can be found around Tonle Sap to the block and concreate or timber frame buildings that are found both in built up areas and agricultural settings.

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia with over 2 million of Cambodia’s14.8 million inhabitants. Other Large cities include Battambang, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. The largest part of the country–about 75% of the total– consists of the Tonle Sap Basin and the Mekong Lowlands. To the southeast of this great basin is the Mekong Delta, which extends through Vietnam to the South China Sea. The basin and delta regions are rimmed with mountain ranges to the southwest (the Cardamom Mountains the Elephant Range) and to the north (Dangrek Mountains). Higher land to the northeast and to the east merges into the Central Highlands of southern Vietnam. Contestants are asked to design a house that may be suitable to a number of sites and conditions common to Cambodia. The given site within the brief is for prototyping purposes by Habitat for Humanity

DESIGN CHALENGE

The aim of this competition is to design a sustainable house for Cambodia’s future. The design should have a sensitivity to the tropical surroundings and where possible provide a sustainable solution that enhances the local architectural tradition, in which renewable resources like clay, bamboo and palm leaves are used to provide natural temperature and humidity regulation. Cost per unit should be capped at US$2000. However, the jury will be looking for projects that attempt to reduce this figure and would expect basic wash, toilet and kitchen facilities to be included as well as material and labour costs.

AWARDS

Professional Category:
1st prize: Winning design has the opportunity to influence the future of
housing construction in Cambodia. The winning proposal will be used to construct a prototype house with the assistance of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia.
There will also be 4 honourable mentions.
Student Category
1st prize: $100 (+ Opportunity to volunteer with the build of winning professional design.)
There will also be 4 honourable mentions

PUBLICATION

1st Prize, will be published in any subsequent magazine press as well as on the websites of Karuna Cambodia, Building Trust international & Habitat for Humanity Cambodia.
There will also be a book that will be compiled of the best designs from the professional and student categories.

SCHEDULE

- 15th October 2012 Competition Officially Announced
- 15th December 2012 Registration deadline (extended to 22 December 2012)
- 15th January 2013 Closing Date for Submissions
- 1st February to 28th February 2013 Jury Evaluation
- 15th March 2013 Announcement of Winners.

DEADLINES

All entry submissions must be sent via email to: competitions@buildingtrustinternational.org by 15th January 2013 at midnight (11:59 pm-00:00 GMT). Competitors will be responsible for the arrival of their proposals within the corresponding deadlines and no proposal will be received one day after the date previously stated.

REGISTRATION

Professional Registration: $75.00 (Free to those entering from a developing country.)
Student Registration: $15 (Free to those entering from a developing country.)

Entrants may register by emailing building trust at: competitions@buildingtrustinternational.org receiving a unique entry number and then proceeding with appropriate payment. All proceeds will go directly to funding this and other Karuna Cambodia humanitarian architecture projects.

JURY
The Jury for this International competition will be comprised of both professionals and interested parties. Full jury yet to be announced but will include:
Representatives from:
- Habitat For Humanity Cambodia
- Build a City (People for Care and Learning)
+
- Tang Sochet Vitou + Meas Kimseng from the Cambodian Society of Architects (CSA)
- David Cole from Building Trust international
- Libby Hsu, MIT D-Lab Instructor
- Michael Jones, Architect, LEED AP BD+C
- Eva Lloyd, Co-Founder Collective Studio

More info on Building Trust International site.

We are certain some of you Hip-hop enthusiasts out there wondered how the crib of American rapper Pharrell Williams looks like. Well, we found his 9,000-square-foot penthouse duplex in Miami, Florida, listed for sale for $16.8 million. The self-entitled Kidult (you guessed right, this is the result of merging “kid” and “adult”) described his home as a reverse fishbowl, one that allows him to see everything happening outside, without him being observed.

The penthouse features five bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, a home theater with red leather seats, and a triple-story main room. According to the official description of the property, the apartment also offers expansive views of the ocean, the bay and the city: “Expansive living space backdropped by walls of glass. Fine granite and wood floors, each room is dressed with luxury appointments and custom built-ins. Spacious pool terraces, second level pool, summer kit and rooftop terraces all combine to create a tropical feel atop the world!“

via freshome.com

This V4 house in Sao Paolo, Brazil, by MK27 studio is a cool example of modern architecture and design. The house is one-storied though very broad; there’s a vast concrete roof above it. The public living spaces are delineated by four slender columns, wrapped in retractable glass doors to immerse the inhabitants of the house in the outdoor environment. Now, enjoy the interiors: warm colors, modern style and bright accents. An interesting feature is wicker furniture, juicy green armchairs to make an accent and a small hearth in the center of the room. The interior is mostly minimalist but with unusual details and lines.

via digsdigs.com

There comes a time when we remember our childhood and all the foolish games we played. In a way or another, each and every one of us, keeps inside the sunny days, the laughter and the happy simple things, that coloured our lives back then. “Building” your own tree house seemed an important step. Today, the values have changed but the essence remains the same: we all “dream” of designing our dream home. What about blending dreams, those from then and these from now? Meet the Treehouse, a sustainable project, designed by the German firm, Baumraum, in a Flemish forest in Hechtel-Eksel, Belgium.

via freshome.com

We ran across a lovely collection of eclectic interiors spiced up with vintage elements by designer Timothy Oulton and thought of sharing them further. Boasting sophistication and creativity, each of the 20 interiors below was developed according to a certain theme. As the designer explains, some of them were inspired by the “Beat” culture of 1950s America, where writers and creative-types championed non-conformity.

via freshome.com

Eclectic of styles always looks good if they mix well and don’t look abundant. This apartment in Stockholm is done in a mix of styles but it looks cozy and charming. The furniture is mid-century, there are some rustic and vintage pieces – have a look at this cute sideboard with a flower pattern. There are smart space-saving solutions like a big shelves system on the wall or drawers in the bed. The color scheme is light and very pleasant: the main color is white, there are some black and colorful touches like yellow or pink, they don’t overwhelm the look. Plants and flowers in blossom give a romantic touch and bring coziness to the space.

via digsdigs.com

1. Airplanes

When buying a home most of us consider residential neighborhoods with traditional homes. Few would consider the idea of converting nonresidential structures into homes but there are those who are more adventurous. The range of unusual structures is broad; from grain silos to old fire towers architects have stretched their imaginations to create truly unique homes.

2. Churches

3. Boats

4. Grain Silos

5. Shipping Containers

6. Post Offices

7. Firehouses

8. Old Barns

9. Old Schools

10. Fire Towers

via freshome.com

The art of serving the table was born in France, in this land of beauty, style and exquisiteness. The times of meridian of French aristocracy are the times that we can still admire due to the fantastic luxury in every detail. What is a classical French dining room? It may be classical – Classique or rustic – Campagne; the first group is more official while the second is simpler. Every interior – no matter, if it’s rustic, garden style or traditional one – brings special French charm to the space. The colors are mostly calm and pastel but there are some ideas with bright accents. So, look for some inspiration below – these are real dining room of real French families, enjoy!

via digsdigs.com

Buro Ole Scheeren has unveiled a pair of skyscrapers with concave walls for Singapore’s historic Kampong Glam district. Buro Ole Scheeren has designed the twin DUO towers to have heights of 186 and 170 metres, with the former to contain over 600 apartments, while the latter will accommodate offices and a hotel. The building will sit between the city’s commercial district and the Kampong Glam area, which was once home to the Malaysian aristocracy and today contains a mix of Malay and Muslim communities. A hexagonal pattern of windows will cover the facades of the towers and floors will step back and forth using a system of cantilevers.

via dezeen.com

There are many interesting house projects in Amsterdam and this one is no exception. Egeon Architecten designed this family home on the Rieteiland-Oost island in the IJburg. There are three floors, an open plan living room on the bottom floor, the private areas in the middle and an office space to literally top it all. The modern technologies are applied a lot: a heat pump and low temperature underfloor heating, natural ventilation, high insulation values of roof walls and floor, special heat-resistant glass, a sedum roof, attention to thermal bridging details and orientation. The authors used much wood in architecture and interior design, so the house looks cozy, inviting and warm, and the owners and guests may enjoy stunning lake views.

via digsdigs.com

Reminding us of the bohemian artists with their simple-with-a-drain-of-chaos lofts, this three bedroom apartment in Stockholm showcases the powerful and inspirational Scandinavian design. Following the streams of simplicity, with wooden beams and brick walls, the designers focused on bringing life to a typical sterile living space. The continuous flow of the excessive white is “interrupted” with “shots” of colours, such as pink, blue and orange. The colours create a strong visual impact. In order to keep a neat, sensible line, the designers chose to focus on pale colour tones. At a glance, the space gives you the feeling that you have entered an area of great artistic accomplishment.

via freshome.com

Displaying a striking contrast between open indoor spaces and its cloistered exterior, the Hard Werken residence by I.S.M.Architecten has strong modern vibe. By trying to achieve a minimum landscape intrusion, the architects chose the black color for the exterior walls and integrated the project in a naturally sloped terrain: “The volume of the house is partially pushed in the slope resulting in a facade that is limited in height. The addition of a long horizontal window between ground and first floor gives the house a certain lightness. As a result, the house stands modestly against the backdrop of the landscape.”

via freshome.com

This narrow townhouse in Lisbon has bushy plants all over its body and a swimming pool on its roof. Designed by Portuguese architects Luís Rebelo de Andrade, Tiago Rebelo de Andrade and Manuel Cachão Tojal, the three-storey house was designed as a vertical garden that includes 25 different Iberian and Mediterranean plant species. “Different fragrances are spread throughout the floors,” said the architects. “In the swimming pool you will have the flavour of saffron; in the bedroom, lavender; in the living-room, rosemary.”

via dezeen.com

This university building in Melbourne by Australian architects Lyons is covered in brightly coloured scales. Lyons used a pixellated image of the surrounding buildings to create a map of colour across the exterior. ”The building derives its identity from its surroundings,”, “It’s a chameleon and a mirror”. said Lyons. The walls have both curved and folded surfaces, creating a series of jagged edges that give the building an uneven profile. ”In the same spirit as the facade, the undulating walls were a result of the building being ‘affected and influenced’ physically by its surrounds,” said Lyons.

via dezeen.com

1. Chauffeur’s Apartment created for elderly, widowed father.

Garages, they’re not just for cars anymore! People in need of more living space are getting very creative these days. Many are nervous now, not wanting to invest in the real estate market at this time for a myriad of reasons. But what does one do when one has simply outgrown their living space? Perhaps there are now children where there once were none. Or perhaps the family is growing in a different way, active teenagers need a place to get away, or, as is happening more and more these days, grandparents are moving in, changing the face and description of the modern family. Whatever the reason, you find yourself needing more living space but whether for personal or financial reasons you can’t leave your home. The answer could be quite literally just outside your front door… and down the front steps, down the walkway… in your garage!

2. Garage turned home office.

3. Garage converted into fully functional living space

4. Dilapidated garage becomes magically transformed.

5. Garage remodel accommodates expansion and renovation of historic home.

6. Italian garage becomes a stylish duplex.

7. Extreme micro home.

8. Where cars once sat children now run and play.

9. Junk-filled space becomes a charming kitchen.

10. Former garage becomes a trendy and popular restaurant.

via freshome.com

If you are into contemporary architecture, you will find this residential project, designed by the K2LD Architects in Singapore, beautiful and creative. Inspired by the traditional Malay architecture, the Winged House is split into adjacent forms, with a pair of trapeziums which mark the boundaries of the garden area. The odd structure offers an incredible view over the garden, integrating it into the living space. The protective roof, watching over the exterior gathering area, frames the terrace, the pool, the luxuriant maze of green turf that surrounds the inhabitable space. Unusual and imposing, the house inspires a relaxed ambient, that invites people to enjoy the outdoors and embrace the triangular-shaped wooden covering.

via freshome.com

Great headboard ideas can completely transform the look and feel of your bedroom! These bedroom designs guaranteed to rock your world, these ocean-view bedrooms and last, but not least, some quality Scandinavian inspiration. Now that we got your attention, let’s expand a bit on the subject. As you guys are probably aware, headboards are available in a variety of sizes and fabrics on the market. You can either buy a simple ready-made one to match your bed, or you can improvise and come up with a headboard that takes the originality level in your bedroom sky-high!

via freshome.com

South Korean firm Mass Studies has developed a system of five pre-cast concrete modules for building South Korea’s answer to California’s Silicon Valley, starting with this flexible headquarters building for internet company Daum. Named Daum Space, the five-storey office building is the first completed building on a previously undeveloped site on the island of Jeju, where the company have chosen to relocate. The architects describe this as a “rebellious attempt to move away from the urban setting” of South Korea’s cities and form a creative community “comparable to Silicon Valley”.

“We thought of a way to create a system of structure that could potentially serve as the grammar for the entire territory,” explain architects Minsuk Cho and Kisu Park. “With these basic formal structures we were able to form various forms of vaulted or cantilevered spaces within large open planes, while also providing a way for the entire campus to grow organically to meet the unpredictable needs of the future.”

via dezeen.com

According to buildings analyst Emporis, the tower surpassed the 310-metre-height of Piano’s London tower in September and it now stands at 339 metres tall. The tower is one of five Russian skyscrapers in the list of ten tallest buildings in Europe, while Moscow is also the city with the most high-rise buildings on the continent. As an expert in large-scale construction projects, Emporis reports that the property boom there can be credited to a number of factors. “Many Russian and foreign investors focus on prestigious building projects,” said analyst Matthew Keutenius. “Furthermore, there are less building regulations in Moscow than in other European metropolises.”

Featuring a shimmering facade of golden glass, Mercury City was designed by Russian architect Mikhail Posokhin and the late American architect Frank Williams, and is due to be inaugurated in early 2013.

However, its reign as tallest building will likely be short-lived, as under construction nearby is the planned 506-metre Federation Tower, which is set to complete next year.

via dezeen.com

The sunny region of New England, New Hampshire accommodates a sumptuous range of lovely homes, borrowing some of the region’s specificity. Inspired by the natural landscape of Wolfeboro, with its lakes and mountains, the Wolfeboro Lakeside Manor residence spreads over 22,500 square feet. The house, completed by TMS Architects is a masterpiece in terms of execution. The lakefront house is a good example of how nature can influence design and moreover, can add value to it. Borrowing some of Earth’s natural hues, the front is adorned with handcrafted stone. The irregular roof and the small tower embedded in the house’s structure remind us of the days when we listened eagerly to the bedtime stories read to us by our parents and we imagined that the main characters lived in spacious, gorgeous castles with lovely towers and curvacious shapes.

via freshome.com

A new visitors pavilion and cafe was recently completed by Emma Architecten at Fort Diemerdam in Amsterdam, a historical defense line recently put on the UNESCO world heritage list. The undulating curves of the building’s walls were inspired by the surrounding landscape: “We wanted anybody visiting the building to be puzzled about when it was built, and whether it is the future they’re looking at or the past”, said architect Marten De Jong.

via freshome.com

Architects Lab Modus envisioned and developed the Hongzhu Housing Sales Center in Taoyuan County, Taiwan, an unusual looking building, inspired by a famous Chinese symbol: the dragon. According to the architects, the plan consists of “two-story lifted glass box and a sequence of double layered perforated metal panels. Resonating with the form of ancient Chinese lucky animal, the form of the project takes inspiration from the dragon, a symbol of success and luck“.

via freshome.com

If you need a private home office where your family members won’t disturb you think about the attic. It’s usually not that big but that is more than enough for a cozy home office probably even with a good view. Besides an attic is a space that usually serves as a storage space for things that nobody use for years. Usually you can simply though it all away and decorate a home office right away. We’ve gathered for you some inspirations that can help you with that. Enjoy!

via digsdigs.com

This awesome Metamorphosis House reminding of a fortress is located on the coast in Tunquén, Casablanca, Chile. Unusual architecture and wood from ceiling to floor are special features of this cool house by Chilean architects José Ulloa Davet and Delphine Ding. Every surface is covered with wood, inside and outside. The interior is so cozy! Lots of wood brings warmth, giant windows bring light; the furniture is minimalist and of simple colors. The accessories are works of art of the local artists. When the sun is too bright or to keep some privacy, the owners may close the windows with curtains. There’s also a wooden terrace to meet dawn and sunrise – a drop of romance in the strict fort architecture.

via digsdigs.com

German practice J. Mayer H. has replaced the gridded facade of a 1950s office building with organically curved glass and white render. “We tried to design a facade that would be a bit more free, something less strict and linear” explained Wilko Hoffmann of J. Mayer H.

Located above the Schlump underground station in west Hamburg, Schlump One is a seven storey building and the architects have extended it to accommodate more offices and the facilities for a private university.

via dezeen.com

With winter approaching in Quebec, Canada, this contemporary cottage-like home designed by YH2 Architecture will soon seem sprung out of a fairytale. The La Luge residence is composed of two visually contrasting volumes, which merge, creating distinct spaces. Surrounded by a dense forest, the privacy of the inhabitants is ensured; moreover, this dreamy surrounding landscape makes it easy for anyone living here to enjoy a perpetual holiday atmosphere, away from the urban racket.

via freshome.com

Aiming at cheering up some of the streets in Sao Paolo, Brazil, artists Anderson Augusto, also known as SÃO, and Leonardo Delafuente, also known as Delafuente collaborated in the development of the project entitled 6emeia. The duo managed to reinvent quite a few otherwise “gray” and unattractive urban elements, such as storm drains, light posts, manhole covers or fire hydrants.

Aside from making each and every trip to work more exciting for the residents of the city, the new paintings have an important role: they manage to bring art a bit closer to the individual. Each of the painted urban elements tells a story, which passers-by can interact with. Sewers are no longer dull side-walk items which one usually neglects, if not avoids, they are vibrant, colorful works of art, which children and adults alike will fall for.

via freshome.com

Poland based architect Dagmara Obluska was a designer of this very interesting architecture project. The unusal design and shape of the Swing house in Warsaw, Poland were the result of the strict guidelines given by the owners. Here is more from the press release: “To avoid confined spaces with onerous slants, which often become a nightmare roof, the roof is designed with numerous extended dormer windows and niches. This kind of roof allows for a large use without a significant increase in volume. Raise the ceiling in exactly the desired point. Such a solution is suitable for functional reasons, but also has aesthetic values.

The ground floor has been designed primarily as an open-seating area. The bright and spacious atmosphere in the living room is enhanced by the natural colors and shiny materials including mirrors, marble, granite, which reflect both the light from the large windows and artificial lighting point spread in many places. One of the most interesting features is the window in the living room – glazed bay window with height reaching to second floor illuminating not only the ground but also a mezzanine. The attractive balustrade is a smart combination of plasterboard reinforced with steel frame. The column design, which supports the stairs, is another interesting highlight. Decoration placed on the shelves, repeats the theme of stair railings”. So…would you enjoy living in a place like this?

via freshome.com

The busy city of Rotterdam is filled with small living spaces, smartly designed. Due to the municipality’s idea of revitalizing the pre-war buildings, many small apartments have suffered “overnight makeovers”, borrowing glimpses of the urban core. The industrial landscape served as an inspiration for the urban homes. The Vertical Loft is one of the most recent residential projects completed by Shift Architecture Urbanism, fitting the description. Located in the busy center of Rotterdam, the ingenious dwelling spreads on three levels, all connected through steel staircases, of industrial inspiration. An oversized library, now this is the interesting part! Speading vertically on all three floors, one can access the books while climbing the stairs.

via freshome.com

Masahiko Sato, the architect of Architect Show has defined the K5 house, in Kurume, Japan. With a futuristic kind of look and incredible high ceilings in one of the wings, K5 is ideal for young families, who are not afraid to embrace asymmetry and volumes, without questioning the architect’s sanity. In contrast to the rural landscape, on Sato’s project is written ” avant-garde” all over. Amazingly young spirited, the house juggles with contrasts of black and white and creates an impact on whoever ends up seeing it. Different angles, the irregularities in terms of volumes, every single element was designed to blend into a forward- thinking type of dwelling.

via freshome.com

Not too long ago, we featured a post on arcilook entitled 38 Garden Design Ideas Turning Your Home Into a Peaceful Refuge, which turned out to be quite popular. Nourishing your love for gardening may prove difficult to do in an environment that lacks…a backyard. But we are here to offer alternative solutions to your home design issues. This post is a reminder of that unoccupied space above your building that could be converted into a beautiful urban oasis. As you probably imagine, building your own rooftop garden is not as easy as planting shrubs in the ground, but with research, good planning and determination, such a project could substantially upgrade your lifestyle. If you are ready to embark on this dazzling adventure, the photos below should inspire you in deciding on the overall design of the new garden.

via freshome.com

Today we present a guest article by Teo Bajar which points out the most important guidelines in finding a good vacations house: Going on a vacation, to break away from your daily routine is vey necessary in life. There are moments we have to get away from it all, from all the pressure in everyday life. Whatever endeavor you commit into. May it be a nine to five job, may it be more creative like advertising, performing and visual arts. You still want to go on an escapade. For relaxation and unwinding. One important factor to consider when going on a trip is finding a good vacation home exchange where there is the feel of being in your own home. Get to know the most practical suggestions in finding a good Vacation House.

Decide on your budget.

In order to find a good vacation house, is to decide on your budget. There are many vacation houses that are available out there for you to find. If you have determined how much you are going to spend on your accommodation, finding a good vacation house is going to be easier. Remember you go on a trip to relax and unwind, not to through the trouble of being uncomfortable and disappointed.

Determine the location.

Visiting a different tourist spots can also be tiring and costly. Choose a vacation house, where you won’t have the difficulty in going from one place to another. It would be beneficial that the vacation house you choose is accessible to establishments like restaurants, shopping centers and drug stores.

Ensure Safety.

When you look for a vacation house to stay in, you ought to consider your safety. The place where you are going to stay during your vacation is your temporary home. There should be a feeling of security and peace.

Ensure Satisfaction.

Whether you like to travel in style or in a budget friendly way, comfort is a considerable priority when you go on a vacation trip. One of the main reasons why you go on a trip is to relax and be recharged. In choosing a vacation house for rent, you have to ensure that you are going to get your money’s worth, no matter how much money you decide to spend on the vacation house you stayed.

Studio Fuksas have completed the Tbilisi Public Service Hall in Tbilisi, Georgia. The building is situated in the central area of the city and it overlooks the Kura river. It has 28.000 mq and is made up of 7 volumes that contain offices (each volume is made up of 4 floors located on different levels). These volumes are placed around a ”central public square”, which is the core of the project, where there is the front office services. Offices are connected to each other by internal footbridges that stretches on different levels.

Volumes and the central public space are towered above by 11 big ”petals” that are independent both formally and structurally from the rest of the building. Three of those big petals covers the central space. The petals, different for their geometry and dimension, reaches almost 35 meters and they are supported by a structure of steel pillars with a tree shape, visible, as well as the petals, externally and internally from the building. The Tbilisi Public Service Hall includes: the National Bank of Georgia, the Minister of Energy, the Civil and National Registry.

via contemporist.com

As the cars have nowadays a special status, being no longer a fad but a necessity, the KWK Promes from Poland imagined a residential project that perfectly emphasises the idea that this mean of transportation is fully integrated in our lives. To be more specific, the Auto-Family House, which is about to be completed, breaks the lines of traditional design and brings a fresh air of innovation, unveiling a house that accommodates a garage and a large driveway underneath the living space. The residence consists of two different segments, one of them being different from everything you’ve ever imagined.

This single-family house is nothing like a normal house. The lower part of the dwelling area is completely reserved for cars and in order to entry the house you need to cross the driveway. What’s really fascinating about the Auto-Family House is that one of the roofs, is fully covered in grass. The back of the house is smoothly increasing in hight, following the nature’s rounded shapes. The green turf, rich in soft curvaceous lines, remind us of the hobbit houses or in a more contemporary approach, of the beautiful and dreamy golf courses. The client’s wish was to achieve a fluid space, erasing the lines of conventional. This output exceeded expectations: a magnificent all in one house and garage, with a stunning sublime design.

via freshome.com

Casa RO Tapalpa was especially developed by Elías Rizo Arquitectos as a retreat from the noise and stress of urban life. Embedded in a scenic forest area in the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, the residence is characterized by a distinct contemporary architecture and a basic program and layout. According to the architects, the house has a linear distribution and is structured in two functionally separated areas: the public areas facing the main terrace and the private zone accessed through a special corridor.

Architects wrote about this project: “The commission demanded a country house with common features, respect for the context and a specific program; but the most important request was for the house to step away from the usual typologies for houses of the region. With a contemporary personality, this house assumes a posture of absolute respect for the exterior which should be the main character. The house opens almost completely to the outside unlike all neighboring houses in the area“.

via freshome.com

Paraguayan architecture studio Bauen came up with an intriguing solution for building two modern single-family homes in Paraguay. By completely reinventing the space and creatively modifying the land, the dwellings were placed symmetrically around a central garden, both benefiting from privacy and plenty of green space. Each of the two homes is embedded in an artificial hill, having their roofs perched above ground in order to allow natural light inside.

via freshome.com

If you want to redecorate your small bathroom or design one from scratch, today’s post will offer some quick tips on how to do so and as a bonus, plenty of photographic inspiration! You probably wonder how can one make a small washing room functional, without compromising in aesthetics. Well, the 30 photos we gathered in the list below guarantee that combining practicability and visual harmony is possible and not so difficult after all. Taking inspiration from the small bathrooms in this post could be the first step in assessing your upcoming project.

via freshome.com

Not far from Budapest, on the fringes of a forest, there stands Tamás Dévényi’s shingle covered new house. The disarmingly simple building creates generous spatial relations on the 1,5 hectare land. The proximity of the bustling city life doesn’t mean that we can not relish the convenience of nature and the separation of a farmhouse. Borrowing its form and use of materials from the Central-European peasant architecture, the building’s modular structure follows contemporary design thinking.

“The requirements for a country house have changed a lot during the past hundred years, but using the old Hungarian peasant house’s archetype was a good starting point for the design in a situation where the strict local building regulations tie the architects’ freedom,” said writer Brigi Bugya.

via dezeen.com

In fall it’s so difficult to wake up – the weather itself wants you to stay in bed: when the rain is knocking at the windows, it’s so cozy to stay asleep. A fall bedroom should be very cozy and at the same time stimulate you to get up. Fall colors are amazing for doing this – red, orange, green and beige are cool to see them in the morning. To make the space cozier, the designers choose fall patterns and warm materials: wooden accessories – wood make it warmer, woolen bedspreads, knitted pillows. For a vintage fall look not traditional autumn colors may be chosen but lighter ones, though adding fall plants and birch bark accessories will make the space fall-like. Fall bedding and bedspreads will help you to create the atmosphere. Wake up every morning and enjoy the design!

via digsdigs.com

If you recall, not too long ago we featured a post on arcilook with Google’s new London headquarters which occupies the Central St. Giles Building in the city’s Covent Garden area. Today we would like to present one particular building floor- the YouTube Offices, imagined by PENSON Group with a “back of stage look with some cool detailing and a film-set look and feel“, as described by interior designer Lucy Goddard. A YouTube Walk of Fame with content selected by the company and broadcast on a series of screens, a cinema room with velvet curtains and padded seats and The Creator Space (a studio which Goddard says will host YouTube film-makers when they get a certain number of hits) are just a few of the highlights characterizing the YouTube Offices in London. One of our favorite interiors is the breakout space, replicating TV character Del Boy’s living room. Check it out and tell us what you think!

via freshome.com

Tham & Videgård Arkitekter designed a house located in the Swedish archipelago. A light-weight building in glass and wood, a summerhouse in the Stockholm archipelago. The layout of the plan is generated by the specifics of the site. The house is placed on the flat surface between two mountain rocks, and turns simultaneously towards the sun in the South and frontally towards the sea in the West. Movement, ambiguous spaces and light. With the small rooms located in the back, the rest of the house stands out as an open platform criss-crossed by panes of sliding glass. The zig-zag layout also offers several outside spaces sheltered from strong winds.

An outline towards the horizon. The horizontal character of the black stained exterior relates to the verticals of tall grown pines.

A continuous dissolution of space in three steps. The house is organised in layers, the big rooms expand with an open relationship to the wooden deck. A horizontal wooden trellis diffuses daylight and enhances the character of one continuous space, where the distinction of interior/exterior becomes subordinated.

For the interior, the starting point has been the direct relationship to the dramatic archipelago landscape, with the objective to offer within a simple frame – a platform – several diverse readings of the relation between space and nature.

A multiplicity of readings. As a result of the large glass panes and the prevailing conditions of light, reflections and mirror-like effects, a quality is created where nature, space and horizon all interact together.

via contemporist.com

Displaying a highly contemporary architecture, House V by I + GC [arquitectura] was especially developed to answer the needs of day to day family life. The brief of the project was to build a residence around a central patio, while maintaining a feeling of openness. As a result, the house consists of two originally shaped wings, partially merged to form the letter “V”. In between, a small garden reigns, allowing inhabitants to enjoy green space within the comfort of their property. The swimming pool acts as an extension of the building, which is characterized by the architects as “a fluid volume that is detached from the floor to the front turning down until fully backward lean. The work gives the feeling of movement, of a compact mass that was pulled up to the present form. This is emphasized with the longitudinal windows and unevenness in the top of the facades.” The interiors are minimalist and elegant, inspiring an overall sober feel. Unexpected lines and angles determine a visual connection with the exterior, while generous windows make this bond unbreakable.

via freshome.com

We have discovered a wonderful and colourful workspace and we are eager to share it with you. The client is a very well known advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather which has finally succeeded to create in Jakarta a playground for “big people”, supported by M Moser Associates. When it comes to advertising agencies, architects and designers think twice before starting a brainstorming on how the workplace should actually look. A previous discussion about the vision and the agency’s values is highly recommended. The clients are always strangely pretentious, expecting something fun, playful and revolutionary out of the design project. Somehow, it’s in their job description to look for an inspiring idea that transforms a dull spot into an animated place, that not only generates good ideas, but it also ends up being the constant inspiration food for “the creatives”.

via freshome.com

This innovative apartment building was designed by Camenzind Evolution and it is located in Zurich, Switzerland. The architecture practice Camenzind Evolution, worked in close collaboration with the client Swiss Life. They have created 46 individual 2.5-4.5 room maisonettes and flats with a unique concept. The aim was to develop flats which would go beyond the functionality and offer an ideal added value as well as have their own identity. This approach responds to the increasing need of individuality and plurality in our current society. Therefore the development of KISS’s design put the future tenant and his personal lifestyle at the centre of its thinking.

via contemporist.com

A sharply pointed gable rises above the walls of this stone funeral chapel in a small German town by Bayer & Strobel Architekten. The triangular profile frames the interior of a double-height funeral hall, which is lit from above by a long narrow skylight. “To do justice to its significance within the cemetery complex, the funeral is clearly marked with a gabled roof,” said architect Peter Strobel. “This creates an interior that feels dignified and solemn as well as simple and appropriate to its purpose.”

via dezeen.com

Featherstone Young designed the Ty-Hedfan house in the town of Brecon, Wales five miles from the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park. The site is quite unique, sloping down to the confluence of two rivers, Ysgir Fach and Ysgir Fawr, that run across the length of the property. Ty-Hedfan, meaning ‘hovering house’ takes full advantage of this river side location. Because of a statutory 6m no-build zone along the river bank, it cantilevers the main living areas up to the river bank and elevates them amongst the trees. The house is a further exploration of the practice’s interest in highly site specific and contextual architecture, taking its cue from the traditional Welsh long house form, using local materials such as slate and stone and by fully utilizing the typography of the site to create a striking and unique form.

The house totals 2400sqft (223sqm) of internal living space which is split into two quite differently constructed wings: The main house wing has the cantilevered living room and a double height kitchen and dining spaces that open onto an elevated courtyard overlooking the garden, river and countryside. The upper floor of this wing, partially within the roofspace, contains 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. The second wing is perpendicular to the first and partially buried into the sloping ground. It has a gently sloping green sedum roof that appears to be an extension of the garden behind. This wing comprises two guest bedrooms and a study room with bed mezzanine, all with full height windows and doors opening up onto a riverside deck. Punctuating the green roof are irregular shaped rooflights bringing ample daylight into this semi sunken area.

via contemporist.com

Concrete bricks create geometric patterns on the facade of this house in Québec by architects Kariouk Associates. Architect Paul duBellet Kariouk describes the arrangement as a “basket-weave” and it explains how it “takes a very coarse industrial material and makes something graceful out of it.”

“We came up with this pattern by buying a stack of the blocks and just playing with them in the office,” DuBellet Kariouk said. “The use of small and large blocks creates a more varied shadow pattern that also helps to break down the scale of the house.”

via fancycribs.com

Meet extravagance and subtle luxurious details! The residential project, Lucerne House, Auckland, New Zealand designed by Daniel Marshall Architects is the result of an ingenious plan that implied a conceptual reframing of a house. What was really curious and different about it was the insertion of a garage which had to be concealed and included into the house’s design line. The client’s wish was to obtain that perfect mix of functional and outstanding, in order to accommodate an exquisite line of classic cars. Like the architects said: “The brief was very specific, with garaging a number of classic cars a primary concern.”

via freshome.com

Take 5,000 square foot and give them to the architects Beyer Blinder Belle and Costas Kondylis! The output: an exclusive five bedroom duplex penthouse located in the city of fascination, New York. This city is so vivid because it vibrates in the very own heart of it. A crowded-bohemian lifestyle, filled with luxury and exquisite tastes, this is what New York has to offer! The very own shelter of many architectural wonders, Manhattan is probably the most coquette and chic place to be. Nearby Central Park, in a residential skyscraper called Park Laurel, a stunning apartment with 360 degrees overview upon the architectural horizon of Manhattan is out for sale! We’re talking about a valuable residential space, offered for sale at 26.5 million dollars!

via freshome.com

ARCHmedium with the collaboration of the Architecture School of Barcelona have just launched new architecture competition for students under the name of “Tokyo Replay Center”. The aim of this competition is to develop a new leisure center in central Tokyo. The center must fit with the lifestyle of Japanese society while offering a new method of entertainment designed especially for them. The Tokyo Replay Center is a new concept of entertainment. A complex with numerous private media rooms (similar to the popular karaoke rooms) where groups of friends can go to see old anime, to watch classic films, or to play video games in a private setting where they can feel comfortable.

For the same price that a karaoke session or an informal dinner would cost, people could rent a private room and be entertained with some of the best Japanese technological entertainment. The space has to be equipped with the best technology in audio and video quality while also offering an extensive menu of food and drinks to complete the experience. The Tokyo Replay Center aspires to become a reference point in this culture of leisure, a must for the “otaku” (people with a keen interest in manga, anime, and video games) and all people interested in technology. It would be a place where you could find the latest releases as well as the most desirable classics.

The site

Akihabara is internationally known as the meeting point for otaku people around the world. Gadgets and products are for sale everywhere. Innovation and tradition meet at a single point. There is no better place for the Tokyo Replay Center than this central district of Tokyo. It is full of shops where you can buy new items, used, share equipment, etc. Akihabara Station is also one of the most important stations in Tokyo.

The site chosen for the competition is in a typically Japanese plot, just a few meters from the station. The plot is relatively large and the building that was there previously has been recently demolished. For this exercise we will consider that the site has been divided into two smaller plots and we’ve been assigned with one of them (15m wide). To make the exercise more challenging the kind of building that will occupy the other plot is unknown, so the Tokyo Replay Center will have consider that a building will be build right next to it, although we don’t know what it will be.

Eligibility

This competition is public and open to all unndergraduate students as well as those, graduate, masters, and PhD students who obtained their undergraduate degree less than 3 years ago.

Teams can be formed by just one member or up to six (6). Members of a team don’t necessarily have to be students at the same university or live in the same country. It is not necessary that all members of a team are architecture specialists. Having a photographer, artist, philosopher, etc. on a team can help to see the project in a new way, thus enriching the final result. However, it is recommended that at least one member of the team has some experience in architecture.

Prizes

1st Prize
• 3.000€
• Publication in architecture magazines (“WA” “Future Arquitecturas+” and “Domus Mexico”)
• 1 year subscription to a magazine of your choice: FRAME/MARK/ELEPHANT, Domus, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, Arquitectura Viva, Arquine, Detail, Future arquitecturas
• Exhibition at the Architecture School of Barcelona (ETSAB)
• Reviews in several architecture webs and blogs.

2nd Prize
• 1.500€
• Publication in architecture magazines (“WA” “Future Arquitecturas+” and “Domus Mexico”)
• 1 year subscription to a magazine of your choice: FRAME/MARK/ELEPHANT, Domus, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, Arquitectura Viva, Arquine, Detail, Future arquitecturas
• Exhibition at the Architecture School of Barcelona (ETSAB)
• Reviews in several architecture webs and blogs.

3rd Prize
• 500€
• Publication in architecture magazines (“WA” “Future Arquitecturas+” and “Domus Mexico”)
• 1 year subscription to a magazine of your choice: FRAME/MARK/ELEPHANT, Domus, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, Arquitectura Viva, Arquine, Detail, Future arquitecturas
• Exhibition at the Architecture School of Barcelona (ETSAB)
• Reviews in several architecture webs and blogs.

10 Honorable Mentions
• Exhibition at the Architecture School of Barcelona (ETSAB)
• Publication in architecture magazines (“WA” and “Future Arquitecturas”)
• Reviews in several architecture webs and blogs.

Jury

The jury will be formed by the following members:

• Jury’s President: Yoshiharu Tsukamoto (founder of Atelier Bow Bow)
• Architect: Tezuka Architects
• Architect: David Orkand
• Architect: Nobuaki Furuya
• Architect: Jorge Almazán

Each member of the jury will vote the projects according to how well they did on their area of expertise, always remembering that each part of the project needs to be in relation with the rest.

Registrations

The entry periods will be divided as follows:

Special Sep 16th – Nov 18th 50€ + TAX*
Early Nov 19th – Dec 16th 75€ + TAX*
Regular Dec 16th – Jan 15th 100€ + TAX*

*21% TAX must be applied to these prices (Special 60,50€, Early 90,75€, Regular 121€)

The registration fee is per team, regardless of how many members are on the team.

If a team wants to submit more than one proposal to the competition they will have to register each proposal separately and pay an additional fee for each proposal they wish to submit.

For a project to be accepted the team must be properly registered to the competition. All registrations will be done through the ARCHmedium website, where you will be asked to choose between several payment options.

Calendar

Sep 16th 2012 – Special Entry period starts
Nov 18th 2012 – Special Entry period ends
Nov 19th 2012 – Early Entry period starts
Dec 16th 2012 – Early Entry period ends
Dec 17th 2012 – Regular Entry period starts
Jan 15th 2013 – Regular Entry period ends
Jan 3st 2013 – Submission deadline
Feb 4-17th 2013 – Jury meeting
Feb 27th2013 – Winners announce

See the whole Tokyo Replay Center Competition Brief or go to the organizer website.

Benthem Crouwel Architects have completed the new extension to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. According to the official press release we were sent, the new levitated superstructure contains exhibition space, a restaurant, a shop and the new entrance. Arup is responsible for the structural design and the lighting design. The new building, popularly called ‘the Bath Tub’, adds over 9,000m2 to the historic museum building. This includes programme space as well as 3,400m2 of exhibition space. There is an area located in the basement which is suitable for many forms of contemporary art, being free from daylight. The Stedelijk Museum is now orientated towards the Museum Square, connecting the institute to the illustrious neighbors: the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Concert Hall.

via freshome.com

There are no boundaries when it comes to developing extensive architectural projects that focus on alternative energy sources and environmentally friendly materials. Scotland’s climate had a lot to do with completing the project, named The Houl. The team of architects stated that their work is so impressive because it’s based on “an energy conscious design”.

The ingenious minds behind The Houl are a group of Scottish creatives, the Simon Winstanley Architects, which developed several contemporary projects, based on a technique that brought them worldwide recognition and plenty of awards. The Houl itself has received the award of Royal Institute of British Architecture, in 2011. The house was built by taking into account the benefits of Scotland’s windy weather. The roof is sloping at different angles and the main reason for choosing such an unusual shape for it, is the summer sun. The house makes use of natural materials, such as hardwood for the inside floors and bricks for the side façade. The Houl keeps a cozy appearance, the inside walls are painted in a luminous white, making the place more spacious and relaxing. With a stunning panoramic view, this house is simply delightful. Utterly immersed into an isolated spot, The Houl makes its inhabitants feel the sweet scent of freedom. A breezy, ventilated place for those who prefer the solitary landscapes.

via freshome.com

Though all the apartments are built more or less the same, with the same boxy-like rooms but we can change them and furnish them according to your taste and imagination. This Bohemian Apartment in New York was designed by Incorporated Architecture and Design. The main features of this space are color and textures. The frames are expanded due to the interior created. Everything is brightly colored and there are multiple decorative themes not just one that dominated the entire house. There are many elements of different styles: pop style, some vintage details and minimalist furniture though very colorful. I love the tiles near the oven – it’s pure art. And the kids’ rooms are amazing! They are so cheerful and comfy that the owner’s kids will be happy.

via digsdigs.com

If you love fresh mountain air, amazing views and green slopes ideal for mountain skiing, you’ll love this mountain house in the Pyrennees by Sola-Morales Architects. Its architecture reflects the amazing mountains that surround it; the house is designed according to the place where it’s located – with a stone foundation, compact structure. The house is a blend of tradition and modernism: the traditional architecture of a small mountain cottage hides minimalist inside, with modern and bright furniture, nothing unnecessary – the background is white walls and many windows. It must b nice staying in this house in winter, when everything is covered with snow and it’s shining in the sun, while you enjoy comfort and coziness.

via digsdigs.com

StudioFour have completed the Ridge Road residence, located on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia. A simple brief and programming requirements, teamed with a dramatic site characterised by a steep slope and a single tea tree, enabled the design to become an exploration into enclosing the basic rituals of domestic life within restrained building forms…the form of the building becomes driven by the clients desire to separate the public and private zones of the residence.

In stark contrast to the surrounding houses, which attempt to cancel out the sloping topography by creating a podium level at which the outdoor areas sit exposed high above ground level, our design for this house adopts a gentler strategy, with the building form spilling down the slope to terminate in a series of terraced decks.

These low lying decks aim to provide privacy from the golf course below, whilst the surrounding native landscape will shelter the outdoor areas from the harsh prevailing winds.

Varying levels of interaction and connection with the landscape, both real and perceived, drive all aspects of the design, from the channelled views of the horizon upon entry, through to the double height picture window that captures the full proportion of the tea tree, and the direct and intimate connection provided by the low level decks.

via contemporist.com

Rustic and homey artistic patterns elaborated using no less than 30 000 bottle caps were used to decorate a small wooden home located in the Russian village of Kamarchaga, in the Siberian taiga. The owner and mastermind behind the unusual project is Olga Kostina, a Russian pensioner with a will to cross the boundaries of common rural home design. The caps were each modified by hand in order to produce colorful and detailed mosaics. Olga placed every single bottle cap in its place herself, using a hammer and nails to permanently fix the items, and employed the macrame technique (hand woven and knit knots) to create the intricate patterns. Various woodland creatures also adorn the exterior walls of this unique building. Currently a landmark of the small village, Olga’s house is a statement of creativity and sustainability- at least this is what made us share this project further. How do you find it?

via freshome.com

Black and white squares cover the building in a regular pattern. It suggests a chessboard, but also has something of the white snow-covered mountains that surround Innsbruck. What really inspired Rainer Köberl for this new building on the edge of town he did not divulge to me.

But one thing is for sure: he succeeded in making a strong statement. He created a building that can hold its own in an urban architectural jumble without having to resort to great formal contortions.

via dezeen.com

The ever changing concept of tradition reflects in architectural projects struggling to overcome limits of all kinds. The beauty of Switzerland is captured even in the most exquisite small homes and the tranquil landscape is easily digested by architects that act like wizards, transforming a simple idea into an imposing building. Following the straight line of Swiss design, the Scheider Chalet is a project developed by tecARCHITECTURE, an architecture studio that harmonically combines sustainable ideas with hi-tech giving birth to amazing eye catching projects, such as this one.

via freshome.com

Building Trust International are delighted to announce that Levitt Bernstein in collaboration with a local homelessness charity have won the HOME competition. The winning design, which focuses on homelessness and the need for well-designed single occupancy housing units for those most at risk, beat entries from all around the World. The competition generated progressive, contemporary design solutions from over 400 designers and academic institutions.

Winner Sarah Jenkinson from Levitt Bernstein said: “We are delighted to have been selected and feel that this is a great opportunity to begin to deal with homelessness in an innovative and holistic manner. We are excited about developing our proposals into real solutions especially in our local borough where affordable housing is scarce. The aim is to give people in East London a stepping stone back into well designed accommodation alongside real employment opportunities, skills training and independence.”

HOME COMPETITION WINNING ENTRY Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION WINNING ENTRY Professional category. See the complete project description.

As the Building Trust International project now moves from conception into the planning phase, the charity plans to work closely with the winning team, relevant local authorities, community leaders and existing competition partners the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and Crash.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

David Cole, founding partner of Building Trust International said, “We would like to thank all those who took part. The international range of entries received was fantastic and shed light on how differing cultures perceive single occupancy and its future impact on the growth of cities. We are very excited to be moving forward with the winning proposal and with the level of detail expressed in some of the other shortlisted designs we hope they also have a chance to be realised. The competition has been a great success and highlights the key role that architects and designers have in providing solutions to social housing problems occurring on their own doorsteps.”

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

The competition brief asked for proposals to focus on single occupancy housing development in cities. The rise in unemployment, economic instability, breakdowns in close knit communities and an aging population has led to housing conditions where all too commonly the elderly and young poor live in unacceptable, unhealthy environments. The winning proposal called HAWSE (Homes through Apprenticeships With Skills for Employment), designed by architects Georgie Revell and Sarah Jenkinson, works on the principal of renting and inhabiting disused garages on existing housing estates. The HAWSE interior units are manufactured off-site and delivered to site as a kit-of-parts. An individual HAWSE unit consists of an ensuite bedroom, while every 5th unit is a communal laundry, kitchen and dining area. After their useful life, the components are demountable and reusable. The design team believe that they not only offer a home but education opportunities in construction techniques, a way of regenerating street frontage and a practical interim solution between other development possibilities.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION Professional category. See the complete project description.

The student category winner, Elena Ardighieri from Aalborg University in Denmark submitted a project which highlighted the benefits of an incremental housing strategy in the future of affordable housing.

HOME COMPETITION WINNING ENTRY- Student category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION WINNING ENTRY- Student category. See the complete project description.

Building Trust International is a non-profit organisation offering design assistance to communities and individuals in need. Building Trust International assesses areas in need, finds sustainable, economical aid solutions and ultimately provides buildings and infrastructure. These core actions have blossomed into advocating and educating on the principles of socially aware design, providing an accessible resource on humanitarian design projects and providing a structure for the crossover of information between design professionals.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION- Student category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION- Student category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION- Student category. See the complete project description.

HOME COMPETITION HONOURABLE MENTION- Student category. See the complete project description.

The project is surrounded by heterogeneous elements dating back from the 70′s, and outside of road network. The joining piece for all these elements is the public space. The building is implemented along two roads, and has four floors, plus two extra on the angle of the two boulevards. There is a gap on the first floor that gives a certain rythm to the facade and allows a large collective terrace. The facades have a unique material: black bricks. The entrance hall is conceived as a large colored window over public space, creating a strong contrast between its transparency and the opacity of black bricks.

via contemporist.com

In the most extreme example yet of QR codes used as decor, the new Hotel Modez in Arnhem has a room covered entirely in scannable codes that link to “pornography, pin-ups and other piquancies”.

The room, designed by fashion designer Antoine Peters, features bespoke wallpaper, curtains, bed linen and furniture entirely covered in the black-and-white symbols, which can be read by smartphones and other devices to reveal pornographic images, texts and movies.

“The room seems as abstract as it can be, but secretly you are surrounded by porn,” says Peters. “The abstraction of the room symbolizes the fact piquancies are always extracted from the eye, but I think these just belong to hotel rooms. And anyway, aren’t we surrounded by porn everywhere nowadays?

The room features pillows and fabrics created in collaboration with Daphne de Jong while Quinze & Milan produced square stools with a QR-codes laser-cut into their surfaces.

The QR-Code room was commissioned by creative studio Piet Paris, who invited 30 Dutch fashion designers, most of whom are based in Arnhem or are graduates of the city’s Arnhem Art Academy, to each curate a room.

The hotel, which opened last week, is based in the city’s Klarendal district, a once run-down area that is now an emerging fashion quarter.

Photography is by Eva Broekema.

Via dezeen.com

On a total surface of 1,733.08 square meters, the creative team at Unsangdong Architects envisioned and implemented E+Green Home, a sustainable home which employs no less than 95 green technologies. Considered a prototype for the future, the incredible project was achieved by combining important principles of landscape architecture and ecological architecture: “The aim of E + Green Home is to suggest three e+ concepts; 1. Energy+, sustainable Energy Plus integrated with green technologies, 2. Eco+, environmental friendly housing, 3. Emotion +, housing which stimulates customer’s design emotion“. From various high performance insulation systems to solar panels, water reuse and smart ventilation ideas, this home ensures a modern and responsible lifestyle.

via freshome.com

Spreading over only 47 square meters of interior space but showcasing a splendid 58 square meter terrace, this compact penthouse apartment in Stockholm is perfect to be transformed into a bachelor pad. With an amazing location overlooking city blocks, the small apartment is vividly decorated, composing a relaxing space that welcomes its owner with a slightly masculine feel. A corner bookcase in the main living space steals the attention with its collection of bottles on the top shelf. Brightly lit by sunshine, the living/dining space opening to the fabulous terrace continues with a modern kitchen. Deeper into the private space spotted on Delikatissen, a grey brick wall hides the bathroom and leads to the bedroom, where storage space surrounds the comfy bed. Lovely details throughout compose an intimate space contrasting with the spacious terrace, where simplicity reigns and a glass railing captures uninterrupted views of the urban surroundings. The large terrace makes up for the compact living space and opens out to the murmur of the streets. Perfect combination, right?

via freshome.com

Situated on a very particular site at the midst of a forest at the foot of a mire, surrounded by at least 6 different types of native tree species, Argentinian practice G2 Estudio’s Swamp House in Patagonia Preserves the biodiversity by building within and throughout the local vegetation to leave as much as possible intact. The gently sloping topography allows the house to open up below grade, maintaining the unobstructed views from the entry street and creating several levels to house all the programmatic elements. the twisting fluid forms are a result of the surrounding environment, playing a reactive role to the cues set up by its location. A poured-in-place concrete structure is wrapped in wood planks and topped with a series of green roofs, extending view out to the ñires forest.

via designboom.com

This shimmering steel house in Kyoto by Japanese architects ALPHAville towers above its vernacular neighbours. Triangular cut-aways create light wells on two opposite sides of the building, where all the windows are lined up on top of one another. Inside the house are three split-level storeys, connected by paper-like stairs with white surfaces and black undersides.

“The sunlight shifts from east to west, the wind blows through from the first floor to the third floor and all the noise from outside, all the discontinuous context is transformed by simple architecture,” explain architects Kentaro Takeguchi and Asako Yamamoto.

via dezeen.com

SCT Estudio de Arquitectura designed the House in Costa d’en Blanes in Mallorca, Spain. Architects wrote about this project: On a long, narrow plot of land with a more or less pronounced slope, we were commissioned by the owners to demolish the house they lived in and build a new one. The first decision consists of inverting the situation level of the day and night areas, positioning the night zone on the ground floor and the day zone on the upper floor, where the views are better and there is more privacy with regard to the adjoining plots and allowing for use of the pool and solarium on the level where the daytime activity is generated.

Our aim was to make the volumetry of the building simple, clear and emphatic. In this regard, the side façades and the section have been treated like a ribbon that fold, forming the lateral panels and slabs that contain the programme on each floor. The ribbon that folds and shapes the slabs and walls is in a heavy material – concrete – and the lateral enclosures are made of a light, fragile material, i.e. glass. Only a patio open to one side cuts through the ribbon.

Conceptually, the floors have been modulated with a 1×1 m. section, and this modulation is reflected in the composition of the façades, patterns of concrete slabs, carpentry and distribution designs.

The succession of visuals from the solarium, patio terrace, steps, lounge, covered terrace, open terrace, towards the views, endows the house with a high level of spatial quality.

via contemporist.com

Victims of human trafficking can find refuge behind the faceted walls of this sheltered housing block in the Netherlands by Dutch firm KAW. Named Veilige Veste, meaning ‘safe fortress’, the three-storey building in Leeuwarden, Friesland, provides a home for 48 girls that have suffered as victims of prostitution or abuse. The building was first constructed as a police station in the 1970s and the new diagonally folded facade panels act to both screen the original structure and provide room for additional insulation. Beatrice Montesano of KAW compares the faceted white squares to diamonds. Unlike refuges “tucked away in anonymous back alleys,” she says that the facade of the Veilige Veste has “a subtle gleam that interacts with its environment.”

What is revolutionary about the ‘Veilige Veste’, is that this is the first large office block in the Netherlands to be renovated according to the Passive House standard. ‘Passive House’ is a standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. In this case, the fact that the former police stations’ substructure was placed outside the building, meant an enormous energy abuser to be dealt with.

The substructure created a thermal bridge that works exactly like a tunnel sucking in the cold outside air. By wrapping the building with the diamond-cut square panels, the substructure is now within the building and the whole building is covered by a thick layer of insulation. At some points, the façade is over 3 feet thicker now. Thanks to optimal insulation, draft proofing and the use of very little, highly energy-efficient equipment, the ‘Veilige Veste’ consumes exceptionally little power.

via dezeen.com

Nicholson Residence is a renovation project conducted by Australian architect Matt Gibson and located in Melbourne, Australia. According to the architects, “the newer works provide a more generous engagement with the exterior and garden foliage via extensive use of glass and continuity of material externally. A whimsical and artistic giving back to the parkland legacy is provided at first floor level in the form of a steel sheet external graphic ‘appliqué’ and internal decal. The color and material palette is deliberately restrained so as not to compete with the exterior, or with the family’s accumulated artwork and furnishings”. The wooden decked terrace is probably the most spectacular feature of the residence and a great place for family dinners or late night informal gatherings. Displaying an overall elegant feel, the interiors are modern and welcoming, due to an abundance of wooden details, a good indoor/outdoor connection and inspiring decorating ideas.

via freshome.com

This unusual apartment is located in Seoul and was designed by South Korean design firm AnLstudio. The futuristic structure consists of entrance hall, artist’s working areas, kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. The most peculiar thing about the inner architecture is fragments of the wing inserted into the walls and ceiling which is used to separate the living quarters from the workspace. The apartment is called Nakwon, it’s ‘utopia’ in Korean and the client’s attitude for life. The target of creating this wing was to maximize the spatial perception by wrapping it with unique lighting embedded in the ceilings and walls of working area. The wing supports functions of work, providing lighting and organizing dwelling units along the periphery of the space, which is the private area like bedrooms or bathrooms.

via digsdigs.com

Being used to imposing, concrete buildings often defy their landscape in order to transform its energy, this ‘Hydroelectric power plant Punibach’ came as a pleasant surprise. Envisioned and implemented by Italian practice Monovolume Architecture, the project has a noninvasive visual appearance, keeping a low profile in its beautiful alpine enthronement in he South Tyrol province of Italy. A concrete slab rammed into the ground acts as a separator between the landscape and the various practical machines inside. Made up of natural, earth colored materials, the new structure is of interest not just due to its functionality, but its aesthetics as well. The wooden lamellar facade is an eye-catcher for passers by, making the building easily recognizable during the day and night, when light glows through the numerous small fissures. Curvy lines are elements that contribute to the inconsequential impact of the site, while transforming the building into a modern local landmark.

via freshome.com

C.F. Møller Architects has designed a new art museum in Førde north of Bergen in Norway, the new Sogn & Fjordane Art Museum. The museum lies like a crystal-clear block of ice that has slid down from the surrounding mountains and the architecture is inspired by the landscape: In Førde the mountains are visible everywhere, and Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland, lies in close proximity to the town.

The architects wrote about this project: The small Norwegian town of Førde draws its qualities from its interaction with the surrounding mountains, which are visible everywhere, and from Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland, which lies in close proximity to the town.

The crystalline form provides an asymmetrical plan solution, with varying displacements in the facade. The facade is clad in white glass with a network of angled lines, reminiscent of the fracture lines in ice. This network also defines the irregular window apertures. In the evening these lines are illuminated, so that the museum lies like a sparkling block in the middle of the town’s darkness.

Inside, visitors move upwards through the museum’s four floors of exhibition space, and at the top a panoramic view of the mountains can be enjoyed from a roof terrace that can also function as an exhibition space or stage.

East elevation

North elevation

South elevation

West elevation

Cross section

Floor plans

Floor plans

Level -1

Level 0

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Project info:
Client: Sogn & Fjordane Regional Municipality, Førde Kommune
Size: 3000 m2
Address: Førde, Norway
Construction period: 2011-2012
Architect: C.F. Møller Architects
Engineering: Sweco Norge, iVest Consult
Main contractor: Åsen & Øvrelid

All images are property of C.F. Møller Architects
Photographer: Oddleiv Apneseth, Stein Sandemose Bårdsen

As Wiki says, steampunk is a style that originated during the 1980s and early 1990s and incorporates elements of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, horror, and speculative fiction. It involves a setting where steam power is widely used—whether in an alternative history such as Victorian era Britain or “Wild West”-era United States, or in a post-apocalyptic time —that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy. This style is rather unusual and is rarely used in interiors but when designers use it, the result is so dramatic and impressive that you can’t think of anything, you just stand and watch! The most popular room for such style experiments is a study room or a home office because this is the place where science and science fiction would be appropriate.

via fancycribs.com” title=”fancycribs.com”>fancycribs.com

Luigi Rosselli Architects have designed the Balcony Over Bronte house in Sydney, Australia. This new house, built for a young family on a battle axe block overlooking Bronte, acts as a big balcony built to browse the beach. The cooperative effort of project architect Corrado Palleschi, interior designer Alexandra Donohoe and the client has seen a graphic palette of black and white tones carried to great effect throughout the house. Nowhere is the result of this bold application seen more clearly than in the main stairwell where the dark timber treads and handrail seem to float in light.

Design Architect: Luigi Rosselli
Project Architect: Corrado Palleschi
Interior Design: Alexandra Donohoe of Decus
Builder: Sydcon Building Sevices
Structural Consultant: Rooney & Bye Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers
Joiner: Corelli Joinery
Landscape Architect: Susan Miles
Photography: Justin Alexander

via contemporist.com

Protected from wind and overheating by wooden slats that also filter natural light reaching the interiors, the single-story residential structure was meant to be a second house, defined by comfort and focusing on relaxation. Found in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, the holiday home was simply named “The Shelter”, hinting towards its ability to offer a secluded retreat from urban life. Part of the portfolio of multidisciplinary KG Studio + Asociados, it floats a meter above ground, with internal spaces distributed along a central spine that reinforces the passive bioclimatic architectural criteria. A transitional space constructed of the protective wooden screens helps protect the privacy of public and intimate spaces, at the same time opening the rooms to the outside landscape, offering interrupted panoramas. Sliding doors ensure a strong connection between inside and outside, generating an alluring bond without exposing interiors to the harsh climate. Elegant in its apparent simplicity, this home proves to be an inspiring solution to location-specific conditions.

via freshome.com

Today’s business brings an endless stream of meetings, appointments, tasks, and deliverables. Keeping it all coordinated gets tougher every day. Especially in the building industry where you need to keep track of multiple projects, working under tight timelines and the other pains. Fortunately, there is a solution which makes it easy for your entire organization to stay on schedule and organized, making everyone in your business more productive.

One of the most important features of the Arcilook’s Workflow is Calendar. It gives you the power to revolutionize the way everyone in your project team works. Arcilook’s Calendar it is an easy way to keep up with all important events and manage time within the project all in one place. It enables you to assign tasks to your co-workers as well as let others assign them to you. You can also quickly organize meetings, events, schedule appointments, manage deadlines and more. Task scheduling is mostly important when you have a great number of things to do. It helps you managing your time properly. Adjusting Calendar to user’s own needs may significantly improve the work quality with your project members.

Thanks to Arcilook’s Calendar it’s simple to stay in sync with your project team, department, office, and entire company – from anywhere in the world. Arcilook’s Calendar makes it easy to see who is available and what needs to be done. Save everyone’s time by avoiding meeting and scheduling conflicts. Because everything is available on the web, you can securely view your calendar and your group’s schedules to coordinate your day. You will always have the latest information. Additionally, it can be downloaded and merged with other calendars (different software) you currently use, so there won’t be any problems with transferring your data.

Thanks to the intuitive navigation and the simple task and events labeling, you and your co-workers will be able to use it without any preparation. In a simple and effective way everyone stays connected and informed. It’s like having everyone in the same office – even when they are on the road.

Don’t miss your meetings anymore, manage your time effectively.

Japanese designers Nendo have built an enormous woodland nesting box with 78 entrances for birds on one side and one big door for humans on the other. The treehouse was built for observing birds at the Momofuku Ando nature centre in Komoro, in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture.

Spy holes across the back wall of the apartment allow a discreet view into the 78 bird boxes on the other side.

via dezeen.com

Ever wondered where the staff of the world’s larger poker site works? PokerStars recently acquired an additional floor to their existing London office building and commissioned the creative team at Area Sq to reinvent the space. Amanda Godwin Jones, design director at Area Sq comments: “The client wanted us to make maximum use of what was already on the floor, whilst creating a more contemporary and sophisticated space that sat better with the PokerStars brand”. Sustainable projects were also undertaken: “using an existing desk, we added cladding with black back painted glass to create something stunning for a recycled unit. Through the process, Area Sq were able to pass on savings to the client”. The inclusion of sound proof studios and editing suites meant even more long term savings for PokerStars, thus eliminating the need for renting the equipment and space somewhere else. The offices in London showcase a highly modern design and exude a professional feel, somewhat contrary to the overall idea of poker games.

via freshome.com

What is zen? It’s harmony and relaxation; in an interior it not only Asian features but harmonious minimalist style. You may use even the most minimalist colors like black, white or grey – there should be a harmony, nothing unnecessary, no abundant accessories and other things. You may also add some Japanese, Chinese and Indian theme accessories like candles, a baldaquin, figures and flowers. Don’t be afraid to make your bedroom green – that’s the color of nature, a red or crimson – that would add passion. The materials should be natural, add some plants and flowers – even as a wall décor – they would complete the zen look.

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Anthony Sully who is the owner and the designer of Glendower Street Chapel in Monmouth has sent us information about this unique conversion. He wrote that the main aim of the project was to try and restore the essential historical elements of the building, whilst providing a modern intervention in the detailed design of the interior. Planning permission was obtained to remove the gravestones and re-position them in the alleyway. This was done with approval from the Home Office. Because funding was obtained from CADW, they insisted that one tomb be retained because it was of the very first minister of the chapel together with his wife, and it was deemed to be architecturally important.

He adds that the last service conducted in the chapel was in 1953, and the building had been empty ever since. Despite attempts by many people over the years to convert the building for a variety of commercial uses, the county council would not allow access from the public car park at the rear. At the time of his application for planning permission, the council had changed its policy and allowed him rear access.

This way the chapel looked before the renovation.

There were two significant alterations to the exterior:

a) two circular windows were added at first floor on the rear elevation, which not only enhances that elevation, but also provides additional daylight internally. They also sit neatly within the centre of existing internal plaster arches and pilasters.
b) three of the 5.5m high windows down each side were reduced to 2.5m matching the front elevation, thus infilling solid and leaving the existing stained glass windows in the bottom section. This was done to conceal abutment of the first floor and certain joinery items.

The front elevation now stands proud in Glendower Street, blending in with the townscape, yet confirming the grandeur of neo-classicism.
The two-tone off-white and grey coloring together with the white marble chippings and simple stepping stones, help to restore a sense of peace and tranquility that the building demands. The rear elevation now addresses the carpark by stepping down from the main roof, from painted render, to stone patio, lawn and grey brick boundary wall. The use of local materials and suppliers for the plaster, wood, metal, cork, ceramics, stone and slate has been achieved as much as possible.

The chapel has always been a prominent part of the streets cape of monmouth, and restoring it’s former glory with an injection of the 21st century, has delighted the residents and visitors to the town. Not only is the street enhanced, but with so many users of the carpark, the rear landscaping has added a more welcoming feeling, especially for tourists. Many organisations, individuals and art/craftspeople look forward to visiting the chapel and participating in any events that are planned in the gallery.

Located in Johannesburg, the Brian Road Residence underwent extensive transformations that took the 1970s house to a contemporary level. Nico van der Meulen Architects imagined an atrium and moat surrounding the hall and dining room, while a water curtain falls past a cut-out in the atrium wall, shaping a breakfast garden to the east of the kitchen. The double-height living and dining space open to a spacious lanai extending the entertaining zone into the garden. Opulent social interiors adorned with Tom Dixon spherical copper lamps were divided into activity zones, creating an open floor plan combining family and entertaining possibilities. Luxury can be also recognized in the color choices: rich rust and copper hues meet bright natural light in a spectacular space arrangement. These modern South-African interiors were designed by M Square Lifestyle Necessities, who also transformed the private spaces into inviting indoor/outdoor splendors. Opening onto balconies and atriums, main bedrooms and bathrooms compete with the guest quarters, which lead out to the garden through frameless doors. A myriad of exceptional details compose this residential space, upgrading it to suit a luxurious 21st century lifestyle.

via freshome.com

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design have designed the Shakin Stevens House in Melbourne, Australia. The client requested a predominantly white interior with a feature highlight color. Green became an obvious choice, working in combination with the proximity of the garden. The green spaces within and beyond the site became the focus with the white cubes acting as lens for these events – effectively assisting in bringing the green inside and dissolving barriers of enclosure. In this way interior, exterior, landscape & old and new – through colour – all inform each other with equal importance.

Shakin Stevens House is not only about a colored front door but the experience of what’s beyond it. Conceptually beyond this green door, there are no doors; the newer space is about flow and continuity where delineation of space is soft and less finite than expected from the street. In a clear formal idea the rear composes 3 extruded white cubes that look essentially like they have been let go, landing like dice randomly on top of each other next to a Victorian ‘monopoly’) house. The 3 cubes, as with the existing villa, are composed so as to be immediately deciphered internally or externally and in clear programmatic zones all house different functions. The cubes which are opened at their ends (or sides where required) are utilised as devices to orchestrate views to green elements within the structure and to greenery within or beyond the site.

via contemporist.com

Mexico-based studio CC Arquitectos has designed Villas Finestre, an housing project which comprises eight units of villa ranging from 5,380 to 10,764 square feet. Completed in 2011, the project is located in Ixtapa, a beach resort in the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta, in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

via contemporist.com

With an undeniably beautiful architecture, this family home on Portugal’s sunshine coast displays an intriguing combination of building materials shaping an elegant, almost unreal design. Created out of a collection of bold touches, Quinta Villa expresses a deep sculptural identity both inside and outside. Imagined by the acclaimed design group Staffan Tollgard, this fascinating home uses glass, concrete and stone to compose a dreamy background for a modern lifestyle. Innovation and elegance go hand in hand when it comes to creating the stunning interiors – rich textures and vibrant colors intermingle to create a dynamic design that paradoxically feeds visitors with a comforting feeling. Flooded by natural light coming from sliding glass walls, living spaces present unique design innovations that shape a perfect dream home. I dare you to name one thing that you wish you had in your home – for me, that would be the stunning glass staircase.

via freshome.com

To have a beach house is a dream of many of us and this one is definitely a dream of everybody. The space by architectural firm 01Arq is located in Huentelauquen, Chile, and is perfect place to relax and put all your problems behind. The retreat is small and minimalist, the interior is done in calm shades – white, beige, grey and dark grey. The whole house is catching sun rays – the walls are glass but there big curtains that the owners may close to keep their privacy. The house is divided into zones with the help of such pieces as a concrete fireplace, a giant chalkboard and so on. In front of the house there’s a terrace where the owners and their guests can sunbathe in the lounge chairs or make a fire at night.

via digsdigs.com

This unique building called Wuxi Grand Theatre was designed by Finnish practice PES-Architects and it is situated on a manmade peninsula on Taihu Lake in west Shanghai. The theatre has been shortlisted for an award at this year’s World Architecture Festival, which takes place from 3-5 October. Due to this location the building is an impressive landmark, rising up to a total height of 50 meters like a big sculpture from the terraced base. Its eight gigantic roof wings stretch far over the facades, giving the building a character of a butterfly, while protecting the building from the heat of the sun.

The architectural concept is unique: inside the steel wings are thousands of LED lights, which make it possible to change the colour of the wings according to the character of the performances. This is possible, because the underside of the wings is covered by perforated aluminium panels.

Another special feature is the “forest” of 50 light columns, each 9 metres high, which start from the main entrance square, support the roof of the central lobby and continue outside of the lakeside entrance into the lake. There is a strong Chinese feature that runs throughout the whole building: the large scale use of bamboo which is both a traditional and a modern Chinese material.

Recently new methods for the production and use of bamboo have made it possible to cover the Main Opera Auditorium with over 15,000 solid bamboo blocks, all individually shaped according to acoustic needs and architectural image. There is also a material with a Finnish character: almost 20,000 specially designed glass bricks cover the curved wall of the opera auditorium in the lakeside lobby. Finnish nature, lakes and ice were the architectural inspiration.

via dezeen.com

Chateau d’Eau is the name of a striking project envisioned by BHAM design studio and consisting of a water tower conversion in Steenokkerzeel, Belgium. The tower was built between 1938 and 1941 and was functional until the beginning of the nineties. The works for a complete renovation and conversion into a single family house started in 2007. According to the architects, “the preservation of existing concrete elements such as the main water conduct, concrete ceilings, concrete stairs and the 250.000 liters concrete water basin were essential to preserve the strong identity of the building. Every visible concrete element inside was painted in dark grey in order to mark the old from the new. The program foresees two distinct profiles of users. The private and main user is the client, a couple living at the tower daily. Every room is equipped with the latest IT technology, domotics and the possibility to install projectors virtually anywhere on the top floor”. The unusual residence is thirty meters high and is structured on five floors. The terrace provides a great panoramic view of the nearby village.

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American architects Richard Meier & Partners have completed a Corian-clad club for private members in one of the largest development zones in China. The OCT Shenzhen Clubhouse is located on an island within the 125-hectare OCT (Overseas Chinese Town) Harbour district in the west of the city, which has been masterplanned by urban designers SWA.

Like many of Meier’s buildings, the club has a predominantly white exterior and interior, which extends to the coated aluminium frames of the glazed walls.

The building complex has a radiating plan that fans out around the eastern edge of the island to accommodate a restaurant, an events space, private dining rooms and an exhibition gallery.

An adjoining block on the southern edge of the island houses a fitness centre and swimming pool.

Also underway nearby as part of the wider masterplan are a range of cultural and entertainment destinations including shopping centres, a museum and a theatre, plus parks and beaches.

via dezeen.com

This ultra innovative office space was furnished by the Russian studio Za Bor Architects. The bureaus are located in St. Petersburg and belong to internet company Yandex. The offices are organised along a 200-metre-long corridor, where screens and shelves take the shape of a music play button, cursor arrows, the @ symbol and even a Pacman logo.

A printing station is concealed behind a large bulbous clock and meeting rooms are framed by ribbon-like shapes and coloured curtains.

The reception desk resembles a text box, like one where a computer user inputs their username or password.

We’ve also featured interiors of other technology company, which we all know Google/You Tube Office in Beverly Hills, Google Headquarters In Zurich, Google’s London Headquarters, Google Campus in Londo.

via dezeen.com

Integrated in a natural forest retreat in Watermill, NY, the Watermill Houses project consists of several buildings: the main house, guest house, pool house, bunk house, and garage. The most intriguing is the glass residence (main building), which stands out due to a highly modern architecture and perfect rooftop views towards the forest and shoreline beyond. The team at 1100 Archinect further describes the project: “The living spaces on the top floor are enclosed by glass walls that enable light and air to penetrate while a screen of trees provides a sense of privacy. In contrast, the façade of the first floor, which contains the more private spaces of the house, filters light and views through heavyweight fiberglass-screened panels. Set in separate corners of the property, the glass-walled guest house and pool house echo the main house’s underlying principle: open to light, hidden by trees. The bunk house, a multi-use space that is the latest addition to the complex, is conceived as a forested retreat”. The interiors are contemporary, characterized by a high degree of openness.

via freshome.com

Our site is being constantly developed, because we are focused on giving our members the best experience in using our website. Recently, we have added a new feature to Workflow section – “Recent activity”. It allows you to work with your project more effectively. Check this out and tell us what you think!

Workflow is a virtual desktop, the core of arcilook.com. Thanks to this feature our members can comprehensively manage projects online. It allows you to work on a couple of projects at the same time with full visibility and control over them. The components of this software provide a wide range of possibilities such as estimation and planning, scheduling, managing tasks and time. Until now there have been five components within the application. Nevertheless, we decided to create a new “Recent activity” feature in order to make our members’ lives easier!

“Recent activity” feature allows our members to manage their projects more transparently. Thanks to that solution you can see all important information concerning your projects. Even if you have many projects in many companies you are still able to manage all your to-dos. You will be always up-to-date with a current task. You can also see your co-workers’ activity in a project that you participate in.

You can decide individually what is the most important aspect of your project. By the sort button you can choose a display method. Every single detail of your project which is crucial to you will appear in a transparent way. A fast look is enough to find out what you need to do in a particular project.

Can’t wait to try our new feature? What are you waiting for?

Architect Claudia Lopez Duplan of López Duplan Arquitectos envisioned a home integrating elements of comfort and style. By reconfiguring the floor-plan, as well as redesigning each of the spaces, the architect created a serene residence in Mexico City. Originally built in the 80s, Casa Lomas Altas rises three and a half floors up, capturing views of the surroundings through frameless windows and sliding doors connected to terraces, at the same time keeping a sense of privacy in all spaces. The living space includes a wall lined with books on each side of the fireplace, while the dining room opens to a terrace overlooking luscious greenery. The upstairs bedroom is a spectacular place, showcasing a long window with a stylish place for books underneath, hinting towards the owner’s love for knowledge. When it comes to the bathroom, the inspiration keeps rolling – toilet and bathtub are captured in between glass, opening both towards the interior space and the exterior view. With a long clerestory window flooding the space with light, this space was definitely created for relaxation.

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A’ Design Award and Competitions mission is to provide a fair, ethical and competitive platform for companies, designers and innovators from all field with different experience levels, different disciplines and market focus to compete on, while providing them a global audience to showcase their success and talents to. The A’Award and Competition aims to act as blender; to bring together designers, companies, the audience and the press.
Entries are now being accepted for this year’s A’ Design Awards. Here are some of the winning projects from last year, including a clutch handbag that folds like origami and is held in shape with magnets (above) was a Platinum A’ winner at the awards.

An advertising office in Amsterdam with surfaces covered in grey felt (above) won a Silver award in the Interior Design category.

A cork stopper that sharpens pencils into a conical flask (above) received a Golden A’ award.

A traditional timber townhouse in central Kyoto converted into a cosmetics store was awarded the Platinum A’ for Interior Design.

The Golden A’ Social Design award winner was indoor shoes made from salmon leather and wool local to Chilean Patagonia (above).

A triangular notebook that opens out into a square (above) was another Golden A’ winner.

The Platinum A’ Arts, Crafts and Ready-made award went to a cave carved from soft plastic sheets (above).

Inspired by a pleated skirt, a cone-shaped table lamp (above) was given a Platinum A’ Lighting Design award.

A Silver A’ Packaging Design award was given to confectionary bags for Panda Liquorice (above).

See more information about last year’s awards here. The deadline for submissions for this year is 30 September 2012. See the A’Design website for further details and to enter the competition.

via dezeen.com

Boasting approximately 10 000 square feet of opulent modern living, the 44 Belvedere Residence is a two story home in Southern Ontario, Canada, currently on sale for $5,35 million. The massive house is located steps away from the lake and was especially designed for a “successful individual or family”. Here are some of the features of the project, as described in the official press release: “The spacious backyard offers multiple options for relaxation and enjoyment. Whether it’s hosting a dinner party next to the sleek concrete pool and Miami style cabana or you are soaking up the sun on the exotic 1,400 sq/ft Brazilian wood deck. Built for the health conscious in mind, the professional grade gym sports a free weight and cardio area with multiple media zones. After you energize yourself with a work out enjoy the integrated spa with both dry sauna and steam shower – which features 18” rain head and body jets. Escape to a cinematic experience like no other. The three level cinema features dual LCD digital movie posters as you walk through the grand entrance”. Be sure to watch the video below and tell us if you notice any other design ideas worth highlighting.

via freshome.com

Building Trust International has just announced Open Photography competition entitled ‘Developing World – Digital World’. Here you have description from the BTI: Digital cameras have now surpassed developing film and the Digital World is taking over the developing World. We live in a World of wifi and mobile networks making the World smaller and more connected but still very different from country to country, street to street, face to face. We are asking for people to submit their take on a World of opposites and celebrate difference in a series of pictures. You could win yourself a brand new Digital SLR camera, or the equivalent in cash which ever you prefer.

We are asking for you to not only get a great shot but to splice 2 images together in a split-screen effect highlighting the similarities and differences in the World. We have some great categories for you to get inspired by, and cannot wait to see the results…

Simple 2 step registration.

1. Email us at competitions@buildingtrustinternational.org with the heading ‘photo’ and we will send you a registration number and details of how to pay the one off £10 fee.

2. Once registered you can enter as many images as you like in any of the categories Until the 1st November when the competition closes. We look forward to seeing your ideas, all the best of luck!

Inspiration thanks to Oxfam International. Women’s Day Poster.

Prizes:

1st prize: Digital SLR (or cash equivalent if you already have one.) Feature on the front cover of our 2013 Calender.

2nd-12th prize: Feature in our 2013 Calender plus a free Calender showcasing the best work from the competition.

Urban Blocks. From Chinese and American settlements.

Categories:

Landscape

Natural to built up, open or closed, dry to wet. Landscapes are so diverse we hope to see some great examples here of how the World is made up of some truly spectacular views.

Architecture

Natural build or concrete and glass, large scale /small scale, natural/man-made, public or private. Have fun and show how space in which we live can be defined.

People

Crowds or portraits, you decide. Highlight differences and similarities in features or behaviors.

Inspiration thanks to Ulric Collette.

Money

Rich or poor, does money bring happiness, does wealth equate health? This category is open to interpretation, surprise us think creatively about the haves and have nots?

Time

Young or old, night to day we want a split screen image that speaks about not just a moment but a period of time.

Work

This category should actually be Work + Play, look around at how people spend their time either use the same people in differing situations or show how work means a different thing depending on where you live.

Open

We know that you may have an idea that does not fit with the categories above and who are we to stiffle your creativity. If this is the case for you then please enter you image under the Open category.

More info on competition home page.

Join architect Doug Burdge, AIA and Hollywood producer-turned-builder Michael (“The Usual Suspects”) McDonnell on a cinematic real estate journey of Malibu, perhaps the most celebrated beach community in the world. Besides “glitz & glamour,” Malibu offers world-class architecture, stunning views, and challenging building conditions courtesy of Mother Nature. Burdge, creator of over 100 Malibu estates, and collaborator Michael McDonnell, cleverly illustrate the exclusive “Who’s Who” neighborhoods, the might (and bite!) of the California Coastal Commission, and amusing resident anecdotes about what makes Malibu an undisputed luxury real estate super power.

WHAT:Aaroe Architectural, a division of the Los Angeles-based John Aaroe Group real estate brokerage firm, continues its monthly lecture series at Pacific Design Center. Doug Burdge, AIA, of Malibu-based Burdge & Associates Architects, and film producer/estate builder Michael McDonnell of Owl Partners, will take the audience on a cinematic journey of Malibu and uncover the hidden treasures of this coastal city’s prime real estate.

WHEN: Monday, September 10, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: SilverScreen Theater in the Pacific Design Center: 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

COST: FREE

RESERVATIONS: Please email RSVP@JohnAaroeGroup.com immediately, as space is limited.
(Media Contacts: Please email your reservation to ladan@communicationartsinc.com)

PDC PARKING: Mention John Aaroe Group for a discounted rate of $10.

MORE INFO: For more information about Aaroe Architectural, visit aaroearchitectural.com or call 310.652.6285. For more information about Burdge & Associates Architects, visit aaroearchitectural.com or email ladan@communicationartsinc.com

Photography by Manolo Langis

Spreading across both sides of the trout-rich Sun River just below the Gibson Reservoir Dam, on almost 3,000 acres, this fabulous private ranch retreat lies in one of the most protected wildlife areas of Montana. Known as the Sun River Ranch, the fabulous ranch is composed of the 7,325 square foot main residence, a guest house, guest cabin, manager’s house and a barn with apartment.The spectacular custom-built main residence showcases a stunning facade made of large diameter logs interrupted by glazing. Overlooking Castle Reef and Scapegoat Mountain, the house shelters a stunning collection of rooms. Available for $10,250,000 here, this dream property will surely become the owner’s most beloved asset.

via freshome.com

Mexico is a beautiful country, with unusual wild nature and cool jungles, it’s an inspiring place to build a house. A New York couple decided to build a cool modern residence in the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán. The unusual thing is that this amazing residence was renovated by a Maya construction crew whose members didn’t use machines or wheelbarrows, but fashioned their own tools and carried building materials. The villa is luxurious: there are four bedrooms, a screening room, a generous kitchen and dining area, a rooftop terrace and a spacious yard with a glassed-in pool and an outdoor fireplace. The interior is modern, bright: in every room there’s some colorful accent – an orange wall in the kitchen, a blue wall in the living room, red letters in the hall and a highly minimalist bathroom – just tile walls and store appliances. I love the pool in front of the house that has a transparent wall – blue water looks so dramatic!

via digsdigs.com

A small kitchen always has its advantages: it’s cozier, you don’t need to look for different things for long because everything is at hand. There some ideas how to make a small kitchen cool. A rustic kitchen with rough wooden shelves and furniture would look great in some country house. A kitchen with industrial touch – a rough brick wall – is cool, especially with sleek surfaces and a kitchen island that has a dining surface to save some space. If your apartment is very small, you can use built-in furniture and appliances and make a dining zone in the main room. A clever idea is to use a long table – here you can cook and then clean the table and use it as a dining one. Some more ideas are below.

via digsdigs.com

57STUDIO have designed the Fray León house in Santiago, Chile. The house is located in a district in the east area of Santiago, and one of its characteristics is the presence of old trees. The spaces are organized in an “H” shaped plant adapted to the lot, having great care for the trees and creating patios that reinforce their presence from the inside.

The first level is organized around a native Peumo (cryptocaria alba) that goes along with the access from the south. From the hall is emphasized the presence of a huge Avocado tree and the private wing towards the east is bounded by an old Cypress. The public spaces in the west wing open towards the garden through a terrace by the north. The house is preceded by a paved esplanade built to prolong the approach of the visitor towards the access, where the Peumo gains a major presence.

via contemporist.com

Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos have designed the Casa V in Mexico City. The location in the lot and design of this house was defined by the importance of natural light in the project. The facades were located according to the movement of light and shadows to help enhance the interior design. The interior are exterior spaces of the house are integrated by the nature elements. All the construction was done in exposed concrete and wood to assure the low maintenance requirements as well as the adequate aging of the space with the natural patina that will acquire with time.

via contemporist.com

Egypt-based architectural practice HOUSE Studio has sent us photos of its newest project of Oxygen Villa. Architects wrote about identity of this project: The project build up unit is inspired from national heritage which is obviously shown in the void shape and the treatment of elevations which is taken from oriels that provides the known privacy idea in the arabian community also inside the building.

Competition objectives

It’s been taken in consideration the architectural invention in design and satisfying all tastes in mass productions process, taking care of the privacy issue in designing the inner spaces which is important for the Arabian family in the men and women spaces and reception spaces also, taking care of the spaces distribution and achieving the maximum benefit of land use in spaces and referring to the possible increasing of the building in the future by the increasing of the family members number, the interaction between the building and the national heritage has been taken care of it in the design of the buildup unit, the building design gives a variety of alternatives by using the module system and the prefabricated units that would help in changing the character of the building at any time when its needed and it will be in a harmony with each other, the prefabricated system gives the advantage of reducing the construction time and the simplicity of establishing the building and also for recycling process.

Social

One of the major features of the Mashrabiya is privacy, an essential aspect of Arabian culture. A good view of the outside can be obtained by the occupants without being seen.

Environment

The wooden screen with openable windows gives shade and protection from the hot summer sun while allowing the cool air from the outside to flow through the building.
The projection of the Mashrabiya achieves several purposes, on one hand it allows air from three sides to enter, even if the draught outside was parallel to the house façade; on the other hand it serves the outside and in turn the neighborhood. A row of projected Mashrabiyas provides shelter for those in the streets from rain or sun.

Unit detail

The buildup unit detail has an ability to move in and form many positions
1-Complete close to protect the building
2-Semi opened horizontal to increase the air movement inside from the upper part and having the indirect sun light from the lower part
3-Complete opened horizontal also makes the previous effect and the lower part as a shade on the outdoor passages
4-Complete vertical opened case for whole unit to be as a group of vertical sunshades on the building

Mass production

The mass production process has a good advantage which is the build up unit for many reasons The module system allows to have a variety of colors and shapes of the building by changing color of the unit or making various colors . Also module system helps in mass production by saving money in construction It also helpful in maintenance and durability by fixing the needed unit only that saves money, time and effort. The module system would help in construction time by installing the prefabricated units in place and floor slabs.

Building envelope

1- In this case the units would be opened vertical to make a group of sunshades on the building and also having more space for air.
2- In this case while having a strong storm of wind and sand as example the units will be closed completely on itself to avoid the villa from bad climatic changes.
3- In this case of a good weather with a light sun ray the units would be opened horizontal to make shade from the glass part on the unit and acceleration the air movement inside the building.

Photovoltaic Glazing

Photovoltaic (PV) window or glazing modules are an exciting and extremely visible method for integrating PV into both new and existing buildings. PV glazing modules add architectural accents to a building while generating clean power and expressing the building owner’s environmental ethics. PV glazing modules can be integrated into a building as non-view windows, skylights as shown in this building.

Sun blocking system

The buildup detail design contains 3 parts: 2 solid parts and a glass one which is consists of a double layers of glass and between them is loaded with the nitrogen gas The nitrogen gas has the advantage of absorption the thermal energy that comes from sun rays and emits a low quantity of it so it helps to keep the inner space cool.

Share system

In the solar field the system would be saving the power from the one unit and sharing it with the other units and the extra could be saved on the generating station to be transfer in the future, the unit would generate almost 25% of its own needs for energy and the other 75% comes from the station and by saving energy on the unit it could use 85-90% of energy that helps for saving energy for compound In the water derange system the compound would depend on main disinfection unit for all villas or a group of them, the disinfection unit contains lift station and a recycled water storage, the lift unit collect drainage from villas and lift it to the disinfection unit where it passes through 3 steps and they are : disinfecting process ,filtration and backwash is the final process before moving the clean water for the recycled water storage to be transferred back to the villas for the usual usages like drinking , cooking and irrigation ….. etc

Building components

Construction process
The construction process starts with establishing the fixed steel columns in place then the floor slabs and at last the buildup window unit, all are prefabricated units from Etalbond (as its known for its toughness and lightness reducing aluminum size by using only for outer cover and inside the panels are loaded with foam) , the floor slabs are reinforced concrete and the upper roof slab from light concrete, the inner court carry the slabs loading on fixed columns.

Size and use of power
The concept depends on using the inner spaces in many usage and functions so that it can save more space for an event which considers as a main element in designing the planThe men majlis could expand to contain the entrance area, It could expand more to contain also the dinning space with the entrance area to make half of the villa as one space which is used on an event like celebration The whole building could be a one space by opening spaces to each other and moving women majlis to the upper floor for privacyIn case of marriage one of the children the second floor could be used as a separated apartment with its all facilitates and spaces : bed room – living – W.C – Kitchen …. etc

Ventilation system
The inner spaces was designed as a one space to make the air movement more easier inside the spaces, air movement depends on two or more entrances and three exits that gives a continues moving of air all day The site was designed to make the air movement always passes through green areas and trees inside and outside the building on the eastern and northern corners for filtering the air then passing through water area for cooling the air.

Glass Ganurals
Is a system of glass balls used under the ground floor level in court area, the glass granules process is to absorb the thermal energy all day time and keep it inside, in the night time when it’s cold the Glass granules emits the thermal energy again in the space to keep it warm.

Sections

Inner visualizations
The design of inner spaces depends on open view idea for all spaces according to the space function. By creating a middle double volume void area makes a visual contact between ground and first floor and also by creating inner court helps in the connecting between spaces in all levels that gives inner open feeling which is visually and Psychologically comfortable, that would also help in cooling process of the inner space.The design depends on having a variety between the inner and outer shape that gives a flexibility in inner furniture of spaces.

via house-designstudio.com

The collaboration between the Institue for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and leading multinational company in the Spanish electricity sector Endesa resulted in the construction of an innovative solar structure that will adorn the Barcelona’s Marina Pier for one year. Part of the Smart City Expo, the Endesa Pavilion (also known as Solar House 2.0 ) is describes as ”a testbed for informational grid technologies“. Combining prefabricated technologies with perfectly adapted customization, this genius design built in just one month is software-designed, cut to dimensions and assembled into a place-specific design. Plywood wedges shape outside solar system supports and interior storage spaces, while their cantilevering features shade the interiors from gaining too much heat in the summer.

via freshome.com

Eco-friendly ideas continue to save our energy and resources, and it’s great when such things are stylish in design. Professor Sheila Kennedy created SOFT Rocker, it’s a lounge chair where you can rest while recharging the batteries of various devices. During the sunlight hours a 12-ampere hour battery stores the solar energy and then utilizes it for charging. You can lie in this chair comfortably, with a lap top or a book and recharge this device or something else. Usual softwood panels may be used for storing solar energy, this is a great solution, especially if you spend much time outdoors. This is an example when high technologies combine with stylish design.

via digsdigs.com

Mancini Enterprises designed a this rural retreat in Sikkim, India. A 4000sqm compound is being turned into a interior world of 3 houses, pool with pavilion, small forest, rock – tropical – and suspended gardens, sunken garden around a adept well, outdoor bathrooms, savanna and water-tank all of it assembled to provide views on the nearby holy mountain and yet creating privacy in its different indoor and outdoor spaces. The buildings draw on traditional construction technique combined with large Roof-overhangs and high thermal mass thus ensuring cool interiors in the very hot climate of the south Indian countryside. All architectural and interior elements are custom designed and manufactured by local craftsmen whereas the infrastructural elements rely on technology to ensure environmental sustainability.

via contemporist.com

The School of Architecture at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany, have lead a collaborative research project into bionic inspired wooden shell structures. They have designed and built a temporary pavilion, inspired by the material-efficient construction methods found in nature. Do you like it?

via contemporist.com

If you have been working in the building industry for many years, you probably know how sometimes difficult it is to get new clients. What is more, the AEC sector is in recession that spreads over many practices. That’s why, many of us are looking for other ways to generate new income sources. Most professionals of our field work via recommendations but they, sooner or later, will end as well. Fortunately, there is another way to introduce yourself to a wider group of potential customers. Find out the new method.

If you want to give your clients an opportunity to find you and your work just, go to arcilook’s specialist section. By creating your individual specialist profile you can present complete profile of your work. You are able to put the information about your experience, skills that can meet all requirements of your future clients.

Recently we have rebuilt the entire look of specialist’s profile. Thanks to feedback from our users we have made some fundamental changes which will definitely simplify the use of it in the future. First of all, we have changed the whole graphical layout, so the profile is more transparent. What is the most important, your projects gallery is on the top of the site.

Under the gallery the person who is interested in employing you can find your personal information (few words about you) as well as your professional information (your experience, hourly rate, type of building or software that you prefer, or language in which you can communicate). There are also some information about your education, location. Finally on the bottom of your profile your references from previous companies are placed.

The right side of the profile’s site also needs attention. Starting from its top, there are links to your website and social media platforms. Under them, there is a contact box in which your photograph and three buttons are placed which can help a potential client to contact you or tell his friend about you. Next, there is some information about your business partners. The column on the right ends up with Specialist Search Box which allows you to find professionals from all over the world.

So you have nothing to lose. Make a profit for yourself!

The front door can be considered a great opportunity for personal expression, not to mention the ultimate way to grab the attention of everyone in the neighborhood (if this is what you are after). The main entrance to any home can reveal much about the house and its inhabitants, so why not make the best of it? In today’s post, we gathered 30 inspiring front door designs helping you improvise and reinvent your main entrance. There are plenty of key elements that can make your project successful. The pathway or stairway leading to the front door can be added a fresh touch by using flower pots and other creative green arrangements.

via freshome.com

DOS Architects have completed an intriguing renovation of the top two floors of Westbourne Grove Church, a Baptist chapel initially built in 1853. Situated in London’s Notting Hill, the interiors of the new apartment seem to defy their surroundings, showcasing a highly contemporary design. A double height space acts as the core of the loft; the church’s original arched windows were kept intact and flood this interior in natural light. Pink and purple were employed to add color to the place, dynamically contrasting the white walls. The home has a total living area of 400 square meters and a layout which ensures a high level of transparency. The two floors are connected through an interesting looking glass stairway. Combining a daring design with state of the art technology and modern finishes, it is difficult to believe this futuristic apartment is integrated in an old traditional church. Recently we wrote about other examples of converted churches into houses and that article aroused a lot of controversy among our readers. So we are curious to know your honest opinion regarded to the overall design of this apartment in relationship to its surrounding architecture- find this approach advisable?

via freshome.com

Many architects attempt to integrate nature into their structures, some fall short of this idea, while others succeed. Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld has mastered the marriage of nature and architecture in the Casa Grecia, where an Eco-system of 1,900 square meters of plants exist within the Sao Paulo home. The Grecia is located on a large corner plot of land with plenty of natural vegetation. Upon approach, the full scale of the house is hidden, instead, the only visible portion of the home is a short concrete structure with a vibrant yellow door. A green Ivy plant climbs up the concrete, giving visitors a little foreshadowing of the plant life inside.