This video shows an interview with Architect Álvaro Leite Siza Vieira. He is the son of one of the best-known Portuguese architects, Álvaro Siza Vieira, winner of the 1992 Pritzker Prize and the 1988 Alvar Aalto Medal, among many other accolades. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Escola do Porto. He is best known for his Casa Tolo in northern Portugal, a residence that cascades down a steep hill like a clunky staircase fit for a giant. During the interview, he presents his 650 square meter villa called Fez House and located in Porto, Portugal.
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May 16
May 16
Since the cold season is acting up, we thought we would find some decorating ideas that will keep you indoors, enjoying every minute. Bringing letters and words into your home is a great way to add freshness and creativity. This is why, for today, we gathered quite a few colorful and creative interiors, all of them featuring writing decorations. Whether you choose to integrate a single significant letter in your home, or go with a message or a phrase that takes up an entire wall of a room, the result will bring an original touch. Letters of any size and color make for great additions in the children’s room or in a living room with a playful style. Entire words (baby’s names or general adjective characterizing the space) can be placed anywhere in the house, for a cheerful effect. And last, messages. Feel free to write entire phrases on the walls- the wittier they are, the more they enrich the crib’s personality. If you can do this while maintaining an overall indoor visual harmony, then you are in for a cool home makeover.
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May 16
Saraiva + Associados designed the Sushicafé Avenida in Lisbon, Portugal. Architects wrote about this project: “Integrating a Premium concept, this new space conveys an innovative and attractive image evidenced by the games of light and different developed environments – Bar, Sushi Bar, Dining area and Japanese Zone. Although with distinct functions, they reinforce the creation of a strong and innovative space. With the intention of escaping from the traditional Japanese image, the restaurant transmits a modern and distinguishing concept, which was functionally conceived in order to provide different sensations and moments of leisure.”
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May 16
As we are slowly approaching summer, we find these photos of White Pearl Chalet highly refreshing. Designed by Philippe Capezzone and located between the village of Val d’Isère and the Funival funicular in La Daille, in the French Alps, the rustic home we decided to feature in this post inspires peacefulness and relaxation. Once inside, a potential visitor is likely to be impressed by the elegant interior design blending rustic details with a high level of comfort. The open plan living and dining space sets the tone for a memorable experience. Exposed wooden beams, fluffy cushions, a stone fireplace and a dining table perfect for a group of friends is more than enough to make each stay here enjoyable. The villa boasts five en suite bedrooms, with great views of the French Alps, and can be booked all year round. How do you find its overall design?
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May 15
Looking for unconventional materials to build a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home? Designed by studio James & Mau Arquitectura and built by Infiniski, the unusual looking Casa El Tiamblo was developed using four 40-feet shipping containers. But as you will certainly observe from the photos below, the residence has a highly intriguing appearance, ranking high in originality. The blue containers give the home a playful exterior and a dynamic one as well. The interiors are surprising to say the least. Subtle rustic decorative elements and wood accents are mixed with modern furniture units. The result?- an elegant home, filled with warmth and inspiring decors, one that does not betray the fact that it was constructed using shipping containers. You tell us if you find this approach bad or good; to us, it is simply crazy (in a good way!). [Photos by Pablo Sarabia]
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May 15
The construction industry is a big polluter. While there are rapidly developing trends in ‘green’ design and architecture, building materials and transportation still leave a huge carbon footprint. Worldwide, construction makes up about a third of CO2 emissions. Steel and cement production are the main offenders, with the iron and steel industry accounting for four per cent, cement for five per cent of global man-made greenhouse gas emissions. A group of forward-thinking architects at the Rotterdam-based company 2012architecten have come up with an alternative way of looking at construction. They create buildings and other structures made almost entirely from reclaimed and recycled materials. All their work is based on the idea that design should not follow a linear process, but is much rather part of a continuous cycle of creation and recreation, use and reuse. The focus is very much on local sourcing, to reduce the need for emissions-heavy transportation as much as possible. This innovative and eco-friendly concept, which underpins all their work, is called “superuse”, or “recyclicity”.
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May 15
When it comes to interior design, many people celebrate color, focusing on their favorite two or three shades for any given room. But what about those who love every color of the rainbow? Do you have to limit your palette? The answer is “no!” Believe it or not, it is possible to bring a rainbow of options to your space. The key is making it stylish. How do you tastefully welcome a bevy of colors? Is it really doable? The most successful rainbow spaces limit clutter, reserve some areas of the room for neutral tones, and favor modern design over “cutesy” motifs. Rainbow rooms can quickly take a turn for the tacky. By making some elements of the space minimalist, the rainbow features stand out in a meaningful way, rather than overwhelming the room’s inhabitants. Here are some of our favorite rainbow designs.
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May 15
Renowned architectural firm OMA have created a stage set for an ancient outdoor theatre in Sicily that dates back to the fifth century BC. A circular wooden platform provides the main stage, while the backdrop is a seven-metre-high tilted disc that can spin around or split down the middle. A ring of scaffolding completes the circle of the tiered amphitheatre to form an elevated walkway behing the stage. Here’s some more information from the architects:
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