2022

21 8 2022

Scandinavian house

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture, Interior design, Living comfort Architecture, Living comfort, Single-family house, Wood

SMALL SPACES: A CHARMING SWEDISH SUMMER COTTAGE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

Location: Malmöju (Švedska)

As with all Swedish summer cottages, simplicity is the order of the day.

The emphasis is on relaxation and warmth – and that starts with the glowing string lights and a an inviting ochre front door.

Inside, the walls and ceilings have been clad in wood panelling.

Vintage touches help to create a relaxed feel.

Ideal extra space for additional storage.

Mix and match furniture is key to creating a relaxed, lived-in feel.

Photography: Krister Engström

Source

Galerija

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21 8 2022

Single-Family Dwelling in Portugal

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture, Interior design, Living comfort Architecture, Single-family house

A modernist home

Santa Joana is a community in the city of Aveiro, which is located south of Porto. It is here that the Portuguese studio Nu.ma architects realized a 230 m², ground-level house for a family. The planners based their design on the surrounding urban structure, which is characterized by narrow rows of what were once workers’ quarters.

© Ivo Tavares Studio

In planning the house, architect Nuno Silva took up the surrounding urban structure, which is characterized by narrow rows of what were once workers’ quarters. Therefore, Nu.ma architects based their design on the ideas of repetition and systematization. They divided the building into three long, parallel volumes which are complemented by a nearly square garage in one corner of the entrance area. All four structures feature saddle roofs which continue the rhythm of the neighbouring roof shapes.

The building stands back from the road and is delimited from it by a low wall. The yard behind the wall acts as both forecourt and driveway to the garage. As the lot is slightly sloped, the house sits on a base that protrudes significantly towards the rear garden.

© Ivo Tavares Studio

In this spot, a ramp creates a connection between the different levels. The terrace in front of the main living spaces, which is set a bit higher, is bounded by the northern volume, which is twice as long as the two others. The white plastering on these volumes still forms a dramatic contrast to the nearby buildings. The climate in the north of Portugal, which is damp in wintertime, will eventually help the façade fit in with its surrounding environment.

© Ivo Tavares Studio

The public living areas are situated closer to the road and encompass the foyer, sanitary facilities, kitchen and garage access. The private living areas and bedrooms are oriented towards the inner portion of the lot, where they open onto the terrace with floor-to-ceiling windows. While the three main volumes are clearly discernible when seen from outside, inside the boundaries blur so the spatial impression of the individual spaces is determined by the various slopes of the roof. Several skylights and a narrow, upward-facing light shaft allow daylight into all areas of the house.

Architecture: nu.ma architects
Location: Santa Joana, Aveiro, Portugalska

Source

Gallery A modernist home

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: © Ivo Tavares Studio

: Axonometry, Graphic © NU.MA architects

: Ground floor plan, Graphic © NU.MA architects

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20 8 2022

A Humble 1950s Wood Cabin Becomes a Retreat

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture, Living comfort Architecture, Living comfort

Situated between the Santa Barbara foothills and the Santa Ynez mountains in a rock quarry in Montecito, California, the Quarry House went from being a humble 1950s wood cabin to a modern, retreat-like residence designed by AB design studio in collaboration with House of Honey. The property houses two structures, a single-story home and a new guesthouse by the pool – both black and boxy with large expanses of windows. The elongated main house features a long hallway that connects the public space to the primary bedroom suite at the opposite end.

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A large wooden deck wraps around all sides of the house creating opportunities for a connected indoor/outdoor lifestyle prominent in California.

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A stepped pathway joins the two structures with a garden courtyard in between.

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Black-framed windows replace solid walls offering ever-changing views of the surrounding oak forest.

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The light-filled interior is designed by House of Honey who gives nod to the property’s Zen and artistic past when it was inhabited by a collective of bohemian poets, writers, and artists. Original elements are maintained and stones found on the property have been reused in the project.

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The ceilings are clad in birch veneer, which complements the light wood flooring throughout.

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Photo: Jason Rick in Sam Frost

Source

Galerija

14 8 2022

Escape to Crete for a Serene Vacation With Your Own Pool

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture Architecture, Interior eqpipment, Living comfort

With August being National Wellness Month, we’re focusing on design that centers around self-care, healthy lifestyles, mindfulness, productivity, comfort, mental wellness, reducing stress, etc. From creating a spa-like environment in your own home to travel escapes, healthy workspaces to mood-boosting colors, we will cover the spectrum in hopes of inspiring you to create your own oasis, whether that’s in your home, office, or mind.

Photo: Giorgos Sfakianakis

Situated on the rocky cliffs of Crete is a tranquil wellness retreat with a five-star rating – ACRO Suites. The luxe Greek resort overlooks the Aegean Sea with a contemporary meets natural design scheme that spans 49 ocean-front suites and villas, each outfitted with their own private saltwater pool. A destination where dreams are made.

The rocky coastline inspires the interiors where you’ll find natural tones, rich textures, and modern amenities around every turn. The exterior is clad in textured stones giving direct nod to the resort’s location.

For guests looking to indulge in some self-care, the hotel offers a hammam-inspired bath house, a plunge pool, Finnish sauna, treatment rooms, a public outdoor pool, and lounge area. There are daily yoga classes, in addition to a tennis court, mini basketball court, fitness room, and a pilates reformer for guest to enjoy.

The modern suites are sleek and contemporary, yet serene with a palette of earth tones and minimalist furnishings. The perfect spot for relaxing after swimming in a private pool.

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One suite connects to its own private pool within a rocky cave that overlooks the sea.

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Photos by Nick Kontostavlakis of Anima Vision, unless noted.

14 8 2022

Lycée Simone Veil near Montpellier by Hellin Sebbag

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture School, Sustainable projects, Wood

Energy-plus building with a terracotta shell

Architecture: Hellin-Sebbag Architectes Associés
Client: Région Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée
Location: Avenue Arnaud Beltrame, Gignac (FR)

Structural engineering: Terrell
Landscape architecture: Guillemet
Building services engineering: Adret
Budgeting: Egis Bâtiments

A wooden construction, power generated by a photovoltaic system and heating and cooling with geothermal pumps make the Lycée Simone Veil, a high school in the southwestern French town of Gignac, an ecological showcase. For the community of 6500 inhabitants located around 40 km northwest of Montpellier, the new building is akin to a rejuvenation treatment: 1000 pupils can be taught in the complex, which measures 145 000 m², while 80 can be accommodated in the adjacent boarding school. Moreover, there are 8 living units for teaching staff.

If one does not consider the residential buildings, the overall plan of the complex is shaped like a parallelogram. The two long tracts, which face east to west, are home to the classrooms, special-subject rooms and administrative offices. The two transverse wings, which feature vaulted green roofs, contain the teachers’ rooms, a documentation centre as well as the cafeteria and locker rooms for the sports field directly to the west.

© Jean-Pierre Porcher

The entrance façade to the north is divided into three storey-high, undulant bands that mediate between the course of the access road and the north-south orientation of the main facades, which are optimal in terms of energy efficiency.

For the facade covering, the architects chose in favour of a small-scale, pixel-like structure of glazed terracotta elements in various shades of grey and blue. Bilious-green facade panels mingle intermittently among the grey and blue; on the front of the classroom wing, they form the background for the portrait of the school’s namesake.

© Julien Thomazo

Two-thirds wood, one-third concrete: this was the architects’ recipe for the supporting structure of the new building. For instance, the prefabricated Y-shaped supports that bear the canopy and protruding upper level of the building’s wings are of high-performance concrete. The ceilings, which are of cross-laminated timber, have been treated with a coating of grout topping to improve soundproofing. In contrast, the inner walls and façades consist primarily of wood panelling.

© Jean-Pierre Porcher

Electricity for the school is supplied by around 1650 m² of conventional photovoltaic modules and 200 m² of modules that have been integrated into the glass roof of the entrance tract. Among other things, the power is used by a heat-pump system with 32 geothermal probes, each of which is 120 m deep, that heats and cools the building. Thanks to its low energy consumption and generation of solar power, the Lycée Simone Veil has achieved the French energy-plus standard known as BEPOS (Bâtiment à Énergie Positive).

Galerija

Source

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13 8 2022

Renovated Residence by Jonathan Tuckey Design

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture Architecture, bricks, Single-family house

Architecture: Jonathan Tuckey Design
Client: Zasebno
Location: London (GB)

© Nick Dearden

With the Urban Barn in London, British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design has united an old carpentry workshop, a main house and three garages into a charming residence with an atelier. On a densely developed road in the British metropolis, this project fits in among the typical brick-walled Victorian cottages. Even now, this former industrial area bears the marks of bombing from the Second World War.

The architects have revitalized the volumes, connected them and combined living space and the creative workshop under a single roof. A new brick façade not only unifies the parts of the building, but also concordantly embeds the Urban Barn into the residential district, where it creates a sheltered retreat for its residents.

© Nick Dearden

The various connections make it possible to discern the individual tracts that comprise the house from looking at the masonry. In some places, the handmade bricks lie seamlessly side by side; in others the work appears perforated like lightweight curtains, in still other areas they have been laid vertically.

The three-storey house with a saddle roof represents the link between the two lateral structures. Each of these is accessed via a gate and is lower than the central part. While the ground floor features an open communal area with a kitchen as the heart of the house, the garage is located to the right. Above the garage, there is a guest room with ensuite bath. The left-hand volume extends quite far back. It encompasses a large studio. Two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first upper level and a loft-like work space in the attic round out the spatial program of the Urban Barn.

© Nick Dearden

In all three parts of the building, the spaces have been designed with a great love of detail: brick, stone, wood and white built-ins create a sleek yet powerful overall composition that functions as an unobtrusive backdrop for works of art and other objects. As set-in elements, the stairways become sculptures in their own right and provide integrated storage space. Skylights and deliberately placed window openings cleverly direct the daylight into the house and add the perfect finishing touch to the renovated house.

© Nick Dearden

Gallery Renovated Residence

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

: © Nick Dearden

Photo: © Nick Dearden

Source

8 8 2022

Studio PKA’s New Office Is an Exercise in Sustainable (Re)Design

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture, Interior design Architecture, Living comfort

When Studio PKA needed a new office space, it didn’t need to look too far, only just a couple floors down. Located in a 100-year-old Victorian era building in South Bombay, India, the newly designed The Loft | Redefined by principal architect Puran Kumar is a practice in sustainable redesign, adaptive reuse, and historical preservation.

The studio took on the task of dismantling its old office to reuse and repurpose existing components for the new design. The floor was originally boarded up, deplete of natural light and ventilation, and had brick walls dividing up the space inefficiently. The new design would address all of this while staying true to the heritage site.

Unnecessary layers of plaster and paint from the existing floor were peeled back and removed but the raw, industrial aesthetic was retained. Recycling elements from the old office as well as the city (like salvaged doors from demolished buildings) became a way to lower costs while also reiterating the company’s values in sustainable design.

Izpostavljeni tramovi in prezračevalni sistemi dodajo studiu dodatno višino, hkrati pa mu dajo industrijsko estetiko.

Steklene sobe dodajo preglednost in kontrast ostalim grobim teksturam in materialom studia.

Podstrešje | Redefined definira, kaj pomeni pokloniti se preteklosti, ostati prisoten v prihodnosti in se veseliti prihodnosti.

Fotografije Niveditaa Gupta.

Vir

17 7 2022

indigo architects Construct Koba House on the Banks of River Sabarmati

Blanka de Far 2022, Architecture Architecture

Project Status: Built
Year: 2008

Koba House – is situated on the banks of river Sabarmati, north of Ahmedabad, and part of koba village. The site is part of an undulating landscape of silt mounds that stretch along either sides of the Sabarmati river. As a weekend home for a family, it explores the relationship between common elements such as a courtyard, a verandah and the built as an operable interface, as a response to the hot humid and hot dry conditions of the context. The landscape and the microenvironment posed by the river add new dimensions. Built with minimally disturbing the soft land mounds, it addresses the landscape vistas beyond and within its precinct.

Architizer chatted with Uday & Mausami Andhare from indigo architects to learn more about this project.

What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Uday & Mausami Andhare: Locating the building sensitively but close to the edge, balancing cut and fill to create a built gesture that held the earth, visually and technically was attempted. The retaining wall defines a court that opens and gives way to a verandah, framing the view beyond.

What do you believe is the most unique or ‘standout’ component of the project?

The shorter building section through the court and verandah explains and pins the central idea.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

Negotiating the edge of the river and dealing with issues of erosion was important. The inclined concrete and brick walls shaped to hold the building firmly in the ground define the emergent form of the verandah.

How did the context of your project — environmental, social or cultural — influence your design?

The house becomes a private enclave although it is accessed from the village square for reasons of privacy. Climatic concerns, for ventilation and shielding from the heat were important and addressed. The verandah is at the heart of the experience of dwelling in this tropical context.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

It is a brick and mortar building. Cement stucco with paint is used on the walls for resilience to the weather and availability of labor to execute the work played a major role. Exposed concrete work was possible and used due to local available skills. Natural limestone flooring available locally and off the shelf metal roofing with under deck insulation and timber panelling defined the palette.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

The articulation of the mass of the building with the nimble placement of the metal roofs and their junctions was exciting. As also the exploration of how the courtyard, internal movement and the verandah coalesce in plan.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project?

Yes it was critical and formed the core of all decisions related to site selection, orientation, shielding from the heat and the management of water.

In what ways did you collaborate with others, and how did that add value to the project?

All collaborations on design were internal to the design team right from developing the initial ideas down to the execution. The interactions with the client and contractors at the site added value to the process circumventing issues of management of the soil and controlling any waste during construction.

Were any parts of the project dramatically altered from conception to construction, and if so, why?

No, it was a very fast process and much of the decisions were finalized at the working drawings stage and executed.

How have your clients responded to the finished project?

They were delighted and continue to use the place fondly. It has matured immensely ever since with the landscape playing its role beautifully.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

It was an opportunity to delve into the critical examination of the macro elements that define tropical living ie. the courtyard, the in-between(built) and the verandah.

How do you believe this project represents you or your firm as a whole?

This project has been a very important milestone in the recognition we have received and an important part of our evolving portfolio. Seminal in defining the trajectory of the works to follow.

How do you imagine this project influencing your work in the future?

It’s been a while since this project was completed. Several new works have happened since. It continues to define an aesthetic, born out of deeper concerns and becomes a point to go back to sometimes.