February 18th, 2011
This interesting sophisticated living on Downshire Road in Newbury in England was conceived by the architecture firm Mim Design. The layout of the house is quite simple. On the first floor there is a kitchen, living room and other rooms for socializing through which the garden can be entered. The second floor offers space for relaxing. There is a sense of lightness to the house, from its linear form and pale colors to the heavy use and transparency of glass doors and light-toned wood floors. The dominant material is metal which was also used in the house’s structural framework but also served as the inspiration for the gray and steel-toned color upholstery fabrics in the house. The interior with its contemporary furnishing is enlivened by large-scale abstract paintings. The rear of the house is anchored by a covered terrace and swimming pool, which are visible from the living and dining areas sided by floor-to-ceiling glass. The light enters the house also thanks to the well arranged skylights which noticeably influence the atmosphere of the interior. Read more »
February 18th, 2011
A unique mini house by architectural studio LineBox sits on Craven Road in Toronto, Canada. Its name gives away almost everything about it. Mini House is the first modern living space in this part of the city and also proves that quality is not always connected to quantity. The owner chose this place deliberately as he felt something extraordinary about it. The architects tried to turn his ideas of compact, loft living into reality to make his dreams come true. The budget was set to match the cost of owning a comparably sized flat which meant that creativity and resourcefulness were needed in design development. The contractor was also included early on in the conversations and design process so could with his practical ideas modify the project. Inexpensive and recycled materials were salvaged from demolished houses which lowered the costs. Mini house embodies a “hard loft” style with a flexible floor plan and although it is small it feels open and spacious. All the floors are poured concrete, the walls are concrete block or white painted drywall. Natural ventilation and passive solar gain in the winter prove that the house is also environment friendly. Read more »
February 17th, 2011
Spanish architect Hector Ruiz Velázquez solved the usual separations of spaces inside an apartment in an unusual way in the middle of the capital of Spain, Madrid. In this case the architect introduced special conical elements that go from the floor to ceiling. Inside of this extraordinary wall a bathroom is hidden. Of course, this object is a central element which determines the entire apartment design. By perceiving these objects as interposed pieces we obtain a sensation of continuity, as the spectator moves through the house and never sees the end of each volume and really noticing the totality of the house. This gives him the sensation that the hose is much bigger than it really is. These curved volumes have the ability to lead the light and create unusual shades. via contemporist.com Read more »