Confignon House by LOCALARCHITECTURE

Designed by Local Architecture and located in Confignon, Switzerland, this new dwelling occupies the totality of the constructible area on an elongated plot. Benefiting from the mild natural grade of the orchard, the house is formed by three spaces which shift down the land. Each ‘unit’ is a volume which varies in height and which opens sideways towards the garden on both sides.

The daylight space (living room and kitchen) occupies the central area, while the guest room is located in the upper level of the house. The rooms of the children are distributed in the lower part of the volume. Another room completes the ground-floor. Two utility cores dissociate the main living spaces, while a peripheral passageway cadenced by the changes of levels connects them.

The structural concrete shell that ensures protection against the noise pollution coming from the road bellow, expresses the uneven shape resulting from the height variations of the interior spaces. The large windows reinforce the transparency of the building while that the vertical rhythm and depth of the pinewood posts accentuate the close relationship between each interior space and its outside extension.

Architects: LOCALARCHITECTURE
Location: Confignon, Switzerland
Partners In Charge: Manuel Bieler, Laurent Saurer, Antoine Robert Grandpierre
Area: 185 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Mathieu Gafsou

Construction Management: Jerôme Granchamp
Civil Engineering: ESM Ingénierie SA, Monthey
Site Area: 759

Designer(s) / Architect (s) : Local Architecture

Komada Architects Office – BASE

This project started from such words of the clients “we need to have our own base”. The art-event planning office is at the first floor and the 2nd or 3rd floor are dwellings. It is a small complex of a office and a house, built on the site of 33m2.

On the first floor, office opens to the town,on the 3rd floor, living space opens to the sky and on the 2nd floor, private space is complicated and intimate but not closed. And the stair case which pierces through these floors.

This small building of the maximum volume allowed on laws and regulations is a place like a base of living where they protect themselves, associate with others, earn their dairy bread, connect to the nature, and gaze themselves

Architects: Komada Architects’ Office
Location: Setagaya-ku,Tokyo, Japan
Architect In Charge: Takeshi Komada,Yuka Komada
Area: 65.61 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Tomohiro Saruyama
Consultant: Yasushi Moribe (structural)
Site Area: 32,19 m2
Floor Area: 21,87 m2

Designer(s) / Architect (s) : Komada Architects

Marin County Residence

This accessible house is designed on one level to provide a barrier-free environment and to capitalize on the potential for an internalized landscape. The plan is based upon an irregular grid, which informs all elements of its composition.

Each programmatic function is contained within an individual building to respond to its specific needs. This enables each space to form a distinct relationship with its own courtyard or garden.

The ceiling plane is fractured and folded along a diagonal pattern, exploring the interplay of light in unique ways.

These spatial volumes are bound together by an enclosing perimeter wall, which creates a single form out of a village of buildings and landscapes. The irregular pattern of openings in this simple wall hints at the home’s underlying geometry and expresses the various functions contained within.

Designer(s) / Architect (s) : Dirk Denison Architects

Skyline House

On a sloping site in West Lake Hills, this house slides in between mature Live Oaks to create a strong connection to nature and establish a unique sense of place. The form of the house is long and linear, following the natural topography of the site and directing the perspective towards impressive views of downtown Austin. A stretch of sliding glass doors pockets completely into the walls, creating a 40’ wide opening between the living area and outdoor spaces.

Stucco, stone and zinc create a natural and low-maintenance exterior, while floor-to-ceiling glass and deep overhangs create spaces that are both dramatic and comfortable. From the grey porcelain tile floors to the extensive black walnut built-ins, the house was designed and detailed to be easygoing and flexible. The result is a home that functions equally well for a large party as for a quiet moment taking in the sunrise.

Designer(s) / Architect (s) : Dick Clark Architecture

Fieldstone House Architecture Project by DE MEZA Architecture

This custom home was thoughtfully designed for a young, active family in the heart of wine country. Designed to address the clients’ desire for indoor / outdoor living, the home embraces its surroundings and is sited to take full advantage of the panoramic views and outdoor entertaining spaces. The interior space of the three bedroom, 2.5 bath home is divided into three distinct zones: a public living area; a two bedroom suite; and a separate master suite, which includes an art studio.

Casually relaxed, yet startlingly original, the structure gains impact through the sometimes surprising choice of materials, which include field stone, integral concrete floors, glass walls, Honduras mahogany veneers and a copper clad central fireplace. This house showcases the best of modern design while becoming an integral part of its spectacular setting.

Project Name : Fieldstone House, Sonoma, CA
Size : 4,100 sf
Architect : De Meza Architecture

E Conway Residence by Studio One Architecture

The existing home is located on a narrow corner lot along a major road in an affluent suburban neighborhood. The primary purpose for the addition was to solve a dangerous existing pedestrian and vehicular egress issue as well as to control entry access to the property. The existing home and tight setbacks restricted buildable area to just 0.07 acres. Despite the minimal land available, the site was reconfigured to add a new garage, in-law suite, swimming pool, lanai, and outdoor dining area along with renovating the existing main level, providing a new kitchen, gathering room, and support spaces.

Project Data :
Architects : Studio One Architecture
Location: Sandy Springs, Georgia
Dates: 2009-2010
Project Scope: 2,000 square feet addition 950 square feet renovation
Lot Area: 0.44 acres
Structural Eng: Quinn & Associates, PE

Central Washington River House by McClellan Architects

The River House is located on the Columbia River in eastern Washington. The house was designed for a young family as a weekend retreat and has a separate guest house over the garage. The home takes full advantage of the views to the river and the sage brush covered mountains. McClellan Architects also designed a lower outdoor dining room just off of the pool so that the family can enjoy the long summers.

This weekend cottage sits at the base of the Cascade foothills, opening to the banks of the Columbia River. It is home to a family of four. A guest bunkhouse and outdoor rooms define the grounds, creating a seamless relationship between inside and out.

The design program for this house emphasized its relationship to the outside and the river. The house establishes a demarcation between the desert and the river oasis. As one descends through the site the building forms open, embracing the site.

Modern Villa Sapi in Lombok Island Indonesia

This modern villa sapi is a beautiful rental villa designed by Canadian architect David Lombardi on Lombok Island in Indonesia. The “Function over Form” villa’s concept leaves Villa Sapi’s guests with a sense of discovery and surprise at every twist and turn, ranging from the traditionally styled, grass-roofed building that houses the main kitchen to a futuristic home theatre.

Furnishings carry a signature colour theme of black, red and lime green, while the walls are adorned with flair – bamboo, water cascades and conceptual artwork. The first clue to the quirky nature of the artwork is a white sculpture in the coconut grove garden which, in huge black letters, suggests that we should ‘Stop Making Sense’.

The view from the villa’s open-sided living and dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms is unrivalled; here guests can look forward to a vista that is ever-changing with the moods of the sea, sky, neighbouring islands, distant mountains, forests and colourful fishing boats. At night, after a magnificent sunset, the views become even more magical as the moon’s reflection twinkles on the water, presenting a scene of tranquillity and unforgettable beauty.

Although contemporary in architectural style and amenities, Villa Sapi has included some traditional elements such as the various bales set around the estate. The use of wood like Ulin (iron wood) for the roof, batu chandi (lava stone), paras (sand stone), coconut and bamboos, all reflect Lombardi’s unique vision and his commitment to the use of local. materials. Environmental issues have also been addressed with the use of solar water heaters, and solar lighting. Rainwater is collected from the building structure and recycled.

For unforgetable holidays moments at Villa Sapi, you could visit their official website here.

Tags: modern resort villas, resort house design

Open Plan Apartment Design Ideas in Kalorama by FORMA Design

Home » Architecture » Open Plan Apartment Design Ideas in Kalorama by FORMA Design

In this 1000sf 2 bedroom one bath 5th floor flat in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, DC, the client- (himself an architect and avid scuba-diver) – asked FORMA to think out-of-the box; to create an open plan solution maximizing the natural light, improving on the layout and functionality of the space and creating the envelope to display his art collection and a way to share his underwater photography with his friends.

The result is a multi-functional entertainment area bathed in light, with the custom concrete fireplace surround flanked by sycamore millwork and a flat TV monitor for the scuba-diving slideshows on one end facing the matching concrete kitchen counters and sycamore upper cabinets in the kitchen area, turning the space from a series of smaller rooms into an open entertainment area.

The small Master Bedroom and second guest/study room were combined into a magnificent Master Bedroom/study suite, enjoyed by the client year round, that allows for the possibility of being subdivided into two private sleeping areas when a guest stays over. The project was published in TRENDS-Home & Renovation in the Fall of 2007 and received a Silver award for residential interior design from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Tags: apartment interior decor, apartment interior design, modern apartment design, modern apartment interior

Mid-Century Modern Northfield Green Home

A devastating flood in 2008 essentially destroyed a mid-century modern home which was located on a site that was designated a flood plane after the original home was built. To be able to build a new home back, the house had to be raised above the flood plane level, with no basement. A ‘flow through‘ foundation was used, one that allows water to travel under the insulated raised first floor structure.

In lieu of the previous home’s 1950's ranch design, the new design was to be a Cape Cod. The only items that survived the flood were the swimming pool and a two story addition that was built prior to the flood.

Key design elements include the use of Harmon pivot hinged doors which, when closed give the first floor a completely open feel, but when closed acoustically separate the various rooms and the second floor library, which features an arched ceiling that aligns with the prominent circle top window that is located over the front entry. A generous screened porch provides the perfect transition from the pool and yard into the house.

Architects : ipnis Architecture + Planning

- Nine panel solar thermal system – provides space heat in the winter and pool heating in the summer
- Reused key plumbing fixtures and lighting existing home
- High efficiency radiant floor system on first floor
- Natural daylighting and ventilation throughout
- Natural ventilation tower at second floor
- Closed cell foam perimeter insulation
- Rebuilt home on existing foundation
- Cement fiberboard siding
- Energy Star appliances
- Whole house fan

Tags: green home design, modern green home

Modern Beach House Architecture at Otter Cove Residence

This stunning modern beach house architecture ideas is the Otter Cove Residence that was designed by San Francisco-based studio Sagan Piechota Architecture. Completed in 2008, this contemporary two story private residence is located in Carmel, California, USA with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean. 10,000 sq ft curvilinear design composed of contrasting fields of glass, stone, steel and wood with interior and exterior landscaped ‘courtyards’.

Upper Level: Four en-suite bedrooms, powder room, three-car garage. Open plan kitchen, dining and living rooms feature two fireplaces – expansive light exposure from both East and West directions. Lower Level: Offices, en-suite bedroom, screening room, gym, game room, bar & lounge.

Here is the note from the architects :

“Perched atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean, this Carmel residence strives to appear as a natural extension of the landscape while resolving competing private and public concerns.

A language of fluid lines was adopted to respond to the boundary conditions of the site. The s-curve in the western wing of the plan increased the effective view potential while positioning rooms according to their needs for privacy, the oceanfront bedrooms orienting away from public spaces.

The large area of the house was disguised by splitting the house into two wings — recessing the house into the site and locating nearly half of the space partially underground. The plan-split created a courtyard, the eastern wing providing privacy from Highway One and the western wing buffering the ocean wind. Secondary spaces are located on the lower floor and borrow light from above through three staircases. These spaces provide respite from the panoramic drama on the upper floor.

Roofs are visually pulled apart from the walls creating the affect of lightness and lift. This lift affords long horizontal views to the hills east without sacrificing privacy. It also balances light minimizing glare off the ocean, while creating opportunities for high operable windows encouraging cross ventilation.

Walls are located only where absolutely necessary for privacy or structure and treated as monolithic elements. Stone cladding predominates, rooting the house in the site and visually connecting with the rocky cove.”

Architects: Sagan Piechota Architecture
Location: Carmel, CA, USA
Principal in Charge: Daniel Piechota
Project Team: Jaeson Greer, Ben Frombgen
Collaborators: Mike Eggers, Tim Whitehill, Audrey Hitchcock, Jeremy Tsai
Interior Designer: Jorie Clark
Structural Engineer: Alex Rood, Fulcrum Engineering
Landscape: Christian Lemon
General Contractor: McLeod Construction
Project Year: 2005-2008
Photographs: Joe Fletcher

Tags: beach house architecture, glass home designs, modern glass house