Grassy courtyard forms heart of Brazilian house by Shieh Arquitetos

Shieh Arquitetos Associados has organised this residence in Brazil around a lush courtyard so that its residents can "step onto grass from the bedrooms".

The Courtyard House for Two Boys was completed for a family with young sons in Vinhedo, a city roughly one hour's drive from São Paulo. The family needed to remain close to the city, but wanted a calmer environment where they could spend the majority of their time.

Rooms surround a grassy central area at Courtyard House for Two Boys

"Completed shortly before the pandemic, the house became a universe for parents and children," said Shieh Arquitetos Associados, a studio based in São Paulo.

A central courtyard is the organising element of the home, and is surrounded by standalone structures that contain the home's living and dining rooms, bedrooms, and pool.

Living spaces open directly onto the courtyard

"The courtyard, central to everyone, is the spirit of the place," said the architects. "From all rooms, rain can be seen watering the singular yellow Ipe."

"On a sunny day, one can see the children playing in the garden," they added.

Glass partitions slide back to seamlessly connect outside and in

Besides a mezzanine in the living and dining room, the 400-square-metre home is laid out on a single level.

"With young children, the preference was for a single-story house, where one could step onto grass from the bedrooms," explained Shieh Arquitetos Associados.

Separate blocks that frame the courtyard are linked by a planted roof

The residence occupies a corner lot, and is accessed via a short flight of exterior stairs that leads to a covered terrace links directly with the courtyard.

The living areas and pool frame either side of the central outdoor area, while three bedrooms at the back of the property also face onto the grass.

Concrete blocks are left exposed through the interiors

Each of these rooms has tall sliding glass doors that open to courtyard, creating continuity between the home's interior and exterior spaces.

Although each of these volumes is separate, they share a roof that runs continuously around the perimeter of the home.

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Plenty of plants atop this concrete slab help reinforce the courtyard's lush feeling.

There is also a terrace on the upper level that is accessible through the mezzanine in the living and dining room.

A swimming pool occupies one of the standalone volumes

"With the creation a mezzanine, a double-height ceiling is established in the living room – which receives shading of a wooden screen on the face of the patio," said Shieh Arquitetos Associados.

"In terms of materiality, an austere palette has the aspiration that the construction can get better with the passage of time," it continued.

An upper floor terrace is accessible via a staircase in the living area

The structural concrete blocks, concrete beams, and panelised slabs were all left exposed.

"The finishes follow the same thinking: flooring is either hardwood or Portuguese mosaic stones," said the architects.

The house sits on a corner lot in Vinhedo, near São Paulo

Shieh Arquitetos Associados was founded in 1976 by Shieh Shueh Yau. It is now a family business, which he runs with Leonardo Shieh, Irene Shieh, and Kathia Shieh in São Paulo.

Other projects in and aroun the Brazilian city include an apartment by Julliana Camargo for a fashion editor that uses a vibrant color palette and a single-family home that Superlimão converted to accommodate a yoga studio, co-working space, and rental apartment for an entrepreneurial family.

The photography is by Leonardo Shieh.

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Project credits:

Architects: Shieh Arquitetos Associados (Leonardo Shieh, Shieh Shueh Yau, Irene Shieh, Victoria Mendes Ribeiro, Karen Minoda, Nathalia Grippa, Ricardo Azevedo, Rodrigo Chedid)

Structural engineering: WE Engenharia

MEP engineering: Infraenge

Landscape design: Regen Ecossistemas

Soil consultant: MG&A Consultores de Solo

Contractor: Reginaldo Carvalho

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Saunders Architecture designs "ribbon-like" Lily Pad house in Ontario

Canadian architect Todd Saunders has shaped this white house next to Lake Rousseau to create a continuous route through its interior and exterior spaces.

Saunders Architecture designed the Lily Pad residence for a Toronto couple that wanted a rural retreat in the Muskoka region north of the city.

The Lily Pad house wraps around and over on itself

The area is dotted with rivers and lakes, and has a particular architectural vernacular that includes cottages and boathouses with ample porches, decks and terraces.

"[The clients] found a 16-acre site on the edge of Lake Rosseau... and began thinking about building something for themselves that would integrate with the setting but also be decidedly modern," said the firm, which is based in Bergen, Norway.

Saunders Architecture designed the house as a modernist take on the vernacular of Muskoka

On a trip to Fogo Island – an artists' community off the coast of Newfoundland – the clients visited some of the studios designed by Saunders, and chose to commission him to design their house.

The project encompassed a five-bedroom residence, a separate guesthouse, and a boathouse on the lake. Matt Ryan served as the local architect of record.

Large glazed panels on the upper floor overlook Lake Rosseau

"Both the architect and his clients wanted to maximise the sense of connection with the landscape, while creating a home with a dynamic and original character of its own," the Saunders Architecture team said.

The main house comprises two rectangular bars arranged in a cross formation, one on top of the other.

The glass doors open up to turn the living area into a giant porch

Two ends are joined together to form a square on one side, resulting in a continuous "ribbon-like" form thanks to an angled section that bridges the level change.

Entered via a covered carport, the ground level has four bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. A staircase next to the door leads directly upstairs, thanks to its placement at the intersection of the main volumes.

Studio Author designed the neutral interiors

An alternative route to the first floor is via the media room, where stairs and bleacher-style seating follow the inclined portion of the building.

The house can also be accessed from a grand exterior staircase that rises from the lake to the glazed upper facade that overlooks it.

Colours and materials were chosen to complement the surroundings

Sliding panels open to a formal dining area and more casual lounge seating on either side.

"When the glass slides back, this space becomes – in effect – an enticing open porch, or 'Muskoka room'," the studio said.

The interiors have a minimal yet cosy atmosphere

Fireplaces divide the open-plan living space from the kitchen on one side and the main bedroom suite on the other.

"Floating beyond the main body of the house, the master bedroom levitates in a dramatic manner, becoming a lookout station facing the lake view to the front," said the firm.

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Continuing the axis from the external stairs, more glass doors lead out to the roof.

An outdoor route traces the circulation path inside, rising up over the media room to reach the top terrace, which is also accessible by elevator.

A grand external staircase provides direct access to the first floor

"The roof terrace becomes the final destination within an ambitious 'promenade architecturale' – somewhat reminiscent of the journey seen at Le Corbusier's iconic Villa Savoye – that takes you up from the ground plane towards the floating first floor and, finally, to the roof," said Saunders Architecture.

The guest house has a similar modernist aesthetic as the main residence, while the boathouse is clad in timber to reference the local boat-building tradition.

Arranged like a cross, the home's upper and lower volumes are joined by an angled portion

Interiors by Ontario-based Studio Author draw from the surroundings, with blond wood, white cabinetry, marbled stone and pale furniture used to create a neutral yet cosy atmosphere.

"The details and palette are reflective of the hues and patterns of the water, sand and stone native to Muskoka," the firm said.

The angled portion houses a media room with tiered seating that follows the incline

Originally from Newfoundland, Todd Saunders founded his studio in 1998 and has worked extensively across Norway, Canada and beyond.

He designed his own house in Bergen with blackened timber cladding, and recently completed a white house overlooking the city in collaboration with Swedish design practice Claesson Koivisto Rune.

The photography is courtesy of Saunders Architecture.

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#all #architecture #residential #houses #canada #saundersarchitecture #ontario #canadianhouses #whitehouses

NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte contrasts red concrete pool house with green landscape

Architecture studio NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte has built a pool house from red concrete within the wooded garden of a home in Flanders, Belgium.

Named the Refuge, the project is a walled pavilion containing a square building and swimming pond – a swimming pool with a natural filtration system.

Solid red concrete pavilion walls contain the swimming pond and pool house

"Instead of designing a swimming pond alongside the garden pavilion, we designed a garden pavilion which integrated the swimming pond within its perimeter – a refuge," said Bert Rogiers and Pieter Vandeputte, founding architects of NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte.

"The result is an extraordinary set of spaces that are sound in concept and in detailing, a series of rigid and curved lines that generate a playful intimacy."

The Refuge has a curved concrete roof that spans across the length of the pavilion

The architects used red concrete both to contrast with the green landscaping and to reference the nearby brick house.

To create a dialogue between the house and the Refuge, bricks left over from the construction of the house were reused as border walls for the patio and overflow filter pond.

Red-stained plywood panelling insulates the interior of the pool house

The interior of the pool house, which is also red, is lined with plywood formwork panels that were soaked in pigment from the concrete during the setting process.

"Instead of discarding these plywood panels after demoulding, the nails were taken out and the panels were gently cleaned," the architects told Dezeen.

"They are then used as a finish for the insulated inner shell of the pavilion."

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Rogiers and Vandeputte enclosed the swimming pond, pool house, and underground studio space within the solid concrete walls of the pavilion.

According to the architects, building the entire project in concrete meant the swimming pond did not have to be lined.

Cutouts in the solid concrete walls were located to frame views of the landscape. The concrete roof of the pool house extends over an outside patio and curves around the pavilion.

The red colour of the concrete was informed by the bricks used in the existing house

"We always look for the dematerialisation of a project, especially by limiting the different materials used. Concrete is a very good material for this," said the architects.

"Concrete can be transformed into any shape, especially if the contractor is specialised in this and collaborates with us to find innovative solutions."

Cutouts in the solid concrete walls of the pavilion create framed views of the surrounding landscape

The curved cutout in the pool house roof joins with the perimeter of an enclosed garden in the landscaping to form a complete circle.

"The circle is used as a visual language for the abstracted version of a clearing in the forest," said the architects. "Every frame that arises throughout the space engages in a dialogue with the existing house and nature."

Bricks from the existing house were reused in the Refuge to border the overflow filter pond

NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte is an architecture studio founded by Pieter Vandeputte and Bert Rogiers in 2017.

Other projects using coloured concreted on Dezeen include a pink concrete holiday home in East Sussex by RX Architects, a peach-coloured pavilion that overlooks a peach tree field in Henan Province, China, and a red concrete golf clubhouse in the Algarve, Portugal, designed by RCR Arquitectes.

The photography is by Johnny Umans.

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Project credits:

Architect: NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte

Structural engineer: Util

Landscape: Jeroen Provoost

Concrete contractor: Patrick Janssens Festoo, Festoo Constructs

Windows: Allaert Aluminium

Interior: ILB

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#all #architecture #residential #instagram #concrete #belgium #poolhouses #colouredconcrete

TBA creates elevated extension for Berri House in Montreal

A residential extension wrapped in galvanised metal is positioned over a garden and attached to an old carriage house in this project by Montreal studio Thomas Balaban Architecte.

The Berri House is located on a short and narrow street in the city's Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood – a sought-after area with architectural preservation rules and height restrictions.

The Berri House is located on a short street in Montreal

For a young family, local firm Thomas Balaban Architecte (TBA) was tasked with enlarging a former carriage house dating to 1910. The 130-square-metre brick building sits on a lot that is irregularly shaped due to the subdivision of a large property spanning two streets.

"The cadastral transaction left the new lot with only a small side yard and a boxed-in exterior space at the back," the studio said.

An extension is wrapped in galvanised steel

"This brought about the project's principal challenge: how to expand the footprint of the building while preserving its character and its very limited outdoor space."

The architects conceived an extension that is adjoined to the home's first floor and positioned over the ground-level garden.

Openings were strategically placed to usher in daylight while also giving privacy

Set back from the street behind a painted cedar fence, the extension yields to mature maple trees in the front and rear of the property.

"The position preserves the tree's important presence in the streetscape and prevents damage to their root systems while creating a sheltered private garden below," said TBA.

The three levels are connected by a new steel staircase near the home's entrance

The extension is clad in galvanised steel panels that reflect daylight into the garden and, visually speaking, endow the volume with a sense of lightness. Openings were strategically placed to usher in daylight while also giving privacy.

The addition's flat detailing and streamlined form are meant to contrast with the adjacent brick structure.

Black accents and plywood wall cladding feature in the kitchen

"It also reduces the visual impact on adjacent houses situated in tight quarters, showcasing an abstract palette of sky and foliage," the team added.

Over the past century, the carriage house underwent several renovations, although the exterior was largely kept intact. TBA repaired the brick facade and replaced windows.

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Extensive modifications took place indoors. "Inside, layers of interventions were removed," the team said.

"Stripped down to the original shell of the coach house, the new interiors seek to celebrate the natural qualities of the utilitarian structure and the beauty of everyday construction."

The upper level includes a dining room

The ground level holds sleeping areas, while the upper level encompasses a kitchen, dining room and office, along with a living room in the new 28-square-metre extension.

Also on the upper floor, a central structural column was built out to enclose a powder room, closet, stereo equipment and coffee station.

Sliding divisions help the compact ground floor feel more expansive

The building also has a below-grade level that contains laundry facilities, storage space, a mechanical room and a wine cellar.

The three levels are connected by a new steel staircase near the home's entrance. Sliding divisions help the compact ground floor feel more expansive.

The extension is attached to the old carriage house above a garden

Throughout the home, the team used raw materials and minimal detailing to complement the owner's modern furnishings and extensive art collection.

Finishes include polished concrete flooring and plywood wall cladding. Various steel elements are meant to imitate wood joinery.

Windows and skylights bring in daylight and offer a connection to the exterior. Ultimately, they provide "a changing, natural counterpoint to the abstract artwork and photography on display in the house".

Established in 2009 by Tom Balaban, TBA has completed a number of residential projects in Montreal. They include a residential extension with curved glass doors, and a home with a three-tiered courtyard and shimmering aluminium facade.

The photography is byAdrien Williams.

---

Project credits:

Architect: Thomas Balaban Architecte

Project team: Thomas Balaban (project lead), Maxime Lefebvre, Julia Mana

Structural engineer: Lateral

The post TBA creates elevated extension for Berri House in Montreal appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #instagram #extensions #houses #canada #residentialextensions #galvanisedsteel #montreal #canadianhouses

Ten home interiors with distinctive terrazzo floors

Terrazzo flooring adds character to the home and can be used everywhere from living rooms to bathrooms. For our latest lookbook, we've collected 10 interiors that make effective use of the sturdy material.

Durable and easy to clean, terrazzo has been used to make floors for centuries since the composite material first originated in Venice.

Traditionally, it has consisted of chunks of marble or granite set in cement with a ground and polished surface, but modern resin-based versions have allowed for a huge variety of shapes, colours and formations.

This lookbook features terrazzo floors in living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and staircases, in a number of different shades and styles.

It is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous lookbooks feature interiors with conversation pits, glass block walls and wood panelling.

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Photo is by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

House in Achladies, Greece, by Lydia Xynogala

This house, perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean on the Greek island of Skiathos, has striking aquamarine terrazzo flooring throughout.

Architect Lydia Xynogala hoped to draw upon the region's history by using the material alongside marble and plaster render.

Find out more about House in Achladies ›

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Photo is by Peter Bennetts

RaeRae House, Australia, by Austin Maynard Architects

Terrazzo flooring was used in the common areas of this large family home in Melbourne, designed by Austin Maynard Architects.

It was combined with wooden panelling and white walls and ceilings to create spaces that feel bright and open.

Find out more about RaeRae House ›

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Photo is by Jeroen Verrecht

House C-DF, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten

Belgian studio Graux & Baeyens Architecten used terrazzo flooring throughout its extension to this canalside townhouse in Ghent, contrasting with the wooden floorboards of the old structure.

In the bathroom, the fresh white terrazzo extends up the walls and also forms the bathtub and double sink.

Find out more about House C-DF ›

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Photo is by Andrew Meredith

White Rabbit House, England, by Gundry & Ducker

Diagonal chequerboard terrazzo flooring and a staircase greet visitors to this house in north London renovated by Gundry & Ducker.

The terrazzo has been paired with green walls and railings as part of the studio's attempt to create a "modern interpretation of a Georgian house".

Terrazzo was also used to clad an extension at the rear.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›

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Photo is by Do Sy

Brown Box, Vietnam, Limdim House Studio

In this apartment in Vietnam, terrazzo flooring and surfaces were used alongside curving walls and arched niches to produce a space described by the design team as "calm" and "gentle".

"We use terrazzo all the way from the kitchen island, like a stream going down the floor and spreading everywhere," said Lindim House Studio founder Tran Ngo Chi Mai.

"Physically, terrazzo has good hardness, just enough gloss, and more heat dissipation than wooden floors, so it creates a cool feeling, especially in tropical areas," she added.

Find out more about Brown Box ›

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Photo is by Ros Kavanagh

Victoria Road, Northern Ireland, by Hall McKnight

Terrazzo tiles made with black marble chippings provide flooring through the living areas of this house in Holywood, Northern Ireland, designed by Hall McKnight.

Their charcoal colour offers a bold contrast to the white-painted walls and ceilings.

Find out more about Victoria Road ›

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Photo is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

House P, China, by MDDM Studio

MDDM Studio interspersed colourful terrazzo flooring made with green, orange and beige stones throughout this bright Beijing apartment, including for the base of a staircase and in the bathroom.

Together with bright yellow-painted walls, the material produces a vibrant colour palette designed to suit the young family that lives in the home, tempered with cement flooring and white fixtures.

"We wanted to use a material that could bring together the cement finishing of the floor and ceiling with the yellow walls," MDDM co-founder Momo Andrea Destro told Dezeen.

Find out more about House P ›

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Photo is by Jeroen Verrecht

House BL, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten

Belgian practice Graux & Baeyens Architecten renovated and extended a 1960s chalet as a family home for one of the studio's co-founders.

Terrazzo covers the floor of the interior, including in the sunken living space, contributing to the soothing natural colour scheme and creating a beautiful backdrop for the art pieces and sculptural furniture on show in the home.

Find out more about House BL ›

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Photo is by Trieu Chien

Mài Apartment, Vietnam, by Whale Design Lab

This unusual terrazzo, made with large white marble chunks, was chosen by Whale Design Lab to help give this Ho Chi Minh City duplex a modernist feel.

The material became trendy in the Vietnamese city during the 1950s and 1960s, when modernist architecture was introduced into the south of Vietnam, the studio told Dezeen.

Terrazzo with finer flecks of aggregate was also used for floors and even walls in the rest of the house.

Find out more about Mài Apartment ›

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Photo is by Fionn McCann

Scullion Architects contrasted white terrazzo flooring with stained oak panelling for this conservatory-like extension to a 1930s semi in the Dublin suburbs.

The studio sought to take materials typically found in homes built during the period and adapt their application in unconventional ways.

Find out more about Churchtown ›

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This is the latest roundup in our series of lookbooks providing visual inspiration for the home. See previous lookbooks featuring interiors withconversation pits, glass block walls and wood panelling.

The post Ten home interiors with distinctive terrazzo floors appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #lookbooks #instagram #interiors #residential #terrazzo #flooring

SHED gives mid-century Golden House in Seattle an extensive update

American firm SHED Architecture and Design has transformed a 1950s building that formerly served as an adult living facility into a contemporary home for a family of five.

The Golden House is located in Shoreline, a community just north of Seattle, and sits on a large lot with views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

The Golden House sits on a large lot with views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound

Designed by an unknown architect in 1959, the 4,080-square-foot (379-square-metre) house was converted into an adult living facility years ago.

Local firm SHED Architecture and Design was charged with turning the two-storey building back into a single-family house for a couple and their three children.

SHED reconfigured the layout of the home's upper level

"Although the house had good bones, modifications adapting the original layout for use as an adult living facility – combined with deferred maintenance – had tarnished the structure inside and out," the team said.

The most extensive changes took place indoors. The upper level holds the public zone, an office and the main bedroom suite, while the lower floor holds sleeping areas.

The kitchen is organised around a central island

Working around the existing post-and-beam structure, the team reconfigured the upper level's layout by removing walls and built-in casework. An emphasis was placed on providing natural light and views.

"Although the structure is re-engineered to work with the revised floor plan, the post- and-beam structure was retained as a principle organising system and integrated into the design," the team said.

Dragon-themed wallpaper wraps the powder room

The kitchen was moved and enlarged, with the new space organised around a central island that overlooks the dining and living area.

Just off the kitchen is an office, pantry and coat closet, along with a powder room wrapped in dragon-themed wallpaper.

Bathroom tiles are formed from black and white terrazzo

In the living area, where casework had been removed, the team placed a wooden "soffit" that extends over a circulation area and helps proportion the room. The team also installed low-lying cabinetry with a built in DJ station.

An old fireplace was redesigned and faced with concrete masonry units (CMUs) with a ground-down surface. A new concrete bench surrounds the hearth.

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The team used a restrained palette of materials throughout the public area, including cork flooring, rift-sawn white oak paneling, and white sheetrock walls. Trim was painted black to create visual consistency.

"As a nod to the past, the original natural slate tile and metal railing were preserved in the entryway," the team added.

Downstairs, a storage room was made into a children's bedroom

In the main bedroom suite are elements such as a grasscloth wall panel and bathroom tile made of black-and-white terrazzo. A "connecting datum" made of white oak wraps behind the mirrors and the tub.

Downstairs, the team made changes to accommodate three children. A storage room was turned into a shared bedroom, and bed cubbies made of plywood were installed.

Golden House's trim was painted black to create visual consistency

A small bathroom was cleverly reconfigured to be more suitable for multiple users.

Outside of the house, a wheelchair-accessible entrance and driveway were removed to create a large lawn. The team also updated the building envelope by installing new windows and insulation, along with automated blinds on the west to cut down on solar heat gain.

An emphasis was placed on providing natural light and views during the renovation

Founded in 1998, SHED has completed a number of residential projects in Washington, including a home on a bluff clad in rough-sawn cedar, a compact dwelling in a backyard, and a sensitive renovation of a 1950s abode.

The photography is byRafael Soldi.

---

Project credits:

Architect: SHED Architecture and Design

Contractor: Ambrose Construction

Structural engineer: Todd Perbix

Landscape designer: Susan Papanikolas

Lighting designer: Sparklab Lighting Design

Casework: Beechtree Woodworks

The post SHED gives mid-century Golden House in Seattle an extensive update appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #usa #houses #seattle #washingtonstate #renovations #americanhouses #midcenturyrenovations #shedarchitectureanddesign

Handegård Arkitektur designs red cabin on Norwegian seafront

Norwegian practice Handegård Arkitektur has completed a bright red cabin on the seafront in Hankøsundet, Østfold, elevated above the water on piers of stacked granite.

Built for a client who lives near the coast, the design of the cabin – called the Bathhouse – was informed by the appearance of traditional Norwegian boathouses, in particular their red-painted finish.

Handegård Arkitektur has created a bright red cabin in Norway

To create a "modern reinterpretation" of these traditional structures, locally based Handegård Arkitektur has used contemporary materials and treatments to create a compact, bright living space for enjoying sea views.

"[The client] wanted to create a building that was both modern and traditional in its expression," founder Espen Handegård told Dezeen.

It is elevated on granite on the seafront in Hankøsundet

"The Bathhouse looks like a traditional Norwegian boathouse with red-painted cladding, a tin roof and granite columns in the water...but at the same time gives assumptions about a twist," he continued.

The cabin's glazed living space is surrounded by a second skin of thin timber planks angled at 45 degrees, which provide privacy to the building when viewed from the seafront and offer views out to water from inside.

The interior is lined with plywood

These red-painted boards form part of the cabin's structure, attached to the galvanised steel frame that sits on granite supports – allowing for an uninterrupted internal space.

"Several of the cladding boards are angled...they close the building towards the back and open it towards the front," explained the practice.

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"When you enter, you experience the purpose – you are sheltered at the same time as having a view of the entire sea," it continued.

Two large red doors, finished with the same angled wooden planks as the cabin, provide access to a separate bathroom block and the cabin from the small wooden dock, which extends out into the water with small jetties.

A small mezzanine space contains a bed

Inside, the plywood-lined living space features a wood burning stove and minibar at the rear, and an open area for sun loungers in the front.

Two full-height swing doors allow for the living space to be completely opened to the elements, with a simple wooden platform extending to the outside.

The timber cladding provides privacy

The form of the bathroom block sits slightly lower than the gabled ceiling, creating a small mezzanine space containing a bed that is accessed via a small metal ladder.

Elsewhere in Norway, architecture practice River & Drage also reinterpreted traditional structures with a contemporary take on a log cabin for the project Zieglers Nest, near the city of Molde.

The photography is byCarlos Rollan.

The post Handegård Arkitektur designs red cabin on Norwegian seafront appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #norway #redbuildings #cabins #waterfrontproperties

Alexander Martin Architects designs Arts and Crafts-influenced home in Surrey

Two gabled brick volumes informed by the architecture of the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement define this home in Claygate, Surrey, designed by Alexander Martin Architects.

Claygate House sits on a triangular plot that was formerly the site of a 1920s home, which the clients wanted to replace with something unique but sensitive to its suburban site.

Two gabled brick volumes define Claygate House

London-based Alexander Martin Architects' response was to base the home's design on a modern, stripped-back interpretation of the area's traditional Arts and Crafts style, "redefining the aspirations for suburban architecture".

"Our client was clear from the outset that they didn't want a run-of-the-mill house and that they were prepared to do something bold in the suburbs," said director Alexander Martin.

Strips of full-height glazing provide views into the house

"However, the design and materials have all been carefully orchestrated to create a series of spaces that best serve the needs of the family while still maintaining an elegant appearance," he continued.

Taking advantage of the triangular site, the home is organised as two individual gabled forms that sit at a slight angle to one another. They are sized to not exceed the height of the neighbouring building.

An exposed metal staircase sits in the centre of the house

Connecting these two main forms is a double-height volume that contains an exposed metal staircase, with strips of full-height glazing providing views in and flooding this connecting space with light.

The programme is split across the two halves, with a large dining and kitchen area to the east and a living room to the west. Bedroom spaces above are connected by a short bridge.

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Large glass sliding doors open both of the ground floor spaces onto a stepped terrace, which leads down to a large garden at the rear of the home.

Claygate House was built using a Structural Insulated Panels system (SIPS), which allowed the core structural frame to be completed within four months.

In the east portion is a large dining and kitchen area

The gabled forms are clad in pale buff brick, with simple facades defined by vertical banding and contrasted by black metal window frames.

The Arts and Crafts references of the exterior are contrasted by sleek contemporary finishes and a monochrome palette in the interiors, including white walls, stone floors and black veneered joinery.

The exterior references the Arts and Crafts movement

Marble details in the bathrooms and countertops bring a "timeless" quality to the spaces.

Previous projects by Alexander Martin Architects include a three-storey extension to a Victorian house in London, with an area of double-height glazing overlooking a garden.

The post Alexander Martin Architects designs Arts and Crafts-influenced home in Surrey appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #uk #england #bricks #houses #gables #britishhouses #surrey #alexandermartinarchitects

Eleven buildings that prove Palm Springs is a modernist oasis

To mark Palm Springs Modernism Week 2022, we've rounded up 11 standout buildings located in the Californian desert city often referred to as the mecca of mid-century modernist architecture.

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Photo is by Jake Holt

Abernathy House by William F Cody

Sprawled across a plot of land in the middle of Palm Springs, this house by American architect William F Cody is designed for sunny outdoor living, with ample outdoor areas and a lengthy pergola.

Its vast expanses of glass, white exterior and geometric blueprint have drawn comparisons to modernist houses such as Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye and Maison La Roche-Jeanneret.

Find out more about Abernathy House ›

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Photo is by Jim Riche

Swiss Miss Houses by Charles DuBois

Charles DuBois, one of modernism's lesser-known architects, is responsible for this collection of low-lying, single-storey residences.

A-frame roofs that stem straight from the ground make the 15 houses stand out drastically from the flat-roofed buildings that cropped up throughout the 20th century in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Find out more about Swiss Miss Houses ›

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Photo by Gary Bembridge

Tramway Gas Station by Albert Frey and Robson Chambers

Acting as gatekeeper to the modernist mecca that is Palm Springs, Tramway Gas Station is one of the first buildings visible to those travelling south along the road from Los Angeles into the Californian desert city.

The low-lying building is topped by a huge wing-shaped roof that offers shade from the desert sun, a component found in many modernist buildings in the area due to the bright and arid climate.

Find out more about Tramway Gas Station ›

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Photo is by David A Lee

Coachella Valley Savings& Loan bank by E Stewart Williams

Like many other buildings listed here, this bank is topped by a slender overhanging roof, which – along with the panels covering the walls – offers shade from the strong desert sun.

Modernist architect E Steward Williams left openings at the top of the walls to ensure there is plenty of natural light inside.

Find out more about Coachella Valley Savings & Loan bank ›

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Photo is by Brian Thomas Jones, courtesy of Patrick Stewart Properties

Hope Residence by John Lautner

Covered by a large domed roof, this concrete residence in Palm Springs' Southridge community has been likened to a mushroom, yet Lautner is said to have modelled the house on a volcano.

Either way, his nods to natural elements, use of curved forms and large expanses of glazing have similarities to buildings by the architect's famous mentor, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Find out more about Hope Residence ›

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Photograph by Jake Holt

Twin Palms by E Stewart Williams

Twin Palms was architect E Stewart Williams' first residential project – a house that he designed for music legend Frank Sinatra and his wife.

The 4,500-square-foot (418-square-metre) pad includes a piano-shaped swimming pool, a veranda with square holes and many sliding glass doors that lead outside. The design contributed to William's reputation as one of the Palm Springs "desert modernist" architects.

Find out more about Twin Palms ›

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Photo by David A Lee

Kaufmann House by Richard Neutra

Built in 1946 by Austrian-American architect Richard Neutra, this boxy two-storey residence has many recognisable elements of modern architecture – a flat roof, pale facade and shaded outdoor spaces.

Its patios are lined with slatted metal fins which provide shade during extreme heatwaves while also offering glimpses of the large boulders, cacti and palms in the sandy gardens.

Find out more about Kaufmann House ›

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Photo by David A Lee

Bank of America by Rudy Baumfield

Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier's famed Ronchamp chapel, with its bulky overhanging roof and curved lines, was the starting point for this bank designed by Rudy Baumfield.

Constructed in 1959, the bank is covered in vibrant aqua-coloured tiles across its rounded south facade. The structure is much softer in shape than the geometric lines typically associated with modernism but its unusual form and plain decor still fits with the style.

Find out more about Bank of America ›

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Photo is courtesy of Nelson-Moe Properties/Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Elrod House by John Lautner

Another Lautner building, Elrod House is a residence perched on the top of Palm Springs' Araby Cove neighbourhood which featured in the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever.

A dome-shaped roof made up of alternating glass and concrete segments, sliding glass walls across the front of the living area and a large crescent-shaped swimming pool gives the house its modernist edge.

Find out more about Elrod House ›

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Photography by Stephanie Kloss, from California Dreaming

Palm Springs City Hall by Albert Frey

Palm trees protrude through the open roof of the city's municipal building, Palm Springs City Hall, designed by Albert Frey and built in 1952.

The structure is typical of the modernist style thanks to its low height, flat roof and expansive canopy. Its exterior facade is a light taupe hue to match the desert beyond while the underside is painted in pale turquoise and yellow, matching the sun-drenched city palette.

Find out more about Palm Springs City Hall ›

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Photo is by David A Lee

Steel Development Houses by Donald Wexler

These steel-framed houses by architect Donald Wexler are early experiments in customisable prefab homes, designed to provide a housing model that was low-cost, easily replicable and suited to the desert climate.

Each of the seven houses come with a light gauge metal wall system and one of three steel roof options, including a white "butterfly" roof and a flat roof with overhanging eaves.

Find out more about Steel Development Houses ›

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Modernism Week takes place in Palm Springs from 17 to 27 February 2022. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

The post Eleven buildings that prove Palm Springs is a modernist oasis appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #publicandleisure #roundups #modernism #palmsprings #palmspringsmodernismweek

UK government could block developers that refuse to pay cladding costs from housing market

The UK government has threatened to block property developers who refuse to contribute towards the costs of fixing unsafe cladding from obtaining planning permission or building control sign-off.

It is the latest move by ministers to try to solve the so-called cladding scandal, which emerged in England after the Grenfell Tower fire and has left hundreds of thousands of flat owners facing huge bills to replace their building's facades.

The measures, which were introduced to parliament on Monday as amendments to the Building Safety Bill, would effectively prevent uncooperative homebuilders from building and selling homes.

Last month, UK housing secretary Michael Gove told the residential developer industry that it must agree to help meet the £4 billion estimated remaining cost of replacing dangerous cladding on buildings or face penalties, with a similar demand later made to construction product manufacturers.

With talks between the government and industry ongoing, the proposals put forward this week spell out the severe nature of those penalties.

Cap on leaseholder costs

If passed, the amendments would also give leaseholders legal protection from cladding and other fire safety costs above £15,000 in London and £10,000 in the rest of England.

Those capped costs would only fall on leaseholders if the new measures aimed at raising funds from developers and product manufacturers fail to raise the full £4 billion, and would include money already paid out over the last five years for interim safety provisions.

The government said this clause "will enshrine in law" its promise from last month that no leaseholder of a flat in a building taller than 11 metres will have to pay a penny to remove defective cladding, with the capped costs mostly expected to relate to other safety issues.

Some residents have previously been issued cladding remediation invoices for more than £100,000 by building owners.

"It is time to bring this scandal to an end, protect leaseholders and see the industry work together to deliver a solution," said Gove.

[

Read:

Grenfell architect unaware of fire rules and cladding risk

](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/03/06/grenfell-tower-inquiry-architect-fire-rules-news/)

"We cannot allow those who do not take building safety seriously to build homes in the future, and for those not willing to play their part they must face consequences," he added. "We will take action to keep homes safe and to protect existing leaseholders from paying the price for bad development."

As well as the measures to block developers from the housing market, the amendments make it possible for courts to sue builders that have used shell company structures to dodge responsibility for cladding problems.

Cladding manufacturers prosecuted for selling defective products would also become subject to Cost Contribution Orders, forcing them to pay a share of the cost to remediate affected buildings.

Among other proposals in the package of amendments is a widening of the scope of the building safety levy, a tax on developer profits aimed at recouping some of the government's own costs of fixing the cladding crisis, with higher rates for companies refusing to make voluntary contributions.

Lords to debate proposals

The amendments would also require building owners or developers to pay to fix other historic safety issues besides cladding on their own blocks, in a bid to protect leaseholders from bills for problems uncovered while inspecting facades, such as missing fire breaks.

Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed 72 lives, the UK government has spent £5.1 billion fixing dangerous cladding on buildings taller than 18 metres.

The £4 billion it is hoping to raise from industry will pay for remediation work on buildings between 11 and 18 metres. No funding has been offered for buildings below 11 metres.

Introduced to parliament in July 2021, the Building Safety Bill is a huge piece of legislation that seeks to overhaul the regime for managing safety in high-rises and solve the issues that led to Grenfell.

The amendments introduced this week will be debated in the House of Lords on 21 February.

The top photo is by David Jones.

The post UK government could block developers that refuse to pay cladding costs from housing market appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #news #residential #uk #england #grenfelltowerfire

NOA creates tailor-made interior for pied-à-terre in Le Marais

Network of Architecture has used curved lines, custom oak furniture and marble details to heighten the character of an apartment in a converted hotel in Le Marais, Paris.

NOA has created a completely custom interior for Nicolai Paris, located in the former Hotel Nicolai, which serves as a pied-à-terre for an Italian family.

Nicolai Paris is located in a converted hotel

The renovation involved designing the layout of the two-level home, then adding playful furniture elements that help to optimise the functionality of each space.

"We started by defining the final atmosphere of the future apartment," explained architect and NOA co-founder Lukas Rungger.

The Le Marais apartment has a completely custom interior

"It was essential that the space would feel cosy, 'hyggelig', and convey a feeling of wellbeing," he told Dezeen.

"The choice of interior layout, materials and geometry all serve this purpose."

A mix of terrazzo and parquet flooring helps to define different zones

Built in the 17th century, the property has plenty of quirks. What's particularly unusual about this apartment is that it has an L-shaped layout, with most of its windows located at one end.

As a result, it made sense to locate the family living spaces here, nearest the entrance, and two large bedrooms in the back.

A curved line is defined by flooring, walls, lighting and furniture

A staircase in the centre of the floor plan leads up to a snug and a third bedroom on the smaller attic floor, which are both lit by skylights rather than windows.

To avoid creating wasteful corridors, NOA used two different floor surfaces to subtly mark the distinction between rooms and the connecting spaces in between.

Custom oak furniture pieces include an in-built window seat

A strong curve of terrazzo cuts through the living space, which is defined by bleached oak parquet in a chevron pattern, known as French herringbone. This divides the room into two "islands".

The larger island contains a lounge, dining area and kitchen, while the smaller one is occupied by a single piece of in-built furniture, providing a window seat and shelving nooks.

[

Read:

Wood Ribbon apartment in Paris features an undulating timber wall

](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/02/28/wood-ribbon-apartment-plywood-interiors-paris/)

The terrazzo curve is emphasised by other elements, including a screen wall beside the entrance and a partition wall that encloses a cloakroom, laundry room and toilet.

It is also matched by lighting fixtures overhead and the organically-shaped staircase.

A double-curved staircase leads up to the attic

"The layout of the interior spaces was definitely the biggest challenge," said Rungger.

"We wanted to create a space of comfort within a bigger space," he explained. "Each island is a space within a space, intimate in itself but in dialogue with the rest."

Beds are set on oak platforms and defined by oak wall panelling

Custom oak furniture features in every room. The beds are set on tiered platforms, continuing the islands concept, while the dining table is framed by an upholstered L-shaped bench.

Marble is also dotted throughout. A grey-blue Bardiglio Imperiale features in the kitchen and around the fireplace, and the main bedroom boasts a bathtub carved from a single block of Botticino Fiorito.

An attic room can be used as a snug, study or home cinema

"We wanted to reflect the elegance of the Parisian ambience in the flat," said Rungger.

"The colours of the Parisian rooftops influenced the choice of fabrics and marble colours, especially in the living area."

Bathrooms and washroom feature mosaic tiles in varying shades of gray

NOA has offices in Berlin and Turin, so typically works on projects in other parts of Europe. The studio recently completed a hotel and wellness centre and a glacier-top viewing platform, both in South Tyrol.

With this project, they hope to show a more craft-focused side to their practice.

"From the furniture's roundness to the staircase's double curvature, we have consistently drawn a line that fluidly touches the whole flat," added Rungger.

The photography is byAntoine Huot.

The post NOA creates tailor-made interior for pied-à-terre in Le Marais appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #interiors #residential #apartments #france #paris #parisapartments #noa

Australia passes 25GW of installed PV

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Australia has hit a historic milestone – it has reached 25GW of installed solar capacity. As the Australian PV Institute noted on Monday, that’s more solar per capita than anywhere else in the world.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/15/australia-passes-25gw-of-installed-pv/
#industrial, #pv, #utility, #residential, #markets, #scale, #commercial

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Lucas Maino Fernandez completes Casa Un Patio in dense Chilean forest

Native ferns and trees grow within the centre of this home in Molco, Chile, which architect Lucas Maino Fernandez designed to establish continuity between the living spaces and the surrounding forest.

Casa Un Patio, which roughly translates to Courtyard House, is located near Lake Villarica in central Chile. It sits between the lake and a volcano of the same name, on a remote and rugged site.

Native ferns and trees grow within the centre of Casa Un Pation

"The terrain is characterized by its dense and young vegetation and difficult access," said Lucas Maino Fernandez, who is based in the capital Santiago.

The architect wanted to create a strong relationship to the home's natural surroundings and chose to organise the living spaces around a lush central courtyard.

Lucas Maino Fernandez built the house in a dense Chilean forest

"The central operation of the proposal is to create an interior void, with the purpose of enhancing a portion of the forest, framing the context of the sector, and integrating the existing vegetation into the house," Maino Fernandez said.

"This elemental intention introduces this natural element to the project from the center, and not only from the perimeter, as it would have with a closed volume," he added.

The home is arranged around a lush central courtyard

The architect incorporated a parking space beneath the first storey of the 223-square-metre residence. A corridor with windows onto the courtyard leads to the open-plan kitchen, living and dining room.

In addition to overlooking the courtyard, the communal areas lead out onto a covered terrace that meets the site's grade at the back of the home.

A gentle staircase links the two sides of the house

"Here, the perimeter transparency of these spaces generates continuity with the outer forest," explained Maino Fernandez.

A gradual staircase leads to the upper level, where the bedrooms are located. They share a corridor that is fully glazed but faces the interior garden.

[

Read:

Triangular embeds PR House on a forested hillside in Chile

](https://www.dezeen.com/2022/01/14/pr-house-triangular-forested-hillside-chile/)

According to the architect, this allows for passive heating within the home, as the surrounding trees block out much of the area's natural light.

"Another aspect that the interior patio solves has to do with providing light and heat to the project since the lushness of the forest produces a dark and cool environment," he said.

Altogether, the home encompasses three bedrooms, including a guest room on the ground floor.

Wooden flooring, window frames and walls feature in Casa Un Patio

The material palette inside matches the natural surroundings: wood flooring, window frames, and walls bring warmth to the interiors.

Meanwhile, facade materials were selected for their durability, low maintenance, and ease of assembly. They include black corrugated metal sheets, polycarbonate panels, and ornamental wood shutters.

Facade materials like black corrugated metal sheets were chosen for durability

Other remote homes in Chile include a ski cabin that was built atop the foundations of a previous failed construction project, and a lakeside home that sits on stilts to create a covered exterior space.

The photography is byMarcos Zegers.

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Project credits:

Architects: Lucas Maino Fernandez

Lead architect: Lucas Maino

Design team: Catalina Briones, Macarena Gonzalez

Engineering: Matias Zuñiga

The post Lucas Maino Fernandez completes Casa Un Patio in dense Chilean forest appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #instagram #houses #corrugatedmetal #polycarbonate #holidayhomes #chile #chileanhouses

France announces 100 GW solar target for 2050

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France has set a new target under which it will install 5GW of new PV capacity per year.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/14/france-announces-100-gw-solar-target-for-2050/
#industrial, #pv, #utility, #residential, #markets, #scale, #commercial

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Takk perches communal bedroom on stilts in Madrid apartment renovation

Spanish architecture studio Takk has pulled back the walls of an apartment in Madrid to create an outdoor terrace alongside an insulated space that contains a bedroom on stilts.

Takk removed all of the 110-square-metre flat's interior walls to create a new 60-square-metre space enclosed with insulated pinewood walls, dubbed the winter house.

This space contains an open-plan kitchen and living room as well as a self-enclosed bedroom perched on stilts, which is designed to be shared by a couple and their young daughter.

Takk has pulled back the walls of a Madrid apartment to divide it into two spaces

Both the bedroom and the flat's new exterior walls are made from low-carbon, heat-retaining materials, with pinewood frames sourced from Spain's famed winemaking region of La Rioja and insulation made from duvets and charred cork.

Takk nested the spaces in the winter house inside each other like the "layers of an onion" to retain heat and conserve energy during the colder months.

Alongside the apartment, the studio created an exterior terrace by relocating the external walls and removing the previous north-facing windows.

The apartment's self-enclosed bedroom is raised on stilts

Named the summer house, this space is connected to the inner areas of the home by sliding glass doors.

According to the studio this arrangement eliminates the need for air-conditioning by passively cooling the interior and helping to lower the apartment's carbon emissions in operation.

Its door is hidden inside a book shelf

"Climate change will modify all the routines of our existence," Takk co-founder Mireia Luzárraga told Dezeen. "The way we think and build our environments should also adapt to this new situation."

"The project tests possible ways of organising a house to minimise energy consumption while using materials with a low carbon footprint."

From the outside, the door leading to the apartment looks like any other in the residential block. But on the interior of the flat, the entrance is hidden inside a built-in shelving system that runs along one side of the winter house.

Surfaces throughout the apartment are clad in cork insulation

A similar storage wall is mirrored on the other side of the open-plan space, forming a low counter that functions as a kitchen worktop on one side and a dining table and work desk on the other.

Like most surfaces in the winter house, this is almost entirely clad in blackened cork panelling, which stores carbon and holds onto heat in the winter due to its colour and porous structure.

In contrast, the summer house external space is finished with cement mortar, which doesn't hold onto heat from the sun during the warmer months.

An open-air terrace lies beyond the apartment's pinewood walls

This outdoor area consists of a narrow plant-filled porch that runs along the apartment's entire north-facing wall to maximise natural light.

At one end, it opens up into a covered terrace, separated from the interior by a pinewood wall with a row of tall vertical vents that can be opened to create a through-draft.

In summer, the space can be shielded from the sun by an aluminium-foil thermal curtain normally used in greenhouses, while folding glass doors allow it to be turned into a kind of winter garden once temperatures drop.

A communal outdoor bathtub is hidden behind a sheer pink curtain

On the other side of the folding doors lies a balcony housing a speckled bathtub, which is shielded from view only by a sheer pink gossamer curtain.

This bathroom is designed to be used only in summer and by multiple members of the family at the same time, much like the open-plan living area and bedroom.

[

Read:

Ten buildings on stilts that raise the stakes

](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/18/10-buildings-on-stilts-raised-architecture/)

"The aim is to test the benefits, both energetic and emotional, of sleeping, playing or working together," said Takk's other half Alejandro Muiño.

"In the past, rooms used to be bigger because they were communal and easier to heat. We want to recover this popular knowledge that was forgotten due to the emergence of cheap energy."

Vents in one of the terrace's walls can be opened to create a draft

The stilted bedroom is the warmest part and the centrepiece of the home contained within the cork-panelled winter house and fitted with an extra layer of insulation in the form of duvets.

These are strapped to the outside of the pinewood box alongside garlands of fake flowers, while huge stones from a quarry outside Madrid dangle from the ceiling, acting as a structural counterweight to prevent the thin wooden panel from bending.

On the inside, the bedroom is entirely panelled in pinewood and split over two levels.

The pinewood bedroom has two different levels

"The advantages of sleeping together are countless, both for climatic and energy-saving reasons and for the reinforcement of emotional links," Takk explained.

"Elevating the bedroom also allows the kitchen to be more present in the daily routine of the residents because it is visible from any part of the house, which helps fight the gender and class cliches associated with these kinds of spaces."

The bedroom is fronted by sliding glass doors

Although elevated rooms such as this are rarely found in interiors, a number of architects have raised entire homes up on stilts in a bid to tread lightly on their surrounding environment.

Dezeen has rounded up 10 of the most impressive examples, from a cork-clad cabin above a tidal salt marsh to a summer house perched on the rocky edge of a Norwegian island.

The photography is byJosé Hevia.

The post Takk perches communal bedroom on stilts in Madrid apartment renovation appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #interiors #apartments #spain #stilts #madrid #renovations #pine

Palma reorganises San Ignacio beach home in Mexico around circular pool

Mexican design studio Palma has renovated and extended a home on the Pacific coast, reorganising the living spaces around a central circular swimming pool.

The San Ignacio project is located near Sayulita, a popular beach destination in the Mexican state of Nayarit.

The San Ignacio home is arranged around a circular swimming pool

Palma, a local design studio, was commissioned by the homeowners to refurbish a property that was in disrepair, as well as to extend the home with two flexible rooms.

Located on a lush wooded lot, the existing volume contained the home's bedrooms, but was covered in a corrugated metal roof that leaked during the rainy months, and overheated in the summer.

The swimming pool is now the focal point of the house

Palma's first intervention was to replace the roof with a new concrete slab, which includes skylights to provide more light to the interiors.

The centre of the property now contains a circular swimming pool. Its shallow edges create a reflective illusion, while a deeper portion in the centre allows for the residents to cool off properly.

More light was introduced into the interior

On either side of the pool are two new structures built as part of Palma's brief.

"One functions as a flexible space for photoshoots and different creative expressions, and the second as an outdoor living space that allows a direct relationship with the pool," the architects explained.

A concrete slab replaced the home's previous metal roof

"The newly built volumes, one closed and the other open, serve as flexible spaces for different activities in the daily use of the house and maintain a constant relationship with the circular pool placed in the middle of both," Palma added.

The construction of these small buildings resembles the original home, ensuring that the entire project matches harmoniously.

[

Read:

Circular opening illuminates patio for yoga in coastal Mexican holiday house

](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/10/05/litibu-house-palma-mexico/)

The architects further unified the three structures by improving the landscaping, which involved adding new trees and plants to the already verdant site.

"A landscape project weaves together the existing house and the new additions, mainly through the use of a pavement with buried bricks that seems to disappear as one walks from the house into the garden," Palma explained.

Trees and plants were added to the already verdant site

Within the new outdoor living room, the architects designed a thatched roof, which has an opening for an existing palm tree to grow through.

Palma was founded in 2016 by Ilse Cárdenas, Regina de Hoyos, Diego Escamilla, and Juan Luis Rivera. The firm is based in Mexico City, and also operates an office in Sayulita.

On either side of the pool are two newly built structures

Other houses on Mexico's west coast include a series of beach homes built with coloured concrete by Revolution, and a vacation residence with a meditation room topped by a massive circular skylight by Colectivo Lateral de Arquitectura.

The photography is byLuis Young.

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Project credits:

Team: Adrián Rámirez, Nia Jorquera

Construction: Cimento Constructora

The post Palma reorganises San Ignacio beach home in Mexico around circular pool appeared first on Dezeen.

#all #architecture #residential #concrete #houses #mexico #renovations #swimmingpools #mexicanhouses #palma

Ten houses made from colourful concrete

Concrete is usually associated with an industrial-looking shade of grey, but it doesn't always have to be that way. Here, Dezeen rounds up 10 concrete houses that bring colour to the material.

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Top and above photos by Richard Chivers

Seabreeze, UK, by RX Architects

This holiday home on the English south coast is covered in smooth pink concrete.

Given an open brief, British studio RX Architects opted for a playful design for the project that references Mediterranean beach houses.

Find out more about Seabreeze ›

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Photo is by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter

House in Red Concrete, Norway, by Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter

The distinctive red colour of this concrete house in the Norwegian town of Lillehammer was achieved by adding iron oxide to the mix.

To keep the project affordable, Osl0-based studio Sanden+Hodnekvam Arkitekter chose to use prefabricated insulated concrete panels, which gave the facade its geometric pattern.

Find out more about House in Red Concrete ›

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Photo courtesy of RCR Arquitectes

Signature Villas, Portugal, by RCR Arquitectes

Built at a seaside resort in the Algarve, these luxury villas designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning Catalan studio RCR Arquitectes are formed of overlapping planes of red-pigmented concrete.

The houses have angular wall surfaces, with no clear front or back to the buildings because of the way rooms fan out from one another.

Find out more about Signature Villas ›

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Photo is by Jérôme Ricolleau

P House, France, by Tectoniques

The semi-buried P House, in Saint-Cyr-au-d'Or, was constructed from specially developed concrete dyed with ochre. The concrete was vibrated manually to release air bubbles and produce a thick, imperfect finish.

Architecture firm Tectoniques, which usually specialises in timber buildings, took on the project as an experiment. Inside, concrete is contrasted with oak woodwork and flooring and bleached spruce ceilings.

Find out more about P House ›

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Photo is by Mauricio Guerrero

Mazul Beachfront Villas, Mexico, by Revolution

Designed by Mexican architecture studio Revolution, the Mazul Beachfront Villas are located on the Oaxaca coast facing the Pacific Ocean.

Built from a combination of rough brick and smooth red concrete to complement their beachy surroundings, the villas were named rural house of the year at the 2021 Dezeen Awards.

Find out more about Mazul Beachfront Villas ›

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Photo is by Miguel Angel Vazquez Calanchini

Casa Calafia, Mexico, by RED Arquitectos

Named after a mythical warrior queen, Casa Calafia in Mexico's Baja California Sur was built from concrete that was given a reddish earthy tone using natural pigments.

It was designed by RED Arquitectos as a holiday home for an American couple.

Find out more about Casa Calafia ›

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Photo is by Paul Tierney

Rustic House, Ireland, by Urban Agency

Iron oxide powder was used to give this concrete extension to a traditional cottage in Ireland's County Kerry a rusty colour that mimics the corrugated steel barns of the surrounding countryside.

Architecture firm Urban Agency chose concrete because of the remote site's high exposure to wind and rain, but cast the material in situ using wooden boards to give it the texture of timber.

Find out more about Rustic House ›

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Photo is by Olo Studio/Juliusz Sokołowski/Jarosław Syrek

House on the Road, Poland, by KWK Promes

Robert Konieczny's studio KWK Promes designed this house to look as if it had emerged out of a winding white concrete road running through the site.

Inside the building's concrete shell is an exact replica of the client's former apartment.

Find out more about House on the Road ›

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Photo is by Ben Hosking

Federal House, Australia, by Edition Office

Architecture practice Edition Office used black-pigmented concrete and timber battens to build this imposing-looking house dug into a hillside in rural New South Wales.

"At a distance the building is recessive, a shadow within the vast landscape," said the Melbourne-based studio.

"On closer inspection, a highly textural outer skin of thick timber battens contrasts the earlier sense of a machined tectonic, allowing organic materials gestures to drive the dialogue with physical human intimacy."

Find out more about Federal House ›

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Photo is by Paco Álvarez

Casa Majalca, Mexico, by OAX Arquitectos

Local artisans were employed to manufacture irregular and natural-looking concrete formwork for this earth-coloured holiday home situated in the Cumbres de Majalca National Park in northern Mexico.

"The color blends in with the land, making reference to the cultural past of the archaeological sites of Paquimé and Casas Grandes," said OAX Arquitectos.

Find out more about Casa Majalca ›

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HHF Architekten uses modular steel and timber structure for mixed-use block in Switzerland

A modular grid of exposed steel creates balconies, terraces and external staircases at this mixed-use development in Weggis, Switzerland, designed by HHF Architekten.

Located close to Lake Lucerne, the Weggishof scheme combines ground-floor commercial spaces with 39 apartments in a variety of sizes.

Weggishof is a mixed-used residential block that was designed by HHF Architects

The project was won by the Basel-based studio following a two-phase study for a mixed residential area that began in 2014, with the project completing in 2020.

Described as a "sustainable hybrid project", Weggishof comprises a concrete base topped with a timber structure built using a system of prefabricated, standardised elements in order to minimise waste and make future recycling more efficient.

It comprises a modular grid of exposed steel which forms a number of balconies, terraces and staircases

Arranged in a U-shape, the apartments range from studios to five-bedroom dwellings. All are dual-aspect, overlooking both a central courtyard at the building's centre and a communal green space to the rear.

"The building nestles into an existing natural U-shaped slope, which allows for structural diversity," said the practice.

The structure is staggered to prevent disrupting mountain views. Photo is by Maris Mezulis

"Storey heights are staggered to let the new building blend in with the surroundings without blocking the view of the lake from existing structures," it continued.

"A digital workflow was crafted to allow for dimensional steering of the prefabrication of the standardised, wood elements, whose surfaces are left raw for visual impact."

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While the rear facade presents a plain, wood-clad surface so as not to disrupt the views from neighbouring buildings, the inner facades are animated by a steel grid of balconies that overlook the courtyard.

In this courtyard, a variety of surface finishes, play equipment and concrete benches create a lively public space that also acts as a buffer between the nearby road and the apartments.

Interior spaces are lined in wood. Photo is by Maris Mezulis

"The modular metal facade works as what [we] refer to as soft spaces – the often neglected space where private meets public," said the practice.

"In this case this ambivalent room that receives signals from both directions adds a vivid identity to the public space white adding a layer of privacy," it continued.

Apartments have double-height spaces and large windows

The commercial spaces, which total 1,200 square metres, sit within Weggishof's concrete base, which extends outwards to create ground floor terrace areas and upwards to create stair cores.

The apartment interiors celebrate the building's hybrid materiality, with wooden walls, concrete floors and curved steel sections on the balconies providing sun-shading.

Concrete flooring and wood ceilings create a minimal aesthetic

Both small and large versions of each flat type have been created to provide different spatial characters, with some incorporating double-height areas.

Other recent residential projects in Switzerland include a concrete block near Lake Lugano by DF_DC, with an "exoskeleton" of balconies and terraces, and a house in Villarlod by Index Architectes that features asymmetric gables and a skin of angular clay tiles.

The photography is byIwan Baan unless stated otherwise.

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MACH references high-tech architecture at yellow house in Barcelona

A facade of bright yellow steelwork and an industrial-style interior informed by the high-tech architecture movement define this house in Barcelona, designed by local architecture studio MACH.

Located on a backstreet close to Parc Güell by Antoni Gaudi, the dwelling called Casa Collumpio combines living areas with space for MACH's own office.

MACH referenced high-tech architecture when designing Casa Collumpio

Casa Collumpio is conceived as a stack of three flexible, open floors around a central core, which are enclosed as simply as possible to allow them to "evolve" over time to suit its inhabitants.

"The house was designed from the very beginning so that every floor was completely opened," MACH told Dezeen.

The home's upper floors are built from a lightweight steel frame

"Of course, the idea is for the living and kitchen floor to stay the same, but the semi-underground level and the first floor were originally planned to contain two bedrooms, each with light walls that could be removable or changed in the future," the studio continued.

Casa Collumpio sits on a heavy concrete plinth containing the slightly sunken ground floor, with its two upper floors built from a lightweight steel frame that is infilled with blockwork and plastered walls.

The yellow facade is echoed internally by the staircase

Inside, the concrete ground floor contains a bedroom while the first floor has a living room and kitchen.

Underneath a corrugated steel ceiling, the top floor offers a space for a second bedroom that is currently used by MACH as a studio.

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The idea of flexibility is emphasised by the materials in Casa Collumpio's interior being left exposed, bringing an industrial feel that is continued in the steel and concrete furnishings.

This rawness is contrasted by the bright yellow finish that has been used on the facade, rear elevation and staircase, which was informed by British high-tech architecture of the late 20th century.

The concrete ground floor contains a bedroom

"At this time, the Eames House by Charles and Ray Eames and 22 Parkside by Richard Rogers played a really important factor, and later we came across the unbuilt Yellow House by Peter and Alison Smithson," the studio told Dezeen.

"The final decision of painting it yellow was not decided until the very end, and it's kind of an homage to them, to make the house more joyful," it continued.

The top floor is currently used as MACH's own studio

MACH was founded by Laia Gelonch and Marc Subirana with studios in Madrid and Barcelona.

Elsewhere in Spain, Nua Arquitectures also recently used coloured steelwork to brighten the renovation of a historic home in Tarragona.

The photography is byDel Rio Bani unless stated.

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Ten white kitchens with clean and bright interiors

Our latest lookbook highlights 10 homes from the Dezeen archive that feature white kitchens including a Brooklyn townhouse and home in Switzerland.

White kitchens can provide homes with a minimal and clean look as well as brightening rooms in spaces where light may be limited.

The kitchens in these projects range from paired back and minimal to rustic and textural and are often combined with pops of colour through kitchen finishings and hardware.

This is the latest in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing modernist living rooms, kitchen extensions and homes designed by architects and designers.

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Bartolomeu Dias House, Portugal by Aurora Arquitectos

Located in Lisbon, this Portuguese townhouse renovated by Aurora Arquitectos combines paired-back interiors with original Portuguese finishings.

The kitchen has a largely neutral palette with white walls, white cabinetry and beige work surfaces. Original tiling on the floor was restored to give the kitchen subtle pops of green.

Find out more about Bartolomeu Dias House ›

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Pyramid House, Switzerland, by DF_DC

The kitchen at the monolithic Pyramid House by DF_DC was oriented to look out onto the home's garden.

Cabinetry walls and worktops were finished in white and placed on top of a pale concrete floor. A large island at the centre of the space contains a built-in sink, faucet and also an electric hob. A wooden plane extends from the island and forms a breakfast bar.

Find out more about Pyramid House ›

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Sackett Street townhouse, US, by The Brooklyn Home Company

Located in New York's Carroll Gardens neighbourhood, Sackett Street townhouse combines a rustic and contemporary aesthetic.

The kitchen, which is set beneath whitewashed ceiling beams, features Pietra Cardosa countertops, a range cooker and metallic fixtures that contrast against its white cabinetry and walls.

Find out more about Sackett Street townhouse ›

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Ledge House, US, by Desai Chia Architecture

New York practice Desai Chia Architecture blanketed the interior of Ledge House in Connecticut in pale materials and finishes.

The open plan kitchen is divided from the living space by a large linear island fitted with a grey coloured countertop. The island faces a wall of full-height white cabinetry that discreetly conceals appliances.

Find out more about Ledge House ›

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Studio apartment, Russia, by Ruetemple

Oak furnishings and finishing were paired with white-washed walls and white cabinetry in the kitchen of this Moscow studio apartment designed by Ruetemple.

Built-in cabinetry crafted from solid oak marks contrasts the largely white. A small dining table extends from the wall between the kitchen and bedroom to clearly divide the spaces.

Find out more about the studio apartment ›

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Swedish house, Sweden, by Sandellsandberg

Ranged along a single wall below a mezzanine level, this kitchen designed by Swedish studio Sandellsandberg combines white cabinetry and veined marble countertops.

Its open plan design makes the most of the home's small and compact plan. Overhead lighting is suspended from the dropped ceiling above an island that doubles as a breakfast bar.

Find out more about the Swedish house ›

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Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, Antarctica, by Estúdio 41

Much like the majority of this prefabricated Antarctic research station, the kitchen is comprised of only the essential furnishings, finishings and functions.

The room, which is rectangular in shape, features a glazed wall that opens to a terrace and frames views of the frozen landscape. A sink and worktop are contained within one unit with a single row of cabinetry fitted below.

Find out more about Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station ›

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TS-H_01, Switzerland, by Tom Strala

Architect Tom Strala used a neutral and minimal material palette for the interior of this family home near Bern.

Bold, clean lines define the kitchen with rows of white cabinetry and wooden details spanning beneath worktops. Recessed and sunken handles and fixtures provide a sleek and minimal look.

Find out more about TS-H_01 ›

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South Yarra Townhouse, Australia, by Winter Architecture

Clean white lines and shapes fill the kitchen at this townhouse in Melbourne by Winter Architecture. The kitchen has an all-white palette that is defined by its use of different textures and finishes.

Black finishes and furnishings, including slender breakfast bar stools and a sculptural overhead pendant light, juxtapose the stark white cabinetry and tiling.

Find out more about South Yarra Townhouse ›

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Hubert, France, by Septembre

This kitchen dining room in this apartment is zoned by its use of poured concrete flooring and cabinetry that contrasts against the wood-lined living area.

White cabinetry units are ranged above and below a marble countertop and splashback with wall-mounted cabinetry staggered near the window to allow light to enter as well as open.

Find out more about Hubert ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasinghomes centred around courtyards, original hotel bathrooms and glass block walls.

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