Bug Chair by Isak
By Norwegian designers Sigurd Strom and Benjamin Stenmarck, the ISAK’s Bug chair appears like something out of a 1940’s The Rocketeer cartoon, very retro-futuristic and space-inspired. Made of a reinforced glass fiber outer shell and inner steel frame, it literally was inspired by a 50’s bike lamp. Says Sig Dugal, ISAK’s CEO: “Developing this chair has been a true dream project for ISAK. From the moment I saw the design ideas on this chair I fell in love with it. Its retro form combined with its modern look is sure to command attention in any environment.”
More images of ISAK’s Bug chair after the jump.
BMW S.X Concept Design by Iulian Bumbu
Design student Iulian Bumbu is either a genius or a complete madman. Coming on the heels of his Lamborghini Insecta Concept is this stunning BMW S.X Concept car. Bumbu seems to be prodding the execs in Munich to finally produce the supercoupe that they have been tiptoeing around since the debut of the M1 Homage Concept in 2008. Taking design cues from the Aston Martin One-77 and Fisker Karma, the S.X looks sleek and powerful, while still incorporating BMW’s trademark kidney grille and tweaked headlights that look borrowed from their earlier CS Concept. The best choice of engine would most likely be a derivative of their twin-turbo V8, which has taken well to power increases and will source the upcoming M-variants of the X5 and X6.
See more after the jump.
Casa Zufferey by Nunatak Sàrl Architectes
In the midst of a quiet vineyard in Wallis, Switzerland, Casa Zufferey by Nunatak Sàrl Architectes emerges as a dark modern monument. The nearby L’Ardévaz Mountains are a prominent visual force and the inspiration for the shape and exterior materials adorning the home. The long, ascending roofline mimics the slope of the mountains and the black slate tiles recall the material nature of the landscape. The wood structure of the home was fabricated off-site and transported to the vineyard and assembled per the architect’s instructions. The unorthodox exterior appearance is only alluded to on the home’s interior with angled windows at either end and dramatic ceiling slopes. Otherwise, a concrete slab floor, fir plank ceiling, and tall white walls complete the uncluttered interior. The overhangs created by the home’s shape create exterior patios and covered parking at opposite ends.
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Brooklyn Bachelor Pad Photos by Jackie Caradonio
Desire to Inspire points us to the photographic works of Jackie Caradonio. As one of her projects, Caradonio was able to photograph the interiors of this great Brooklyn loft space owned by a French bachelor who owns several US art galleries. This male dream pad is complete with cars, masculine art depicting dogs, a blue kitchen space, an exposed brick bedroom, and more. Looking more like a fancy car showroom, than a home, we can’t help but feel that this home has its very own personality. The different uses of colors for different rooms really complements the cars in the space, as well as the many types of art displayed through the entire home. This is one special home for the quintessential art and design minded guy.
See more images of the Bachelor Pad after the jump.
Westwanda by Tag Front Architecture
A raw stamped concrete façade at the street belies the accommodating modern interior of the modestly sized Westwanda House by Tag Front Architecture, located in Beverly Hills. The lowest level of the home is blank and uninviting, but the architecture progressively transitions to a translucent, glass clad upper level. The interior spaces follow the exterior transition, with garage and utility spaces occupying the windowless lower level, bedrooms on the middle level, and living and dining spaces on the bright, open plan upper level. Recessed patios lie adjacent to the living and dining areas, expanding usable square footage and providing residents with views of the surrounding hills and approaching visitors. The interior uses a restrained color scheme, utilizing white walls, dark wood and stone flooring, and bright red accents.
See more images of the Westwanda House after the jump.
10 Grangegorman Villas by ODOS Architects
10 Grangegorman Villas, a residential development by ODOS Architects, was recently bestowed the honor of best house at the Irish Architecture Awards 2009. The urban infill project is an unapologetically modern home that responds to the restraints of its city site. The interior volumes of the home are clearly expressed through the exterior elevation, with three distinct levels defined by horizontal structural lines. A motorcycle workshop and garage occupy the ground level, and living spaces are located in the two upper levels. At the ground level entrance, occupants are immediately greeted by staircase that spans all three levels, creating visual continuity between spaces. The middle level contains bedrooms, and the top level is configured as an open-plan living and dining space. Full height glazing creates a bright, naturally lit interior. The glazing and exterior privacy screens make the house appear lighter and less imposing when viewed in its architecturally traditional context. A terrace on the highest level and partially covered patio at the rear extend living space to the exterior.
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El Uro House in Mexico by 7XA Taller de Arquitectura
Designers at 7XA Taller Arquitectura carefully considered the final site of this modern home in El Uro, Mexico. They ensured that the two-story glazing that adorns the rear of the home had a breath taking view of the nearby Sierra Madre Mountains. The home’s impressive presence relies heavily upon a dramatically cantilevered upper level and a white roof plane that visually detaches itself from the lower mass of the house. A large concrete patio lies beneath the upper volume, sheltered from the sun, and a pool directly abuts a wall of windows, creating the impression that it continues vertically. Inside, marble flooring throughout, clean white walls, and soaring two-story volumes create a palatial atmosphere for inhabitants
See more images of the El Uro House after the jump.
Cassilhaus by Ellen Cassilly and Frank Konhaus
NY Times did a piece on Frank Konhaus who collaborated with his wife, architect Ellen Cassilly, to design and build their home atop a bluff in Durham, North Carolina. Oddly enough, in an effort to express his design ideas to his wife, he constructed a model of the rectilinear home from Play-Doh. However, he claims that the final product is exactly as he envisioned it. Dubbed “Cassilhaus,” the home is composed of two multi-level structures connected by a bridge in which a 900 square foot art gallery is housed. The gallery was an integral element during the three year design process, and Konhaus says that the space links their lives and art “in a very overt way.” Elsewhere in the 4100 square foot home, double height living areas, strict geometric linearity, and thoughtfully placed windows continue the gallery atmosphere.
Read the whole article at NY Times.
See more images of the Cassilhaus after the jump.
Casa en la Cala Galiota by Joan Riera + Francisco Barceló
Joan Riera and Francisco Barcelo designed this minimal home in Cala Galiota. From the street, onlookers are greeted with a blank stucco privacy wall, garage door, and dark recessed entry door. Upon entering the front courtyard, however, the nature of the home shifts noticeably. A lush green lawn, shaded patio, and slatted windows create a tranquil inner atmosphere, which is carried into the interior. Rich wood floors complement the understated décor inside, with daylight streaming in from the numerous windows. The slatted windows are carried onto the rear elevation, where they compose nearly the entire façade. The slats create dramatic shadows and strategically shade the interior throughout the course of the day, providing passive climate control.
More images of the home after the jump.
Otake House by Suppose Design Office
In Otake, Japan, a house by Suppose Design Office reconciles passive solar design with impressive views from atop a rocky plateau. From the southern façade, residents enjoy a view of an industrial region bordered a mountain range. The northern façade, on the other hand, overlooks the Seto Inland Sea. A shallow terrace wraps around the second level to take advantage of the diverse views.
The home also thoughtfully incorporates passive solar design elements to reduce the need for mechanical climate control. The large expanses of glass throughout the home were deliberately placed and balanced with roof overhangs to maintain interior thermal comfort through both the daily and annual cycles of the sun.
See more images of the Otake House after the jump.
