NAVA Design Watches by Denis Guidone
Because not every timepiece has to be foreboding and serious, Denis Guidone’s watches play with the traditional expectation of what a timepiece should be. Designed in collaboration with Italian product brand NAVA Design, his four contributions–the Ora, Ora Lattea, Ora Unica, and Tempo Libero–all feature unique design cues, signaling (sometimes with the use of traditional hands) what the time is. For example, the Ora Lattea uses dots, placed where a traditional hand would usually end, while the Ora Unica’s squiggly line’s ends go in place of hands. Available at NAVA Design.
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Calio Interior Designs
With a splendid portfolio, CALIO offers possibly the best interior design offerings of any firm, anywhere. Modern in execution but traditional in inspiration, CALIO ties together modern, clean, simple spaces with short pops of color and inspiration–much as one would a wardrobe.
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Audi Exo Concept
Andrea Mocellin, a student at the Royal College of Art in London, designed the Audi Exo concept, a human powered vehicle that employs the latest exoskeleton and robotic technologies. The effort exerted by the driver is supplemented by a robotics system that multiplies input and reduces fatigue. According to Mocellin, “The target is to create a vehicle that takes us back to the basics of a physically engaging driving experience, but with an automotive quality in terms of materials and technologies.” Both the exterior design and method of propulsion are radical departures from traditional vehicles, though their viability improves as ecological concerns increase.
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Tree House by Hufft Architects
Designed by Hufft Architects and perched on a cliff overlooking a creek and forest, the Tree House in Mission Hills, Kansas is a contemporary residence implementing traditional architectural forms complemented by modern details and materials. A modest front elevation belies an impressive rear façade that extends down the hillside, where large windows and an expansive deck allow residents to enjoy the impressive view. Exterior walls are covered in ipe siding, which extends past the edges of the home to aid in privacy and solar regulation.
Inside, reclaimed slate from Kansas City school chalkboards covers sliding walls and doors. The partitions allow interior spaces to either be divided from one another or fully open to one another.
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Eco Urban Home by Dwell Development
Dwell Development recently completed this four home community in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. The single family dwellings were designed by staff architect Julian Weber to be style conscious while seamlessly integrating ecological technology. The community achieves a Built Green 5-Star Certification via 800-watt solar arrays and recycled materials, and was chosen as a recent case study for the Built Green home building program. Each home is approximately 1600 square feet, spread throughout three levels of living space, including roof top decks. Interiors feature high end finishes, including Australian Cypress flooring and Ann Sacks tile.
Dwell Development worked closely with the city of Seattle in the design and construction of the homes, securing a site in a walkable neighborhood with access to the burgeoning new light rail system. The homes uphold Dwell’s commitment to building homes that act as a positive catalyst and add density to growing communities.
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Z-house by Hohyun Park + Hyunjoo Kim
Located in South Korea and designed by architects Hohyun Park and Hyunjoo Kim, the Z-house focuses on spatial composition, relationships among spaces, and circulation. Extensive diagrammatic research was conducted to determine an ideal layout, resulting in a collection of public spaces on the ground floor, with bedrooms above, and ramps rising further to a master suite. The heights of interior volumes, material types, and lighting vary dramatically from room to room, providing residents with a dynamic experience. The exterior of the rectangular lower volumes is clad in basalt and slate, while the curved and angled upper volumes are clad in cedar and black zinc. Carefully integrated terraces, skylights, and indoor planters further contribute to the unique living experience.
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Villa O in Cap Ferrat
In Cap Ferrat, France, a luxurious modern home with views of the yacht filled port is available for rent. Villa O is a 4 level home, complete with staff, designed to accommodate even the most discerning guest. The white, rectilinear home with curved metal roof integrates several terraces, decks, and patios along with floor to ceiling windows to take advantage of the views of nearby St. Jean. Other features included with Villa O include a fully outfitted gym and cinema room. Outside, an infinity pool follows one edge of property, surrounded by lush landscaping and accompanied by a tent-shaded lounging deck. Another pool occupies space on the rooftop deck. Elsewhere on the sprawling property, a two bedroom guesthouse accommodates any unexpected visitors.
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Modern Salt Lake City Home by 3602 Apollo
In Salt Lake City, Utah, home owner Tyler Gourley transformed a formerly mundane 1950’s home into an impressive modern masterpiece. Bordering mountains provide the backdrop for Gourley’s home, which seamlessly blends mid-century design cues with rich modern materials and details. Spread over two levels, the home incorporates sunken covered parking and a bottom level that opens onto a guarded pool area and cabana. True to its historic roots, the exterior belies an interior devoid of historical reference, but focused on minimalist modern décor. On the lower level, a bar and seating area with slate floors opens onto the patio and pool through sliding glass doors. Upstairs, a kitchen and living room clad in wood open onto an upper level deck, overlooking the pool.
Throughout the home, liberal use of dark stained wood on floors, fireplaces, and cabinetry lend an opulent atmosphere to the interior. Paired with stone flooring and cast-in-place concrete fixtures, the home exudes a decidedly masculine tone. It is currently listed for sale at $699,000.
Contemporary Cantilever House Design by JCB Architects
In Cape Shank Victoria, this modern home by JCB Architects is characterized by dramatic cantilevered volumes projecting from the central core. Sitting atop a dune, a tall concrete base is combined with the cantilevers to take advantage of the views across the Mornington Peninsula. The architects cite a fallen log and branches as their inspiration for the design. The west-facing volume contains two decks at its edge and is bordered by a thin pool whose water cascades over the sheer face of the concrete base. Inside, walls of windows and an open plan create the sensation of floating above the dune below. A low key color scheme using high quality materials allows the view to remain the primary focus.
Bill’s House by Tony Owen Partners
Tony Owen Partners participated in a unique collaboration when designing “Bill’s House,” a conspicuously modern home located in a suburb of Sydney, Australia. The client, Bill, a concrete contractor, requested a design in which concrete was the primary building material in order to complete a majority of the construction himself. Accordingly, the architects responded with a dramatic design that balances rectangular volumes with massive, curved, white concrete walls. The curved walls are a reference to the sails of fishing boats on the Greek Islands, reflecting the client’s heritage. As requested, concrete is used wherever possible elsewhere in the home. A thick central wall is cast in textured concrete, and incorporates a tropical fish tank. The most striking use of the material, however, is in the central circulation space, which uses black polished concrete floors and a monolithic staircase cast from the same material. A transparent glass enclosure counters the heavy concrete and bathes the space in light throughout the day. The ground floor is kept light and open with floor to ceiling windows that open onto a patio, pool, and terraced garden.
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