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.
Audi Daysailer by Mark Klug
No, it’s not the Burj Al Arab, but it gleams just like it. A true Deutsche schiff if there ever was one, the Audi Daysailer is a quintessential product of German engineering. Created by Mark Klug, an applied science student from Austria, the Daysailer looks sleek and powerful, yet simple and modern in design. At 15 meters long and 21 meters high, the yacht is strikingly beautiful and universally appealing. Klug states, “It has to captivate the onlooker at first glance, in precisely the same way that the cars do,” and we certainly can’t argue with him here. Although what you see now is actually a 1:15 scale model, we can certainly appreciate Audi’s desire to branch out to other areas. Well done.
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Villa Okto by Touzet Studio
Okto Villa is a modern luxury property comprised of three separate buildings on a private island in Miami Beach, Florida. Designed by Touzet Studio, the 20,000 square foot home overlooks prestigious Biscayne Bay. The square footage is divided among a main house, a guest house, and a staff/maid’s quarters. The home pairs basic white stucco volumes with dark wood screening elements and Florida’s signature blue-tinted glass. A dramatic central stair case is one of many focal points throughout the house; its organic curves gently flow from one level to another, providing respite from the straight lines found elsewhere in the house.
See more images of the Villa Okto after the jump.
The Design Genius of Charles and Ray Eames
TED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “ideas worth spreading,” currently features an interview with Eames Demetrios on their website. The grandson of mid-century design pioneers Ray and Charles Eames, he discusses their longstanding influence throughout the design community, with particular attention paid to the role played by their iconic furniture designs. Check out the entire 15 minute interview for rare archival video footage documenting the couples’ design processes.
See the video after the jump.
Modern Outdoor Furniture by LOLL Designs
Outdoor furniture takes a modern leap forward with Loll, producer of complementary geometric, durable all-weather pieces. Taking design cues from the Adirondack chair, Loll’s furniture–made out of HDPE, a ” superior grade recycled high density polyethylene”–manages to bridge the traditional with the ultra-modern, thus creating an aesthetic perfect for nearly any setting, particularly with the incredible variety of colors offered. Available online at Loll.com
See pieces from the Loll collection after the jump.
