Arcadia Contract Contemporary Benches
For ultra-clean modernism created through natural materials and warm colors, look no further than the “Archella” line from Arcadia Contract. Designed by Christopher Panichella, the set is compiled of complimentary square, circular and scalloped shapes. Occasional tables and lounge chairs also available.
Continue reading to see more images.
The Carla Ridge Residence
After an extensive two year renovation, the Carla Ridge Residence in Beverly Hills has been listed for sale through the Westside Estate Agency. At $9.9 million, the five bedroom, six bath home has been upgraded thoroughly with the requisite palette of high end materials. Upon initial approach, the mid-century modern roots of the pavilion style home remain apparent. A characteristic low, flat roof and floor to ceiling windows allow access to the expansive patio and pool at the rear, while providing residents with an awe-inspiring view of the city below. The substantial use of glass also lends a sense of transparency to the home, as demonstrated by the clear sightlines from the front walkway straight through to the backyard. A subdued interior design scheme of black, white, and gray provides a minimalist backdrop for future inhabitants.
Continue reading to see more images of the Carla Ridge Residence.
Dwell: A Lot for a Little – Texas Home by Regina and Andy Rihn
Dwell has a great article on how a couple made the most of their low budget to build their dream home. When they initially made their foray into the real estate market in Austin, Texas, Regina and Andy Rihn had a meager $100,000 budget, and the prospective homes they toured were in disrepair and required significant financial investment to be habitable. However, their prospects brightened when Andy reconnected with childhood friend Amy Dempsey, who was working as an architect building low cost housing on the city’s east side. Dempsey partnered with her architecture firm’s owner and purchased a lot, where they each designed and built a home, with Dempsey acting as general contractor.
The resulting home is an open plan, 1200 square foot modern ranch, with an emphasis on affordable building techniques and integrated environmentally friendly features. Concrete block, Hardiplank siding, and a metal roof kept costs low, while carefully considered window placement and large sliding glass doors keep the indoor temperature moderate. The couple, who originally envisioned themselves in a 1930’s cottage, has come to realize that a vintage inclination can be reconciled with modern architecture with beautiful results.
Read the whole article over at Dwell.
l House by moomoo Architects
Thermopian, a plastic material typically used to insulate commercial roofs, is the chosen exterior cladding for the I House in Łódź, Poland. Designed by Polish firm moomoo Architects, the home’s shape is reminiscent of its neighbors, but with distinct modern flourishes. Thermopian was chosen as cladding due to its excellent thermal, acoustic, and insulating properties, and also because it can be manufactured in virtually any color. The front façade slopes up from one side to another and is partially obscured by an angled wall that allows the home to comply with strict local building codes requiring the front edge of a home to be parallel to the property edge. Construction of the I House is expected to finish within the next year.
See more images of the I House after the jump.
TwentyTwo Armchair by Jaime Hayon
A truly beautiful work of craftmanship, The TwentyTwo chair, named so because the frame is constructed out of 22 pieces of maple wood, is both sleek and modern, while retaining a hint of Art Noveau. By Spanish designer Jaime Haydon for Ceccotti Collezioni, the chair also features a hidden leather tray beneath the seat. It was recently presented out of Milan’s Salone el Mobile.
More images after the jump.
Himeji Observatory House by Kino Architects
Inspired by Himeji Castle, visible in the distance from its upper floors, the Himeji Observatory House in Japan stands tall and imposing, with a heavy visual presence, particularly at the street level. Designed by Kino Architects, the home uses concrete extensively, with exposed patterns from formwork defining the front elevation. On the uppermost level of the home, the concrete gives way to white walls and soaring expanses of glass which take advantage of the aforementioned views of the castle. Much like the turrets on the nearby castle, the home has terraces recessed into the concrete structure of its upper levels, expanding the interior space and providing a vantage point for residents. Interior furnishings are limited to a sparse selection of modern and traditional vintage pieces, mirroring the amalgamation of old and new references on the outside of the home.
See more of the house after the jump.
Telluride Home by Fernau + Hartman Architects
This Telluride, Colorado home was designed by architecture firm Fernau + Hartman with an emphasis on sustainable construction and transition from interior to exterior. Sustainable elements include straw bale exterior walls, concrete floors for thermal mass, and carefully planned natural ventilation. Situated at the top of a hill, the home enjoys views of the surrounding forest, lagoon, and distant coastal range. Accordingly, exterior spaces became a primary design concern. On their website, the firm claims, “our goal was to design a building inextricable from its site, in which indoor and outdoor distinctions are so fluid as to become moot.” To achieve this fluidity, the architects employed a number of tactics including industrial garage doors separating living spaces from the outdoors, and usable exterior spaces around the entire perimeter of the home. Most notable, however, is the use of tracks and wheels that allows select beds to slide out onto exterior terraces. Perched in the highest reaches of the home, the beds allow residents to enjoy unprecedented views from the most comfortable spot in the house.
See more images of the house after the jump.
The Opposite House Hotel in Beijing, China
Swire Hotels commissioned Kengo Kurna & Associates to design the Opposite House Hotel, which opened in Beijing, prior to the Olympic games of 2008. The Opposite House is one of several boutique hotels from Swire, who have properties throughout China, Hong Kong, and the UK, each with their own unique contextual style. Minimalist, Chinese-inspired design permeates throughout the Opposite House Hotel. The 99 guest rooms employ muted color palettes, wood floors, and sliding panels made from wood, glass, and fabric as room dividers. The understated aesthetic and natural materials are carried throughout the lobby, pool, and outdoor decks. The hotel also contains several restaurants and bars, whose design retains subtle Chinese cues and utilize lavish materials and design flourishes such as tapestries draped from the ceiling and bold color selections. The contrast between the serenity of the rooms and the vividness of the restaurants and bars is where the name of the hotel is derived from.
See more images of the Opposite House Hotel after the jump.
Mobile Huts by Tom Kundig
On the site of a former RV park in Mazama, Washington, a group of low-impact “rolling huts” designed by Tom Kundig adds a modern touch to the rural landscape. The river valley site is a flood plain, and the elevated design of the huts reflects their context. They were also raised to allow the environment to return to as natural a state as possible. Each identical dwelling is constructed using a simple steel frame and massive steel wheels that allow the huts to be repositioned. Interior space is a scant 200 square feet, but is supplemented by 240 square feet of covered deck space. The materials adorning the huts are simple and durable- plywood and car-decking clad the outside while plywood and cork cover interior surfaces. Each structure enjoys a unique view of the surrounding mountains, and a fireplace, small kitchen, and bathroom combine to create a hospitable atmosphere. Kundig’s huts are a rustic respite, and manage to take second place to their natural surroundings.
See more after the jump.
Contemporary Mountain Home by Ulisses Morato
Despite its thoroughly modern looks, this mountainside home in Brazil, designed by Ulisses Morato, was constructed using primarily local materials and traditional, manual construction. According to Morato, the contemporary aesthetic stems from his desire that “the ‘natural order’ and ‘cultural order’ are mutually distinguished.” The home uses strict geometric forms and bright splashes of primary color to contrast its natural surroundings. Living space is spread over three levels. A glass encased lower level opens onto a patio and pool, while an upper level cantilevers dramatically over the pool toward the valley below, supported on skewed columns. The home was awarded honors in the Single House category of the 10th Architecture Awards, an event promoted by Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil.
See more images of the home after the jump.
