Darwin Bookcase by Malin Kallman
By Malin Källman, the Darwin Bookcase functions as a bookcase, mini-stairwell, chair, and even a mini-clubhouse. Malin created the wooden structure as her final project from the Edinburgh College of Art. Using a methodology she called “Design by Darwin”, whereby she used visitors to her blog to help decide elements of the structure.
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Sputnik Chear by Shea Springer
Sputnik, a new chair from the industrial design duo ampersand, combines a mid-60’s clean grooviness with an Ikea-esque DIY sensibility. Made with molded felt/resin seat and back (a padded version will be released soon), oiled oak pegs, and polished cast aluminum legs, the Shea Springer designed chair for ampersand can be put together or taken apart in seconds.
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Luxury Mallorca Villa by Julia Palmer
This 5700 square foot luxury villa by London-based Julia Palmer was thoroughly redesigned to combine traditional Mediterranean design elements with an overall modern aesthetic. The redesign included deletion and addition of key windows to reduce interior heat gain while maintaining views of the nearby harbor. Inside, notable changes include exposed ceiling beams, new concrete floors, and bespoke furnishings and fixtures throughout. Outside, expanded terraces and a new circular pool with infinity edge accompany revised, curving roof lines and the continuation of interior ceiling beams.
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Boi and Leda Desk Lamps by David Weeks Studio
For a mid-century desk lamp with contemporary details, David Weeks Studio introduces the pop-design inspired Boi Desk Lamp and Leda Desk Lamp. While the Boi is more traditional in it’s shape, the carefully detailed cut openings on the shade do give it a bit of distinction. The Leda, while crafted out of the same materials (laser cut, powder-coated bases and nickel plated frames), its shape is a bit more futuristic, making it a mash-up of modern design with a futuristic silhouette.
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Courtyard Architecture by Studio Junction
Architects Christine Ho Ping Kong and Peter Tan, the couple behind architecture firm Studio Junction, designed and built this combination live/work space in Toronto after a long search in 2001. Originally a contractor’s warehouse and storage yard, the couple chose to start with the most basic structure they could find to allow themselves maximum creative freedom when designing their future home and office. The result is a dwelling that, from most exterior angles, still looks distinctly industrial. Inside, however, multiple open air courtyards create bright, flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for a family of four. Stone flooring and wood on nearly every other surface foster an organic atmosphere inside, contrasting the industrial surroundings and cinder block exterior walls. A new glassed in pavilion sits in the former storage yard and houses the day to day operations of Studio Junction.
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TV Easel by Restoration Hardware
If you always wanted an easel but don’t fancy yourself much of an artist, Restoration has a solution for you: the TV Easel. An excellent alternative to a media center or table-top, the solid hardwood piece holds flat-screen televisions up to 60” and has integrated component storage, which means all wires can be kept hidden and secure. And unlike a media center, this ebony finished easel looks good without the tv–it is also suited to display artwork and mirrors. Available at Restoration Hardware–catalog and web only.
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Villa Astrid by Wingardh Design
Strict Swedish building codes set the parameters for the design of Villa Astrid, a home by Wingardhs Design, located on a rocky hillside in western Sweden. The home fulfills the requirement of 3.5 meter eaves and steeply sloped roofs, but does it in a distinctly modern manner that embraces the natural state of its site. The L-shaped home is placed diagonally against the hillside, and appears to slice into the terrain of the site. In fact, just the opposite is true, and instead the terrain becomes a prominent interior feature, with jagged yellow stone protruding into different living spaces. The stone’s most dramatic use is in the master bathroom, where an entire wall is composed of rock, creating a cave-like atmosphere.
Outside, the home is clad with copper panels with a dark natural patina that contrasts the landscape. The walls have an insulated concrete core, allowing the interior of the home to remain comfortable. The position of the house against the hill creates a protected exterior space onto which the primary living spaces open.
Villa G by Saunders Architecture
In Bergen, Norway, local resident Thomas Pfeffer partnered with Canadian architect Todd Saunders to design Villa G, a home situated on the southwest coast. A monochromatic white exterior allows the home to blend into its surroundings during winter months and visually distinguish itself during summer months. Whitewashed wood adorns the exterior, with planks of varying widths providing visual interest upon close inspection. The white theme is carried into the interior as well, where it is complemented by bright furniture accent pieces and large scale artwork.
When he initially approached Saunders, Pfeffer had a specific list of features he wanted integrated into his home. It was important that audio and visual equipment and its accompanying media storage be incorporated seamlessly without intruding visually into interior spaces. Pfeffer explains, “We knew that we wanted a house with clean lines without any visual noise and clutter.” The clean line theme is continued throughout the home, with elements such as the stair taking center stage. The stair rises in the center of the home and is constructed from a single piece of 1 cm thick steel weighing over 2000 lbs. Pfeffer’s specific objectives and close working relationship with the architect created a home tailored specifically to his family where he expects they will, “live for a very long time.”
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Blairgowrie Court Residence by Frank Macchia
In lieu of the strict linear geometry used to design most modern homes, Australian architect Frank Macchia chose to combine curved elements with rectangular volumes to create the Blairgowire Court Residence in Melbourne. Macchia’s use of curves is most prominent in the home’s front elevation, where two tall, gently rippled walls act as the axis around which several boxes are arranged. The contrasting shapes and a varied material palette create a layered, visually dynamic exterior whose presence is undeniable. Once inside the home, curves manifest themselves more subtly. The curved walls visible from the exterior occasionally protrude into living spaces, while an organically shaped soaking tub pierces a wall in the master bathroom. The juxtaposition of different materials and textures continues inside too- wood, stone, concrete, tile, and glass all adorn different surfaces throughout the home. Outside, heavily vegetated water gardens and a lap pool combine with a patio and rooftop deck where residents enjoy views across the bay.
More images of the Blairgowrie Court Residence after the jump.
Petrovic Residence by Bojan Simic Architecture
A two story glass atrium flanked by symmetrical living spaces serves as a wholly modern addition to a traditional Victorian residence in St. Kilda, Victoria. Designed by Australian firm Bojan Simic Architecture, the addition references Victorian design principles, but interprets them through a modern language. Its symmetry, for example, pays homage to the strictly symmetrical plans implemented in Victorian homes. On their website, the firm describes the soaring atrium as a “time passage symbolically linking the early 20th century with the early 21st century.” Inside, a curvilinear vaulted roof and modern furnishings eschew any historical references. The spaces on either side of the atrium open fully onto a sprawling deck via glass panels that slide out of the way.
