More stories

  • in

    Ten atriums that brighten and expand residential spaces

    A Montreal home with a trapeze net, a warehouse conversion in London and an Indian home with a monolithic marble facade are among the residences in this lookbook, which feature atriums as a central aspect of their design.

    Atriums – large spaces, surrounded by a building, that are either open-air or feature skylights – were originally used in Roman homes, where they functioned more like a courtyard.
    Modern atriums typically feature in larger buildings and are cavernous spaces that stretch up for stories.
    For residential architecture, architects who want to include atrium spaces have to scale down the size, but that doesn’t mean that homes can’t have the loft ceilings and ample light provided by atriums.

    In these homes, the central space is open, with skylights and glass ceilings bringing light into the heart of the structure.
    Atriums provide an option for airiness when confronted with constructing homes on busy city streets where exterior views are not always desirable.
    Often, the other rooms and spaces are all accessed from the atrium space, and many times trees feature in these lofty spaces.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing floating staircases, calm green bedrooms and organic modern interiors.
    The photo is by Adrien WilliamsAtrium Townhome, Canada, by Robitaille Curtis
    When dealing with limited space in city buildings, an atrium can open up the inside of the home. For this Montreal Townhome, Canadian studio Robitalle Curtis oriented the white-walled interiors around a triple-height atrium.
    The atrium is in the centre of the house and extends up from the open-layout kitchen upwards. A skylight brings light into the void and the open space is punctuated by a trapeze that forms a children’s play area on the top floor.
    Find out more about Atrium Townhome ›
    The photo is by Yohei SasakuraMargin House, Japan, by Kohei Yukawa
    Kohei Yukawa of Yukawa Design Lab designed this home for himself in Ibaraki City, north of Osaka. The corrugated-metal-clad home features a central atrium with a small tree.
    Instead of being completely topped by a skylight, the atrium fits into the slanted volume of the home. A wall of glass accompanies it on one side and at the top two clerestory windows bring light into the void.
    Find out more about Margin House ›
    The photo is by Glen GeryLa Clairière, USA, by Studio PHH
    Brooklyn-based Studio PHH connected two wood-and-brick-clad volumes with a double-height atrium that serves as the living room for this New Jersey home.
    The space has floor-to-ceiling glass on two sides where it faces the outdoors and is filled by a central staircase that leads to a mezzanine. Two large circular skylights brighten the space from above.
    Find out more about La Clairière ›
    The photo is by Rory GardinerBethnal Green warehouse apartment, UK, by Paper House Project
    UK studio Paper House Project’s design for this London home saw the studio turn an open-office space in an old warehouse into a residence. In order to add bedrooms to the space while still maintaining natural light on the first floor, the studio incorporated an atrium topped by skylights.
    The double-height atrium is lined with gridded windows that also bring light into the bedrooms above. Instead of a tree, the void of the atrium is filled by a sculptural chandelier.
    Find out more about this warehouse conversion ›

    Tawainese home, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
    KC Design Studio was tasked with bringing extra light into this 50-year-old home in Tawain. In order to do so, an atrium-like central void was created.
    A metal stairway follows the atrium up three levels, creating a central flow through the home and bringing in plenty of natural light. Plants have been hung from the exposed structural rafters to take advantage of the sunlight and add life to the design.
    Find out more about this Taiwanese home ›
    The photo is by Hiroyuki OkiHouse for Daughter, Vietnam, by Khuôn Studio
    This house in Ho Chi Min City by Khuôn Studio features a massive triple-height atrium that splits the two sections of the home, one of which is used by the full-time residents and one by their daughter.
    The atrium features public spaces, a tree and a series of skylights that bring in light to the cavernous volume. The edges of the rooms on either side protrude into the area and are rounded, adding a softness to the atrium space.
    Find out more about House for Daughter ›
    The photo is by Photo André Jeanpierre Fanthome and Suryan//DangCleft House, India, by Anagram Architects
    This New Delhi house by Anagram Architects features two monumental marble blocks that are split by a massive atrium. The four-storey atrium is topped by a glass ceiling and even has a glass-lined elevator shaft on one wall.
    A massive spiral staircase fills the void and plant-filled public areas are arranged throughout the space. Balconies for rooms on the upper floor have been positioned to look out over the atrium, giving the impression of an open-air space.
    Find out more about Cleft House ›
    The photo is by Andres Garcia LachnerJungle Frame House, Costa Rica, by Studio Saxe
    Studio Saxe oriented this steel-framed home in Costa Rica around a “tropical atrium”. The three-storey atrium is lined by glass and wooden louvres so that the jungle is visible from much of the home.
    Because of the wooden slats, the ground floors have shadows similar to the floor of the jungle with the shadows of the overstory. At the bottom of the atrium space is the living room, which extends outside into a wrap-around patio.
    Find out more about Jungle Frame House ›
    The photo is by Hey!CheeseHouse H, Taiwan, by HAO Design
    The atrium was achieved in this home in Kaohsiung by removing the interior staircase and putting it outdoors. HAO Design decided that orienting the home around an atrium was the best way to take advantage of the space left by the staircase.
    A skylight at the top illuminates the kitchen and a variety of other living spaces are positioned as mezzanines on the upper floors. The home now serves as a cafe and furniture store.
    Find out more about House H ›
    The photo is by Albers StudioThe Lomas House, Mexico, by Arqueodigma Studio 
    Because of the busy area of Guadalajara where this home is located,  Arqueodigma decided to orient it inwards. The central public areas of the home are arranged around a triple-height atrium covered by a skylight.
    In the space are trees that rise up into the open area left open in the wooden ceiling. The public spaces on the ground floor were left mostly open so that the atrium can diffuse light through much of the home.
    Find out more about The Lomas House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing floating staircases, calm green bedrooms and organic modern interiors.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Eight homes with characterful floating staircases that appear to defy gravity

    A staircase with an in-built swing and a metal structure hung from a ceiling are among the eight floating staircases featured in our latest lookbook.

    A floating staircase is a flight of stairs that appears to defy gravity. They often cantilever from one wall to create overhanging steps that jut outwards and look as if they are suspended in mid-air.
    They often have open risers, which means that the treads are not connected but might be attached by central stringers.
    From a granite house in Spain to a light-filled home in Canada, here are eight residential interiors that feature floating staircases in their designs.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing garden swimming pools, exposed wooden beams and organic modern interiors.

    Photo is by Marcos MiguélezCasa VMS, Spain, by Marcos Miguélez 
    A floating steel staircase with cantilevered treads features in Casa VMS, a granite-clad house in the Spanish town of Magaz de Abajo by architect Marcos Miguélez.
    Connecting the library and the living room, the staircase includes dark wooden steps that mirror a low-slung timber dining table, which sits within an open-plan living space.
    Find out more about Casa VMS ›
    Photo is by Simon KennedyIdunsgate Apartment, Norway, by Haptic
    Idunsgate Apartment in Oslo includes a powder-coated steel staircase that is suspended from a ceiling beam creating a sculptural stepped formation.
    The floating staircase is completed by blocky wooden steps at its bottom, which also double as built-in seating in an open-plan kitchen and dining space.
    Find out more about Indunsgate Apartment ›
    Photo is by Karina TengbergSturlasgade apartment, Denmark, by Jac Studios
    Copenhagen practice Jac Studios designed a staircase in two parts for this Sturlasgade apartment with pale-toned finishes and natural light.
    Suspended from steel poles, a flight of smoked-oak stairs leads to a set of light-coloured, tapered terrazzo steps that provide access to an open-plan living space.
    Find out more about this Sturlasgade apartment ›
    Photo is by Jack HobhouseKenwood Lee House, UK, by Cousins & Cousins
    Architecture office Cousins & Cousins inserted a central floating staircase into Kenwood Lee House – a dwelling in Highgate, London, that is characterised by concrete and marble finishes.
    Complete with light oak treads, the staircase features an indoor swing that hangs underneath it and adds a playful touch to the minimal interiors.
    Find out more about Kenwood Lee House ›
    Photo is by A AvdeenkoHeat 360 House, Ukraine, by Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects
    The two storeys of this house in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, are connected by a chunky cantilevered staircase that juts out from a concrete wall and rises up through an opening in the kitchen ceiling.
    Local studio Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects also added full-height windows to the refurbished property, which includes various quirky features including a hay-bale seating area.
    Find out more about Heat 360 House ›
    Photo is by Ronan MézièreEscher House, Canada, by Naturehumaine
    A labyrinthine steel and wood staircase informed by the architectural paintings of Dutch artist MC Escher travels through the levels of this Montreal home renovated by local firm Naturehumaine.
    “Imposing and phantasmagorical, the staircase with its crossing of flights enlivens the space and personalises the entire house,” said the studio.
    Find out more about The Escher House ›
    Photo is by Josée MarinoLazard House, Canada, by Kl.Tz Design
    Canadian studio Kl.Tz Design renovated this light-filled family house in Montreal to include a staircase defined by suspended wooden steps and a floor-to-ceiling metal balustrade.
    Designed by furniture brand De Gaspé, the minimal structure intends to create a sense of lightness and openness between the home’s two levels.
    Find out more about Lazard House ›
    Photo is by Ben HoskingOgimachi House, Japan, Tomoaki Uno Architects
    Tomoaki Uno Architects added a central flower-like staircase to Ogimachi House, a Japanese home built almost entirely out of cedar and cypress for the materials’ calming properties.
    The staircase features petal-shaped treads that have a generous amount of space between each other, which are designed in wood like the rest of the interiors.
    Find out more about Ogimachi House ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing bookshelf staircases, white bathrooms and homes with hammocks.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten residential interiors bolstered by exposed wooden beams

    From a refurbished apartment in Barcelona to the home of an architectural designer in London, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 interiors that celebrate the tactility of exposed wooden beams.

    Beams are joists that support a building’s ceiling or roof. Rather than covering the interior beams, the designers below have left them as they were originally constructed, giving the homes a rustic yet industrial feel.
    Interior designers from Japan to Australia have incorporated exposed beams and columns in their projects, often integrating the existing wooden structures with contemporary elements such as cabinetry, shelving units and lighting fixtures.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing gardens with swimming pools, steely kitchens and interiors with a natural and calming organic modern design.

    Photo is by Alice GaoMorehouse, US, by James Veal and Christine Stucker
    Renovated by Brooklyn studio Stewart-Schafer for the company’s co-founders, this home in Connecticut is designed to reflect the 18 acres of woodland that surround it.
    The studio opted to fill the home with Japandi style decor and a natural, woody colour palette to complement the existing wooden floors, ceilings and other joinery.
    Find out more about Morehouse ›
    Photo is by Ulysse LemeriseThe Barn, Canada, by Louis Beliveau
    Nestled into a hillside in Mansonville, Québec, The Barn is a three-storey building that Montreal designer Louis Beliveau of La Firme studio converted from a decrepit building into a holiday home for two city dwellers.
    The 418-square-metre, light-filled interior has white oak floors, white-washed wood walls and exposed wood beams throughout, which the designers chose to keep the property’s “rustic character”.
    Find out more about The Barn ›
    Photo is by Nieve I Productora AudiovisualBookcase, Spain, by Nook Architects
    This Barcelona apartment refurbished by Nook Architects was designed to allow light to flow through the entire space. A central lightwell casts daylight into the bathroom, kitchen and storage rooms while Crittal glass partitions bordering the master bedroom give the occupants some privacy while they sleep.
    The apartment’s original colourful tile flooring, which the studio uncovered during the restoring, completes the space.
    Find out more about Bookcase ›
    Photo is by Eric PetschekChelsea Loft, US, by Worrell Yeung
    Timber columns, beams and ceiling joists were left raw and exposed in this Manhattan loft that Worrell Yeung renovated for an artist with an eclectic art collection.
    Part of the playful overhaul also involved installing new pieces of Cassina furniture, painting the walls and ceiling white and adding reclaimed pine wood floors.
    Find out more about Chelsea ›
    Photo is by Adrian GautVipp Studio, US, by Vipp
    Danish design company Vipp’s pared-back aesthetic characterises this showroom-cum-apartment in Tribeca, which serves as the founder’s pied-à-terre when they visit New York.
    Set in a former factory that dates back to 1883, the showroom is clad in a neutral grey-beige paint that matches the grey soft furnishings in the fully functional living room and bedrooms.
    Find out more about Vipp Studio ›
    Photo by James BrittainCollage House, England, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
    Architectural designer and founder of Jonathan Tuckey Design, Jonathan Tuckey chose “simple and everyday” materials in his renovation of this 19th-century steel workshop to create a characterful London home for his family and their dog.
    The designer decided to restore the original beams in the ceiling and left the bare brick walls tarnished with black marks to add to the weathered look.
    Find out more about Collage House ›
    Photo is by Yago PartalEnd of the Roc, Spain, by Nook Architects
    Situated within an apartment building in the gothic quarter of Barcelona, End of the Roc features a number of quirky designs including geometric patterned floor tiling, a 40-year-old wall covering and original wooden ceiling beams.
    Other surfaces and furnishings that Nook Architects chose to flesh out the apartment have been crafted from oak or painted black to create a sense of cohesion.
    Find out more about End of the Roc ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherGowanus Loft, US, by General Assembly
    New York studio General Assembly deliberately left the chunky timber columns and beams exposed during the renovation of this apartment in Brooklyn, sanding them down to expose more of the original woodwork.
    While an effort was made to retain the character of the former textile mill, the studio added lighter touchers to the space through grey tilting in the kitchen, polished concrete flooring and rift white oak cabinetry.
    Find out more about Gowanus Loft ›
    Photo is by Koichi TorimuraY House, Japan, by Studio Kwas
    Several striking sets of angular spruce wood columns protrude like tree trunks throughout Y House, a two-storey city dwelling in Kamakura designed for a family of five. Three sets fill the open plan living area, which has a dining room, lounge and kitchen.
    The open plan design continues on the second floor of the house, where pine beams and diagonal columns create playful partitions that divide the sleeping and play areas.
    Find out more about Y House ›
    Photo is by Suzanna Scott PhotographyCalistoga Residence, US, by Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design
    The vineyards, barns and farmhouses of northern California’s wine town Napa Valley informed this wood-clad home designed by American studios Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design.
    Awash with white walls and pale tones set off against darker tiled flooring and black window frames, the home is filled with antiques that the client collected over many years.
    Find out more about Calistoga Residence ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing parquet flooring, terrazzo flooring and wood-clad kitchens.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten living spaces with glossy surfaces that create depth and dimension

    Mosaic tiles, red-lacquered wood panelling and sleek resin floors feature in this lookbook of 10 living spaces proving that high-shine surfaces don’t need to feel clinical.

    Glossy finishes – whether in the form of reflective paint, stone or simple sheet metal – can help to add polish and contrast to living rooms, which are traditionally heavy in plush textiles and upholstery.
    In particular, they shine in dark, compact spaces where they can mirror the light to make the room feel brighter and more expansive.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential swimming pools, steely kitchens and bookshelf staircases.
    Photo is by Michael SinclairHelios 710 apartment, UK, by Bella Freud and Maria Speake

    British fashion designer Bella Freud and Maria Speake of reclaimed furniture studio Retrouvius worked together to create the interiors for this two-floor London apartment, which is set in the former BBC Television Centre.
    In a nod to the building’s history, the duo worked to incorporate the “bold colour, eclecticism and glamour” of the 1970s, pairing glossy black sofas with burnt orange seat cushions, emerald green carpet and hessian-covered walls.
    Find out more about Helios 710 apartment ›
    Photo is by Robert RiegerThe Village apartment, Germany, by Gisbert Pöppler
    Living spaces in this renovated Berlin apartment by local interiors studio Gisbert Pöppler are demarcated by different surface materials.
    The entryway is panelled in red-lacquered wood, a geometric limestone relief wall distinguishes the kitchen and reflective stainless steel panels are fitted to the living room ceiling to make the room appear taller.
    Find out more about The Village ›
    Photography is by Simone BossiThe Whale, France by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard
    Architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard aimed to create a modern take on art deco inside this apartment in a period building in Paris’s 16th arrondissement.
    This is reflected in the brass-fronted storage cabinets, columns clad in baby-blue marble and mirrored doors leading through to the sleeping quarters.
    Find out more about The Whale ›
    Photo is by Joshua McHughSleepy Hollow Residence, USA, by Lexi Tallisman
    Glossy paint was used to cover the walls and ceilings in this cosy snug in a renovated 1990s home in New York’s Hudson River Valley to create a feeling of spaciousness despite the tight floorplan.
    American designer Lexi Tallisman complemented the deep army green of the walls with an equally decadent material palette, introducing a brass-and-oak shelving unit, a blue velvet sofa by designer Steven Gambrel and a vintage chair reupholstered in creamy white leather.
    Find out more about Sleepy Hollow Residence ›
    Photo is by Giorgio PossentiCasa Mille apartment, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino
    Italian architect Fabio Fantolino only preserved a few original features when converting parts of this 19th-century palazzo into his own home in Turin.
    Instead, Fantolino used colour and texture to add character to the rooms as evidenced in this dining area, where polished concrete floors are paired with a lacquered cherry-red tabletop and a gridded partition made of smokey-grey and petrol-green glass.
    Find out more about Casa Mille ›
    Photo is by Ricardo LoureiroApartment on a Mint Floor, Portugal, by Fala Atelier
    Mint-green epoxy resin – so glassy it looks permanently wet – covers all of the floors including the terrace of this Porto apartment, designed by local practice Fala Atelier.
    “The goal was to unify all the spaces of the project, inside and outside, somehow compensating for the overall complexity of the plan,” the studio’s co-founder Filipe Magalhães told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Apartment on a Mint Floor ›
    Photo is by Pion StudioPuro hotel Kraków, Poland, by Paradowski Studio
    Polish practice Paradowski Studio proved that tiles don’t need to be constrained to the kitchen or bathroom in its design for the lounge of the Puro hotel in Kraków’s Old Town.
    Informed by the modernist murals of the 1970s, the studio commissioned local artist Tomasz Opaliński to create an intricate mosaic of lacquered tiles for the space, which is paired with soft furnishings and patterned rugs.
    Find out more about Puro hotel Kraków ›
    Photo is by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
    Shiny silver curtains and corrugated metal wall panels help to amplify the sparse natural light that filters into this duplex basement apartment in Madrid, envisioned by local design duo Lucas y Hernández-Gil.
    The studio also created a fake courtyard at the centre of the flat, complete with artificial skylights, orange grass and tall leafy plants to foster a connection to nature despite the building’s deep floorplan.
    Find out more about Casa A12 ›
    Photo is by Ishita SitwalaMumbai apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
    Polished marble floors provide a tactile contrast to the muted furnishings in this communal living room, designed by Indian duo The Act of Quad for a three-generational family in Mumbai.
    The studio added playful design elements such as spherical sculptures and undulating columns to break up the minimalist architecture of the home, which was formed by combining two flats in a suburban high-rise.
    Find out more about this Mumbai apartment ›
    Photo is by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
    Glossy travertine floors, a forest-green velvet rug and a dropped ceiling finished in reflective aubergine-coloured plaster create an “interplay of polished and raw finishes” inside this home, which Australian practice YSG has renovated in Sydney.
    This helps to create distinct zones within the otherwise open-plan interior, created by knocking down the majority of the home’s existing rabbit warren of partition walls.
    Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential swimming pools, steely kitchens and bookshelf staircases.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten steely kitchens that use metal as their primary material

    A black steel island fitted between original cast-iron columns, a gleaming stainless-steel kitchen and one with reclaimed metal cabinetry are among the kitchen interiors featured in our latest lookbook.

    Metal kitchens can make for a stylish addition to a residential interior, often lending the heart of the home an industrial and restaurant-style look.
    These types of kitchens are said to have risen to popularity during the 1950s, after the steel factories that were formerly used to manufacture weapons pivoted to produce domestic goods.
    Though they went out of favour in the 1960s, by the turn of the millennium sleek, stainless steel kitchens were popularised in residential homes as the result of a futuristic, technology-driven outlook.
    They have since come to represent a modern kitchen look. Here, Dezeen has spotlighted ten homes that make use of metal in residential kitchens in different ways.

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing relaxing hammocks, white bathrooms and minimalist interiors with natural palettes.
    Photo is by Ioana MarinescuFrame House, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
    British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design renovated this Grade-II listed building in west London, creating a two-storey home that features open-plan living solutions and skeletal partitions.
    Its kitchen, which was positioned behind an intentionally incomplete wall, was clad in stainless steel to provide the home with a cool metallic distinction against the exposed brick walls and plywood carpentry that surround it.
    Find out more about Frame House ›
    Photo is by Ralph FeinerFarmhouse, Switzerland by Baumhauer
    Set within a vaulted room in a traditional barn house in the Swiss hamlet of Florins, architecture studio Baumhauer used clean lines and modern finishes to juxtapose against the home’s farmhouse look.
    An L-shaped kitchen, comprised of two stainless steel counters and rows of cabinetry, was placed beneath the curving ceiling. The metal countertop has a seamless look and features a built-in sink and electric hob, with appliances incorporated within the steel cupboards below.
    Find out more about the farmhouse ›
    Photo is by Nieve, Productora AudiovisualCasa Roc, Spain, by Nook Architects
    Fitted along the edge of an open-plan living and dining room, a glossy metal-lined kitchen adds a modern look to the interior of this Barcelona apartment, which was renovated by Spanish studio Nook Architects.
    The renovation saw the studio maintain the Gothic Quarter apartment’s original mosaic floors and wooden beams while applying shades of grey and white across the walls and ceiling.
    Find out more about Casa Roc ›
    Photo is by Salva LópezBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Isabel López Vilalta
    Several partition walls were removed in architecture and interior design studio Isabel López Vilalta’s overhaul of this penthouse apartment in Barcelona’s Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.
    Afterward, the studio fitted a black iron island that anchored the kitchen, and its appliances, within the now open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
    “Life in the kitchen was very important to the family, they felt more comfortable in a lively, gathering space than in a strictly traditional and functional kitchen,” said Vilalta.
    Find out more about Barcelona apartment ›
    Photo is by Paul WarcholThe Photographer’s Loft, US, by Desai Chia Architecture
    Aptly named The Photographer’s Loft, this minimal loft apartment in New York was renovated by US studio Desai Chia Architecture for a photographer local to the city. It occupies a 5,000-square-foot former industrial space and is complete with cast iron columns that line the interior.
    Within the home’s main living space, the studio fitted a long black steel kitchen island that runs parallel to a stark white row of kitchen cabinetry and also a dining table.
    The island’s dark steel construction ties to the apartment’s existing iron columns, creating the impression that it existed alongside its original industrial features.
    Find out more about The Photographer’s Loft ›
    Photo is by Justin Clemons and Robert TsaiCCR1 Residence, US, by Wernerfield
    With a material palette consisting of concrete, steel, teak and glass, this kitchen has a stainless-steel finish that covers its worktops, appliances and below- and overhead cabinetry.
    The kitchen has a U-shaped design that backs onto its living and dining area, creating a social yet practical space. The home was designed by Dallas studio Wernerfield and occupies a lakefront setting in a rural location 60 miles southeast of Dallas.
    Find out more about CCR1 Residence ›
    Photo is by Claudia Muñoz KarigCasa Ocal, Ecuador, by Jorge Ramón Giacometti Taller de Arquitectura
    Reclaimed metal was used across the kitchen of this home designed by architecture studio Jorge Ramón Giacometti Taller de Arquitectura in northern Ecuador.
    The textural weathered material was used across its cupboards, countertops and splashback and contrasts against the home’s light timber walls. Positioned above the single row of cabinets, and with a sink at its middle, a rectangular window provides views across the hilly surroundings.
    Find out more about Casa Ocal ›

    House in Tokushima, Japan, by FujiwaraMuro Architects
    Fitted in a home in Tokushima, a city on the Japanese island of Shikoku, a metallic kitchen flanks a living and dining room between its split-level living arrangement.
    Designed by Japanese studio FujiwaraMuro Architects, the kitchen comprises an open-plan design, with its countertops and sink looking out to an adjoining breakfast bar that lines the border of the home’s dining room.
    Find out more about House in Tokushima ›
    Photo is by French+TyeEast Dulwich house extension, UK, by Alexander Owen Architecture
    London studio Alexander Owen Architecture added a marble-clad extension to this Victorian mid-terrace in East Dulwich, London, which houses a kitchen fitted with poured concrete floors, shot-blaster pewter brick walls, a timber ceiling and a stainless steel kitchen.
    The L-shaped kitchen stretches the width of the home and extends across the adjoining length of the extensions pewter brick walls. Stainless steel clads the tops of the kitchen’s worksurfaces and the sides of an island placed at the centre of the space.
    Find out more about East Dulwich house extension ›
    Photo is by Anton GorlenkoShakespeare Tower apartment, UK, by Takero Shimazaki Architects
    Metal countertops top wooden cabinetry at this Japanese-style apartment located within London’s Barbican Estate by London-based studio Takero Shimazaki Architects.
    The apartment comprises a primarily wooden interior that is complemented with cooler materials, such as glossy-black subway tiles organised across the floors of the kitchen, steel worksurfaces and appliances that run parallel in the galley-style space. An exposed concrete ceiling provides a finishing touch.
    Find out more about Shakespeare Tower apartment ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing relaxing hammocks, white bathrooms and minimalist interiors with natural palettes.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten interiors with a natural and calming organic modern design

    For our latest lookbook we’ve collected 10 projects that exemplify the organic modern design style, which combines minimalist interiors with natural textures and colours.

    Organic materials, a muted colour palette and details such as rustic accessories and plenty of green plants are among the things that characterise the organic modern trend.
    While the style has a similar look to pared-down minimalist and Japandi interiors, the focus in organic modern interiors is more on bringing earthy colours and natural materials into the home, as seen in the 10 examples below.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing relaxing hammocks, white bathrooms and colourful staircases.
    Photography is by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyMuswell Hill home, UK, by Architecture for London

    This energy-saving home in London’s Muswell Hill has an interior filled with natural materials.
    In the living room, wood was used for the ceiling, storage and furniture, and large plants – including a monstera deliciosa and a banana plant – add a touch of green. A colourful Isamu Noguchi paper lamp is a stylish modernist detail.
    Find out more about Muswell Hill home ›
    Photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm ArchitectsForest Retreat, Sweden, by Norm Architects
    Danish studio Norm Architects created a home fitting for its surroundings with Forest Retreat, a traditional timber cabin set within a pine forest in Sweden.
    In a new-built annex, a raised daybed-cum-window seat sits next to a wall of glazing. The organic modern interior features details such as sturdy linen fabrics and a rugged jute rug, while the colour palette was kept earthy and calming.
    Find out more about Forest Retreat ›
    Photography is by Rasmus HjortshøjVipp Pencil Case, Denmark, by Julie Cloos Mølsgaard
    The interior of the 90-square-metre Vipp Pencil Case hotel in Copenhagen has a pared-down feel to it, but its well-sourced accessories add interest.
    In the eating area, large rustic vases filled with dried branches decorate the windowsills, and a rough-hewn wood vessel sits on the floor. Rounded, organic shapes and woven baskets add a countryside feel to the modern space.
    Find out more about Vipp Pencil Case ›
    Photography is by Do SyBrown Box apartment, Vietnam, by Limdim House Studio
    Curving and arched walls give Brown Box apartment in Vietnam an unusual look. While the architecture is eye-catching, its colour and material palette was kept natural and subtle.
    Cream and brown hues were used for the whole flat, including in the bedroom. Here, furniture in organic materials such as wood and leather add textural interest, and sculptural lighting contrasts against the clean lines in the room.
    Find out more about Brown Box Apartment ›
    Photography is by Caitlin MillsOcean House, Australia, by Rob Mills
    Ocean House’s clean, contemporary concrete design is combined with the warmth of a beach house through its organic modern interior.
    “I don’t see the design as being stark,” architect Rob Mills said. “The interior is organic and tactile, and incorporates neutral fabrics.”
    This can be seen in the living room, where cosy rugs and wooden furniture in pale hues sit next to design classics like Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table.
    Find out more about Ocean House ›
    Photography is by Maarten WillemsteinAmsterdam dyke house, the Netherlands, by Studio Modijefsky
    Dutch firm Studio Modijefsky renovated this dijkhuis – a traditional Dutch dwelling set next to a dyke – to respect the 19th-century style building’s heritage but add modern touches.
    In one of the bedrooms, this has resulted in a modern interior that is heavy on organic materials such as line, jute and leather, with a monstera plant in the window adding a bit of nature.
    Find out more about Amsterdam dyke house ›
    Photography is by Brian Ferry20 Bond Street, US, by Home Studios
    Bespoke furniture and vintage finds were used for the interior of 20 Bond Street in New York, set in a building from 1925. Design firm Home Studios renovated the space to “marry contemporary and vintage influences.”
    To do so it created a peaceful modern organic design, as seen in the bedroom, above, and living room (top image.) Brown, tan and cream colours were used in the whole flat, with a material palette of wood and copper.
    Find out more about 20 Bond Street ›
    Photography is by Martino di Napoli RampollaVilla Medicea di Marignolle, Italy, by Frama
    The dramatic interior of this self-contained residence inside a Renaissance villa was created by Danish design brand Frama for filmmaker Albert Moya.
    With a darker colour palette than that which usually signifies organic modern interiors, it nonetheless showcases its mix of modernist design and natural materials well in this tranquil wood-clad bedroom.
    Find out more about Villa Medicea di Marignolle ›
    Photo is by AriakePorta Venezia apartment, Italy, by Ariake
    For this year’s Milan design week, Japanese brand Ariake created a show flat in the city’s Porta Venezia area.
    Its Cipango exhibition, on view in the space, showed designs by Japanese and European designers with a focus on natural colours. Quirky accessories such as Folkform’s Plissé lamp and dried flowers create a homely atmosphere.
    Find out more about Porta Venezia apartment ›
    Photography is by Prue RuscoeWoorak House, Australia, by CM Studio
    This holiday home in Sydney was designed to optimise the view of its green surroundings and is built as a sequence of pavilions.
    Materials used for the home include pale limestone, brushed oak wood and marble. Its main bedroom has an all-white interior and has been decorated with an orchid in a vase and a pendant lamp to add interest to the monochrome room.
    Find out more about Woorak House ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing timber-clad bathrooms, light-filled glass extensions and exposed wooden floorboards.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten bookshelf staircases that add clever storage to living spaces

    A converted Belgian barn and a pine-lined house in Japan are among the residential interiors featured in our latest lookbook, which contains homes defined by staircases that incorporate bookshelves.

    Bookshelf staircases are a clever way to incorporate storage in, around and alongside stairs, which helps to save space within small dwellings.
    Architects and interior designers also use these two-in-one units to create striking sculptural statements and add distinctive character to a room.
    From a renovated east London home to a petite Barcelona apartment, here are 10 examples of residences that use bookshelf staircases to minimise clutter or add eclectic detail.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with hammocks, white bathrooms and garden studios.

    Photo by Lorenzo ZandriFarleigh Road, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects
    Local studio Paolo Cossu Architects added a double-width oak staircase to this east London home that also serves as a bookshelf and a place to sit and read or chat.
    The renovated house was designed in this way to connect its upper and lower ground floors, which were previously subdivided into two separate properties.
    “We wanted to create a cross-level multi-functional space, that would feel connected and form part of a larger permeable living space,” architect James Kitson told Dezeen.
    Find out more about Farleigh Road ›
    Photo courtesy of Andrea MoscaBookshelf House, France, by Andrea Mosca
    Stepped bookshelves become stair bannisters, room dividers and general storage at this renovated house just outside of Paris by architect Andrea Mosca.
    On the ground floor, statement pouf-like sofas frame the characterful wooden units that were designed to look like stacked boxes rather than flat shelves.
    Find out more about Bookshelf House ›
    Photo by Maria CeballosBarcelona apartment, Spain, by Eva Cotman
    A mezzanine guest room and storage area are accessed via a petite geometric staircase that doubles as a bookshelf in this Barcelona apartment renovated by architect Eva Cotman.
    Every surface was painted white in order to create a blank, airy canvas for the occupants, including the statement staircase as well as exposed brick walls and timber ceiling joists.
    “The heart of the house is around the library, which separates the dining room from the built-in closet and, at the same time, joins the kitchen, dining room and the living room,” explained Cotman.
    Find out more about this Barcelona apartment ›
    Photo is by Tamir AddadiLondon home, UK, by Tamir Addadi Architecture
    London studio Tamir Addadi Architecture converted a loft in the city’s Muswell Hill area to include steep white stairs that also serve as a cage-style bookshelf.
    The structure’s painted wooden panels are interspersed with shelving rails that create individual compartments for books, while the space is illuminated from above by a south-facing skylight.
    Find out more about this London home ›
    Photo is by Koen Van DammeConverted barn, Belgium, by Studio Farris Architects
    A Jenga-like workspace was formed from stacked timber beams in this converted barn in West Flanders, Belgium.
    As well as a mezzanine office, the chunky structure creates a compact but eye-catching staircase that doubles as bookshelves and plinths for ornamental objects.
    “The stacked beams become the library, bookshelves, storage room, and resting and reading area,” said Studio Farris founder Giuseppe Farris.
    Find out more about this converted barn ›
    Photo is by Ema PeterBerkley House, Canada, by RSAAW
    Canadian firm RSAAW connected the levels of Berkley House in Vancouver with a double-height wooden bookcase formed from rows of light timber boxes attached to a large staircase.
    The renovated mid-century house was transformed to include gallery-like details such as white-painted walls, and the studio also added large windows and skylights that brighten the interior space.
    Find out more about Berkley House ›
    Photo is courtesy of SchemaaParis apartment, France, by Schemaa
    Space was maximised in this small Parisian apartment through the placement of an alternating-tread staircase that also includes closed storage for books and other objects.
    French studio Schemaa created cupboards of different heights, concealed by doors measuring the same width as the stair treads, while the light-hued choice of wood gives the interior an airy feel.
    Find out more about this Paris apartment ›
    Photo is by Tom CroninRosa and John’s Home, UK, by Zminkowska De Boise Architects
    Named after its owners, Rosa and John’s Home is a renovated London flat where books can be stored on their sides under a squat staircase that connects the two halves of a split-level living room.
    Zminkowska De Boise Architects inserted nooks on either side of the stairs to form more structured spaces for reading or studying. The stairs themselves serve as an informal space to gather.
    Find out more about Rosa and John’s Home ›
    Photo is courtesy of Kazuya Morita Architecture StudioShelf-Pod, Japan, by Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio
    Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio built interlocking laminated pine boards that slot together to form latticed shelving units from the floor to the ceiling of this home in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
    The boxy units are interrupted only by small staircases that provide staggered routes through the house’s different levels.
    Find out more about Shelf-Pod ›
    Photo is courtesy of Platform 5 ArchitectsBook Tower House, UK, by Platform 5 Architects
    Tall bookshelves fold around the oak staircase at Book Tower House, a north London home renovated and extended by Platform 5 Architects.
    Designed to house its owner’s extensive collection of books, the project includes a study space on the first floor that is reached via the staircase and cantilevers over the hallway below.
    Find out more about Book Tower House ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing pink kitchens, timber-clad bathrooms and multi-generational homes.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Ten interiors with relaxing hammocks in place of furniture

    A 13-square-metre apartment in Poland and a trio of holiday homes built around living trees feature in our latest lookbook of ten interiors with hammocks to relax in and comfortable netted floors.

    A hammock is a sling constructed from fabric, netting or rope and suspended from two or more anchor points. Hammocks are used for sleeping, resting and lounging and are typically placed in gardens or outdoor areas to make use of warmer climates.
    Similarly, netted floors create cosy areas for relaxation and also help to spread light throughout homes by replacing closed-off floors.
    Below, we have selected ten examples of interiors that use hammocks and netted floors in different areas of the home to create relaxing and serene environments.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing colourful staircases, light-filled glass extensions and living rooms with stone.

    Photo is by David CerveraEl Palmar, Mexico, by David Cervera
    This holiday home on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula was designed by local architect David Cervera. Located within a grove of palm trees, the 90-square-metre structure houses a bedroom, bathroom, living area and kitchen.
    Cervera clad the exterior and lined the interior of the home in a local material called chukum – a waterproof coating sourced from tree sap. Hammocks were suspended between openings in the home.
    Find out more about El Palmar ›
    Photo is by David MaštálkaHouse on the Marsh, Czech Republic, by A1 Architects
    Timber clads the walls, floors and ceilings of this home in the Czech Republic, which was created by A1 Architects. The studio incorporated glass and wooden balconies throughout the home, which overlook different levels of the interior and allow light to filter between floors.
    A hammock was placed in a gabled dormer that was fitted with a window that fills the entire frontage of the volume, providing views across the mountainous woodland.
    Find out more about House on the Marsh ›

    Hammock House, US, by Samsel Architects
    Expanses of glazing surround and form walls across the interior of this L-shaped farmhouse built by American firm Samsel Architects for a couple and their in-laws.
    The North Carolina home took cues from its local agricultural-building surroundings, incorporating a mono-pitched roof that the studio designed as a modern interpretation of utilitarian farm structures.
    Floor-to-ceiling glazing in the living areas offers views across the farmland, which can be enjoyed from a woven fabric hammock that is tied to the frames of doors and windows.
    Find out more about Hammock House ›

    13-square-metre apartment, Poland, by Szymon Hanczar
    Polish designer Szymon Hanczar crammed an entire city apartment within a 13-square-metre residence, using smart storage solutions as well as stacking and arranging various facilities and functions on top of each other in order to conserve space.
    A double bed was placed on top of a built-in mezzanine level that also holds a white-tiled bathroom and a small kitchen. At the rear of the micro-apartment, a netted hammock was anchored across the width of the home via two metal hooks.
    Find out more about the 13-square-metre apartment ›
    Photo is by Makoto YoshidaHouse in Ofuna, Japan, by Level Architects
    Located in Kamakura, a city in Japan, House in Ofuna is a geometric-shaped three-storey family home that was designed by Japanese studio Level Architects.
    The home features a simplistic interior scheme with white painted walls and wooden floors. The studio incorporated children’s play areas throughout the home and installed metal hooks across the ceilings and walls to attach swings and hammocks.
    Find out more about House in Ofuna ›
    Photo is by Sandra PereznietoTepoztlan Lounge, Mexico, by Cadaval & Sola-Morales
    Curving concrete walls flank a series of three guest houses in the Mexican town of Tepoztlan by architects Cadaval & Sola-Morales. The three homes are set on the edge of a mountain and have concaving forms that follow the profile of two patios and an egg-shaped pool that they surround.
    The lounge area has an open-air design that sees trees growing through openings in the concrete structure. In place of sofas and lounge chairs, a collection of large hammocks fill the living space.
    Find out more about Tepoztlan Lounge ›
    Photo is by Masato Kawano/Nacasa & PartnersEnzo Office Gallery, Japan, by Ogawa Sekkei
    Japanese architect Ogawa Sekkei refurbished this two-storey rental property, located on the outskirts of the city of Gifu, to create a ground-floor showroom that comprises a courtyard, a studio and a lounge space.
    Sekkei stripped away the home’s stud walls and added a glass screen at the rear of the space. The architect also added sliding wooden doors to the studio, which conceal a lounge area containing a hammock that has been hung below a window.
    Find out more about Enzo Office Gallery ›
    Photo is by Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn BotermanSkinnyScar, the Netherlands, by Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman
    Dutch architect couple Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman designed their three-storey home in Rotterdam on a narrow site just 3.4 metres wide.
    Rooms stretch the width of the home and are flooded with light as a result of full-width and full-height windows that punctuate the facade and rear wall of the structure. Besides a large window in the living area, a relaxing netted floor was installed within a void.
    Find out more about SkinnyScar ›
    Photo is by Rafael GamoCasa La Quinta, Mexico, by Pérez Palacios and Alfonso de la Concha Rojas
    When architects Pérez Palacios and Alfonso de la Concha Rojas designed this Mexico getaway for a retired couple, they covered the walls in a cream-hued paste named Corev to mimic the effect of artisanal stucco.
    The home was arranged around three courtyards, the largest and most central of which is host to a pool and hammock. Large windows and sliding doors face out to the courtyards, creating a sense of indoor-outdoor living.
    Find out more about Casa La Quinta ›
    Photo is by FRAM FotografíaCasa Bosque Sereno, Mexico, by Fábrica de Espacios
    Mexican firm Fábrica de Espacios built Casa Bosque Sereno in the Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Natural woods, terrazzo, handcrafted mosaics and concrete were used throughout the interior, which has an open-plan living arrangement.
    Large glazed doors let in the light, while a netted floor above the living area connects the ground floor level with a suspended movie area above.
    Find out more about Casa Bosque Sereno ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing timber-clad bathrooms, light-filled glass extensions and exposed wooden floorboards.

    Read more: More