Residential

Subterms

    More stories

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Rooms

      Julia van Beuningen adds spiral stair in Dutch barn conversion

      by

      A spiral staircase made from plywood is the showpiece of this thatched barn in Gelderland, the Netherlands, which architectural designer Julia van Beuningen has converted into a residence.

      Van Beuningen has overseen a complete transformation of the late 19th-century building, named Barn at the Ahof, turning it into a rental home with four bedrooms and a large open-plan living space.
      The plywood staircase was produced by manufacturer EeStairsThe plywood staircase, produced by manufacturer EeStairs, sits at the heart of the floor plan. With its precise curved geometry and slender components, it offers a playful contrast with the barn’s rustic wooden columns and beams.
      “We thought, if we’re going to do something, we have to do it properly,” Van Beuningen told Dezeen.
      The staircase leads up to a new first floor within the converted barn”This is very different and very unusual in a barn like this,” Van Beuningen added. “It’s something you either love or hate, but it’s definitely a statement.”

      Barn at the Ahof is one of several buildings on an ancient farming estate named Landgoed Appel that Van Beuningen inherited from her family.
      She is planning to overhaul the entire site through a mix of rebuilds and refurbishments and create a series of low-energy houses that can be used for either long-term or holiday rentals.
      An open-plan living space occupies the ground floorAs the barn had been previously renovated approximately 10 years ago, it didn’t require as much work as some of the other properties on the estate.
      Van Beuningen is not a qualified architect – she is primarily a cellist and works in architecture part-time – so she enlisted local studio Flip Wentink Architecten to oversee the planning stages.
      However, she decided to manage the detailed-design phase herself, adding in extra details like the spiral staircase and some built-in joinery elements.
      The first floor provides two bedrooms and bathroomsOn the ground floor, the staircase creates a divide between a dining area and a lounge with a wood-burning stove. A minimal steel kitchen island runs along the side of this space.
      Also on this storey is an accessible bedroom and bathroom suite.
      The newly added first floor, which is much smaller in size, accommodates two additional bedrooms and bathrooms.
      Bespoke joinery provides in-built storageVan Beuningen tried to use simple natural materials wherever possible.
      As well as the plywood staircase and joinery, the renovated barn features walls of flax and lime plaster.

      Alibi Studio cuts slice through disused barn to frame sky views

      “It’s quite a proud building,” said the designer, “and it’s quite strong and industrial.”
      “I wanted to respect this industrial nature, which is not easy when adding in a new floor that is quite a heavy element. So I thought we should be quite humble in terms of materials.”
      Glazing skirts the edge of the first-floor bedroomsClever glazing details help to elevate the design.
      Highlights include large glass doors that can be concealed behind stable-style shutters, tall and slender skylights, and a narrow strip of glazing that skirts the edge of the first floor.
      A third bedroom is located on the ground floorExternally, the building has a more traditional appearance thanks to its thatched roof and red brick walls.
      Barn at the Ahof is the second completed building at the Landgoed Appel estate, following the refurbishment of the former bakehouse. Still to come is the overhauled farmhouse, revamped sheep shed and a new-build barn.
      Large glass doors are fronted by stable-style shuttersEnvironmental sustainability is a key concern for Van Beuningen, so all of the buildings are being designed to incorporate solar panels and ground-source heat pumps.
      Some sections of the estate have been rewilded, while ancient wetlands have been reinstated.
      Skylights puncture the traditional thatch roofVan Beuningen hopes the project can pave the way for more sustainable tourism in Dutch rural communities. At a time when the government is restricting the farming industry, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, she hopes to show farmers can explore other revenue streams.
      “It’s really a long-term project in that sense,” she added.
      Other recent barn conversions featured on Dezeen include the stone Woodthorpe Stables in Surrey by Delve Architects and North River Architecture’s extension of an 18th-century farm building in New York.
      The photography is by Alex Baxter.
      Project credits
      Client: Landgoed AppelArchitect: Flip Wentink ArchitectenInterior architect: Julia van BeuningenStructural engineer: Peter Rommers/Luuk van Doeveren ArchitektuurM&E consultant: Peter RommersQuantity surveyor: Peter RommersLighting consultant: Julia van BeuningenStaircase engineering/fabrication: EeStairs

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares189 Views

      in Rooms

      No Architecture inserts “garden folly” into New York duplex apartment

      by

      Wooden structures supporting net hammocks rise up through the two-storey interior of this apartment in New York’s West Village, designed by No Architecture.

      The Urban Tree House residence comprises two units in a skyscraper overlooking the Hudson River called 165 Charles Street, designed by Richard Meier & Partners and completed in 2005.
      A spiral staircase connects the pair of timber towers added into the double-height living space”We combined two units by first, redrawing all rooms into a cohesive ‘matrix plan’ and second, inserting a ‘garden folly’ that relates the interior to the adjacent Hudson River Greenway,” said New York-based No Architecture.
      Spanning 3,512 square feet (326 square metres), the apartment’s new double-height living space is surrounded by 22-foot-tall (6.7-metre) glass walls on three sides.
      Net hammocks are suspended above seating areasTo reduce the scale of this volume without blocking the light from entering, the architects added two “tree houses” constructed from vertical, horizontal and diagonal timber beams.

      One of the structures aligns with the home’s floor plan, while the other is rotated to face the park and the river beyond.
      One structure is aligned with the floor plan and the other is angled to face the park and river beyondBoth incorporate elevated hammocks made from black netting stretched between the beams, which are accessed via a spiral staircase between the two towers.
      “Like inhabitable diagrams, these installations can be read as two fragments of a 3D gridded matrix – the timber framework expressing x-, y- and z-lines of interconnecting spatial relations,” said No Architecture.
      Rooms are made flexible thanks to operable walls, like a bookshelf that rotates 360 degreesUnder and around these structures, tall plants add to the tree house aesthetic, and furniture is coloured in grey and neutral shades to match the exposed concrete columns and ceilings.
      This palette continues throughout the apartment, which includes four bathrooms and four bedrooms that the architects refer to as “chambers” due to their multi-functional capabilities.

      No Architecture arranges Flower House in the Berkshires around hexagonal courtyard

      The flexibility is made possible by a series of operable walls that can be shifted to control levels of privacy or connectivity.
      For example, giant moveable bookshelves divide the open living space and adjacent chambers. One slides sideways on tracks, while the other rotates 360 degrees.
      Douglas fir panelling is used throughout the apartmentThe same concept is applied to several of the doors, which are detailed to match the full-height Douglas fir panelling found in many of the rooms.
      “Across these multiple iterations, the architectural question of the ‘wall’ no longer functions primarily as separation, but also –through the added quality of motion – as connection,” No Architecture said.
      A neutral and grey palette complements the exposed concrete structureThe studio was founded by Andrew Heid in 2014, and has completed projects across the US – from a family nature retreat in rural Massachusetts to a house designed around a glazed garden in Oregon’s wine country.
      The Urban Tree House is one of many homes that incorporates net hammocks as playful furniture to occupy spare space – see six examples here.
      The photography is courtesy of No Architecture.
      Project credits:
      Team: Andrew Heid, Chengliang Li, Chuhan Zhou, Feng Zhao, Kun Qian, Nadya Mikhaylovskaya, Theo Dimitrasopoulos, Trendelina Salihu, Wanpeng Zu, Xiangxiang Wang, Zhe Cao, Ziwei DengCollaborators: GMS, Gallon Engineering, Blueberry Construction

      Read more: More

    • 113 Shares99 Views

      in Rooms

      Ten lounge areas with fireplaces suspended from the ceiling

      by

      Suspended fireplaces that are used as the centrepiece of contemporary but cosy living rooms are the focus of this lookbook, which includes a mix of rural residences and urban dwellings.

      Also described as hanging or floating, suspended fireplaces are stoves and log burners that are mounted on ceilings and unsupported from beneath.
      They are a popular choice with architects and interior designers in lounge areas, as they can add warmth to a space and transform unused ceiling space into an opportunity for a focal point.
      As demonstrated by this roundup, they come in different shapes but are most popular with a bold black finish that is suited to a variety of homes.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cottage interiors, converted warehouses and Bauhaus-informed interiors.

      Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA EstúdioHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
      Brazilian designer Melina Romano suspended a statement black fireplace within the lounge of this São Paulo apartment, which she designed with a “rustic charm”.
      The structure stands proudly against its tactile surroundings, which include tan brick walls and a decorative cobogó screen, as well as a sculptural wooden chair, woven rug and sofa.
      Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
      Photo is by Marià CastellóCa l’Amo, Spain, by Marià Castelló
      At the heart of the living room of Ca l’Amo on the Spanish island of Ibiza is a pivoting log burner, around which fold-out wood and leather chairs are arranged.
      The sculptural finish of the black fireplace juxtaposes the home’s lightweight and geometric structure, which is crafted from cross-laminated timber left exposed inside.
      Find out more about Ca l’Amo ›
      Photo is by Richard John SeymourVaratojo House, Portugal, by Atelier Data
      The sleek interior of the Varatojo House in Lisbon forms an ideal backdrop to this floating stove, which Atelier Data has incorporated into the open-plan living and kitchen area.
      While acting as a centrepiece around which to gather, its design and placement ensure it does not detract from the views of the valley framed through the surrounding windows.
      Find out more about Varatojo House ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerMarramarra Shack, Australia, by Leopold Banchini Architects
      An inconspicuous shack-like dwelling overlooking a creek in New South Wales unexpectedly opens into a lofty, wood-lined interior with a tall floating fireplace.
      Surrounded by tiered seating, the metal flue acts as the centrepiece for the living area and is complemented by an industrial-looking, north-facing window that is opened with hoists and weights.
      Find out more about Marramarra Shack ›
      Photo is by Jomar BragançaValley House II, Brazil, by David Guerra
      Architect David Guerra used a suspended fireplace to subtly demarcate the sitting and dining areas in the open-plan living room of Valley House II in southeast Brazil.
      The verticality of the fireplace emulates the structural columns dotted throughout the room, as well as those on the adjoining veranda that is accessed by sliding glass doors.
      Find out more about Valley House II ›
      Photo is by Peter BennettsTowers Road House, Australia, by Wood Marsh
      This fireplace is an ideal accompaniment to the snug conversation pit at the Towers Road House, which Australian studio Wood Marsh created in Melbourne’s Toorak suburb.
      Its conical flue overhangs a circular, chunky firepit, which is complemented by the curved forms of the retro setup that also includes a concrete plinth, polychromatic carpet and sofas.
      Find out more about Towers Road House ›
      Photo is by Nacasa & Partners IncShell, Japan, by ARTechnic
      Within this holiday home in Karuizawa, ARTechnic has hidden a cosy, winding seating area that centres around a floating fireplace.
      The curves of both the room and the sculptural log burner complement the form of the house, aptly named Shell and composed of two tubes with oval sections crafted from concrete.
      Find out more about Shell ›
      Photo is by Tiago CasanovaCork House, Portugal, by Inês Brandão Arquitectura
      Inês Brandão Arquitectura arranged the open-plan living, dining and kitchen space of the Cork House in Portugal around a suspended fireplace.
      The burner’s black finish is echoed by furnishings including a sculptural Maisons du Monde table and a dark grey sofa, but stand out against the white walls and sliding doors that surround it.
      Find out more about Cork House ›
      Photo is by Tiia EttalaVilla K, Finland, by Mer Architects and Ettala Palomeras Architects
      This log burner hangs between the living room and dining room of this Finnish house, which perches on bedrock in a forest near Helsinki.
      It helps bring warmth and a sense of cosiness to the dwelling while also tying in with its minimalist aesthetic of exposed pre-cast concrete elements and monochrome furnishings.
      Find out more about Villa K ›
      Photo is by Marc GoodwinGeilo Cabin, Norway, by Lund Hagem
      In the lounge of a blackened-timber holiday cabin in Norway, local studio Lund Hagem hung a fireplace from its sloped ceiling to create a striking focal point.
      Its bold black colouring tones with black concrete floors and dark oak panelling all work in tandem to provide the occupants with an intimate, sheltered feel.
      Find out more about Geilo Cabin ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cottage interiors, converted warehouses and Bauhaus-informed interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Rooms

      Bosco Sodi unveils remodelled Tokyo residence as family home and Casa Wabi extension

      by

      Studio Wasabi Architecture and Satoshi Kawakami Architects have created a home and artist residency in Tokyo for Mexican artist Bosco Sodi, founder of the arts foundation Casa Wabi in Mexico.

      Occupying a corner plot in the Sendagi district of Tokyo, Casa Nano 2.0 is a renovation of a postwar house constructed in the late 1950s.
      Casa Wabi founder Bosco Sodi has unveiled a home and artist residency in Tokyo”The house has a very simple facade system to protect the windows, a system called amado, where you can slide some metal windows and close them when there is a typhoon,” said Studio Wasabi co-founder Rafael Balboa.
      The 68-square-metre home has a simple facade with a gabled roof and ridges that jut out to create small awnings.

      The home renovated a post-world war two home in Tokyo”For the exterior, we only applied one material – which is called Excell Joint – so it looks similar to the original house in order to make it more natural and coherent with the neighbourhood,” said Balboa.
      Studio Wasabi worked with Satoshi Kawakami Architects to completely revamp the interiors for use as an extension of the Casa Wabi artist residency in Puerto Escondido, Mexico or as a home for founder Bosco Sodi and his wife interior designer Lucia Corredor.
      The home’s original cedar beams were maintained in the redesignAfter sponsoring 13 Mexican artists in the original Casa Nano at another location, Sodi needed more space and decided to move the residency into a larger space – Casa Nano 2.0.
      The architecture studios worked with Sodi and Corredor to open up the space, creating an open-concept kitchen, adding furniture and moving the original staircase.
      In order to open up floorplan, the architecture studio included a floating staircaseThe first floor of the two-storey, cedar-framed structure is concrete, and the second storey’s floor is made of cedar.
      The designers and construction company Washin Architects kept all of the old cedar beams and columns, as well as the windows from the original house to preserve the essence of the original building.
      The original windows were maintained”For us, it was also very important to be able to have blackout windows so we kept the original pocket metal windows of the facade of the old house to be able to close the windows completely,” explained Corredor.
      The team had to move the original staircase to open up the ground floor, so a floating steel staircase was placed against the wall at the middle of the structure, suspended from the existing beams.
      There are three living spaces on the second floor”This house, besides being part of the art residence of Casa Wabi, was designed to fit our family needs,” said Corredor.
      Storage space was another important factor in the design process, so the architecture studios created a shelf unit that hangs from the existing beams that stretch around the entire house.
      A shelving system surrounds the homeOn the second floor, three separate spaces were included to accommodate a family of five. The primary bedroom has a simple layout and connects to a small terrace.
      A central living area has a bench with a small reading nook and the seating area was furnished with a vintage French sofa from the 1950s and an old wood table from a local flea market.
      The spaces are divded by sliding panel doorsThe bunk bedroom at the end of the second floor was built for the kids or as another area spot an artist in residence and has access via a ladder to a small outdoor terrace.
      The three spaces are divided by Japanese paper sliding doors with overlaying glass thick enough to maintain privacy and let the light flow into the space.

      Read: Five Casa Wabi pavilions include Álvaro Siza ceramics studio and Kengo Kuma chicken coop

      Five Casa Wabi pavilions include Álvaro Siza ceramics studio and Kengo Kuma chicken coop

      The doors and built-in furniture as well as the ceiling of the second floor were made using Lauan wood.
      Corredor used furniture from the previous residence and items that were locally sourced to furnish the home.
      “We brought all the furniture we already had in the former Casa Nano,” she said.
      “Like our old wood table that we found in the flea market in UENO and our beloved Noguchi lamp to give warmth and light to the space.”
      The home’s exterior blends into the style of the neighbourhoodCasa Nano 2.0 will continue with its residency program, inviting four Mexican artists every year, each for a period of one month.
      “Japan has been life-changing for the artists that have been already,” Sodi said.
      “As it was for me when I was invited to an art residence in Tokyo almost 20 years ago.”
      Casa Wabi’s headquarters in Puerto Escondido was designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando and features yearly pavilions by international architects including a red brick chimney by Mexico City-based architect Alberto Kalach and a ceramics workshop by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza.
      The photography is by Nao Takahashi. 

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares149 Views

      in Rooms

      Ten cottage interiors that offer a place for peaceful reflection

      by

      A renovated dwelling in rural China and a converted stable in Ibiza feature in our latest lookbook, which collects 10 cottage interiors that promise rest and relaxation.

      Cottages are small dwellings that are traditionally characterised by a sense of comfort and cosiness. However, interior designers are increasingly pushing the boundaries of how to dress the insides of these homes, as seen in these innovative examples.
      As the weather cools down in the northern hemisphere, here are 10 calming interior spaces in cottages by architects and interior designers from across the globe.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring neutral living rooms, homes in converted warehouses and Bauhaus-informed interiors.
      Photo is by courtesy of Sun Min and Christian TaeubertHai Zhen cottage, China, by Sun Min and Christian Taeubert

      Located in Hai Zhen, a village just outside of Beijing, this previously neglected cottage was renovated by fashion designer Sun Min and architect Christian Taeubert.
      A large, open-plan lounge area displays a mixture of rustic features such as the original roof and timber beams, which are presented alongside more contemporary elements including stainless steel and spindly, wireframe lighting.
      Find out more about this Hai Zhen cottage ›
      Photo is by Timothy KayeBarwon Heads House, Australia, by Adam Kane Architects
      Barwon Heads House is a renovated cottage by Melbourne-based studio Adam Kane Architects with a barn-style extension defined by an open-plan living area.
      Shortlisted for the 2022 house interior of the year Dezeen Award, the cottage interior features a monochrome interior palette and statement geometric furniture, such as a pair of Kangaroo Lounge Chairs by designer Pierre Jeanneret.
      Find out more about Barwon Heads House ›
      Photo is by Jim StephensonEnglish cottage, UK, by Invisible Studio
      Architecture practice Invisible Studio added a double-pitched extension to this cottage that is located on the borders of Hampshire and Surrey in England.
      Exposed concrete accents contrast with rectilinear sliding glass doors in the living space, which cantilevers over the sliding patio doors below with the support of a concrete chimney.
      “All the materials are fair-faced so had to be perfectly made,” explained studio founder Piers Taylor. “Nothing is covered up and everything exposed.”
      Find out more about this English cottage ›
      Photo is by Youri ClaesensCasa Campo, Ibiza, by Standard Studio
      Casa Campo is a cottage in Ibiza that Standard Studio converted from a 200-year-old stable to an off-grid showroom and home for the owners of an interior design shop.
      Original beams crafted from Ibiza’s native Sabina pine trees are paired with contemporary low-slung furniture in the double-height living space that is illuminated by bright white walls.
      Find out more about Casa Campo ›
      Photo is by Jim StephensonMade of Sand, UK, by Studio Weave
      Architecture office Studio Weave designed a wooden extension to a stone cottage in Devon’s Blackdown Hills in the English countryside, which was created as a creative workspace for its owners and visiting artists.
      Called Made of Sand, the extension’s interior is defined by built-in timber window seats and wall storage that is framed by large glass windows.
      “The contrast between materials, old and new, in and out, are foregrounded to create a distinct sense of rest and relaxation in the new spaces,” said studio director Je Ahn.
      Find out more about Made of Sand ›
      Photo is by Ronan MézièreLa Brèche, Canada, by Naturehumaine
      Two volumes connected by a walkway make up La Brèche, a ski cottage in Quebec by Montreal studio Naturehumaine that features facades informed by the area’s vernacular architecture.
      Floor-to-ceiling corner windows illuminate the living space, which is characterised by a polished concrete floor and minimal accents of colour and texture.
      Find out more about La Brèche ›
      Photo is by Joel EspositoMuskoka Cottage, Canada, by Studio Paolo Ferrari
      Named after its location in Canada’s Muskoka region, this cottage interior features exposed finishes informed by the surrounding natural forests and the area’s geological details.
      These include sandy-hued, Douglas fir exposed ceilings and large slabs of granite that make up various statement islands throughout the home, as well as a large fireplace in the living space.
      “The granite is coarse-grained and hard,” noted Studio Paolo Ferrari. “It references the minerality of the site and imbues the interiors with a sense of ruggedness.”
      Find out more about Muskoka Cottage ›
      Photo is by Paul Crosby PhotographyThe Marlboro Music Cottages, USA, by HGA Architects and Engineers
      The Marlboro Music Cottages are a series of cabin-style dwellings by HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) for musicians staying in New England over the summer during the Marlboro Music School and Festival, an annual event.
      HGA took cues from the single-storey boxy dwellings with gabled roofs that populate Cape Cod for the cottages’ architecture. Cedar plank cladding and pitched roofs were used to embrace the homes’ natural setting.
      Inside, the cottage interior features exposed timber ceilings, pine-sheathed walls and slate flooring, adding to this pared-back approach.
      Find out more about The Marlboro Music Cottages ›
      Photo is by Michael MoranHamptons cottage, USA, by Birdseye Design
      A double-height living space offers views of the surrounding Hamptons at this cottage by architecture studio Birdseye Design, which is wrapped in thin wooden slats that nod to local traditional buildings.
      Eclectic geometric furniture makes up dining and living areas that anchor the west side of the property and open out onto an outdoor dining space.
      “Operable glass walls open to a large stone terrace off the living room and the kitchen opens to a wood-slatted, pergola-covered porch,” said Birdseye.
      Find out more about this Hamptons cottage ›
      Photo is by Trevor MeinCaptain Kelly’s Cottage, Tasmania, John Wardle Architects
      Australian studio John Wardle Architects has repaired this weatherboard cottage in Tasmania, which originally belonged to its architect, harbourmaster Captain Kelly, in the 1840s.
      Furniture created from materials left over at the end of the project’s renovation feature in its updated design, while a focus on wooden interiors maintains a sense of the dwelling’s history.
      “Over 175 years there had been many unsympathetic alterations to the small cottage,” said the studio. “Part of our work involved the removal of these non-original works, to respectfully return the cottage to its original form.”
      Find out more about Captain Kelly’s Cottage ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring neutral living rooms, homes in converted warehouses and Bauhaus-informed interiors.

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares119 Views

      in Rooms

      DDG and IMG outfit penthouse in art deco-influenced Manhattan skyscraper

      by

      Arched openings frame views of New York City from this duplex penthouse apartment in a Carnegie Hill residential tower, designed and developed by American real estate company DDG.

      The penthouse sits atop the newly constructed 180 East 88th Street, an art deco-influenced building that tallest residence north of 72nd Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
      The arched opening that crowns 180 East 88th Street frame views from the interiorSpilt over two storeys, its 5,508 square feet (512 square metres) of interiors were designed by the tower’s architects and developers DDG and staged by New York firm IMG.
      The residence also enjoys an additional 3,500 square feet (325 square metres) of exterior spaces across multiple levels — including a private rooftop terrace overlooking Central Park.
      A sculptural staircase connects the two storeys and the roof terrace of the penthouseHuge arches in the grey-brick facades that wrap the building’s crown are visible from the inside, thanks to large expanses of glazing that enclose the apartment on both floors.

      There are views across the city in all directions, the most dramatic of which is of the Midtown skyline to the south.
      The kitchen features a golden cooker hood that echoes the building’s pinnacleThere are two living spaces, a large dining area and a separate eat-in kitchen, five bedrooms and a den, and four full and two half bathrooms.
      The two internal levels and the roof terrace are connected by a curvaceous staircase that rises through centre of the penthouse.

      Grey brickwork to clad Upper East Side residential tower by DDG

      Spaces are neutrally decorated, with sculptural light fixtures and expressive artworks adding visual interest.
      In the kitchen, a golden cooker hood echoes the colour and shape of an architectural feature on the building’s pinnacle.
      Expansive terraces enjoy unobstructed views across ManhattanCompleted earlier this year, 180 East 88th Street includes 46 half- and full-floor residences, along with amenities such as a partial indoor basketball court and soccer pitch, a game room, a residents’ lounge, a private fitness and yoga studio, and a children’s playroom with a slide.
      The building’s exterior design was influenced by “the boom in high-rise masonry construction in New York in the early 20th century”, and is one of many recent skyscrapers in the city that have ditched glass in favour of more solid-looking materials.
      Full-height glass walls allow the vistas to be enjoyed from the majority of rooms”Paying homage to the lost art of traditional craftsmanship, the intricate exterior features a striking hand-laid brick facade made of 600,000 handmade bricks by Denmark’s master brickworks Petersen Tegl,” said a statement from DDG.
      Manhattan has no shortage of luxury penthouses, with some of the most notable including a residence at the top of Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue and the premium unit at Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street development.
      The photography is by Sean Hemmerle.

      Read more: More

    • 163 Shares199 Views

      in Rooms

      Td-Atelier and Endo Shorijo Design transform interior of traditional machiya house in Kyoto

      by

      Japanese design studios Td-Atelier and Endo Shorijo Design have renovated a century-old machiya townhouse in Kyoto with minimal interiors that intend to honour the home’s existing architecture.

      Called House in Marutamachi, the Japanese house was built over 120 years ago and is arranged across two floors on a long and narrow site.
      House in Marutamachi is a traditional machiya house in KyotoTucked between two other residential properties, the house is an example of the wooden machiya townhouses that were once common in Japan’s historical capital Kyoto but are now at risk of going extinct.
      “Traditional Kyoto townhouses are being destroyed at a pace of 800 houses a year,” Td-Atelier explained.
      “Old buildings don’t match modern life. However, we want to stop the decline of Kyoto townhouses by fusing tradition, design and new life.”

      The kitchen is encased in a white volumeTd-Atelier and Endo Shorijo Design dressed House in Marutamachi’s interior with new components including sleek tiles and geometric furniture alongside materials reused from the original house, as seen in the traditional team room.
      The studios retained the building’s wooden columns and beams but added white volumes to house rooms including the kitchen and study to avoid disturbing the existing architecture with harsh structural materials.
      The tea room was constructed using materials reused from the original buildingThese variously sized cubes were designed to mimic the contrasting heights of buildings in a cityscape.
      “The gaps and omissions created between the volume group and the existing columns, beams, walls and floors create continuity in the space,” Td-Atelier said.

      Naoto Fukasawa inserts Issey Miyake store into 132-year-old Kyoto townhouse

      Throughout the house, Td-Atelier and Endo Shorijo Design adopted a minimal material and colour palette including a combination of light and dark woods alongside smooth concrete.
      A thin, sculptural light is suspended above the timber breakfast bar on the second floor, where occupants can sit on clusters of subtle-coloured stools.
      Original features were maintained in the gardenOutside, a plant-filled garden features elements from the building’s original architecture such as sandy-hued lanterns and a chōzubachi – a traditional stone water bowl historically used for washing hands before a tea ceremony.
      House in Marutamachi was shortlisted for house interior of the year at the 2022 Dezeen Awards.
      Dezeen recently announced the winners of this year’s interiors categories, who are now competing to win the overall interiors project of the year award.
      The photography is by Matsumura Kohei.

      Read more: More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Rooms

      Brave New Eco applies cosy colours and materials to Melbourne “forever home”

      by

      Timber, terracotta and rich jewel tones feature throughout this home in Melbourne that Australian studio Brave New Eco has designed for a family of five.

      Occupied by a couple and their three teenage children, West Bend House sits on a leafy plot overlooking the greenery-lined banks of Melbourne’s Merri Creek.
      The building itself was designed by local studio MRTN Architects but Brave New Eco was brought on board to do the interiors for the “forever home”, having already worked with the studio twice before on other projects.
      West Bend House is a Melbourne residence by Brave New Eco”The owners of the house were well known to us,” Brave New Eco explained.
      “They had been clients in the early days of the studio, so the mutual trust and respect levels were high, allowing us to create a highly responsive and intimately resolved outcome that the dynamic family will inhabit for many years to come,” the studio added.

      “Our challenge was to configure the interior elements so that each space feels settled and cohesive, with a sense of discovery to the distinct spaces as you move through the home.”
      A khaki-green sofa contrasts the blue carpet in the living roomCustom wooden cabinetry was installed in the home’s galley kitchen and kept handleless so that it “reads like a piece of furniture”, according to Brave New Eco.
      A wooden screen was also added behind the sink area to keep the washing-up out of view.
      Custom timber shelving was created for the studySlender green tiles that pick up on the home’s verdant surroundings line the island counter, as well as a strip of wall behind the stove.
      Above, a handy timber shelf for storing cooking paraphernalia is fronted with sliding brass-mesh screens.
      To the side of the kitchen lies an expansive picture window, beneath which the studio built a “bedroom repatriation drawer” where family members can store any belongings that stray from their sleeping quarters.
      The principal bedroom was rendered calming shades of greyThe colour green pops up again in the home’s laundry room, where the cupboards are coated with emerald-coloured Marmoleum.
      An L-shaped khaki-green sofa dominates one corner of the living room, contrasting with the plush teal carpet.

      Woods + Dangaran organises Twentieth house around olive tree

      At the centre of the home’s ground floor is a sunken courtyard with a study housed on the other side. This was finished with full-height timber bookshelves, a lengthy desk and a pinboard panel where the owners can tack up anything from reminders to artwork by the kids.
      The floor, like much of the rest of the home, was inlaid with red bricks.
      Sapphire-coloured tiles clad the main bedroom’s ensuiteSoothing grey shades were applied in the principal bedroom upstairs, which adjoins a moody ensuite bathroom almost entirely clad in sapphire-blue tiles.
      Two types of terracotta tile – one plain, one grooved – were used to create textured walls in the bathroom shared by the owners’ daughters.
      Terracotta tiling creates textural interest in the daughters’ bathroomWest Bend House is one of five projects shortlisted in the house interior category of this year’s Dezeen Awards.
      It will go up against residences such as Twentieth by Wood + Dangaran, which is arranged around a decades-old olive tree, and Barwon Heads House by Adam Kane Architects, which adjoins a barn-like extension.
      The photography is by Peter Bennetts.

      Read more: More