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      Light and Air updates Financial District apartment with open floor plan

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      Brooklyn studio Light and Air has renovated a loft in New York City’s financial district by removing partitions to create an open, inviting space.

      Occupying the 12th storey of a converted commercial building in one of Manhattan’s historic neighbourhoods, the apartment has generous windows and floor area, but previously made poor use of these qualities and felt cramped.
      The apartment occupies the 12th storey of a Manhattan building”The existing conditions stifled the unit’s access to light and air,” said the design team. The owners tapped Shane Neufeld, of  Brooklyn-based Light and Air Studio, to rethink the space.
      “The space featured a low-hanging storage loft that hovered over the entry and a sprawling closet that loudly commanded the center of the space, disrupting any potential for meaningful visual connections,” said Neufeld.
      It was updated to have an open floor plan”Our goal was to maintain the functionality of the storage loft while creating a more generous entry and rethinking the programming and materiality of the apartment in its entirety,” the designer added.

      The team removed many of the apartment’s internal walls and reduced the footprint of the overhead storage loft to allow taller ceilings. Within the reconfigured welcome area, custom closets, shelving, and a sculptural wooden bench provide plenty of storage, some behind a slatted wooden wall.
      A minimal material palette was used throughoutLight and Air also updated the flooring in this area, marking the transition between the concrete of the building’s corridors and the apartment’s hardwood. The polished concrete is also found in the kitchen and bathroom.
      Within the 1,200 square-foot (111-square-metre) apartment, Light and Air partitioned the space using open shelving, allowing some perspectives to stay open between the living room and bedroom.
      Custom desks were built into the space”Our strategy took the shape of an open floor plan with minimal partitions and reducing the existing material complexity through a more straightforward approach,” said Neufeld.
      The living and dining room is positioned in the corner of the unit and has windows facing in two different directions.
      “Two exterior walls with multiple southeast and southwest exposures allow for significant natural light and impressive views of lower Manhattan,” said Neufeld.

      Schissel Montgomery Architects renovates Brooklyn flat for art gallerist

      These spaces were connected to the kitchen, which remained in the same location, but was updated with matching cabinetry, new appliances, and an additional sink that provides more functionality.
      Throughout the apartment, the designers employed a minimal palette. The walls have no base moulding, there is flush cabinetry, and custom, built-in desks.
      Wood takes centre stage in the project”As one moves in and around the different elements (some floating effortlessly off the ground), its functional variety and formal character become more readily apparent,” Neufeld concluded.
      Light and Air studio, also known as L/AND/A, was founded in 2017. The firm also designed a townhouse in Brooklyn, with a skylight illuminating a central staircase.
      Other New York City apartment renovations include a “minimal but warm” apartment that was designed by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas, and a loft on Broadway that local studio Worrell Yeung reconfigured to meet the needs of a growing family.
      The photography is by Kevin Kunstadt.

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      Ten bedrooms tucked away on cosy mezzanine levels

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      A forest cabin and an apartment in a New York warehouse feature in this lookbook, which shines a light on ten homes with snug bedrooms raised on mezzanine levels.

      Mezzanines are half-storeys inserted between a floor and ceiling to create extra space or distinct zones for different activities.
      They are popularly used as platforms for bedrooms, particularly in open-plan residences, because they create privacy from adjoining living spaces.
      The examples below demonstrate the potential of a mezzanine bedroom as a space-saving tool for small homes, but also as a way to take advantage of tall ceilings in lofty residences.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks including warm wood-clad kitchens, relaxing wet rooms and space-saving bunk beds.

      Photo is by Anna PositanoHouse for a Sea Dog, Italy, by Dodi Moss
      An exposed roof structure, floors of unvarnished wood and a plaster wall create a rustic look for the mezzanine bedroom in this loft apartment in a 17th-century building in Genoa.
      The home was designed by Dodi Moss to feel as open and spacious as possible, so the level change is used to provide privacy for the sleeping area as opposed to solid partitions and walls.
      Find out more about House for a Sea Dog ›

      La Dominique, Spain, by RÄS
      Sliding polycarbonate panels line one side of the sleeping platform in this Barcelona residence, allowing light to enter the space while separating it from the floor below.
      Its designer, RÄS, finished the space with black decorative tiles that contrast with the rough-painted white brick wall that borders one side.
      Find out more about La Dominique ›
      Photo is by Michael VahrenwaldBed-Stuy Loft, USA, by New Affiliates
      New Affiliates inserted this mezzanine above the study and kitchen area of the Bed-Stuy Loft apartment in New York to create a bedroom beneath its high ceilings.
      The sleeping area, which sits alongside a raised dressing area, is finished with plywood and white metal-mesh panels that nod to the industrial heritage of the building in which it is located.
      Find out more about Bed-Stuy Loft ›
      Photo is by Alex DelaunayHike, France, by SABO Project
      Alternating tread stairs lead up to this cosy bedroom, which SABO Project placed on a half-level when optimising floor space in a 72-square-metre apartment in Paris.
      The bedroom provides a sleeping area for guests and uses a skylight and a wall of translucent glass panels to maximise light while ensuring privacy.
      Find out more about Hike ›
      Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonUWS Apartment, USA, by Stadt Architecture
      Stadt Architecture introduced a mezzanine to a narrow 1970s condominium in New York in order to create a larger bedroom and bathroom for its owner.
      Set against exposed brickwork walls, the platform is finished with a dark walnut floor that helps unify it with the level below. The bed’s headboard doubles as a balustrade, while its base contains hidden storage.
      Find out more about UWS Apartment ›
      Photo is by Anton RodriguezBarbican Mezzanine, UK, by Francisco Sutherland Architects
      Set under the vaulted ceiling of an apartment in London’s Barbican Estate, this children’s bedroom forms part of a wooden mezzanine structure that also contains a bathroom and wardrobes.
      Francisco Sutherland Architects lined the sleeping element of the volume with a wall of shutters that provide privacy while opening the room out to an adjoining bedroom below.
      Find out more about Barbican Mezzanine ›
      Photo is by Michael MoranSoho Loft, USA, by Julian King
      A mezzanine with sculptural white walls was among the features that architect Julian King introduced in his reconfiguration of a tall and long warehouse apartment in New York.
      Taking advantage of the home’s high ceilings, the intervention allowed King to relocate the bedroom to a higher level and create a more fluid, open layout for the owner.
      Find out more about Soho Loft ›
      Photo is by Maja WirkusK907, Poland, by Thisispaper Studio
      This sleeping area is hidden within a boxy plywood volume that Thisispaper Studio inserted into a pared-back holiday apartment in an old print warehouse in Warsaw.
      Its design helps maximise floor space while drawing attention to the lofty dimensions of the apartment, which enhances its minimalist aesthetic.
      Find out more about K907 ›
      Photo is by Ricardo Oliveira AlvesRural House in Portugal, Portugal, by HBG Architects
      Built within an old granite community oven in the village of Aldeia de João Pires, this holiday home contains a wood-lined mezzanine that maximises space below its original gable roof.
      The platform, which also contains a second bathroom, is accessed by steps that double as a table and concealed behind slats of wood that ensure privacy while allowing light inside.
      Find out more about Rural House in Portugal ›
      Photo is by Martin DimitrovInhabit, USA, by Antony Gibbon Designs
      This mezzanine bedroom sits above a kitchen in a stilted wooden treehouse built by Antony Gibbon Designs in a forest in Upstate New York.
      The cosy wood-lined bedroom looks out through a wall of glazing that runs upwards from the ground floor of the cabin, framing views of the surrounding trees and Catskills mountains.
      Find out more about Inhabit ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks including warm wood-clad kitchens, relaxing wet rooms and space-saving bunk beds.

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      Ten green living rooms that prove the colour's versatility

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      A fashion editor’s apartment in São Paulo and a home covered in panels of mint-green metal mesh feature in our latest lookbook, which rounds up ten lounge interiors where green is used both as a background colour and a striking design statement.

      Whether sage, emerald or khaki, green goes with both cool and warm colours, which allows it to be used much like a traditional neutral.
      As such, it can be used to inject colour into an otherwise monochrome interior without being overbearing, or contrasted against rich reds, pinks and purples to delineate different areas in an open-plan living space.
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing living rooms with floor-to-ceiling glazing, wood-clad kitchens and space-saving kids’ rooms with bunk beds.
      Photo is by Kurtis ChenSt Lawrence, Canada, by Odami

      Sweeping views over the oxidised copper roof of Toronto’s Cathedral of St James informed this all-green sunroom designed by local studio Odami.
      The room forms part of a renovated 1980s apartment in a former parking garage, where dated popcorn ceilings and beige carpets were replaced with a rich mix of materials including a quartzite fireplace and walnut hardwood flooring.
      Find out more about St Lawrence ›
      Photo is by Margarita NikitakiEsperinos, Greece, by Stamos Michael
      Pale green walls act as the backdrop to an eclectic assortment of furnishings in this Athens guesthouse by designer Stamos Michael, where modern classics such as Konstantin Grcic’s Traffic lounge chair are mixed with a number of pieces by Greek designers including Michael himself.
      Among them is a hand-painted pine and plywood storage cabinet, a lamp hidden in rust-brown columns of powder-coated steel and a stool made from two blocks of stone that Michael found in a quarry on the island of Tinos.
      Find out more about Esperinos ›
      Photo is by Joshua McHughSleepy Hollow Residence, USA, by Lexi Tallisman
      Set in the town of Sleepy Hollow in the Hudson River Valley, this family home features not just a traditional living room but also a cosy den finished in glossy army-green paint.
      Designer Lexi Tallisman dressed the room in an equally decadent palette of colours and textures, ranging from a deep blue velvet sofa by fellow New York designer Steven Gambrel to a vintage chair reupholstered in creamy white leather and a brass-and-oak shelving unit by Philadelphia furniture company Amuneal.
      Find out more about Sleepy Hollow Residence ›
      Photo is by Adrià GoulaPasseig de Grácia apartment, Spain, by Jeanne Schultz Design Studio
      Designer Jeanne Schultz adapted a sensitive colour strategy when renovating this home on Barcelona’s historic Passeig de Grácia in order to enhance, rather than overwhelm, existing period features such as the Catalan vault ceiling and wooden parquet flooring.
      In the lounge, she drew attention to the chequered green tiles that frame the pink stone fireplace by painting the doors, window frames and ceiling mouldings in a matching hue.
      Find out more about the Passeig de Grácia apartment ›

      Photo is by Yannis Drakoulidis
      Trikoupi Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme Architects
      When renovating this apartment in one of Greece’s polykatoikia residential blocks from the 1980s, architecture studio Point Supreme Architects tore down many of the internal walls and instead used colourful built-in furniture pieces to demarcate different zones.
      The open-plan living and dining area is traversed by a storage wall made from green-stained plywood, while the kitchen is fitted with light pink cabinetry and bright blue wardrobes line the hallway next to the two bedrooms.
      Find out more about Trikoupi Apartment ›
      Photo is by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
      Interior design studio YSG created living spaces across two different levels inside this renovated home in Sydney. The first sits perched on a vast platform made from terracotta tiles to align it with the garden patio.
      This creates a second “sunken” lounge area at the rear, in which a sage-green wall and matching velvet rug are contrasted against a maroon-coloured Utrecht armchair, designed by the late Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina in 1935.
      Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
      Photo is by Alexander BogorodskiyGreenHouse, Portugal, by Ottotto
      Portuguese architecture practice Ottotto used panels of mint-green metal mesh to obscure the original stone walls of this house in Porto while preserving a “memory” of the former building.
      A darker shade of green was also used to finish the home’s new steel structure, which holds up three separate volumes interspersed by strategic lightwells to funnel sun into the living spaces on the ground floor.
      Find out more about GreenHouse ›
      Photo is by Maira AcayabaKarine Vilas Boas Apartment, Brazil, by Studio Julliana Camargo
      More restrained pops of olive and emerald feature in the living room of fashion editor Karine Vilas Boas in São Paulo, courtesy of Jeane Prouvé’s Fauteuil de Salon armchairs for Vitra and a geometric rug by local brand Punto e Filo.
      To tie the apartment’s interior together, Brazilian designer Julliana Camargo also incorporated other shades of green into the kitchen, from jade drawer faces and wall tiles to minty cabinets.
      Find out more about Karine Vilas Boas Apartment ›
      Photo is by Jeremy BittermannHigh Desert Residence, USA, by Hacker Architects
      Vertical cedar boards panel both the interior and exterior walls of this Oregon holiday home, separated by vast double-height windows to create the impression that the two exist as one continuous surface.
      In the living room, local studio Hacker Architects stained the wood in a subtle smokey green hue that references the colour of native plants found in the volcanic landscape outside.
      Find out more about High Desert Residence ›
      Photo is by Michael SinclairHighgate House, UK, by House of Grey
      Sage-green plaster helps to give subtle texture to the lounge of this three-storey townhouse in London’s Highgate, designed by local studio House of Grey.
      This offsets the otherwise monochrome furnishings, including a chubby boucle sofa, Serge Mouille’s AP1B2R wall light and a framed white-on-white painting.
      Find out more about Highgate 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 living rooms with floor-to-ceiling glazing, wood-clad kitchens and space-saving kids’ rooms with bunk beds.

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      Park Slope condo becomes New York City's “largest mass-timber building”

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      Local studio Mesh Architectures has completed Timber House, a condominium in Brooklyn that developer The Brooklyn Home Company claims is “the largest mass timber building in New York City.”

      Timber House is made of glue-laminated timber, a type of structurally engineered wood used to make mass timber structures, and is the largest mass-timber project in New York City in terms of square footage and height, according to The Brooklyn Home Company.
      It is also the first condominium project in the city to be built using mass timber, the developer said.
      The building has 14 condos”Timber House started with the simple notion of creating a sense of life in a building, which engages, stimulates, and at the same time, calms us,” said Eric Lifton, founder and principal of Mesh Architectures.
      “The way we do that here is by using a plant as the primary building material.”

      The building’s columns, beams and floor plates are all mass timber, while the core had to be made of concrete masonry because of city restrictions, the studio said.
      The apartments stretch across the length of the structureTimber House is located in the residential Park Slope neighbourhood in Brooklyn and comprises 14 condos that stretch from the street-side to the back of the building.
      According to Mesh Architectures, the building was “constructed with passive house principles”.
      While not passive-house certified, it was built with solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to provide energy, and mineral wool and polyisocyanurate insulation to reduce the need for air conditioning.
      Heating and air conditioning is provided by air-source heat pumps.
      The building was developed in collaboration with The Brooklyn Home CompanyIt also features passive house-quality windows with triple glazing, and the 10 parking spaces in its ground-floor garage each have an electric charging station.
      The building’s facade is characterized by a flat face made with Danish brick that, according to the team, was chosen to integrate the building into the mostly brownstone neighbourhood.
      On the upper levels, the envelope is sculpted into jutting windows and recessed balconies with glass railings. The balconies’ undersides are wooden, giving the exterior palette a touch of the timber within.
      The floors are also made of woodA rooftop terrace provides views of Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan.
      Inside, wooden walls and ceilings line the corridors, which have hexagonal tiling on the floor that was designed custom by Mesh and produced in Turkey.
      The condos have 11-feet-tall (3.3 metres-tall) ceilings and feature exposed timber beams with LED lights that are integrated directly into the wood.

      The Dezeen guide to mass timber in architecture

      The timber beams also extend down from the ceiling to frame some of the walls and windows, providing insight into the building’s structural makeup.
      “The exposed wooden beams present in the home create a style reminiscent of city living in the 1960s and ’70s when we picture those large loft-style residences, which is really special,” said Bill Caleo of The Brooklyn Home Company.
      “As a city, if we want to lower our carbon footprint we need to prioritize mass timber.”
      In addition to the ceiling and beams the condos have wooden accentsFlooring in the living areas is wood, while the kitchen is floored with white tile to match the white cabinetry – accented with natural wood tones – and a long, white island.
      Other recently-announced designs for mass timber structures include the world’s tallest timber building designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen and a Henning Larsen-designed Volvo experience centre in Sweden.
      The photography is by Travis Mark. 

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      Magdalena Keck employs “warm minimalism” for interiors of glazed house in Hudson Valley

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      Interior designer Magdalena Keck has filled a glass-and-steel home in New York with a restrained but eclectic mix of furnishings that are meant to complement the existing architecture.

      The Hudson Valley Glass House is located in Westchester County, about an hour’s drive from New York City.
      The home has floor-to-ceiling glazing all aroundThe modernist home was designed by architect Robert Fitzpatrick and built-in 1967. Rising two levels, it contains a public zone on the upper level and three bedrooms and a family room down below.
      The clients – a couple with a young daughter – recently purchased the home and tapped Magdalena Keck, who runs an eponymous Manhattan studio, to oversee the interior design. For their full-time residence, the owners desired furnishings that were modern, function-driven and meaningful.
      The dwelling’s interiors intend to complement its modernist architecture”The clients, a family of three, are well versed in design and art, and it was important to them to have a personal connection to each of the items selected for their home,” the studio said.

      Drawing upon her penchant for “warm minimalism”, Keck chose a range of pieces that complemented the architecture and the existing finishes, including wood flooring and vanilla-hued window drapes.
      Magdalena Keck framed a brutalist-style coffee table with a grey bouclé sofa”Magda likes to think of the home as a glass envelope, serving as a vessel for the furnishings, lighting, art and objects that she has worked carefully with the client to fill the space with,” the studio said.
      In the living room, she placed a grey bouclé sofa by French designer Christophe Delcourt and an octagonal, brutalist-style coffee table in resin.
      A hyper-realistic painting is in the dining spaceIn the adjacent dining area, beech-and-fabric chairs by Sergio Rodrigues surround an Extenso table from Desalto.
      Rather than hang a light fixture over the table, the designer added a Mito floor lamp by Tom Fereday and a 1960s Tripod Cocoon floor lamp to provide illumination and visual interest. A large, hyper-realistic painting of choppy water by Ran Ortner rounds out the dining space.

      Andrew Franz updates 1960s home on New York’s Fire Island

      Downstairs in the family room, the atmosphere is casual and cosy. The space is adorned with a sofa by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani, Scandinavian nesting tables in rosewood, and a side chair by Børge Mogensen. Underfoot is a Soumak rug from ALT for Living.
      Audio and visual equipment is housed in a cabinet made of waxed aluminium by Jonathan Nesci.
      The Hudson Valley Glass House is located in Westchester CountyIn the main suite, there is a king bed from Camerich, Danish rosewood nightstands and two Bauhaus table lamps by Wilhelm Wagenfeld.
      The daughter’s room is fitted with custom pieces designed by Keck’s studio, including a  bed platform in oak and a desk with modular storage pullouts. There is also an Adorno wall lamp made of wood and brushed brass, and an astronaut painting by American artist Michael Kagan.
      Large windows provide views of the surrounding sceneryThe home’s guest bedroom features a bed by Lawson Fenning, a ceramic-painted nighstand by Reinaldo Sanguino, and a rare Valet chair by Hans Wegner dating back to the 1950s.
      Keck’s furnishing work also extends to the backyard, where there is a patio and swimming pool. Furnishings include a sofa and coffee table from Unopiù. A rounded, white dining table by Eero Saarinen is paired with white chairs by Harry Bertoia.
      Other projects by Magdalena Keck include a stark-white residence in a Four Seasons tower in Lower Manhattan, and the outfitting of a Catskill Mountains home, where she fused Danish and Japanese design.
      The photography is by Jeff Cate.

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      Ten living rooms that use floor-to-ceiling glazing to bring the outdoors in

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      In our latest lookbook, we spotlight 10 homes with living rooms enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glazing and window walls that create seamless connections to their natural surroundings.

      The use of large panes of glass on the exterior of a dwelling is a popular trend in residential architecture as it is an effective way to make living spaces feel bigger and brighter.
      Another major benefit of using expanses of glazing and floor-to-ceiling windows is maximising outward views, which can help connect occupants to the outdoors and, in turn, boost wellbeing.
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement skylights, welcoming terraces and living rooms with sculptural furniture.
      Photo is by Miranda KimberlinThe Watchman Cabin, USA, by Imbue Design

      Sweeping views of the Utah desert are enjoyed through the window wall of this living room in The Watchman Cabin, a remote home created by Imbue Design for a nature-loving client.
      The interior is finished with a restrained grey palette, helping to retain focus on the colours of the dramatic vista beyond.
      Find out more about The Watchman Cabin ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerBilgola Beach House, Australia, by Olson Kundig
      Architecture studio Olson Kundig used floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding doors to provide the living spaces of this house with fresh air and sightlines over Sydney’s Bilgola Beach.
      Outside, the glazed areas incorporate retractable louvres, allowing the dwelling to be sealed off from the beachfront in inclement weather.
      Find out more about Bilgola Beach House ›
      Photo is by David BarbourNedd, UK, by Mary Arnold-Forster Architects
      Mary Arnold-Forster Architects designed two floor-to-ceiling windows for the lounge of Nedd, a house built from cross-laminated timber in the Scottish Highlands.
      According to the studio’s founder, the goal was to “avoid a wall of glass” but to frame the expansive undulating landscape that surrounds the rocky site.
      Find out more about Nedd ›
      Photo is by Kevin ScottWhidbey Island Farm, USA, by MW Works
      Views of woodland through floor-to-ceiling windows animate the pared-back living spaces of Whidbey Island Farm, a country retreat in the Pacific Northwest by MW Works.
      The home is divided into three volumes that are positioned across the gently sloping site, providing each room with unique viewpoints of the surrounding landscape.
      Find out more about Whidbey Island Farm › 
      Photo is by Adrià GoulaCalders House, Spain, by Narch
      Glazed panels slide wide open to create seamless links between the lounge and the park on the doorstep of this concrete family home in Spain.
      According to the studio, these large portions of glazing are intended to make the residence feel “more like exterior garden than interior, a space in which furniture and plants are placed directly under the blue sky”.
      Find out more about Calders House › 
      Photo is courtesy of Aidlin Darling DesignHigh Desert Retreat, USA, by Aidlin Darling Design
      High Desert Retreat’s living room has floor-to-ceiling windows that Aidlin Darling Design incorporated to celebrate the home’s elevated vantage in California’s Palm Desert.
      Some portions of glazing also open up the room to the outside, leading down to a swimming pool that runs almost the entire length of the house.
      Find out more about High Desert Retreat › 
      Photo is by Markus LinderothSommarhus H, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg
      Giant panes of glass were used by Johan Sundberg to break up the simple exterior of Sommarhus H, a Swedish house lined with larch battens.
      On one side of the living room, the glazing is opened to create a link to a decked area outside. Minimal furniture and finishes retain focus on views towards the Baltic sea.
      Find out more about Sommarhus H › 
      Photo is by Ivar KaalVilla Aa, Norway, by CF Møller Architects
      This window wall forms the main facade of the Villa Aa dwelling that CF Møller Architects sunk into the ground on a Norwegian farm.
      In the living room, the doors provide access to a large terrace that is built from concrete to match the internal flooring and “blur the boundaries between inside and outside”.
      Find out more about Villa Aa › 
      Photo is by Alex Shoots BuildingsTerrace With a House by the Lake, Poland, by UGO
      Giant windows in the lounge of this Polish holiday home disrupt the otherwise blank exterior, which architecture studio UGO clad in corrugated metal.
      The living room is finished with materials chosen to reflect the colours and textures of the adjoining terrace and adjacent woodland, establishing a connection to the outside.
      Find out more about Terrace With a House by the Lake ›
      Photo is by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenPavilion House, UK, by Norm Architects
      Pavilion House is a holiday home in rural Suffolk that has almost entirely glazed walls, including those in its pared-back living room.
      According to its designer, Norm Architects, this is to acknowledge “that the big-ticket item in the setting is indeed the countryside” and ensure views of it throughout the dwelling.
      Find out more about Pavilion House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement skylights, welcoming terraces and living rooms with sculptural furniture.

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      Studio McW carves up “post-lockdown” London home extension with darkened oak joinery

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      Umber-coloured oak joinery divides the interior of this end-of-terrace home in London’s Willesden Green, which has been extended and refurbished by local architecture firm Studio McW.

      The two-storey Aperture House now features an additional pitched-roofed volume at its rear, that can be accessed via the main home or a second, less formal entrance set at the side of the property alongside a small planted courtyard.
      A darkened oak cabinet sits under Aperture House’s pitched roofThe residence’s owners, a journalist and a psychiatrist, worked from home throughout the coronavirus lockdowns of 2020 and grew to dislike using their kitchen, which was visually cut off from the rest of the house and the outdoors.
      They tasked Clerkenwell-based Studio McW with establishing a more versatile “post-lockdown” extension that can be used for cooking, dining, working and entertaining.
      The cabinet transitions into low-lying cupboards in the kitchenStudio McW’s approach sought to find a middle ground between a more sequestered layout and a vast, open-plan space, which can often feel impersonal according to the firm’s director Greg Walton.

      “I think lockdown has certainly compounded the failures of modern open-plan living,” he told Dezeen.
      “Open-plan layouts offer little privacy and occupants can feel a bit lost in the room. Residential architecture needs to work harder to meet new demands.”
      Walls throughout the extension are finished in plasterIn the case of Aperture House, this is achieved using blocks of dark-stained oak joinery. The largest is a cabinet, which is nestled beneath the eaves of the roof and acts as a divider between the external entryway and a small dining room.
      At its centre is a rectangular opening that offers a place to perch and remove shoes on one side, while in the dining area it acts as a reading nook and an additional seat when hosting larger gatherings.
      “By using joinery to break up the spatial layout you have the opportunity to create, in the same room, separate spaces to eat, cook, welcome visitors and relax whilst still maintaining a form of connection,” Walton said.
      In front of the kitchen there is space for a lounge areaThe cabinet transitions into a low-lying oak cupboard in the kitchen, which allows residents to rustle up meals while keeping the garden, guests and each other in sight.
      To the side of the kitchen is a series of taller oak cabinets, interrupted by another nook where small appliances like the kettle and toaster can be tucked away to keep the counters free of clutter.
      Just in front of the kitchen, Studio McW made space for a lounge area where the owners can retreat to work or relax during the day.
      Another opening in the joinery provides room for small appliancesRather than installing glass doors all the way along the home’s rear facade, Studio McW opted to front the extension with a pivoting glazed panel.
      “I think the ubiquitous sliding or bifold doors across the rear of a London terrace are becoming an unromantic ideal,” Walton explained. “They don’t offer places for respite and repose, there is no shadow or play of light.”
      “In this house, openings in the new extension are set back within deep, angled brick thresholds, which are designed to focus views and draw in light at specific times of the day.”
      The extension is fronted by a pivoting glass doorAnother example of this is the off-centre skylight that punctuates the extension’s roof and casts shafts of light into the plaster-washed interior.
      “Just like in photography, the apertures in a property affect focus and exposure,” Walton said.
      “Often, the act of bringing light into a home is interpreted as putting in as many windows as possible. But in doing so you create all the characteristics of an overexposed photograph.”
      The door is set within an angled brick recessA growing number of homes are starting to reflect the effects that the coronavirus pandemic has had on people’s lifestyles.
      Earlier this year, the co-founders of Studiotwentysix added a plywood-lined loft extension to their own family home in Brighton to make room for more work and rest areas. With a similar aim, Best Practice Architecture recently converted the shed of a Seattle property into a home office and fitness room.
      The photography is by Lorenzo Zandri. 

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      Ten residential interiors illuminated by statement skylights

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      A New York townhouse with elliptical openings features in our latest lookbook, which collects 10 residential projects brightened up by skylights.

      A skylight is a window placed on a roof, which is generally positioned at an angle so that natural light from the sky can illuminate the interior space below it.
      Architects and designers often use skylights in their projects as an alternative to traditional windows, whether it is for the purpose of giving a building a greater sense of privacy or simply as a decorative source of light.
      A similar effect can be reached by installing clerestory windows, which are windows that sit very high up on walls.
      From a weekend retreat in Norway to an Australian island home, we have collected 10 residential interiors with striking skylights.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing compact bedrooms, innovative room dividers and self-designed studios by architects and designers.
      Photo is by Michael MoranOculi House, USA, by O’Neill Rose Architects
      Local office O’Neill Rose Architects transformed this New York City brownstone, which was previously characterised by dark interior spaces, using two elliptical skylights.
      The curved openings were carved out of the property’s white plaster ceiling, while rectilinear glass doors also contribute to the home’s airy atmosphere.
      Called Oculi House, the project was shortlisted for a 2019 Dezeen Award in the house interior of the year category.
      Find out more about Oculi House ›
      Photo is by Einar AslaksenWeekend House Fredrikstad, Norway, by Line Solgaard
      The pyramid-shaped skylight that tops this coastal holiday home illuminates its interior spaces, including an oak-lined dining room with vast windows that look towards the sea.
      Norweigan studio Line Solgaard added darker cabinets and flooring to the kitchen, which contrast with the shafts of natural light that flood the space and create dramatic shadows.
      Find out more about Weekend House Fredrikstad ›
      Photo is by Peter ClarkeCasa X, Australia, by Branch Studio Architects
      A mid-century armchair and rounded Muuto coffee tables sit beneath clerestory windows at Casa X, a home on Australia’s Phillip Island by Branch Studio Architects that also has a number of large skylights.
      “Three ‘pop-up’ high-level windows or light-catchers allow northern light to penetrate deep into the house throughout the day,” explained the studio.
      Find out more about Casa X ›
      Photo is courtesy of Fala AtelierHouse in Lisbon by Fala Atelier
      Porto architecture firm Fala Atelier converted a windowless garage in Lisbon into a bright living space that was opened up by placing skylights on the roof and painting the walls white.
      Pops of colour brighten up the spacious interior. In the kitchen area, a teal-hued, funnel-shaped extractor fan is suspended above a long marble counter.
      Find out more about this Lisbon home ›
      Photo is courtesy of Yoshihara McKeePhotographer’s Loft, USA, by Yoshihara McKee
      Natural light enters this Chelsea apartment via an angled skylight that illuminates the dwelling, which is located on the ground floor despite its name, Photographer’s Loft.
      Architecture studio Yoshihara McKee removed the apartment’s existing full-height partitions in order to make the most of the skylight, which frames sculptural furniture in neutral shades.
      Find out more about Photographer’s Loft ›
      Photo is by James FlorioADU, USA, by Tres Birds Workshop
      Architecture firm Tres Birds Workshop created an operable skylight from dichroic glass in this accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
      The multicoloured glass was added to the building’s triangular timber roof in a position that means that light is cast all over the interior spaces.
      “As the angle of the sun changes throughout the day and season, so do the visual effects within the living space, creating a vibrant show of coloured light throughout,” explained Tres Birds.
      Find out more about this ADU ›
      Photo is by Aryeh KornfeldMogro House, Chile, by Rodolfo Cañas
      Morgo House in Santiago features a protruding stainless steel volume with an oversized skylight that gave the property its nickname, Skylight House.
      Chilean architect Rodolfo Cañas also inserted a floating metal staircase into the volume, which leads to the roof. Monochrome furniture was chosen to mirror the palette of steel and exposed concrete used throughout the house.
      Find out more about Mogro House ›
      Photo is by Katsuya TairaHouse with a Light Void, Japan, by FujiwaraMuro Architects
      Privacy is achieved in this home in Japan by FujiwaraMuro Architects through a series of geometric skylights that replace traditional windows.
      Each of these openings is arranged above five cement-clad volumes that are positioned within the minimal project, which is aptly named House with a Light Void.
      Find out more about House with a Light Void ›
      Photo is by José CamposCasa Boavista, Portugal, by Pablo Pita Architects
      Casa Boavista is a Porto townhouse located on a busy street, which was renovated to include skylights on multiple levels to afford the property a sense of privacy.
      Pablo Pita Architects added an extension to the back of the house as well as a new storey on top of it, while a trio of skylights illuminate the neutral interiors in three different places.
      Find out more about Casa Boavista ›
      Photo is by Andy StaggHouse in London by R2 Studio
      A bold colour palette takes centre stage in every room of this Victorian London home that was livened up by local practice R2 Studio.
      Central to the renovation is one of two feature staircases, which has a bright orange hue accentuated by a skylight that adds warmth to the already colourful interiors.
      Find out more about this London home ›
      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 basement conversions, co-working spaces and residential interiors with plaster walls.

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