Set in a spectacular surrounding, in Queenstown’s elite golf club Jacks Point, the Coburn Residence is defined by views of the nearby lake and mountains. The client brief included the need for large entertaining spaces that would be strongly connected to the outdoors and separate master and guest bedrooms. Connecting with the surrounding landscape, the residence designed by Harris Butt Architecture stretches over a total surface of ​​712 square meters. Built with locally resourced materials, the house displays an honest, uncomplicated architecture that could easily be transformed into a boutique hotel if necessary. Concrete structural walls were dressed with schist from the site, creating a powerful connection to the property in both material choice and layout overlooking beautiful vistas. Three volumes shelter the main spaces – a rectangular living zone, ...

Well-suited for truly open loft living, this bathing system is not for the shy – it combines the openness of a hot tub with the jets of a Jacuzzi and the functionality of a shower, all in a sleek UFO-shaped package. The downside is that there are in fact no sides – one has to wonder a little whether the shower portion will work well without a curtain, even with the large footprint of the round tub below. Spiritual Mode makes this odd marvel with dual steel side faucets and a series of semi-circular bubblers around the base, distributed evenly for easy multiple-person use. The whole thing looks prepped to take flight, once the docking clamps (faucets) are folded back from the sides. ...

We first spotted Rail Yard Studios at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York. Founded by Robert Hendrick and his father Jim, the company creates one-of-a-kind custom furniture from historical, century-old railroad steel and hardwood timbers. Handmade in America from 100% American materials, every piece is a uniquely created work of art – individually numbered and cataloged. We caught up with Robert to find out more about him and his fascinating creations. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself & your background? RH. Nashville is where I grew up, but after living and travelling in Australia and Europe, it is the last place I thought I would ultimately wind up.  Still it’s a nice place to live, work and raise a family and I’m proud to be from here. I have degrees in ...

Urban living is great for its convenience and for living in the midst of the city’s pulse. But let’s be honest: there is often a cramped dreariness to living in the city. Not so with this incredible London penthouse. Located on Mallow Street, the stylish apartment boasts the best in comfortable yet contemporary design. Thanks to its gigantic windows, the two-story apartment is constantly bathed in light: natural light in the day and ambient city lighting at night. Slick modern furnishings mingle with rustic wooden accents and the odd live plant here and there. The duplex penthouse features two sizeable (for London) bedrooms, each boasting a king-sized bed and floor-to-ceiling windows. One of the most stunning features of the apartment is its rooftop terrace. On the rare sunny London day, residents can sit outside and ...

A few days ago Cecconi Simone sent us images about their latest project. Cecconi Simone has designed the model for a community of thirty-seven contemporary townhouses by Treasure Hill Developments in Little Italy / Little Portugal, Downtown Toronto. Here are a few words about this project according to Cecconi Simone : “The 662 s.f. show suite is a careful study in urban living, its manifest simplicity belying its essential complexity. It embodies the modern impulse for openness, unity, and fluidity, within which functional parts are accommodated effortlessly. The character of the different zones is easy to read though their interrelationship is dense and multi-faceted. Three distinct yet continuous areas – dine-cook-live – are defined clearly within the spatial totality, linked by an interplay of surface planes in cadence; horizontal and vertical, ...

Even if you have hooks or a hall tree by your front door, winter accessories tend to pile up quickly. All of the coats, hats, scarves, earwarmers and other cold-weather detritus can rapidly take over unless you make better arrangements. Those better arrangements are right here in the form of these clever paint can coat hooks from Instructables user Brian Jewett. The project is simple enough for almost anyone to pull off. It involves mounting a clean paint can (or two or ten, however many you need) to the wall with screws. No fancy tools or special knowledge are needed. The insides of the cans hold all of your smallish accessories like gloves and mittens. The metal handle of the can is a great place for hanging scarves or wet socks. Coats ...

People get inspired by lots of things but have you ever heard of someone being inspired by the financial crisis ? Have you ever come across a product, or a piece of furniture inspired by prevailing economic condition? Spread 10 y by Antonio Maria Privitera is a handcrafted wooden magazine rack designed to combine the “news” with the now “(in)famous” graph. It also maps the transition between the Silvio Berlusconi government and that of Mario Monti. The Spread 10 y magazine rack is handmade by Zana Lab and designed by Antonio Maria Privitera @ Studio Inesistente. Finally we think that the Spread 10 y magazine rack  is not just a magazine rack it’s a statement ! You're reading Spread 10Y : Wooden Magazine Rack Inspired by Financial Crisis originally posted on ...

The time-worn adage about necessity and invention is one that may induce some eye-rolling, but it is undeniably true. This is particularly the case in arctic zones which are often extremely inhospitable to humans – yet we as a species continue to venture there in order to learn about our world. To support the mission of these intrepid Arctic explorers, 2-B-2 Architecture designed the Arctic Mobile Unit. The small pre-fab unit provides life support for three people for up to 15 days. Researchers would share the tiny living quarters for short-term treks; any longer and they are likely to get a bit annoyed with each other. Each AMU is 6.5 feet X 5.25 feet X 7.5 feet, making it just big enough to eat, sleep and shower in. Like any well-designed tiny living ...

The need for a place dedicated to bicycle enthusiasts was answered with an inspirational project in Hainan, China. Bicycle Club was designed by NL Architects and is an impressive cycling pavilion, meant to bring people together and encourage one of the greatest sports. Here is more on the project’s structure from the architects: “A rooftop cycling arena is supported by a glass-enclosed cafe at ground level. The oval-footprint structure’s protruding canopy is essential due to the tropical climate, shading the perimeter seating. The elegant upward curvature of the eaves evokes the form of the traditional and functional pagoda. Visitors set their bicycles within a recessed trough and easily walk up two staircases to the open-air velodrome. The area beneath by the stairs contains and conceals public restrooms“. Bicycles can also ...

The best part about designing a kid’s bedroom is that you can do all of the crazy, over-the-top fun things that you would like to do in the rest of the house but probably couldn’t get away with. This fantastic dinosaur-themed bedroom is endlessly fun and just the kind of imaginative design that kids love. One lucky kid gets to sleep right in the mouth of a T. Rex every night. The bottom jaw forms the bed and a hinged toy box, while the upper jaw is suspended from the ceiling – gigantic teeth and all. The mural on the bedroom wall depicts a fun prehistoric world, and the wall just behind the bed shows the monster dino’s body. This is a great example of silly (in the best way), creative design ...