[ Filed under Conversions & in the Architecture category ]

In the midst of insanely high housing prices in Tel Aviv, Israel, clients who want to upgrade their living spaces are left with few choices. One client, the owner of a tiny 40 square meter studio, decided to keep her current abode and transform it entirely.

The client wanted to trade in her studio apartment for a one bedroom. Rather than adding walls to divide the space, SFARO Architects added a central command center contained in a cube in the center of the apartment.

The central cube contains storage, a kitchen, a bathroom and the resident’s entertainment gadgets. Sliding doors disappear into the body of the cube when closed and hide its contents when open, letting the resident create different looks for different situations whenever desired.

On either side of the cube are narrow corridors that create a sort of never-ending flow to the living areas. The only walls in the apartment, aside from the central cube, surround the bedroom – but even these can fold or slide out of the way to keep up the effortless flow of the space.

By placing all of the apartment’s functions into one central locations, the architects were able to create a dramatic space that feels much larger than its diminutive 40 square meters.

The renovation turned the small apartment from a studio into a one-bedroom with all of the style and personality of a much larger living space.

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We recently received inspiring photos on a Modern Villa in Hungary. Built in the suburbs of a vineyard-intersected provincial town in Hungary, the modern home sits on a slightly sloped terrain. This allowed architects Polla Bauer and András Ónodi to design a sober, elegant and modern residential construction that displays a two-storey front facade continued under a gable roof with a single story floor plan in the back. A simple yet effective geometry combines the subtle front facade with a challenging set of vantage points unveiling different design angles. Set at the end of the street, this white contemporary villa sits under a dark roof and is shaded by dark cladding in the front and along the roof line.

These effects create a homogeneous contemporary composition soften by wood insertions pierced by glass. The front part of the house contains bedrooms and the kitchen, while the back side opens to the garden, creating an ideal place for placing social spaces. The street level space contains the garage, laundry room and storage, while on top of them lies the kitchen which opens to the social spaces in the back and private rooms on each side. This ensures privacy for both the parents and their two teenage children. What is the most amazing thing about this family residence – the floor plan, location among vineyards, interesting facade or bold, modern interiors designed by Geppetto?

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[ Filed under Furniture & in the Chairs category ]

Yet another brilliantly efficient German design, this new twist on the classic folding chair concept is at least a worthy prototype to potentially replace its predecessor.

Still also a little German in its lack of comfortability, though, it could arguably use some cushions if intended for extended use.

Finally, also in German tradition, it is titled with a single compound word: Klappstuhl – for now simple plywood and single-color-painted variants are available with other options soon to come.

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West 21st House is a sustainable family residence designed by Frits de Vries Architect and located in Vancouver, Canada. Outdoor patios and gardens at every level define this home and ensure a good indoor-outdoor connection. Here is more from the architects: “Designed and oriented for passive solar usage the project also employs ultra high efficiency windows, solar hot water heating and a high performance heating / cooling system, including heat recovery that allow the home to operate with low energy consumption. The careful selection of appliances, plumbing fixtures, and lighting also reduce energy and water consumption. Interior elements, such as flooring and millwork, include recycled materials and low/no emission finishes. Planters on the roof reduce heat reflectance and rainwater runoff”. The interiors pay tribute to modern design and inspire openness and flexibility. Have a look!

You’re reading Sustainable West 21st House in Vancouver by Frits de Vries originally posted on Freshome. If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

[ Filed under Contemporary & in the Architecture category ]

The plan is at the heart of this elegantly elemental forest home set with a light touch (atop elevated footings) on an island in Finland.

The layout thrusts residents back out in four different directions, taking focus off the smallness of the space and emphasizing its intentional lack of center.

Designed by Avanto Architects (images by Anders Portman and Martin Sommerschield), the secondary functions (for it also omits core uses) of the retreat each exist on one arm of a four-pronged spiral.

Outside, dark stain makes it blend with the landscape, except for soft squares of light at the terminus of each arm. Inside, bright white walls make the spaces inviting, lively and open.

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If you are in search of a home that provides ultimate comfort, combining “Thailand” and “infinity pool” means you are on the right track. In my case, the eye-catching element of this mansion was the lush vegetation surrounding it. Perched on top of a cliff in Phuket, Villa Yang is a four-bedroom home with quite a few spectacular features. Here are just some of them, according to the official project description: “The villa’s ‘yin yang’ sensibility is a study in complementary opposites, mixing elements of classic, soft-lined Thai architecture and tropical gardens with the hard, crisp lines of contemporary furnishings. Lounge and entertain over the wondrous Andaman Sea in Villa Yang’s open-plan kitchen, dining and living area or outdoors from the 15-meter infinity pool deck. The four-level villa offers individual privacy with four elegant bedrooms, each with a private en suite and sea view deck“. The residence was envisioned by Thai architect Charupan Wiriyawiwatt of Hong Kong-based Naga Concepts and can be rented online here.

You’re reading Home Design Based on Complementary Opposites: Villa Yang in Thailand originally posted on Freshome. If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

[ Filed under More & in the Installation Art category ]

Like an anatomy lesson played out with inanimate objects, this museum exhibit bridges that fine gap between art and design.

Bulgarian artist Konstantin Achkov is intentional in his choice of displays, creating patterns that can be appreciated as stand-alone pieces but that also challenge the viewer to try and mentally assemble them into a greater whole.

Each dark furniture object is matched with light elements on a dark board – if anything, one might wish that they were not set right next to each other, so that visitors to the gallery might have to guess which flat works matched which physical objects.

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We received a lovely small apartment from Architect Flavio Castro, with an inspiring design and layout. Apartment Putti is home to a young couple, meaning that its structure had to offer expansion possibilities for the family. New hybrid functional interiors had to be created. This is the case with the office, which can also be used as a place for gatherings, by simply adding extra cushions and poufs. According to the project description, the premise for the reduced space (60m2), was to define a functional layout and gain further detailed control of the sizes of furniture, without invading areas of minimal movement. From the dark brown wood panel to the beige sofa, the project sought to compose integrated functional spaces, with complementary colors. We like the feel of this place, as well as its original decorating elements. Do you share our opinion? [Photographer: Alessandro Guimaraes]

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[ Filed under Green Homes & in the Architecture category ]

One big key to small-spacing living is vertical space – with nine feet in each horizontal direction, the only way to go is up. At the same time, this particular design manages to look like it evolved somehow organically, with elements not simply occupying every spare spot.

Everything manages to coexist and flow within the limited area provided, including custom chairs, tables, kitchen zone (with microwave and refrigerator), full-sized shower, composting toilet, washing machine and double bed.

LED lights and recovered heat help keep fixture needs to a bare minimum, while a timber frame with red and plywood surfaces add texture and color to keep the interior interesting and engaging.

The project was “conceived, designed and managed by Dr Mike Page, engineer and Reader in Cognitive Psychology at the University’s School of Psychology” and featured at the Edinburgh Science Festival.

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A contemporary beauty center concept encompassing a youthful spirit and modern technologies shows how shape, color and material can create a certain atmosphere. YOUD! by All-In Living displays a bold and luxurious design, where guests can feel safe and comfortable and enjoy their “transformation”. Except for the colors, lighting and layout, everything in this beauty center was custom designed by interior designers of Netherlands-based All-In Living. YOUD! Beauty Center in Rotterdam welcomes guests within an open, bright space where treatments and visual appeal pamper the clients. Youd! describe themselves as filling “the gap between the current range of cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery” and their central headquarters had to express this unique feature, about which you can read on their website. Spotted on Retail Design Blog, the beauty center’s interiors should offer each a customized appeal – this is why I am asking: what feeling does it give you?

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