A Historic Building Is Restored And Given A Contemporary Addition
LABor Studio transformed this historic office building in Chihuahua City, Mexico, by maintaining the facade and adding a contemporary addition to the home.
The designer’s description
This house is located in the historic center of Chihuahua City, in north-central Mexico. This district displays a deteriorated urban fabric due to the demolition of a great number of old buildings being replaced by surface parking lots. The population has migrated to the fringes leaving an empty housing stock.
The project was aware of the importance of both the restoration and integration of architectures while demonstrating the possibilities of contemporary housing in the urban center.
The old building is a two story structure built in the early twentieth century in a 40 square meter footprint. The construction system includes adobe walls, wood beams, a limestone facade, and an earthen roof.
The project and construction began in 2010 working with an office program. Restoration started by eliminating all of the non-original additions and rebuilding the earthen roof. The frontal facade was stabilized since it was detaching from the main structure. The neighboring 300 square meter property was added to the program while during this first construction stage. Therefore the program changed from office to a house.
The old and new construction was articulated by a vertical stair cube. The stair provides access to the two stories and the rooftop terrace where views of downtown Chihuahua can be enjoyed.
Access from the street happens in between the old and new constructions in a sequence that first goes through a patio-zaguan before penetrating to the interior. This access patio allows for additional light and ventilation for the old building while allowing for the concentration of rainwater collected from the rooftops.
Once through the threshold in the ground floor one can access a painting studio in the old building or the social area in the new building. The latter is a double height space composed of the living room and the kitchen. Both areas are divided by a bar and joined in the exterior by a patio. The garage can be added to the expansion of the social areas spilling to the exterior.
The second story contains the family room in the old building while the new construction has two bedrooms separated by a library-bridge. One bedroom is related to the street in the front and the other looks to the backyard.
The third and top level is a rooftop terrace with a steel plaque grill. The floor is a ceramic tile which allows the earthen roof to breathe out excess moisture. Plant pots and a light-well complete the arrangement with patio furniture.
The backyard has hardscape and softscape areas. The grasses, shrubs, and trees are a selection of native plants. Concrete modular pavers allow for the absorption of rainwater in order to help support the plants.
In the back of the property there is a water fountain framed by recovered timber from the construction’s scaffolding. Other recovered materials include the original limestone flooring, some of which was reinstalled while another part was crushed and used as ground cover to reduce the loss of moisture.
Design: LABorstudio
Photography: Rafael Gamo
A Modern Loft with Character
Loft apartments always have a distinct feel. Their openness, combined with their usual amounts of streaming light, makes them instantly appealing for most urban dwellers. Who wouldn’t want more light and a sense of more space in what’s usually a more crowded area? But lofts can also feel a bit cookie cutter, especially when the original space has been mass-converted to support loft living. A dozen or more lofts with the same feel and layout can feel stifling. This loft, designed by Indot, takes the idea of a traditional loft and plays with it using geometry, color, and texture. Don’t think that lofts are just limited to red exposed brick and neutrally painted walls.
Modern Summer Home Assembling Panoramic Ocean Views
From the very first time you enter the Long Dune Residence, you know it will surprise you with a modern floor plan enhanced by carefully designed details. The architects warn that “little is revealed until entering the house through a tall glass door that emerges as one approaches the house“. Imagined by Hammer Architects, the modern summer home rises in a summer vacation community in Massachusetts, known as Truro.
Perched on a coastal bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, interiors absorb panoramas of natural surroundings from behind revealing floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. This permanent visual connection to the outdoors brings glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean deep inside and encourages owners to relax and enjoy their modern summer home.
Photos by Peter Vanderwarker reveal how the abundance of natural light filters through framed windows. Gleaming water views mirroring the atmosphere outside are captured like live transmissions from nature. Additional views of the Pamet River and a fresh water pond, together with tall trees complete the inspiring natural setting. Mirrored on the inside, this natural order appears mingled with the home’s sleek design lines.
According to the architects, “the entry side of the house appears very solid with its wood clad walls and narrow strip windows enclosing the bathrooms, outdoor showers, stair, and laundry room. Little is revealed until entering the house through a tall glass door that emerges as one approaches the house. Once inside, the living and dining rooms, which occupy the building’s center, open to the dramatic water views through a floor to ceiling glass wall that features large sliding doors connecting to a multi-level outdoor deck.”
The contemporary architecture is spiced up with a linear floor-plan “broken” by a screened porch where owners and their guests enjoy meals with a view. “One wing of the house provides the guest bedrooms, while the other wing, which is rotated forty-five degrees in plan, contains the master bedroom suite. A screened porch with a referential kite shaped roof occupies the intersection of the two geometries providing views in all directions.”
Embedding active and passive solar design, the modern summer home supports and encourages a healthy lifestyle. Once you know how to plan home activities for your summer guests, a modern summer home will make its way to your summer wish list.
A Louvered Beach House on the Arabian Sea
Built on a coconut plantation outside of Mumbai, India, on the Arabian Sea, Studio Mumbai’s Palmyra House is a place of refuge, not only from the city but also from people (houseguests possibly included). The 3,000-square-foot setup is split into two wooden louvered structures, each constructed using local traditional methods and wood. One building contains the living room, study, and master bedroom; the other houses the kitchen, dining room, and guest bedrooms. And should the occupants be feeling convivial, there’s a long, thin pool, perfect for swims together while sharing the expansive views out to the sea.
Photography by Helene Binet via ArchDaily, unless otherwise noted.
Hanway, C. (2015, May 27). Architect Visit: A Louvered Beach House on the Arabian Sea: Remodelista. Retrieved June 3, 2015, from http://www.remodelista.com/posts/architect-visit-a-louvered-beach-house-on-the-arabian-sea-studio-mumbai-palmyra-house
Replacing a Burned Down House Surrounded By Experimental Vegetation: GK House
Located in the historic district of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill town, the GK House sits on a 1.5 acre site sloping from east to west. Accessible via an easement through an adjoining property, this imposing structure gathers wood, stone and glass in a contemporary display of architecture. Originally part of the Coker Estate, where amateur botanist Dr Coker composed a distinctive collection of plants derived from his experiments, the house sits surrounded by woods and greenery that offer an original outdoor experience. Constructed after the sketches of Raleigh- based Kenneth Hobgood Architects, the residential structure replaces the original house that burned down to the ground and took part of the vegetation down with it. Collaborating with landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburg, architects managed to revive the grounds and compose a bright, cheery and stylish set of interior and exterior spaces, as you can see in the photos. (Teicu)
Teicu, Ada. “Replacing a Burned Down House Surrounded By Experimental Vegetation: GK House.” Freshome Design & Architecture. N.p., 12 Aug. 2012. Web. Web. 12 Aug. 2012.
Villa Fabrica: Serenity in Santorini
A factory transformed: architect Yannis Kaklamanis overhauled the interiors of a former wine and tsipouro (brandy) production facility, creating a sleek and minimal loft–style vacation retreat on the island of Santorini.
The compound consists of four separate residences, joined by communal outdoors spaces; Kaklamanis has restored the interiors using traditional materials like polished cement combined with sleek stainless kitchens and modern baths. The villas are available for rent; for information, go to Villa Fabrica. (Julie)
“Villa Fabrica: Serenity in Santorini by Julie.” Remodelista. N.p., 20 July 2012. Web. Web. 21 Jul. 2012. <http://remodelista.com/posts/villa-fabrica-serenity-in-santorini?utm_source=Remodelista Daily Subscriber List&utm_campaign=8290c44c31-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email>.
Simple Three-story Modern Rectangular House Design
Three-story residence with simple modern rectangular design style. Although has simple exterior and look rigid, this modern rectangular house has completely different style between frontage and rear side. The frontage exterior and half-parts of this modern rectangular house is closed. The frontage coated with glazed aluminum panels. Certain of panels can be automatically open to reveal the windows.
The rear part of this modern rectangular house is completely open. The transparent look achieved by installing the glass sheets walls from rear house until half-part volume of side of house (vertically and horizontally from first until third floor), and of course full-glass sliding doors. The transparent volume overlooks the waterfront and panoramic view beyond.
Inside, more surprising interior design achieved. Most of each zone has double-height ceiling and the interior spaces meandering around center “inner-tower”. The “inner-tower” clad with wood and contains toilets of each floor and as storage, and a dumbwaiter. Beside of three bedrooms, lounge, utility area, and two studies area, this house has an open roof terrace built at third floor. The simple roof terrace directs connect with main bathroom. The furniture and other interior elements details specially created for this modern rectangular house. This modern house design also has sustainable house features, like cold and heat pump, thermal energy storage and solar collectors. Designed by Heeswijk.(archinspire)
archinspire, . Simple Three-story Modern Rectangular House Design. Home Design Ideas, 29 Mar 2012. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. <http://archinspire.com/home-design/simple-three-story-modern-rectangular-house-design.htm>.
a remodel of post war split-level house
This modern remodel is a remodel of post war split-level house into a comfortable living place…
living spaces with the outdoors while maintaining privacy…
Description from the architect:
Modest houses on small lots comprise the Quillen’s Point neighborhood, adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay in Ocean View, Delaware. An eclectic mix of houses, gravel roads ending at the bay and wooded lots provide a nostalgic, informal setting for this new house. The project site is near the end of Burbage Lane, the second lot from the bay with expectations that the adjacent waterfront lot will eventually be developed.
In an effort to integrate living spaces with the outdoors while maintaining privacy from Burbage Lane and neighboring houses, the scheme is organized around a centrally located garden. With sixteen foot high ceilings, the eastern volume contains the public living spaces. Continuous clerestory windows assist in providing an abundance of natural light into the space, allowing views to the treetops and sky while minimizing the close proximity of the adjacent houses. A twenty foot wide glass wall slides into a pocket, enhancing the relationship to the outdoors, and provides a sense of living in a garden. The two story western volume is comprised of bedrooms and a small second floor living space. A one story glass link connects the volumes and visually opens to the central garden.
The house was conceived as two simple, flat-roofed volumes, varying in height, intersecting and overlapping a one story circulation space which connects the volumes. The east volume is constructed with cement board, the west volume with corrugated siding and the one story connecting space with the ground face concrete block. The exterior material palette is quiet and subdued. Materials are selected for their expected long term durability, ease of installation and initial cost. The impact of the one story horizontal volume facing the street is intended to reflect the scale of neighboring structures while the narrow two story volumes are oriented perpendicular to the street reducing their apparent scale.
This house is designed in strong counterpoint to many of the houses built in the last era of abundant resources, expensive materials, and limitless floor area. The house is not large; it comprises three bedrooms and 2400 square feet. The house is constructed with modest materials that include concrete floors throughout the first floor, oak flooring on the second floor and plastic laminate and oak millwork.
The house was designed to achieve a balance between recognition of the picturesque Chesapeake Bay landscape and a more intimate, secluded garden environment. Expansive openings to the private garden combined with smaller, selectively oriented openings toward the greater landscape allow for a sense of privacy while maintaining a sensibility of direct connection to the rhythms of nature.
Dave. (2011, November 12). Lujan house by robert m. gurney [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.contemporist.com/2011/11/12/lujan-house-by-robert-m-gurney/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed: contemporist (CONTEMPORIST)
Choose Loft Bed To Maximize Space
The fact is undoubtedly undeniable that it is very hard to decorate a small bedroom efficiently to maximize space. Here’s a solution that every house owner would like to introduce in his room – Loft beds. It is compact and looks attractive, is extremely space saving and allows multiple utilization of the premium space. Perfect for rooms with limited space, loft beds are unquestionably an excellent way to introduce functionality in the room in an efficient manner which no other furniture can.
Choosing a loft bed for a room offers you versatility and allows you to maximize space. Introducing a loft bed as opposed to the typical bed opens up the room and creates extra space. The bed goes off the floor, and extra space is created underneath the bed. Needless to be mentioned but this simply adds extra footage to the room. The extra space can be used to arrange anything ranging from a casual seating area to a study section, for which free space was not available earlier. You may even introduce free hanging shelves underneath a loft bed and create storage solutions, which may be used for storing daily utility items or simply for expanding a collection.
With so many benefits offered by loft bed, the only question left for asking yourself is – why should you settle for typical beds when you have the opportunity to maximize the space and enjoy the convenience of a loft bed? (Stefan)
Stefan, . “Choose Loft Bed To Maximize Space.” Homedit. 09 Aug 2011. Web. 10 Aug 2011. <http://www.homedit.com/choose-loft-bed-to-maximize-space/>.
Small Space, Big Style
Barcode House is a beautiful contemporary home located in Washington DC and designed by David Jameson Architect. Its name comes from an exterior design detail which consists of a series of horizontal lines which resemble a huge commercial barcode.
This amazing residence is a mixture of old and new, heavy and light. Due to the lack of site space the house is vertically oriented as a solution. Moreover the architect used a lot of floor to ceiling windows in order to create a light, airy space and also gave the rooms the sense of grandeur.
As you can see throughout the entire house the color palette is made out of neutral colors, white and grey which make the space feel bigger. Furthermore every room is furnished in a way that gives the place a great sense of openness and it makes the most out of the minimal.
The Barcode House is a highly functional, high tech and a very high on style home. It has multifunctional, multitasking kitchen, equipped with beautiful stainless steel appliances. This residence is surely noticed in the neighborhood. It is simple, gorgeous and has a clean design.
This house has the perfect balance and becomes a very modern element, a statement of beauty amongst its neighbors. (Andreaa)
Andreaa, Mocanu. “Small Space, Big Style – The Barcode House.” Homedit. 09 Aug 2011. Web. 10 Aug 2011. <http://www.homedit.com/small-space-big-style-the-barcode-house/>.
“Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul.”
- via houzz
Create a Place for Books
The inscription over the door at the Library at Thebes says: Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul. Perhaps “for the soul” would be more appropriate, but I’m not going to nitpick because I love the sentiment. Sometimes with all of the technology we have, I fear we forget about the greatest resource we have for taking us far far away, teaching us, engaging children to learn, sparking our imaginations and giving good company: books.
becky, . Create a place for books [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/141621?utm_campaign=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery3&d=1&w=149345
Recipient of 2009 AIA Peconic Design Award
- photo: Dalton Portella
- photo: Dalton Portella
- photo: Dalton Portella
- photo: Dalton Portella
- photo: Dalton Portella
- photo: Dalton Portella
An art studio made with two side-by-side steel shipping containers perched on top of a foundation wall -with interior ceiling height of 18′ in the studio proper. (Maziar Behrooz Architecture)
Maziar Behrooz Architecture, Initials. (n.d.). prefab: containers. Retrieved from http://www.mbarchitecture.com/container-studio/
simplicity and abstraction... 