Category Archives: Architecture

TRANSFORMATION OF FARMHOUSE BURKELDIJK AND FORTRESS HAZEGRAS

14 June 2017

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern
 

Some architectural perfection for you today with the transformation of Farmhouse Burkeldijk and fortress Hazegras into a residence by Belgian architects Govaert & Vanhoutte.

Carefully renovated and sensitively extended the introduction image shows the clean cut between the old listed fort and the new contemporary residence reflecting the local architecture of long farmhouses. I’m fascinated by the original vertical gun ports next to the entrance and the remnants of four WWI bunkers that surround the site.

These historical elements give the building an additional dimension and I love how the architects have managed to transform the fort and the farmhouse into a contemporary residence giving it an open floorplan and large floor to ceiling windows on the reverse of the fort. I can imagine living in this place invites reflection on the past and comparison with the present as well as giving you a healthy connection with the beautiful landscape of Flanders.

See more here.

 
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architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

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architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

architecture, eye candy, flanders, begium, style, trend, contemporary, farmhouse, fort, Govaert and Vanhoutte, history, WWI bunker, gun ports, restore, renovate, extend, modern

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Govaert & Vanhoutte
PHOTOGRAPHY | Tim Van De Velde with thanks
 
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ESCAPE AND RECONNECT WITH NATURE AT THIS FORESTERS HOUSE

20 May 2017

weekend, foresters house, natural reserve, sweden, Petra Gipp Architecture, environment, minimalist, cubic design, picture windows, tarred wooden cladding, reconnect with nature, style, trend

 

It’s the weekend and all I want to do is escape to this Forester’s House and go off-grid, disconnect from social media and forget about the stressful tantrum-ridden school runs, worries about what to cook for dinner and the overflowing laundry basket.

The house and adjacent service building sit within a natural beech wood reserve in Sweden and were designed by Petra Gipp Architecture with the intention of blending in with the natural landscape and minimising the impact on the environment.

The minimalist, cubic design sits slightly above the ground giving a higher viewpoint from the inside across the lake and woods. Naturally, I was drawn to the large picture windows and tarred wooden cladding but the spectacular views is where I want my eye to wander, rest and reconnect with nature.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend.

 

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weekend, foresters house, natural reserve, sweden, Petra Gipp Architecture, environment, minimalist, cubic design, picture windows, tarred wooden cladding, reconnect with nature, style, trend

weekend, foresters house, natural reserve, sweden, Petra Gipp Architecture, environment, minimalist, cubic design, picture windows, tarred wooden cladding, reconnect with nature, style, trend

weekend, foresters house, natural reserve, sweden, Petra Gipp Architecture, environment, minimalist, cubic design, picture windows, tarred wooden cladding, reconnect with nature, style, trend

weekend, foresters house, natural reserve, sweden, Petra Gipp Architecture, environment, minimalist, cubic design, picture windows, tarred wooden cladding, reconnect with nature, style, trend

 

 
MORE INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHY | Petra Gipp Architecture
 
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HOUSE W, TAIPEI | BRINGING IN LIGHT, PLANTS AND AIR

2 March 2017

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors
 

Despite being located in a densely populated area of Taipei in Taiwan KC design studio managed to bring light, plants and air into this small three storey townhouse simply called, House W.

To overcome the houses’ disadvantaged location KC design studio opened up the roof and installed structural glass as part of the flooring on every level. This transparent core lets light travel all the way to the ground floor giving much needed daylight to the open plan kitchen, dining and living area.

Their second radical decision was to set the facade back and putting a metal mesh in its place. This creates semi transparent small outside spaces on each floor allowing the owners to bring in plants and greens whilst giving much needed air flow and a wonderful space to sit and relax.

I’ve been featuring a lot of extraordinary architecture lately – partly because I haven’t come across many equally extraordinary interiors. But the main reason is that even though these houses are out of many people’s reach financially (certainly mine) I believe you can always pick up interesting details and ideas from spaces that have had less constraints on budgets. Boutique hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants as well as any public building incorporates a myriad of ideas, details and materials that can translate into your own home. All it needs is some closer inspection and an open mind.

This home is fascinating for me as they’ve achieved an open-plan, modern and industrial look on a vertical scale. Bringing in plants and greenery has softened the look and added another layer of interesting texture. I like the juxtaposition of rough concrete beams next to the sleek stainless steel kitchen which is cleverly integrated into the staircase to make use of the limited space and to keep the ground floor as wide and open as possible. A design trick you may have seen in my blog post of an Islington conversion here a few weeks ago.

I hope you share my enthusiasm for this unusual space and it’ll give you some inspiration for your own home. It’s certainly got me thinking.

 

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house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

house w, taipei, taiwan, townhouse, kc design studio, air, light, plants, structural glass, semi transparent, metal mesh facade, trend, industrial look, concrete, architecture, interiors

 

 
MORE INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHY | KC Design Studio with thanks
 
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SPA ANNEX DESIGNED BY PATRICK JOUIN AND SANJIT MANKU

20 February 2017

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

 

Oh this Spa annex had me at hello ‘beams and concrete’. It’s a recent addition to the family run Hôtel des Berges in the Alsace region and designed by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku who previously redesigned the hotel’s Michelin stared restaurant.

To cater for mind, body and soul what better addition could there be to a family run hotel in a picturesque French village with a Michelin stared restaurant than a spa for guests who seek total relaxation in harmony with nature.

The building itself is inspired by the region’s large old barns and the structure is timber frame and concrete with chunky beams and untreated materials being used throughout. I like the deliberate choice of showing the building’s structure rather than concealing it with plasterboard. In particular the pitched roof in the generous five junior suites upstairs where the construction is fully exposed. A trend which I’ve noticed more of recently – see my post on the three mountain huts restaurant in Switzerland.

My favourite bit has to be the pool area though which is just perfectly and discreetly lit by the sunlight flooding in through those wooden slats across the window. What could be more relaxing than watching dispersed sunbeams dance across the water!?

 
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spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

spa annex, mind, body, soul, relaxing, restful, harmony, nature, pool, french, alsace, pitched roof, exposed beams, untreated materials, discreet, michelin stared restaurant, hotel des berges, architecture, space design, Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku

 

 
ARCHITECTURE & SPACE DESIGN | Jouin Manku Agencies
MORE INFORMATION | Hôtel des Berges
PHOTOGRAPHY | Nicolas Mathéus with thanks
 
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THREE MOUNTAIN HUTS | PETER PILCHER ARCHITECTURE

13 February 2017

swiss, mountain, restaurant, three huts, oberholz, ski resort, peter pilcher, Pavol Mikolajcak, architects, structure, spruce, traditional, textures, construction, concrete, wood, view, scenery

 

Winter has Britain firmly in it’s grip and I’m dreaming of heading off to the mountains with the family for some snow. One place I’d love to explore is the South Tyrolean Dolomites and the Swiss resort of Oberholz where this gorgeous new mountain restaurant has opened up designed by Peter Pichler architects in collaboration with Italian architect Pavol Mikolajcak.

I’m fascinated by the structure of the three large huts facing slightly different mountains with the volumes flowing and connecting into each other. As the architect describes it: “The cantilevering structure grows out of the hill like a fallen tree with three main branches creating a symbiosis with the landscape. At the end of the branches a large glass facade frames the surrounding mountains from the interior of the hut.”

The exposed internal structure in local spruce helps you ‘read’ the buildings’ construction and draws you to the large window at the end of each volume. Somehow it reminds me of inside a whale, looking at it’s rib cage, not that I’ve never been inside a whale [obvs]. The textures and materials use inside are contemporary without compromising on local relevance with the use of spruce and concrete. The wooden chairs too are a modern take on the traditional, curvy Swiss chairs by squaring the backrest off and keeping a cut out to make it easier to move them around, only in this version it’s a lozenge and not a whimsical heart or leaf.

It’s a beautiful project and though I love skiing I wouldn’t be too upset if I had to spend my days in here looking out at the stunning scenery.

 

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MORE INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHY | Peter Pilcher Architects in collaboration with Pavol Mikolajcak Architects with thanks

 

 
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