Category Archives: Architecture

BLENDING IN WITH NATURE | RING HOUSE, CRETE

6 March 2018

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style
 

Wow, what an extraordinary dwelling Ring House is. Blink and you’ll miss it. If it wasn’t for the turquoise shimmering pool you may mistake it for a fortress in it’s elevated position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Preserving nature and leaving as little trace as possible was a main concern for the clients who wanted a contemporary residence that was embedded into the landscape. The architects happily obliged and took great care to restore the site back to it’s natural beauty. After works were completed they planted seedlings they collected from the site during the excavation works thus ensuring the building blends in as naturally and quickly as possible. What a great idea and immensely laudable.

I love the construction and structure of the natural stone walls which give a nod to traditional agricultural Greek houses paired with the contemporary poured concrete beams following the organic curve of the site. A contemporary sandwich with a traditional filling if you like.

I’m ready to pack my bags and head south to Crete after all this winter weather and snow (!) we had last week in London. Brr…
Doesn’t this pool look divine? Who’s with me?

 
architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

architecture, landscape, crete, natural, preservation, gentle living, conscious living, leave no trace, environmental concern, embedded, greece, traditional stone wall, poured concrete beams, contemporary, modern, organic, trend, style

 
 
MORE INFORMATION | Deca Arichitecture
PHOTOGRAPHY | George Messaritakis with thanks
 
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‘A ROOM FOR TWO’ | PLYWOOD STRUCTURE BY BEN ALLEN STUDIO

17 October 2017

a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture
 

I absolutely adore Ben Allen’s latest project, ‘A room for two’ which is a plywood structure custom made for an apartment in the Barbican’s Defoe House in central London.

Pale birch plywood is a massive trend at the moment as the inexpensive material is light, strong and versatile and can be cut easily into any shape. The pale colour and subtle wood grain texture compliments the continuing trend for minimalism, creating clean lines and a contemporary uniform look as so often seen in Scandinavian design.

The purpose of this commission was to divide a single bedroom into a creative sleeping and working space for the owners two children making sure that every piece of the off-site prefabricated structure fitted through the standard Barbican apartment door.

Studio Ben Allen picked up on details like the arches of the Brutalist style estate and created two separate entrances to the kids spaces which feature a desk and a bed each. I adore the way that each piece of furniture serves a function like little cubby holes in the steps for slippers and in-built drawers for books to read in bed. My favourite bit is the fold down desk which cleverly reveals a house shaped window repeated on the opposite side ensuring a straight sightline out into the open courtyard.

A fabulous piece of functional design that nestles perfectly into the 1950ies apartment.

If you love plywood you can see more creative applications in this cafe and this stylists home or head over to the V&A’s current plywood exhibition.
 

 
a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture

a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture

a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture

a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture

a room for two, barbican, central london, brutalist, architecture, custom made, birch plywood, versatile, strong, contemporary, minimal, clean, function, form, style, trend, functional design, v and a museum, creative application, interior design, furniture

 

 
MORE INFORMATION | Studio Ben Allen
PHOTOGRAPHY | Michael Sinclair with thanks
 
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OLD WINERY CONVERSION NEAR LISBON BY EXTRASTUDIO

13 October 2017

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

 

Residential conversions of old commercial buildings always inspire me and I particularly like what Portuguese architects extrastudio have done with this old winery south of Lisbon.

It’s called the Red House and I love the striking colour of the lime based mortar which changes according to humidity levels from blush pink in hot weather to almost black when wet.

The former winery is adjacent to an orange tree orchard which dictated the landscaping and overall design of the house with large sliding glass doors across one side and a slim external courtyard letting in as much natural light as possible.

There are wonderful double and triple height spaces inside and floor to ceiling mirrors to bounce the light around all adding to that lovely feeling of space and contemporary minimalism. Spoilt for favourite features I’m going to pick the large bathroom window looking out onto the external courtyard with it’s lush vegetation – a view that would no doubt cheer me up every morning.

It’s projects like these that fire me up and inspire me to try harder and not pick the easy path.

PS: Check out these conversions of industrial spaces in Germany, Friesland and Sydney.
 

 

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old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

old winery conversion, lisbon, portugal, extrastudio architects, architecture, red house, mortar, humidity, orchard, sliding glass doors, external courtyard, double and triple height, style, styling, minimal, contemporary, trend

 

 
ARCHITECTS | extrastudio
PHOTOGRAPHY | Fernando Guerra with thanks
 
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BUTTERFLY BARN BY ANDREW HUGHES ARCHITECT

30 June 2017

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

 

I came across Butterfly Barn via The Modern House last night and got sucked into dreaming about my future property. In their own words “The Modern Home sells Britain’s most exceptional living spaces” and the Butterfly Barn by Andrew Hughes Architects is right up there with my top choices.

This contemporary four bedroom house sits in rural Essex on a large plot surrounded by open farmland and the architect’s striking roof line echoes the wings of a butterfly which create some dramatic triangular internal walls. The building’s clean lines with no overhanging roof, window sills or any other external decoration remind of the barn that previously stood in the same footprint. It’s clad in vertical panels of larch timber which emphasise the geometric roof lines and simple square or rectangular shaped windows to take in the views and surrounding countryside.

I love the open plan kitchen / living / dining area with sliding doors leading out onto a terrace and the garden beyond. My favourite room has to be the blue family room though. Such a striking colour, giving a cosy feel yet maintaining contact with the outside through a large picture window.

Another great modern architectural feature are the exposed steels that hold up the roof and allow you to read the building’s structure – similar to that of a barn where the timber construction and beams are visible.

I think I might just be able to overcome my fear of living rural with this property. And if you’ve fallen in love with it too you can actually go and view it this Saturday, 1st July via The Modern House.

Check out another stunning rural residence here – Reydon Grove Farm by Norm architects.

 

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butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

butterfly barn, andrew hughes architects, the modern house, exceptional living spaces, essex, rural, countryside, geometric roof lines, triangular, open plan, exposed steels, trend, modern, contemporary, style

 

 
VIA | The Modern House
 
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REFURBISHMENT OF A MEXICAN TOWNHOUSE BY BELGIAN ARCHITECTS

26 June 2017

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

 

I’m often torn between the benefits and draw backs of globalization but this refurbishment of a Mexican townhouse by Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek and Belgian interior designer Marc Merckx has to be a prime example of why globalization is a good thing.

Both architect and designer are former associates of Vincent van Duysen and all share a similar sense of detail, craftsmanship, simplicity and love for unassuming, tactile and raw materials. I first came across this project by following Marc Merckx on Instagram where he showed details of the polished concrete floor, the stunning arabescatto marble and locally sourced parotta wood alongside the wafer thin metal staircase.

I love how the urban jungle courtyard garden with large foliage plants, ferns and palm trees contrasts with the timeless minimalism of the interior and exterior, a previously 1970ies brutalist four storey building. Schuybroek and Merckx have achieved an elegant timeless house by keeping to their restraint material selection.

You can see Vincent van Duysen’s refurbishment of Antwerp’s Graanmarkt here.

 

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

refurbishment, mexican townhouse, belgian architect, Nicolas Schuybroek, interior designer Marc Merckx, Vincent van Duysen, detail, craftsmanship, simplicity, unassuming, tactile, raw, elegant, polished concrete floor, arabescatto marble, locally sourced parotta wood, urban jungle, timeless minimalism, trend, style, inspiration

 
MORE INFORMATION & PHOTOGRAPHY | Nicolas Schuybroek Architects with thanks
 
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