Of all the amazing workspaces I have come across this one certainly takes the cake. Peter Frazier of UIArchitects created the dream office out of this simple cube protruding from the forest overlooking Chuckanut Bay in Bellingham, Washington.
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La Dia Cottage
Renovated Swiss mountain farmhouses are one of the most beautiful structures in existence. This particular one was originally built in 1862, and was renovated with the focus being a balance between conservation of
heritage and necessary updates. Charles Pictet did a wonderful job of that and stayed very true to the original homes structure and reorganizing it’s contents and layout. The result is a home which fits it’s surroundings, but is a more contemporarily appropriate.
(via SUBTILITAS »)
Håkansson Tegman House
Hakansson Tegman House is a single story home in Höllviken, Sweden, which was designed to have a very direct connection with nature and the outdoors. Design was carried out by Johan Sundberg. The walls feature a mix of slated wood and glass. This allows it to be wide open to the outdoors, while also maintaining a nice level of privacy.
(via CubeMe »)
River Side House
Of all the things that continually astonish me about architecture; the ingenuity it takes to create a beautiful building on an a lot with such a laundry list of limitations is right there at the top of the list. Mizuishi Architect Atelier rose to one such challenge and the River Side House was born. On an awkwardly shaped, minuscule Suginami, Tokyo they were able to create a house with a nice sense of privacy protected from the street. The open and airy quality of the interior seems nearly impossible after seeing the exterior, and even then they were able to create 3 completely separate floors.
(via The ArchHive »)
Summer House Skåtøy
This summer house in Skåtøy Island, Norway is all you need in a summer house. Just over 1000 square feet is modern, but still fits in with it’s surrounding so perfectly. The interior is a simple wood and exposed concrete, which echoes the rocks and trees from the outside. The design was carried out by Oslo based Filter Arkitekter.
(via HomeDSGN »)
Silver Beaver
Part of me just really loves the name of this houseboat, Silver Beaver, and another part is in love with the simple yet perfectly crafter interior. Sparse and refined with plenty of light and open space despite a relatively small footprint. Confused Direction has conquered the house boat with this beautiful modern design. I would take to the water in a heartbeat if I could live in this house.
(via GBlog »)
Casa de Lavra
Open to the breeze or buttoned up to weather the storm, Casa de Lavra designed by Nuno Merino Rocha is a perfectly poised at the crossroads of minimalist and rustic. No more than exactly what is required. A big open living space with a wood burning stove, a cozy kitchen tucked under a large open sleeping loft, and a variety of windows and doors which open to connect the inside with it’s natural surroundings.
(via SUBTILITAS »)
Casa Ubiracica
Completed in 1997 Casa Ubiracica in São Paulo, Brazil fits its surroundings, but simultaneously evokes an energy that this house was commissioned by Picasso or some great Brazilian artist I have never heard of. The colors and perfect execution, of what can best be described as lived in modern communicates the innate balance in the life of an artist. The pursuit of aesthetic perfection constantly affected or undermined by the organic aspects of life. So much of Brasil Arquitetura’s works share this theme. A stark juxtaposition between the natural and the man made, which makes their buildings beautiful and modern, but also comfortable and livable.
Rentsch House
The buildings designed by Richard Neutra are some of the most iconic structures of the last hundred years, and maybe even all time. These photos by Iwan Baan, of the Rentsch House capture this classicism in all it’s glory looking out over an idyllic Swiss mountain-scape.
Dark Mountain House
Clad in black stained wood this multi-level house undulates down the slope of the lot creating an interesting relationship with it’s surrounding. The main access is across a suspended metal bridge, which connects the house to the hill above. Designed by Miurashin Architect + Associates the further you explore the house the more you learn about it’s environment and are able to experience it in a way otherwise impossible. The most explicit example of this is the tiered roof deck, which literally expands out directly out into the forest canopy.
(via Arch.itect.us »)
Casa 205
A stark wooden box tucked into a hillside sounds bland, however H Arquitectes was able to create this subtle prefab home which is amount about the details as it is about the lack of details. The wooden rectangle was dangled into place in pieces by a crane, and sits so perfectly perched just below the peak of the hill. The interior is a nice mix of minimalism and coziness. A feeling created by the juxtaposition between the cohesive use of wood, flooring and paneled walls, and the more pedestrian furniture and fixtures.
(via SUBTILITAS »)
Builder’s Special
This Bozeman, Montana home is a special breed, and not just because it took a special breed to build it. Sound engineer by day Brian Whitlock got his hands dirty doing as much of the labor on his DIY home as possible. Sourcing materials and talent locally helped Whitlock create his dream space, and also find a contractor that was willing to work with a hands on client that wanted to be a part of every step, literally.
(via Dwell »)
The Gugalun House
Having a historic Swiss mountain farmhouse like The Gugalun House is a dream unto itself, but one renovated by Peter Zumthor brings it to an entirely transcendent level. The renovation took a few special steps to pay homage to the original structure and it’s craftsmen. Zumthor even kept the original foot path that has been travelled by farmers and residents alike for over a hundred years. These details help to contextualize the house both as a livable modern home, but also to honor all the history that exists within the walls and on the site.
(via SUBTILITAS »)
Camp Treehouse
Tom’s Treehouse is one of the creative and unique residences, which together comprise Camp Wandawega a lake side resort unlike any other. Tereasa Surratt and David Hernandez the creative duo behind Wandawega cobble together found and flee market scored fixtures and objects, which make up the camps rustic antiquities aesthetic. Their gem has been featured on sites like Design Tripper and The Lettered Cottage. Staying in a place with such a great story and where the design is so defined by the process of building it sounds like a really fun adventure. Keep up with Wandawega over on their blog.
Family House in Kraluv Dvur
Use of an interesting sliding shutter system on this family home in the Czech Republic helps to protect and insulate the house. Designed by OV-A this minimalist dwelling can be opened up to greet a sunny morning or all buttoned up to weather the storm. The choice of materials helps to keep the exterior bright, but it also fits it’s surroundings appropriately.
(via ArchDaily »)
Store Front
Olson Kundig is by far one of my favorite architecture firms. A lot of what I love about them has to do with their unique approach and the distinctly different look and feel of their work from others. This innovation and fresh thinking is something that spawns from doing things differently and being open to change and adaptation. Experimentation is a key component to the design process, and that is exactly what they have done with their Store Front space. It has been a record store, a volunteer center, sand arts education popup and more. Exploring what a space can and should be helps inform how to design for circumstances we may have never even thought of before.
Waikanae House
Despite a funky mod beach sensibility this vacation house has a refined comfy interior, and looks out over the ocean and Kapiti Island. The design by Parsonson Architects is a definite nod to modernism, especially their interest in what architecture of the future would look like.
Forest Bath in Nagano
A triangle form cut right into the side of the house creates a perfect protected patio to enjoy the forest. Kyoko Ikuta Architecture Laboratory created this light and open yet private summer residence for the clients to experience the trees and outdoors.
(via ArchDaily »)
Casa Pantalon
Derived from the form of the letter V, this house designed by Eduardo Castillo Arquitecto used this shape create two private and separate volumes connected by a common space. This separation is based on a typical Chilean home where the rooms for the children, kitchen, and baths would be separate or detached from the section for the parents. The house is made from a palette of generic rustic building materials, which if they were composed with less skill could easily look more like a shanty than the interesting house they became.
(via SUBTILITAS »)
Sakae Restaurant
In Yokohama, Japan sits a small locavore restaurant designed to heighten the experience through an enlightened approach to user experience. The space was designed by Kentaro Yamazaki of YKDW, is focused around a single communal dining table situated right next to the kitchen. Sakae has taken term open kitchen and pushed it to all new lengths. This creates an environment that reminds me more of my dream kitchen and dining room for a home than a restaurant. Their method makes a great amount of sense as locavore cuisine is highly impacted by preparation and cooking techniques. So every guest is involved as an observer in how and what the kitchen is concocting.
(via Spoon & Tamago »)
