SERIES 7 BY ARNE JACOBSEN

 

A true timeless piece of mid century modern design.  

I do favor the walnut Series 7 chair, however in these beautifully styled images it would be very hard to choose just the 'one' favorite.

What is yours?

Designed by Arne Jacobsen, Architect turned designer.

Images via http://www.fritzhansen.com/

HARMONY STORAGE CANISTER BY AARDVARK

On my festive wishlist is this fun and retro Harmony storage canister.  It is the result of a collaboration between Wild and Wolf and Aardvark, a design duo specializing in creating fabulous letterpress prints using a vintage Heidelberg press with original wood and metal type. A modern take on The Desiderata, the message distills the values of that famous poem to amuse and inspire. Ceramic storage canister with wooden lid available from SCP in London

TODOS SANTOS BY GRACIA STUDIO

From snowed in minimalism to this beautiful and simplistic desert haven...

"The client required a house that is open to nature and at the same time is secure because it will be used only for vacationing and will be unused during 8 months of the year. The maintenance needed to be minimum and the materials needed to withstand hurricane seasons.

Basically the house is one open floor plan for the common areas and the bedrooms are more enclosed to have privacy.

The main structure of the house is composed of concrete matching the natural color of the local dirt, this way we blend with the local nature. We utilized to main walls that are east and west facades. We covered them with "talavera" to try to bring a traditional interpretation of Mexican architecture and looking at it in a more contemporary way.

The floor plan is very easy and flexible because of the linear structure of the house, basically we centralized the common areas that includes kitchen, dinning, and living and opened them to the main terrace and the pool. And on one side we added the master bedroom with a bathroom. And to the north we added two more bedrooms with a shared bathroom. The simplicity of the floor plan matches the simplicity of the design of the exterior, this way we tried to make a sanctuary to rest and to enjoy nature."

This kind of architecture just really works for me - it's basic, it's rectangular and it blends in well with the natural environment.  All aspects had been considered, and even the security gates adds a rustic element that works well with the overall design.

This prototype could work very well for my 'Darling Project'

http://www.graciastudio.com/

http://www.architecture-page.com/go/projects/todos-santos

TWINS: HOUSES IN 5 PARTS BY WILLIAM O'BRIAN JR

 

 

 

 

After a good few days of looking, searching and hunting - I have finally found the project I mentioned in my previous post.  It took ages, as I could not remember what it was called - but finally I managed to find it on Yatzer.

"Twins is a project located in upstate New York that commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2011. It consists of two vacation houses on one plot of land constructed in five parts for two brothers and their families. The conceptual thinking behind these structures is truly impressive. Great detail has been given to the forms in relation to the landscape. Each house is made out of five shapes, which have been minimally dissected and rotated to fit within the plot. The mathematical principle of “dissection” states that any two regular polygons with equal areas can be divided into sets of similar shapes; “minimal dissection” is the pursuit of the fewest number of subdivisions in each polygon. A regular six-sided polygon and a regular four-sided polygon contain the same five shapes—each are made up of the same four trapezoids and one triangle. The adjacencies between the five shapes are different within each of the regular polygons, as are their orientations relative to the outer perimeters of the polygons. Translated into spatial divisions in an architectural plan, these fixed arrangements prompt sectional-flexibility."

"Moving away from the structures and looking at the surroundings, you instantly notice how these two houses have been designed accordingly retaining the relation between architecture & the environment. Water collection is achieved through the angled roofs directed to a subterranean piping system between the residences. The agricultural development of the land varies according to the season. With this variation the relation between the two houses also alters according to the height of the plantation, the colour of the landscape and the thickness or bareness of the trees. Everything has been planted, created and designed in order to enforce the communication (direct or none) between the residences according to the particular time of the month. Nature takes a prime role in deciding how much you see of your loving neighbor and when."

Lately I am just drawn to this exact kind of architecture and landscape - minimalist yet thoughtful in design and execution.  The landscape covered in snow - vast windows perfectly frames the beauty of the surrounding areas - and the most basic of furniture.

Dreamy it is, beautiful it is, well designed it most certainly is.  The starkness of the exterior is purposefully striking in the wintry surroundings.  I'd love to see more of the interiors and how the space has been furnished throughout.   And I'd love to see it in the varying seasons.

http://yatzer.com/Twins-Houses-in-Five-Parts-by-William-O-Brien-Jr

THURSDAY INSPIRATION

Such a beautiful spot - enveloped by nature, snow, trees - and then this warm glow from within... lush!

This post will grow - soon as I can recall the name and details of the project.  There are 2 houses built on the same plot - similar in style but very different in layout.  One set around a courtyard space

APOLOGIES

Good morning to all my wonderful readers!

Big apologies for the lack of regular posts this past week - I promise to be back on track with interesting and exciting creative interiors and posts again soon.

Sometimes it is good to take a step away from all that's out there, or better said on my computer screen and focus on life, real life and real experiences to get some creative inspiration again.

To stay true to myself and true to what I adore, 

true to being objective and passionate

and to reflect that always in this blog.

Keep watching this space, and do say hello!

Hello Russia, Japan, UK, USA, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Austria, Croatia, The Netherlands, India, South Korea, Denmark and South Africa to name a few.  Thanks for stopping by often - you are all very encouraging and wonderful!

Have a great Wednesday

x

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

via tumblr

HERBST ARCHITECTS - TIMMS BACH HOUSE

 

I dare not comment as this is pure perfection! 

Except to mention that I think I might have found some new favorite architects.... all the way over in New Zealand

via http://herbstarchitects.co.nz/timms-bach/

WEEKEND GETAWAY - DRAWINGS 3

 

My previous post refers (House B8) and having been so inspired by it, I have spent the past couple of hours drawing and came up with my own rendition of a 'guest unit' which will somehow be attached via courtyard/ terrace to the main unit.

Please forgive the rough sketches....  

So the idea was to have a slightly separate guest unit for when friends or family are visiting.  I am an early riser and love the brightness and promise of early mornings.  Having guests visiting - and more often than not I hope to have guests - I won't want to be waking them up in the somewhat early morning hours. 

This unit allows for guests to have their own space and privacy, it can sleep 5 (the sleeping area to the back has a bunk bed above for a child) Most of my friends and family have children, and this will allow a cosy stay for a handful of nice people.  Own bathroom, and built in storage - plus wide benches where one can relax and take in the scenery, leading onto the mini courtyard/ terrace. (benches marked in white and separated by the purple area:  which is a mini kitchen unit finished in Cemcrete Satincrete (waterproof cement finish), with mini fridge, coffee maker and an alcove with shelves)

On the terrace we have a tree growing out of the surrounding extended area and some hanging chairs on either side.  Space for a small table and a bench on the terrace, and we're all set for a great stay!  I think perhaps a hammock in the garden under a shaded canopy would add a nice and relaxing touch...

Next would be the main unit - but perhaps I leave that for another day....

I love hearing any comments or feedback, so please do say hello - a love it, or hate it! I won't mind, and I'm open to new ideas or suggestions too

HOUSE B8 BY 56.02

 

House B8 is located in Huentelauquen, Chile and designed by 56.02 (Mauricio Bruna-Fruns, Ursula Oliva, Alejandro Gandarillas, Pablo Muñoz) with the total area of the house 91 sqm.

The photographs are taken by Alejandro Gandarillas.  

"All the “wet” areas and the BBQ are condensed in a one wall/volume that runs through the entire south facade, this decision helped to create more flexible spaces.

One of the main goals was to expand the constructed area, without increasing the original budget assigned to the house, to the related activities and situations that would be developed considering the owners life style. In order to achieve this, an articulating interior patio was proposed with the same dimensions of the standard module that is used in the house entry. This operation allowed the formation of an open outdoors space, protected from the wind and also a terrace, located with the same orientation as the mentioned outdoors space, towards the exterior. The compilation of all things transforms a 50m2 house into a 91m2 total.

As a third decision, to divide the different spaces, the boundary material selected was sliding glass panels. These elements have the possibility to move, generating an interior-exterior limit that can be controlled by the user as he wishes to. This sliding operation allows to create different spaces, in addition to that, the onsite furniture plus the non existence of partition walls, results in a house where the divisions and subdivisions are only applied trough these glass panels and furniture."

I just love the simplicity of this design and how comfortably it sits in its natural environment.  I imagine the wooden panels on the facade will quite well over time, and leave a lovely greyish-brown finish (or maybe not).  It seems quite simple, but I imagine a lot of thought has gone into this space - firstly as there were some budgetary concerns and secondly to bare in mind the natural conditions of the site (ie coastal with strong winds at times)

The separate guestroom with en-suite shower room allows some privacy for visitors, and yet not totally secluded - something I have not quite fully figured out for my own space - how to incorporate a separate guestroom - still part of the main space.  And House B8 has really got my creative juices going again!  Hurray!  

The central courtyard really pulls the whole design together, allowing beautiful views from all rooms.  My plot has a very similar landscape and vegetation - and has uninterrupted views of a nature reserve - sadly no ocean views.... but it will be a holiday home, so I'm happy with a natural open space to look out onto.  I do like the wooden cladding - the idea is growing on me - but then again I also like the idea of a more weathered white-grey cement paint with a slightly mottled finish (and it's very low maintenance which is a big plus) and perhaps some distressed and aged wood incorporated somewhere.  I will keep the garden natural so it will flow over the dirt road and into the nature reserve uninterruptedly.  I might add some wildflowers scattered here and there as the area is known and popular in springtime with visitors from wide and far!

Here's a link to the picturesque little town of Darling

Anyone with ideas of how to incorporate all these things into my dream holiday home .... I'd love to hear from you!

I've gathered images and content from the following websites.....

http://sgustokdesign.com/

http://www.homevaganza.com/

http://www.archdaily.com/

http://news.architecture.sk/