Posts by Anna Korkobcova - Author at Minimalissimo

Le Marche Villa

My friends, hold on to your hats because today I am taking you to a breathtaking villa in Le Marche, to what seems to be a hidden jewel in Italy.

Converted into a vacation home with a guest house, Casa Olivi is located on a hill in Treia and is a result of a 4-year renovation process by Swiss architects Markus Wespi and Jerome de Meuron. The 300-year old villa was destroyed by fire in 1995 but the architects revived it with keen eye for modern lines while being respectful of the original charm. The result is a stunning home that is elegant, minimal and oh so delightful for the eyes!

If this is a “farmhouse”, we all might as well become weekend farmers, don’t you think?

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The Openhouse

We are going to Hollywood Hills today, visiting home built in 2008 by XTEN Architecture. As always I particularly love the integration of architecture into the landscape while opening it to the city below.

There is a lot to notice but let’s have a closer look at the materiality throughout: steel beams, glass in various renditions (such as fixed clear plate panels, mirror plate walls, light gray mirror glass panels), dry stacked granite (fireplace), charcoal concrete (cantilevered stair), floor to ceiling rift oak panels, dark stucco, cut pebble (flooring). The repetition of building elements deepens the continuity of space but with the right amount of interest, don’t you think?

The house opens on every side “to capture the prevailing breezes to passively ventilate and cool the house” and I can easily see myself spending warm Californian afternoon here.

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Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen is a Belgium architect whose work I’ve been drawn to for quite a while. It was almost too difficult to select only one of his projects to be featured here today and therefore here is a selection of my favorite spaces he designed.

The use of singular element, frequently in a large scale, typically either defines the interiors or directs viewers’ attention to that particular element. I’m a big fan of the beautiful white space, panelled walls and strong geometrical shapes re-appearing in his designs. Hope you enjoy.

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The H House

The H House in Maastricht, Netherlands was designed by Dutch architects Wiel Arets Architects and it is the ideal home for the artistically inclined owners. Although the home was built in suburban area, its minimal structure fits in the existing environment without the sacrifice of desired contemporary architecture.

Minimal use of walls in interiors emphasizes the volumes of space, creating the effect of uninterrupted flow. Edited color palette consisting primarily of various shades of white provides soothing backdrop for the play of light and shadows, formed by the geometry of large windows and strong angles of interior structure. Seamless transition is further supported by the use of glass throughout, differentiating in its shape, transparency and opacity. Very interesting staircase floats above the ground and even more supports the careful definition of space.

I love the combination of minimal interiors covered in white and of bold, lush green landscape on the outside.  It is a successful combination of client’s preferred taste, necessary function, and existing surroundings. Perfect blend of interiors, architecture and landscape.

Photography by Jan Bitter.

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Good Design

As we get closer to closing 2011, I thought it would be worthwile to re-visit somebody who has been featured on Minimalissimo multiple times for his visionary approach in design that never goes of out style: German industrial designer Dieter Rams.

Already in the early 1980s and as a chief designer for Braun, Dieter Rams was aware and concerned by the state of the material world around him. Surrounded by what he called “an impenetrable confusion of forms, colours and noise” he created ten principles of good design that I found appropriate to feature before we enter 2012, another year full of creativity and design.

1. Good design is innovative    2. Good design makes a product useful    3. Good design is aesthetic    4. Good design helps us to understand a product    5. Good design is unobtrusive    6. Good design is honest    7. Good design is durable    8. Good design is consequent to the last detail    9. Good design is concerned with the environment    10. Good design is as little design as possible

With Mr. Rams’ words in mind, I hope you find it inspiring to either design or appreciate the design that is Good Design.

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Villa in Ibiza

Yes I am aware that it is the middle of December and many of you are probably covered in snow… but doesn’t a quick trip to Ibiza sound quite tempting? Designed by French architect Pascal Cheikh Djavadi, today’s home is calling our name with its minimal structure on the outside and a couple of surprising and elegant curves on the inside. The curves are balancing just right with the rest of the home, somehow making it even more inviting and fitting to its environment. There is a nice sense of both simplicity and personality that is so fresh and inviting. Carefully edited furnishing and neutral color palette with selected hints of color only add to the overall concept.

Whether or not that was the plan of the architect, I love the play of rectangle being showcased in various scale throughout – from windows and doors openings, to fireplace, reading zone, selected seating, enormous bookshelf, and even seen in the design of the pool.

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Garden and Sea House

I was inspired to look into Japanese minimalism this week after hearing Shohei Shigematsu of OMA speak a couple of days ago about some aspects of why Japanese architects design the way they do. We won’t go into these circumstances here today but we will have a look at a great project in Japan built back in 2008 by Takao Shiotsuka Atelier.

Garden and Sea House was designed around the goal to view as much of its surrounding sea as possible. Shiotsuka implemented previously proven elements to maximize the experience such as expansive windows, transparency and translucency, edited materiality and of course, minimal color. The repetitive use of these elements used in intentionally large scale supports the entire experience.

Although there are certain zones where one might prefer just a bit more privacy, Garden and Sea house somehow exudes beautiful sense of calmness, wouldn’t you say?

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Tina Frey

Tina Frey is San Francisco-based designer creating modern designs in resin. Besides jewellery, her collection also includes everyday objects. The pieces in the collection are hand sculpted and when the clay design is completed, hand-made molds are created for each object. The molds are used to cast each item individually by hand in small batches by color. After the pieces are cast and removed from the mold, they are hand sanded.

I appreciate Frey’s honest way of working with each piece, creating a direct relationship or a “bond” between the designer, the piece and hopefully the individual who will eventually purchase it.

There is also strong potential in real wearability of her unique pieces for each design can easily become the star element or play the subdued part. Perfect example of sophisticated bold statement.

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Reindeers and Snohetta

Today’s post will be hopefully yet another reminder that minimalism does not always have to consist of black and white. It is actually not the color what defines minimalism. Rather, one might look at strong element, cohesive material, connection, or repetition and see the overall harmony and concept supported by their use. All is hopefully achieved with simplicity and restraint.

Now let’s have a look at The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center in Dovre. Built by the fantastic Snohetta, I can applaud the architects for finding the balance between the focal point of the design and creative solution to the actual structure. The achievement here is the humble, yet absolutely beautiful and innovative execution of the Center while the most prominence was left to the surroundings, panoramic views and really, the existing “architecture” of nature.

The site itself is 90 square meters, has comfortable seating area, features a fireplace and a glass facade that is supported by steel fins. The Pavilion was constructed by using Norwegian Shipbuilding techniques. The waving effect was achieved by using 10 inch wooden beams that were milled and assembled by making good use of pegs.

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Inhabitat Furniture

This Inhabitated Furniture apartment in Paris, France was designed in 2011 by Nicolas Reymond and it is interesting space to look at here on Minimalissimo. Besides the large volumes, very simple in form, I was attracted to the maximum and innovative use of space developed by Reymond.

The renovation proposes, instead of walls, two large furnitures accessible by each side, to set up the space. These furnitures include and hide storages, kitchen cupboards, dressing, doors and bathrooms. They also separate day from night uses. A fluid and multipurpose space is provided: the entrance space is used alternately as a kitchen or as an office.

The module idea combined in seamless manner with existing historical elements of the apartment is a well-executed solution to the previously problematic layout. The large volumes placed strategically at the core of the apartment, unforcefully indicate the focal space but still give the freedom of interpretation based on occupant’s needs and desires.

I love  the flexibility of use of the space and of course the integration of old and new. I wish my current city San Francisco would start building these!

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