Category: Architecture & Interior design

Apartment in Carcavelos by Hugo Proenca

When size matters, good design takes action. And when it comes to a 65sqm apartment, everything needs a little more attention, in terms of design. The flat is located in Portugal, in Carcavelos an area near Lisbon and the architect Hugo Proenca transformed it into a contemporary and adequate, despite its size, single residential home.

The use of simple lines, the minimal aesthetic and the smart choice of three, basic, design elements, resulted in a bigger looking space without making any functional compromises. A feeling of whole is achieved by removing any useless interior doors, except from those that lead to the bedroom and bathroom. A mirror wall, just opposite the apartment’s entrance maximizes the illusion of space and depth while the need of storage is solved by transforming two of the living room walls into cabinets. I cannot overlook the concept behind that black carpentry. Lacking height (only 2.10m tall) enters the kitchen’s space, intensifying the sense of continuity.

Photography by FG+SG

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Fobe House

The Fobe House by Guilhem Eustache graces the otherwise empty two-hectare plot of land, located near Marrakech. This featureless landscape is a perfect backdrop for the pristine white architectural ensemble, which is comprised of four parts – main home, pool house, caretaker’s residence and garage. The facade features two overlapping walls that conceal the staircase to the roof between them. The opposite side of the main building is overlooking the swimming pool and the rest of the premises. Here is how the architects describe the concept of the house:

In this 2.5 hectares area the buildings occupy only 240 sqm. The volumes and their arrangements permit to avoid a floating effect in this empty space. Before discovering the layout we first need to go along the clay walls, which remote the neighbours away while allowing the sight of whites geometries.

I like how the unobstructed sunlight brightens the white cubic structures and creates sharp shadows through the patterned openings. All these elements play off of each other, accentuate the emptiness of the land and focus the eye towards the house.

Photography by Jean-Marie Monthiers.

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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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Hila Gaon bridal store

This concept store and atelier for fashion designer Hila Gaon was designed by Karina Tollman and Philipp Thomanek of Israeli studio k1p3 in Tel Aviv.

The gallery-like space features 9 dresses from the current collection, hung in prominent display upon store mannequins (which were custom-made by the architects, based on traditional seamstress dolls). The complete collection, for its part, is stored in a translucent and lit closet along the length of one wall, and the main space is completed by a large dressing room and fitting area that are provided for the bride and her entourage.

I appreciate this design for its lack of fuss concerning the dresses. Dress-shopping can often become a stressful activity and it’s a good thing to have a clear and minimalist space to cancel out distractions and to aid in this choice!

Photography by Ardon Barhama.

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Rest Stop and Viewpoint by LJB architects

Two different projects, by one architecture firm, located in the same area, make a clear statement about creative and sustainable interaction of nature and architecture. LJB, a Norwegian based architecture team, were assigned to design two rest stops, the Flotane rest stop and the Vedahaugane lookout, at the Norwegian national tourist Route Aurlandsfjellet.

The first one consists of 1200sqm parking area and a tilted, concrete, cube structure that serves as toilet. A simple yet so thoughtful design creates a well protected entrance to the toilet service while at the same time the south façade is covered by solar panels; a solution that allows daylight to enter the interior while protecting it from indiscreet eyes.

The second one, the Vedahaugane lookout, could be described as a pathway to nowhere. It is a 90m long curve shaped construction – a concrete line that seems to float above the terrain. A minimal approach with the minimum environmental footprint and a place I would definitely love to visit.

Photographs: Statens Vegvesen, E. Marchesi

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White Dormitory

White Dormitory is a renovation project recently completed by Japanese designer Koichi Futatsumata of Case-Real. Located on Teshima Island, Japan, this beautiful dwelling provides accommodation for three employees of nearby restaurant Il Vento. The bones of the initial house were carefully preserved, allowing to insert new elements without disturbing the surrounding landscape of the village which remains unchanged from the old days. Futatsumata elaborates:

Though deteriorated traditional Japanese style roof was replaced, the basic form and color of the original was adopted to the new one only using different materials, you hardly notice the change from the outside. On the other hand, all the furnishings and functional features of dormitory as well as a courtyard are reconstructed using various white materials such as woods, stones, and plasters with different expressions and tones. In Japan, white is not only a symbol of new beginning, but the sacred color representing purity, innocence, and peace.

The interior is comprised of three bedrooms, arranged on one side of the building. The common area is characterized by the beautiful contrast between the monochromatic colour palette and rustic wooden beams. The line of skylights brings constant flow of natural light into the room. The small courtyard with the long white terrace connects the inside and outside of the building and creates the illusion of a much bigger space.

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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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Humlebaek House in Denmark

Minimal and warm; clean, crisp and a place to call home at the same time. Everything is possible when Norm Architecture is involved.

The Humlebaek House was a former land workers house, located in Denmark and converted by Danish architecture firm Norm, into a unique home-studio. Originally constructed with brick walls, concrete floor and steel beams, it had almost anything an inspiring conversion needs, except one: adequate daylight. And that was the biggest issue. Unable to interfere in the exterior walls, as the building is protected by local architectural restrictions, the architects had but one choice: walls painted white and a new concrete floor treated with shiny epoxy, to help spread the light.

And the result justified them; luminous spaces that reveal their history, a minimal approach with the necessary touch of colour, a well-designed place to feel yourself at home.

One of Norm Architects’ best interior projects and certainly one of my favourites.

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House Tokyo

House Tokyo has been recently completed by Sanpei Junichi of A.L.X. architects (Architect Label Xain). It is located in and inspired by the city of Tokyo, hence the name. One of the main challenges of the project was to work with the very limited piece of land (the plot was only 480 sq ft). Amazingly, the bright minds of A.L.X. managed to fit 675 sq ft of living space into the structure.

The facade of the building dominates the environment with its crisp whiteness and abstract shape. The windows are covered with perforated metal blindfolds, which obscure the view into the house yet allow enough light from the outside. This blindfold feature also makes the building look positively stunning at night.

The white exterior beautifully contrasts with the exposed concrete of the interior. I love how pieces of furniture seem to grow from the walls. The choice of the material is a clever and creative nod to the urban setting the house is surrounded by.

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MIMA House

Inspired by Japanese architecture, these customizable houses are flexible, light and delightful in their simplicity. Envisioned by MIMA architects as an answer to quick life changes and demanding nature of today’s real estate market, these projects are affordable and mobile, not to mention – they are designed in part by their owners. The process goes like this: you mail MIMA people the site where you wish to build your residence, they analyze it and send you a full 3D visualization of the project, you voice your suggestions and select partition percentage, and in the end – your house is packed and delivered to the location.

MIMA houses are so light and flexible, they can be redesigned in a matter of minutes via moving the partitions and creating a new layout entirely. You can also add or remove panels to control privacy. And all this good sense and amazing functionality come in a pleasing minimal form.

Watch the video to learn more about this architectural approach in action.

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