Pitsou Kedem Architects have recently completed a beautiful and crisply detailed minimalist single-family residence interior, Tel Aviv Penthouse 2 in Kfar Shmaryahu, Israel. The predominantly white architectural finishes are anything but uninteresting in this space because of the small surprises such as the corner wall shelf, the recess for the bathroom sink faucet, the floor to ceiling movable glass partitions and the use of wood in a whole wall and door to define a difference space. I am drawn particularly to the architectural details in this project and that they are well proportioned to the volumes of the living spaces. Where the glass partition meets the solid wall, where the warm wood stops in the soffit and becomes the painted white wood cabinet door, where the cove lighting aligns with the rectilinear furniture – the details are sharp and clean then softened by floor to ceiling curtains and cove lighting. In sharp contrast to the busy and crowded city outside their windows, the residence provides a refreshing, less cluttered escape once the front door closes. Images courtesy of Pitsou Kedem Architects.

Copenhagen Penthouse II by Norm Architects sits overlooking the Danish capital’s skyline quite unassumingly. The apartment has been re-furbished using a combination of expressed hovering elements, concealed shadow lines and an openly simplified palette. The purposed absence of fittings aids in the clarity and sleekness of the space. Norm Architects share the philosophy that our home and the things we surround ourselves with, should provide a refuge from the daily chaos. And that by understanding minimalism as an aesthetic, and simplicity as a philosophy of life Norm Architects aims at providing structures which gives a feeling of freedom. I couldn’t agree more. The expressed junctions and intersections of materiality are crisp, and for that, the architectural detailing is to be applauded. The addition of illuminated elements aids in reinforcing the solid forms also. This is delivery and execution done with respect.

The architectural practice OSA/KHBT has delivered a really interesting and prolific solution to connect 2 separate living units addressing the height restrictions between the change in levels of this project, Balfour Place, located in Mayfair, London. This has resulted in a meandering ribbon which becomes an inherent part of all main functions of the flat: Kitchen, Stair, Circulation and Bathroom. I really appreciate the decision to use the one material of walnut timber as a continuous ribbon throughout the space because not only is it a design statement in contrast to the white minimalist apartment, but also because the timber is used both as structure in the stair and passageway as well as surface finish in the kitchen countertop and bathtub surround. The interior spaces have been carefully thought out as in which parts of the walnut ribbon get concealed for private or public uses, allowing it to stand out against the frameless openings. This is a really elegant concept that’s been executed beautifully. Photos by Johannes Marburg.

Hidden in the bustle of Brooklyn Heights is the lovely Steele Residence. This chic and modern home was designed by the New York based firm Resolution: 4 Architecture, or RES4 for short. The Steele Residence is a complete gut renovation designed to reflect the personalities of a recently retired couple. The central element of the 1650 square foot home is a utility core made of maple. This core contains the kitchen, mechanical room, and storage. The apartment rotates around this core- the public areas are closest to the core and the private rooms rest along the exterior walls. The manipulated ceiling further seeks to accentuate the apartment’s organization. The ceiling is curved so as to contain the private spaces along the edges and expand the public spaces against the core. The Steele Residence is the definition of modern Brooklyn living! It is a gorgeous renovation in one of Brooklyn’s great neighborhoods. While the aesthetic of this home appears quite minimal, it is not without decoration. Yet each decorative piece has been carefully chosen and placed, allowing the apartment to feel clean and effortless. Overall, the Steele Residence is full of character, comfort, and of course, style.

This 100 square meter (1,076.4 square feet) apartment in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel is located in a historic building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is difficult to determine the building’s exact age, although the authors of the project,  Pitsou Kedem Architects, speculate that it is hundreds of years old. Over time, it has gone through many changes and had many additions made that have damaged the original quality of the building and its spaces. The effort was to remove all the extraneous elements and expose the original state of this remarkable piece of historic architecture. Minimalist furniture in neutral tones made of natural materials completes the design. Here is how the architects reflect on the project: The central idea was to combine the old and the new whilst maintaining the qualities of each and to create new spaces that blend the styles together even intensify them because of the contrast and tension between the different periods. The historical is expressed by preserving the textures and materials of the buildings outer shell and by respecting the building engineering accord. The modern is expressed by the opening of spaces and by altering the internal flow to one more open and free and the creation of an urban loft environment along with the use...

This design of this residence located on Bondi beach takes advantage of the views and climate while delivering a modern luxury in the architecture and its details. Completed in 2011 by Sydney-based Redgen Mathieson Architects, the philosophy of the team is exhibited in the use of the materials such as Calacatta marble, white terrazzo tiles, American Walnut and dark bronze in the finishes which lets the undecorated space speak volumes of a style that is timeless. The use of movable glass panels to optimize light, views and ventilation into the living spaces, creates a strong relationship of the living experience with the environment. While I believe that minimalism should reveal good design, I also believe that it is possible for it to portray luxury. This project has proven that, maintaining the integrity of the materials as well as the architecture in a sophisticated simplicity.

This is a beautiful design for a modern apartment building by JSª Arquitectura. The building is called Tabasco 127 and is located in Mexico City. It has four floors and nine apartments. The apartments vary in style and include elements such as double height ceilings, patios, terraces, and roof gardens. The different styles of apartments provide the inspiration for the facade of the building. The facade depicts the distinct spaces within. A central core contains the bridges and stairs, which provide access to all the units in the building. I love this apartment building! Each apartment is unique, yet they all correlate to make an enchanting whole. The use of natural light and outdoor space is especially compelling. Overall, this is an elegant and charming building I would love to come home to.

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

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.

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!

A Model is a scaled-model in life-size proportion that represents a generic contemporary domestic environment. It is not the representation of a project, but the representation is the project. A Model is a collaboration between Rad Louda and W_RKSH_P (Paul Sosson) with the help of Marie-Cecile Guyaux. Made out of foam, A Model is a representation of a 150 sqft apartment, organized in 4 parts. The minimal and sufficiently furnished apartment provides basic functions with as added value a personal outside space. Each furniture was conceived as an archetype of its function: a chair looks like a chair, a bed like a bed. A Model is not an utopy nor a distopy, the designers say. It is a proposal for an one bed apartment, designed as generic as possible. It can be a solution towards the current contemporary housing situation in some cities.

Oh, dear. The sound of the dreaded drill from a recent dentist visit still lingers. The good news is that dental patients, in München can now reduce physical discomfort from dental procedures and still keep a healthy smile. Weissraum Dental Surgery, by Stuttgart-based Ippolito Fleitz Group, has been named “Germany’s most beautiful dental practice” for 2010. The design space takes full advantage of the building’s original historic character and architectural features; the stucco ornaments and ceiling heights are superb. The term ‘weissraum’, which means white space, comes alive through a clean design of white architecture. The walls and ceilings glow in bright white. The white washed oak floor and the purple sofa in the seating area break the monastic whiteness of the space—a relaxed lounge-like, calming atmosphere. A progressive architectural translation of the term “white space.” I am left wanting more of Ippolito Fleitz Group’s understated goodness.