Luxury Island House, South Korea

Iroje KHM Architects a Seoul-based design studio has completed the Island House. Completed in 2008, this contemporary home is located in Gapyunggun, Gyeounggi-do, South Korea.

According to the architects: “While maximising the efficiency of land use, the leaner concrete mass, that cherishes the courtyard was filled with the water and the greenery was laid out on this site along the irregular formed site line.

“This courtyard is ‘The architectural nature’ and a central recreation space like an extended river that communicates, the river and architecture.

“Naturally, all of the rooms inside this site-shaped-mass are laid towards the picturesque landscape to enjoy the graceful scenery surrounded this site.

“The huge panoramic view framed with sloped ceiling line that is composed with the lines of stepped roof gardens and the bottom line of the inner court, is the major impression of inner space of this contemporary Korean house.

“The shape of the mountain type structure composed of irregular polygonal shaped concrete mass and metal mesh was designed to harmonise with the context as ‘the architectural mountain’.

“There was the intention to be a part of the surrounding context that consisted of the river and the mountain.” The contemporary Korean property

Contemporary F Residence, Japan

Edward Suzuki Architecture a Tokyo-based design studio has completed the F residence. This two-storey contemporary home is located in Kamakura, a city found in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

According to the architects: “Located only about a five-minute walking distance from the railway station, this contemporary Japanese house sits in a commercial/residential zone. As such, the neighbouring houses and shops encroach upon the site rather closely, so much so that from the start the idea to ‘look out’ from the property was abandoned to instead ‘look inward’ was adopted. Since the client-owner had a vast amount of art collection and wished to display such art in the new house, the theme ‘House like a Museum’ became the design generator.

The theme, ‘Go in to go out,’ used in the prefabricated housing system ‘EDDI’s House’ designed and built in collaboration with Daiwa House Industry, was once again applied to the design of this contemporary Japanese house and, as a result, the rectangular silhouette of the house was pushed to the boundary limits of the 776 square meter property in the center of which was placed a 15-meter diameter circular patio. The thrust of the planning was to allow each and every room to face and to have a view of this central garden.”

Luxury Underwater Disc Hotel, Dubai

Drydocks World a Dubai-based building firm along with with Swiss firm BIG InvestConsult have signed a deal with owner Deep Ocean Technology, to develop an underwater hotel the ‘Water Discus Hotel’ in Dubai, UAE.

Water Discus Hotels comprise two discs – an underwater and above water section. This combination will allow guests to admire the depths of the ocean while making the most of the warm climate.

The two parts of the structure are connected by three solid legs and a vertical shaft containing a lift and stairway. The size of each disc has been adjusted to local conditions.

Safety was a top priority for both designers of the structure and a team of professionals who worked out the maintenance procedures. The goal was to ensure that guests feel safe both inside and outside, while diving.

Safety measures include a monitoring system integrated with an international earthquake and weather warning system. The luxury underwater Dubai hotel is monitored by numerous video cameras and remotely operated underwater vehicles which are positioned in appropriate places around the complex.

The luxury underwater hotel is surrounded by a beautifully vibrant coral reef. This unique location will allow you to enjoy the tropical weather and the colourful underwater world, which is just within your reach and will engage all your senses.

The disc, located up to 10 metres beneath the surface of the sea, is composed of 21 hotel rooms adjacent to the underwater dive centre and a bar. Each room is integrated with the underwater world as closely as possible, offering a surprisingly direct, yet safe contact with the local flora and fauna.

Special lighting system of the area around the room and the miniature underwater vehicles which can be operated from inside will allow you to take a closer look at even the most microscopic underwater creatures using macro photography.

The luxury underwater Dubai hotel also ensure that guests can protect their privacy whenever necessary. All rooms are sound-proof and have curtains of different levels of transparency.

The disc and its adjacent satellites located 5 – 7 metres above the water surface comprise a restaurant, a spa and a special recreation area.

A multifunctional lobby built inside an enormous swimming pool shows the centre of the disc. The area around the underwater part of the complex and diving activities may be watched as they happen on the screens hanging on the lobby walls.

This part of the complex is connected to the satellites with awe-inspiring glass-walled tunnels cutting through a training pool for divers.

Its rooftop includes seawater swimming pools (integrated with the training pool). Finally, there is also an exotic garden offering a moment’s rest before going back to extreme experiences.

The elegant and spacious restaurant is a perfect place to regenerate body and soul after a day filled with exciting diving excursions or energetic water sports. The restaurant is located in one of the satellites of the upper discs. Like all rooms in the complex, it offers a magnificent panoramic view.

Contemporary Haus D10, Germany

Werner Sobek a Stuttgart-based design studio has designed the project Haus D10. Completed in 2011, this single-storey contemporary home is located in the town of Biberach an der Riss, Germany.

According to the architects: “A private driveway provides access to the contemporary German house. Two parallel shear walls are a distinguishing feature of the building. Generously designed glazing serves to provide a spatial enclosure. Protected by an extensively projecting flat roof a generously sized patio encircling the house serves to unite the indoor space with the outdoor space. Access to the building is also gained via this patio.

“The living areas are located on the ground floor, whilst the ancillary rooms are housed in the basement. The contemporary German building is adjoined on the north side by a double-garage, which can be accessed directly from the basement. A stairway in the living room provides access inside the house.

“The contemporary German property is one of the first buildings in the world in which the Triple Zero ® concept developed by Werner Sobek will be fully implemented.”

Contemporary G House, Australia

Bruce Stafford Architects an Australian design studio has completed project G House. Completed in 2010, this three-storey contemporary home can be found in a residential suburb of Sydney, Australia.

According to the architects: “A typical eastern suburbs harbour view site; long, narrow and sloping away from the road toward harbour and Manly views.

The contemporary Australian house is set lower than the road with living spaces opening back toward the street, a lightweight timber screen filters street views and creates privacy, yet allows light and ventilation to the private living spaces.  The contemporary Australian house has two living areas; the primary living level opens out toward an elevated view and the lower living area flows out to a pool deck and private courtyards.

“The sleeping level is positioned on the top level, providing privacy, quiet and commanding views. Our primary design generator was to link vertical and horizontal circulation through double and triple volume spaces and a dialog of floating planes and connected textural elements.  Finished such as polished concrete floors internally and externally, tinted concrete bench tops, raw basalt, timber and steel are assembled in a contemporary composition to facilitate easy living and a seamless flow between inside and out.