General
Cozy Brazilian Living At FF House
São Paulo-based sdesign tudio Guilherme Torres has completed the FF House project. Completed in 2006, this contemporary property can be found in Londrina, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. According to the architects: “The concept of this project comprises of four cubes. The volume covered with caramel Portuguese tiles signalises the entrance hall and a glass window of 2x5m, reveals the living room. All the leisure and service area are intertwined on the ground floor, painted in a chocolate tone, is at the base of the upper floor, where the intimate area is located. “Exploring the cube concept, the application of coating materials subvert the traditional employment. Both stone coverings … Continue reading Cozy Brazilian Living At FF House
The Grand Hotel Villa Cora, Florence
The Grand Hotel Villa Cora is located inside a centuries-old park that overlooks the Boboli Gardens, on the hills just outside the historical centre of Florence. The main villa is an aristocratic residence built at the end of the XIX century by Baron Oppenheim reflecting the architectural styles of that period, dominated by a strong eclectic decor that provides the villa with different, sometimes even bizarre, artistic styles. Villa Cora, inaugurated when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, has become throughout the years one of the major cultural and cosmopolitan symbols of Florence. The luxury Florence hotel is comprised of three different structures which were restored to … Continue reading The Grand Hotel Villa Cora, Florence
High Above The Sky The Aurland Lookout, Norway
Bergen-based architect Todd Saunders and Røyneberg-based Tommie Wilhelmsen have designed the Aurland Lookout. Completed in 2006, the award-winning contemporary structure can be found in the Aurland, a small town in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. According to the architects: “Nature first and architecture second was the guiding principal when we sat down to design this contemporary Norwegian building. It was immediately obvious to us that in such beautiful surroundings one must make the least possible encroachment in the existing landscape and terrain. The landscape is so fantastic that it is difficult to improve the place, but at the same time very easy to destroy the atmosphere by inserting too many elements into … Continue reading High Above The Sky The Aurland Lookout, Norway
Scandinavian Cool: Modern Apartment, Finland
Rome-based architect Maurizio Giovannoni has completed the renovation and interior design of a compact penthouse. Completed in 2012, the modern apartment can be found in Turku, Finland. According to Maurizio his main objective was to ensure the apartment had plenty of light flowing inside, and to create a relaxing living room where his client could work. A few walls had to be knocked down to ensure plenty of light could enter the contemporary Finnish property. He said: “The partial demolition of walls was a natural consequence, along with switching the location of the bedroom and living room. After fixing this, we decided on the overall ‘concept’ together with my client, … Continue reading Scandinavian Cool: Modern Apartment, Finland
An Unconventional ‘Folded House’, Japan
Kyoto-based design studio Alphaville have completed the Folded House project. The three-storey, contemporary property can be found in Osaka, Japan. According to the architects: This contemporary Japanese home belongs to a couple and their pet cats. The typical method for designing a house would assign rectangular rooms with specific functions and lay out them. Such a design produces a series of rooms of similar size and causes monotonous spatial experiences. Our approach was to avoid the conventional design practice and to create a structurally rational but spatially heterogeneous contemporary Japanese house. “On the assumption that there is a human being within the optimal spatial coordinates resulted from the site and … Continue reading An Unconventional ‘Folded House’, Japan
