Contemporary AA House, Barcelona
Posted on: October 10th, 2012 by ModShopBarcelona-based design studio OAB has completed the AA House project. Completed in 2010, this contemporary property can be found in Barcelona, Spain.
According to the architects: “The design scheme for the contemporary Spanish property responds to simple geometric rules.
“The footprint of the building uses a superimposed 7×7 meter skewed grid to support the property in a composition similar to a musical score. The diagonals serve as a roof system that ungulates like an artificial topography, creating skylights in some cases, while in others situations, rising up double the height of other rooftop peaks.
“At the base floor, the project develops a direct relationship between the interior and exterior through the abundant use of glasswork, trellises, and sliding panels. This allows a visual connection to the garden for the following spaces: the rooms, halls, library, dining rooms, kitchen, main bedroom and guest suites.
“Vertically consistent relationships exist between the main floor and adjacent floors, always responding to the programmatic demands, and therefore completing the three dimensional continuity of the contemporary Spanish house.
“The areas on the lower floor are service areas of the main program, such as a cellar communicating directly with the dining room, a video library communicating with the library; an inside swimming pool and Turkish bath, an extension of the main bedroom, and a service flat leading directly to the kitchen areas.
“The upper level serves as the Piano Nobile, or private level, from which a direct relationship to the surrounding landscape is still maintained through the use of glazing.
“The layout is completed with private access to the patio. The secluded position contrasts the luminous presentation of the property. Ceramic tiles are used as cladding on the rooftops as well as the perimeter walls. Light enters at specific points of the house where large sections of glazing complete the building.”
Contemporary Shakin Stevens House, Melbourne
Posted on: October 10th, 2012 by ModShopAccording to the architects: “The conceptual drive for the interior of this house is largely in response to a brief which crystallised into a need to be connected with ‘green’ space. Beyond the heritage front the project wanted to not necessarily increase floor area but to increase amenity. To make spaces feel bigger, more functional, to be light filled, and to visually extend and borrow from within and beyond the site.
“The contemporary Melbourne property is not only about a coloured front door but the experience of what’s beyond it. Conceptually beyond this green door, there are no doors; the newer space is about flow and continuity where delineation of space is soft nd less finite than expected from the street. In a clear formal idea the rear composes three extruded white cubes that look essentially like they have been let go, landing like dice randomly on top of each other next to a Victorian ‘monopoly’ house. The three cubes, as with the existing villa, are composed so as to be immediately deciphered internally or externally and in clear programmatic zones all house different functions. The cubes which are opened at their ends (or sides where required) are utilised as devices to orchestrate views to green elements within the structure and to greenery within or beyond the site.
“The client requested a predominantly white interior with a feature highlight colour. Green became an obvious choice, working in combination with the proximity of the garden. The green spaces within and beyond the site became the focus with the white cubes acting as lens for these events – effectively assisting in bringing the green inside and dissolving barriers of enclosure. In this way interior, exterior, landscape & old and new – through colour – all inform each other with equal importance.
“The contemporary Melbourne property utilises many ESD principles – retention of existing structure, orientation and configuration of new works and so forth.”
New Products
Posted on: September 28th, 2012 by TarynIt’s been a busy week here in the warehouse, here are a few highlights.
Lovely Lindau House, Germany
Posted on: September 27th, 2012 by ModShopBregen-based design studio k_m architektur has designed the Lindau House project. Completed in 2006, the contemporary property comes with stunning lake views and the property can be found in Lindau, Germany.
According to the architects: “The single floor residential home made of cedar wood was built on a slightly sloping property with direct access and spectacular view to the lake. In the course of time, the patina of the facade is intended to adjust to its natural surroundings. Thus the building discreetly takes a backstage, without disrupting the lake view.
“The contemporary German home is divided into two sections. The rear section with a closed facade contains the bedrooms and functional rooms. An open dining and living area with a fireplace faces the lake. The entire length of this side features floor-to-ceiling glazing, offering a fascinating view of the entire Lake Constance.
“A combination of geothermal heating and rooftop photovoltaic panels produce most of the energy, supplemented by a fireplace in the living area of this contemporary German property.”
Contemporary Toblerone House, São Paulo
Posted on: September 27th, 2012 by ModShopSão Paulo-based design studio StudioMK27 has completed the Toblerome House project. The contemporary property was completed in 2011 and can be found in São Paulo, Brazil.
According to the architects: “The basic concept of the now contemporary Brazilian property can be described as a unique image: a free first floor with large sliding glass doors which support a wooden box delimited by concrete beams. The first floor houses the collective programme, with living room, utilities and kitchen. On the second floor are the three-bedrooms, the den and a home theater. The conceptual and programmatic simplicity of the house joins a structural simplicity: a 14-pillared grid, organised in two lines, support the construction. All of the pillars are exposed with a rounded format. When the doorframes of the first floor are open, the living room becomes a free floor, totally open to the gardens – a house on pilotis.
“The simple architectural concept reminds you of the Domino corbusian system, a type of manifestation about the free structure. The shape of the land allowed for a longitudinal implanting of the house with spatial permeability between the two extreme areas, with a loose canopy in the garden. The apparent architectural simplicity ends up revealing complex spaces.
“The veranda, which extends from the living room, becomes a central living space, with an external fireplace. The office, integrated to the living room, is delimited by a stand, free from any other element. This office is connected with the back patio, which has beautiful jabuticabeiras.
“On the second floor, the master bedroom and bathroom open to a beam – the roof of the veranda – and look out over the treetops that perfume the beam of the first floor. The wood establishes a dialogue with the other raw material, such as the concrete, and is used as a sun filter for the bedrooms. Each piece of this brise-soleil has a triangular shape and was fixed to folding doors, able to be kept open according to the needs of the users.
“On the ground floor, cross-ventilation allows for excellent thermal comfort. The simplicity of the contemporary Brazilian home surpasses the organisation of the house, the solutions for environmental comfort, or even in the everyday use by the inhabitants, little surprises complete the architecture.”