Jens Risom’s prefab cabin

Remember we told you about Jens Risom’s prefab cabin on Block Island, south of the coast of Rhode Island?

Well, here’s a wonderful short movie by Dwell, capturing Risom’s thoughts as well as the process of what later became one of the most famous prefab dwellings of the 60’s – an oldie but goodie.

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modern hill house hb 63 - House HB: a built border between rural and urban

House HB: a built border between rural and urban

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In a typical Slovenian suburban context there’s a house that quietly erupts from the top of a small hill… A special site where rural and urban peacefully coexist, proving yet again the power of architecture and design. House HB is built on a hilltop in the countryside close to Ljubljana. A domestic environment is cleverly spread in a two story building…Yes! Beneath an apparent single pitched roof volume lays a hidden floor… A very ingenious solution that testifies the discrete relation accomplished between nature and architecture, don´t you agree? Continue reading

small narrow house w plan 2 - W Window House: a shimmering steel tower

W Window House: a shimmering steel tower

small narrow house w 1 - W Window House: a shimmering steel tower

In Kyoto, Japan, a little tower is proudly shinning in its suburban surrounding… I’m talking about the W Window House, a three story building with a tall silhouette that has a total floor area of 72 sq. m. However, the most outstanding detail of this small narrow house is the improbable balance that was created between this shimmering steel building and its lower vernacular neighbors. Continue reading

victorian house extension lbmv 71 - Rear House Extension: refreshing a Victorian house

Rear House Extension: refreshing a Victorian house

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The typical Victorian terraced houses in England were built in brick with slate roofs, stone details and modest decoration. Generally built in terraces or as detached houses, this characteristic type of historic architecture was so remarkable and efficient that it influenced the design of the entire British Empire from London to Australia!

The Rear House Extension is a replacement of an existing extension made in the 1980s of a Victorian Semi-detached terraced house in North London. Continue reading

apartment motorbikes 101 - NE Apartment: Multileveled Apartments for Motorbike Riders

NE Apartment: Multileveled Apartments for Motorbike Riders

apartment motorbikes 71 - NE Apartment: Multileveled Apartments for Motorbike Riders

This rental apartment house in Tokyo will surely catch your attention. You might even fall in love with it in case you are a motorbike fan. The 8 apartments of the house are designated for those whose lifestyle is all about motorcycles. Continue reading

vertical garden house vtn 10 - stacking green: living behind a vertical garden

stacking green: living behind a vertical garden

vertical garden house vtn 10 - stacking green: living behind a vertical garden

Can you imagine a luxurious green vertical garden as the main composition of a facade? Stacking green is the answer for such an uncommon question…In Saigon, Vietnam a four story house with a total floor area of 250 sq. m. was built for a couple and one of their parents.

The unique name given to this special building has its genesis on the exquisite formal solution of a dozen layers of concrete planters that creates a vertical garden on the main facade of this urban residential home! Continue reading

modern house d plan 11 - House D: Out In the Open

House D: Out In the Open

modern house d 21 - House D: Out In the Open

The House D is not a small house. Its adjacent territory is also not little. The views from its vast terrace are not limited by the opposite facade. Already like it? The house lies in Nuglar, Switzerland, on a picturesque slope with fruit trees and lawns and no buildings around! It is difficult to believe that Basel is only 25 minutes away.

Taking advantage of the terrain’s slight inclination towards the road, the architects put a big part of the building underground, so that this level is only available from the road side. The gym, the office and the big garage are situated here. Continue reading

asymmetric house h 11 - H House: an asymmetric form of living

H House: an asymmetric form of living

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One might say all architecture concerns itself with the exploration of the language of form… A language that often stands as a part of our collective memory, especially when it evokes a deeply familiar sense in all of us.

In Budapest, Hungary, a particular building assumes a meaningful presence in a pleasant green environment. H House shows us how traditional references can always be a crucial ignition to achieve the most outstanding contemporary results. Continue reading

modern bridge house 10 - Bridge House: connecting nature and architecture

Bridge House: connecting nature and architecture

modern bridge house 1 - Bridge House: connecting nature and architecture

The common definition of a bridge is related to a structure built to provide passage over physical obstacles such as a body of water, a valley, or a road. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed, the material used to make it and the funds available to build it.

What if a house were to work as a bridge? Well, in the Netherlands there’s a marvelous example of such an innovative concept: the Bridge House! Continue reading

barn house ka 212 50x50 - A barn in the countryside: the essence of ancient forms

A barn in the countryside: the essence of ancient forms

barn house ka 21 - A barn in the countryside: the essence of ancient forms

In Eelde, The Netherlands, there’s a house that captures the essence of ancient forms. A domestic architecture follows the shape and volume associated to a different kind of program: a barn! Despite the perceptible similarities with a traditional Dutch barn, this two-story building is all about modern details and ambiance. Let’s explore this wonderful countryside home a bit more… Continue reading