In Styria, Austria, a new concept of modular housing was born, aimed for a special purpose: tourism! The Hypercubus testifies the capacity of architecture to respond to various needs and possibilities. This tiny housing unit uses existing resources in its composition, and thanks to its mobile construction, the Hypercubus can be easily transported to any kind of location offering flexibility and freedom of use! However, what really blew my mind as I first saw this tiny building was its volume and shape… A twisted cube seems to be defying gravity with its strange sloped position. Continue reading →

The work of Mitchell Joachim is far from being conventional. His approach to architectural challenges is fresh and unusual. Further than the concept of “form follows function”, Mitchell Joachim defends the motto “forms follows biology”! The project that I’m about to show you demonstrates how a simple urban space such as a gymnasium can be transformed into the most amazing life experience. Continue reading →

The students of the Kanagawa Institute of Technology are lucky: these days they are able to use a new facility as their Alma Mater. A huge, transparent pavilion of glass and steel is now fully at their disposal.

The idea of the architect was to make a comfortable indoor workshop space, which would give an impression of a public outdoor square. And he succeeded, using a relatively simple structural system and two basic materials: white painted metal and glass. Continue reading →

After first glancing at Villa Rotonda’s pictures you might think this is one more example of a beautiful renovation. Indeed, the traditional form of the house’s main volume, its double-pitched roof, the massive chimneys, the grey brick walls, and slate tiled roof, incline you to think of historic pieces of architecture. Yet this structure is absolutely new! Let’s take a look closer… Continue reading →

This spectacular building, located in the backyard of the Archi-Union Architects office in Shanghai, is meant to be a tea house. Apparently, the view out of the windows appeared too dull to the architects and designers who work here, so they decided to refresh it with their own creative project. Let’s have a look at the result! Continue reading →

This amazing piece of architecture was created due to no less amazing and unusual given conditions: an abandoned Saracen trullo with remains of a lamia (a traditional adjacent structure) among olive and almond trees in Ostuni, Italy. Just like me, you might ask what is a trullo? It is a traditional South-Italian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Continue reading →

There’s a red house at a red hill in Victoria, Australia! It seems a little repetitive but it’s real and worthy of attention. A creative and impressive solution was given to a weekend home located on a hillside overlooking a bay between a framed set of pine windbreaks.

This exquisite construction has two floors gently nestled into the sloping landscape. The program spreads organically along the site like the roots of a tree, between rusty walls and glazed openings. Continue reading →

I know what you think after having thrown a glance at the picture – that it looks very much like Frank Gehry’s style. And – bingo!

This wonderful artist created an independent architectural style and is, undoubtedly, a mighty figure of contemporary world architecture. Gehry’s manner is so very distinctive, that if at some point you’ve seen his work, you will be able to identify his architecture. It is difficult, indeed, not to recognize the handwriting of this prominent contemporary master. Even if a similar style building was created by another architect, you would still describe it as “Gehry-inspired”.

This LA residence was built in 1989 for a man called Rockwell Schnabel, that’s why it is known as Schnabel House ever since. In 2006 this masterpiece was purchased by film producer Jon Platt, who updated the house with modern technological features. Let us take a closer look at this gigantic 5,700 sq. ft.residence, for it is more sophisticated than it may seem. Continue reading →

Traditional constructions have a certain charm, maybe because of the organic dimension that constantly comes with the presence of natural materials like stone or wood. La Palissa House contains that exquisite quality!

Located in Baix Emporda, Spain, an old building from the XVIth century was rehabilitated and improved with modern life comfort, resulting in a contemporary holiday home with a tempered combination between the old and the new. Continue reading →

Hawke’s Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Surrounded by one of the most amazing landscapes of the planet, this unique region is recognized not only for its natural attributes but also for its award-winning wines.

The Shoal Bay House is a living part of this incredible equation! To achieve such a rare condition an important path was taken to obtain a major goal: respect the rural ancient architecture from the early 1900’s. Then a second step was brilliantly accomplished: becoming acquainted with the whole history of the site and study wood (native raw material used for construction) as a traditional, as well as a modern, building material. Continue reading →