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Contemporary House in Seattle Merges Chic Style with Cool Quirks

The juxtaposition of sleek, contemporary house architecture beside odd and quirky elements is what calls attention to this one-of-a-kind house in Queen Anne neighborhood in Seattle. Architect Jim Burton of Blip Design came at this two-storey home remodel with a two-pronged approach, and an affinity for two very different genres. Chic and funky come together to play off each other, highlighting the other’s best features. Meticulous stone bricks meet a vibrant wood facade that almost glows in comparison. A flat roof is met by a pair of wild, upturned wings that top the funky side of this modern home. A lushly landscaped garden flanks each side of a stairway that leads up to the window-clad house. Judging by the bold exterior design, this 4,322-sq.-ft. design delivers on its unspoken promise of modern interiors, which are clean and contemporary by design. The four-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom design is currently listed on the market at a price of $2.4 million. Visit Queen Anne Modern for details. Blip Design.


Modern Twist on Simple Box House in Spain - Thinking Outside the Box Life in a box is pretty sweet if your box is anything like this ultra modern house designed by the architects at Murado & Elvira. Espejo House located in Badajoz, Spain, puts a contemporary twist on a basic rectangular residence, incorporating rounded corners and a sleek, metal-clad envelope that lends the structure a look of clean simplicity. Butting up against the cool metal, sliding doors of rustic pine act as shutters, and can be completely opened or closed, depending on your mood or the weather on any given day. On further exploration of this cool design, white is a major player in its interior design. Vivid punches of color come in unexpected places – the turquoise bathroom, and the stop-dead-in-your-tracks red kitchen. Murado & Elvira via Coolboom photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán


Contemporary Sea-Side House - the Salt House The Salt House by the architects at Alison Brooks Associates Ltd. is a modern sea-side residential retreat boasting a tradition of “beach house” construction with a uniquely modern twist. The two-storey home, located at Maldon in England, is clad in a weathered-looking wood, lending it an authentic “salty” appeal. The 3,500-sq.-ft. house is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom design that enjoys a contemporary open-concept interior layout. The main floor features floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious, column-free layout that opens onto a central atrium. At the heart of the design, a modern twisting staircase leads upstairs to the second living area, where walls of windows flood the home with natural light. Alison Brooks Associates Ltd. via World Architecture News


Modern Mountain Chalet in Colorado - Winter Wonderland by architect Michael P. Johnson If you’re not a skier, you will be after checking out this modern mountain chalet by Arizona-based architect Michael P. Johnson. The cozy yet contemporary Hiller Residence in Winter Park, Colorado, truly is a wonderland of awesome architectural ability with and a sleek, sophisticated style. This two-storey 1,948-sq.-ft. house sits perched on a steep slope, overhanging the ravine below. The ground level houses the grand entry, a den and the master bedrooms, while the upper level is devoted to showcasing the surrounding views. Upstairs you’ll find the living room, dining room and kitchen, encircled in floor-to-ceiling windows. Interiors boast rich, dramatic finishes. Warm lacquered woods, large-format porcelain tile, and urbane appointments finish this rustic space in modern style. Michael P. Johnson via Contemporist


Cutting-Edge Modernist Style House in Brisbane, Australia Up on the auction block is this stunning, modernist style house in Highgate Hill, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. This beautiful 4,617-sq.-ft., four-bedroom, two-bathroom house is a rare find indeed, boasting a modern blend of art and architecture, glass, steel and stone. The visually stunning exterior sets the stage for the imaginative, light-filled interiors. All bedrooms are located on the main level, accessed by a floating wooden staircase. The master bedroom overlooks the stunning deck and outdoor pool. Upstairs, a large den and dining room are enclosed in large windows that allow for panoramic views of the breathtaking city skyline. Interiors are simple and sophisticated, featuring a largely while palette. A spacious kitchen connects the living and dining areas and features an oversized island, stainless-steel cabinetry and coordinating built-in appliances. This contemporary house will be on auction on October 30. Visit Judy Goodger for details.


Art and Architecture Come Home to Contemporary ArtScreen Box House in Ghent, New York It’s the art and the architecture that characterize the contemporary ArtScreen Box house in New York’s Hudson Valley. Designed by FT Architecture + Interiors, this modern, innovative home showcases a striking photograph by artist Joni Sternbach, transforming the home’s facade into a collection of waves, peacefully trapped in time. This architecturally scaled photo, which is printed on woven vinyl mesh, drapes the home’s second-floor studio space – windows and all – transforming any harsh light into a soothing glow. From the inside, it’s as though sunlight is streaming in through the water’s surface. Interiors are exactly what you’d expect from a house with waves lapping at its exterior. A clean and minimalist style enhances the modernity of the home. The base of this 1,500-fq.-ft. home’s lower level sits softly embedded in the eight-ft. slope of the hill. FT Architecture + Interiors.


Repurposed Water Tower, Now a Modern House in Belgium This converted water tower house is recycling at its best. Designed by architect Jo Crepain of Crepain Binst Architecture, Moereels House represents a wonderful use of the existing to create something new, unique and totally modern. Located in Brasschaat, Belgium, the original concrete tower lends this conversion an authentic, industrial look. Surrounding the tower are U-shaped glass panels on three sides, and shallow balconies on the fourth. Around the tower’s base is a 20-ft.-high entrance level, which welcomes residents and visitors into the contemporary interiors housed within the tower itself. A series of steel staircases connect the various levels within the tower, which is lit up by out-of-this-world fluorescent lamps visible through the forest at dark. Crepain Binst Architecture via Cool Boom via Materialicious


Ultra-Modern Concrete House in Yokohama, Japan Designed by Japan’s Torafu Architects, this massive modern structure of concrete boasts a hard exterior edge, which is accentuated by sharp angles and little detail. But on the inside, this home tells quite a different tale. Located in Yokohama, Japan, this modern single-family, single-storey house has become a local landmark among its more traditional neighbors. It’s characterized by its unusual shape, which features three projections, pointing upward and topped by skylights. Interiors are unexpectedly sleek and contemporary, taking the same odd shape as dictated by the home’s overall form. The result is interior rooms with folded walls and ceilings. Furniture largely consists of build-ins to maximize on every inch of interior living space. Torafu Architects.


Modern “Little White House” in Albert Park, Australia ... with traditional Victorian look Looks can be deceiving, and they certainly are in the case of this contemporary house in Albert Park, Australia. What resembles a traditional Victorian cottage from the outside (white picket fence and all!) invites guests into its cool and clean minimalist interiors, and an ultra-modern addition at the rear. George Residence, designed by architect Matt Gibson, sits on a narrow plot. This is what gives the house its unique character. The home is built surrounding two central courtyards with three building components. A wooden


deck offers an uninterrupted runway leading through the home’s elongated layout, creating continuity between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. Matt Gibson.


Futuristic Vision of Sustainable Living – Easy Domes Becoming an Easy Choice The brainchild of Danish Architect Kari Thomsen and Engineer Ole Vanggaard, Easy Domes are a contemporary prefab home design with two ambitions – easy assembly and low energy. One short day can yield this totally functional and ultimately unique house. Originally built in 1992 for the Greenland Society of The Faroah Islands, Easy Domes are now available in a variety of configurations that include the 160-ft. Nature Dome, the 250-ft. Tuft Dome (pictured), the Duo Dome and Family Houses ranging from 500 to 2,200 ft., and the Cultural Dome at 1,000 ft. Composed of a single dome or a series, Easy Domes are all founded on the “icosahedron” shape, a collection hexagonal panels arranged to offer a layout maximizing interior living space. This futuristic design offers does not compromise the comforts of home, offering a two-storey layout complete with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. Another modern twist on the traditional is that these homes are built using eco-friendly materials and methods. The design is vented on the exterior, and insulated with wood and flax. A green roof tops off these homes, complemented by solar roof panels, a wind turbine and other methods to harvest alternative forms of energy. Easy Domes


Prefab House Design in Maryland - Stunning, Stilted, Sustainable Loblolly by Kieran Timberlake Architects As far as prefabs go, this design has a heightened sense of space. Set on stilts, Loblolly House by Kieran Timberlake Architects has a minimal footprint, and in turn, maximum impact. Located on Taylors Island, a barrier island off the coast of Maryland, this modern house blends nature and architecture in what could well be the future of prefabricated homes. The 2,200-sq.-ft. house is based on a more efficient building method. Thousands of “building blocks” that make up the house were fabricated off-site, and pieced together on location in less than six weeks. The unique home boasts a facade that “flips” open to reveal the outdoors, allowing passive cooling. Alternately, the home can be closed up to channel the sun’s energy for off-the-grid heat. Another sustainable feature of the house is in its simple construction – and deconstruction. The home’s many parts are designed to disassemble with ease, allowing for repairs, alterations, reclaiming and recycling without harsh environmental impacts. Kieran Timberlake Architects via World Architecture News


Futuristic Spaceship-Inspired House Combines Technology and Nature in Frankfurt, Germany It looks like a vision from a sci-fi flick, not something you'd expect to find in Frankfurt’s countryside. But Meixner Schlüter Wendt Architekten has brought its futuristic vision to fruition in this quaint German location. This modern, residential design blends technology and nature with stunning results. For these innovative architects, House F was all about creating a contemporary home that would ease itself into its hilly landscape. Set among the rolling slopes, the home’s modern, steeply pitched roof is clad in sheet metal, and resembles a machine in its form and finish. The roof seems to hover, set atop a glass-enclosed main floor. The ground floor of this unique house is quite literally a “ground” floor, submerged beneath the grassy lay of the land. Meixner Schlüter Wendt Architekten.


Modern Residential House Design in Australia, by Chenchow Little Architects - Szirtes has a tree within This small but sweet residential design in Australia is inspired by practicality, with a twist. Sitting atop a small footprint, the modern Szirtes House, created by Chenchow Little Architects, is enclosed in an aesthetic armor that provides privacy from the outside. But at its heart lies a haven – a tree within an enclosed outdoor courtyard – which is the centerpiece of this contemporary home’s ultra-innovative layout. Floor-to-ceilings sliding-glass doors open onto this inner sanctum. Inside, each room offers a piece of this curious light-filled box, which beams through the center of this house with natural light and an unexpected taste of the outdoors. Chenchow Little via Design Milk


Passive Cooling and Local Building Materials for the Palmyra Palm House in India With more than 800 uses for the Palmyra Palm tree, Indian-born architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai has come up with number 801, making it the centerpiece of his


contemporary, eco-friendly and fashionably functional modern house design. The Palmyra House rests on a coconut plantation in eastern India’s coastal town of Alibaug, on the outskirts of Mumbai. A short drive to the city puts this resort-inspired beach house within easy reach of urban amenities, but just far enough to enjoy peace and privacy. This waterfront home’s exotic location lends a distinct flavor to its luxurious look and authentic feel. Built of locally sourced Palmyra wood, the innovative louvered design is naturally ventilated and shaded, making it a sound sustainable choice for this tropical climate. The house encompasses 3,000 sq. ft. within a pair of structures that are separated by a 25-ft. wide courtyard. Studio Mumbai via Architectural Record


Thoughtful T House Design Overlooking San Francisco This modern house on the hill suits its surroundings to a T. The innovative architects at Ogrydziak/Prillinger had a few considerations in their plans for T House in San Francisco, California. The thoughtful T shape design maximizes on the breathtaking view and the available usable land, without obstructing the view enjoyed by neighboring homes. T House sits embedded in the steep hillside, offering a low profile when viewed from the top. But as the slope drops deeper and deeper, the house rises out from the hillside and overhangs the magnificent valley. The T shape allows for plenty of private yard space, flanking the home with two courtyards at its sides, and a large open space at the rear. Inside, the home boasts contemporary finishes and a sleek style that’s warmly offset by wood floors and ceilings, exposed beams and columns, and large windows to frame the endless views where city meets sky. Ogrydziak/Prillinger via Contemporist


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Desert House in Albuquerque by Modern Architect Antoine Predock Bringing a bit of the Wild, Wild West to Albuquerque’s West Mesa, the Mesa House by architect Antoine Predock embraces its surroundings – the sand, the sun, the dusty orange horizon – and brings elements of the environment into its architecture and interior style. A grand stairway leads visitors up to the sheltered courtyard, providing a warm welcome to this contemporary desert house. This modern design boasts a three-tiered vertical floor plan, which leads you from the ground-level garage, through to the raised living area, and up to the master suite topping this stylish abode. Interiors echo with a warm, rustic aesthetic, where comfort is king. An oddly urban fireplace – simple, geometric and very minimalist – becomes a natural focal point for lounging and storytelling. Bi-level terraces extent living space to the outdoors, perfect for entertaining or stealing a moment along with the sunset. Antoine Predock Architect.


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9 Oct 2008 | Custom | Comments (0)

Sustainable House Design of the Future - Canada Contemporary Canuhome Shaped like a canoe and indicative of what "u can do" for the environment, the Canuhome prefabricated house design offers peek into the future of sustainable home building. The 850-sq.-ft. traveling exhibit includes a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and bedroom, all designed and built with eco-friendly features for urban living. The futuristic design is brought to you by a partnership between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), George Brown College's Institute Without Boundaries (IwB) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), among others. Architecture by IwB incorporates eco initiatives like CMHC’s Equilibrium, HealthyHousing and Flexhousing initiatives; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products; and adheres to stringent LEED standards. The result is a feasible housing option that’s adaptable and cost-efficient, with improved indoor air and environment quality, and reduced


consumption of energy, water and resources. The model aims to illustrate that sustainable living doesn’t have to compromise on fashion or function. Canuhome.

Modern Residential Architecture in Germany - Dupli.Casa futuristic design For a taste of modern residential architecture with a twist, Dupli.Casa in Ludwigsburg, Germany, is the contemporary design for you. Originally built in 1984, modern architect Jurgen Mayer H revised and renewed the “twisted” footprint for this gorgeous futuristic villa. Unique about this contemporary architecture is its unlikely, yet completely logical source of inspiration. According to the architect, “The new building echoes the ‘family archeology’ by duplication and rotation.” The layering of levels and living spaces results is a semi-public interior space sandwiched between upper and lower private areas. The imaginative floor plan also allows for easy integration of outdoor living into interior living areas via a series of terraces and patios. Jurgen Mayer H via Archinect


Modern Hillside Home Design by Johnston Marklee Architects Overlooking Santa Monica Canyon The contemporary Hill House rises as a shard among the rocks of this Los Angeles, California hillside. Enjoying picture-perfect views of Santa Monica Canyon, this modern home designed by Johnston Marklee Architects boasts a bold shape that cooperates with the complex landscape, with stunning results. Set on an irregular, uneven and steeply sloped plot of land, the architect developed an equally irregular house with an obscure roofline and oblique walls, all in white except for the deep-set windows stretching across the facade. The wide windows frame the breathtaking views, while flooding interiors with natural light, revealing a modern, minimalist style. Living areas are predominantly white, with cool stone playing against warm woods in rich finishes. A cool upper loft area, enclosed in a barely-there glass balcony, overlooks the open-concept living area below, and beyond that, the lush valley is visible from virtually any angle in the home. Johnston Marklee Architects via Contemporist


Contemporary House in Amsterdam with Modern Vertical Garden Beautifully blending architecture with nature, this contemporary house by Marc Koehler Architects was designed as a vertical garden in a concrete jungle. The house in IJburg, Amsterdam, features various spaces seemingly “carved out” from a “monolithic sculptural mass” in a series of open and private spaces, as described by the architect, which unifies all elements of this contemporary design – the exterior, interior, and of course, the unique vertical garden and large rooftop terrace. The facade incorporates brick work for visual interest as well as to accommodate growing greenery. Interiors are bright with natural light. The contemporary layout features a main floor housing three bedrooms, a bathroom, a powder room and a large multi-purpose space. Upstairs, a kitchen, dining area and large living area offer views of the surrounding city and garden just outside the expansive windows. Marc Koehler Architects.


Modern Industrial Design House in Japan Blends Contemporary Fashion and Function Japanese Architect Koji Tsutsui has designed this modern house in Tokyo, Japan, for an industrial designer, with a distinctly industrial edge. At the outset, it was required that the house work with the client’s own sentiments towards the fashion and function of design. In addition, the list of must-haves included a studio that opens to the outdoors; a study with a view of the car; a separate guest wing; and a living area that would also act as a showroom for the would-be homeowner’s industrial art. And thus aptly named Industrial Design House was planned with a living/dining area and gallery at its core, featuring a bare white backdrop and tall ceilings that invite the flood of natural light. The remainder of the house is much of the same, with bright, spacious rooms with a modern, minimalist appeal. Each room provides its own individual feel and function, but they are all interwoven via the basic elements of architecture – “floor, wall, ceiling, stairs, void and openings,” according to Best House Design. Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates via Best House Design


Modern Sustainable Home in UK - Repurposing and Revitalizing the 1890s Railway Carriage Like an animal adapts to its environment, so too does this modern repurposed rail carriage on Dungeness Beach in Kent, UK. Designed by architect Simon Conder, El Ray is a modern home designed to both blend into its sandy surroundings and weather their storms. The two-bedroom house is a restoration and reformation of a railway carriage circa 1890 sits at the heart of the home, now transformed into the home’s main hub – the kitchen. A sloping roof invites visitors to revel in the breathtaking view that is the sea. One elevation takes on a semi-circular form, while facing south is a fully-glazed facade overlooks the Channel. The architect used FSC-certified wood where possible, making it a sustainable choice. Adding to the eco-friendly appeal, this modern house design also incorporates passive solar power, cross ventilation and wind turbines as a source of natural heating, cooling and off-the-grid power. Simon Conder. Read the full article by Graham Bizley for Building Design magazine.


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Modern House in Brazil - Earth, Air and Water Come Together in Osler House Osler modern house, located in Brasilia, Brazil, is a 2,906-sq.-ft. balancing act of earth, wind and water. Architect Marcio Kogan precariously perched an airy, glass-enclosed volume perpendicularly atop a natural wood-clad base, and stretching across a luxurious lap pool below. The deck surrounding the pool echoes the richly finished wood panels that cover the main level and slide apart to reveal some strategically placed windows and doorways. A warm glow invites visitors into cozy yet clean and contemporary interiors – simple and down to the detail. A modern floating wooden staircase climbs up the wall and leads to the upper glass level, where the panoramic views of the rooftop patio, the sprawling 8,578-sq.-ft. grounds and the horizon beyond, are the center of attention. Marcio Kogan via Arch Daily


Cool Contemporary Cubes Take Shape in Japan, by Endoh Design When it comes to artistic impressions, this is one case where it’s really hip to be square. The Natural Cube House by Japanese architects Endoh Design boasts a unique facade of reinforced concrete on a 2,900-sq.-ft. site. The basic cube shape is enhanced with modern steel panels and uniquely uneven walls that create windows in a most nontraditional and unexpected way. As expected from the exterior design, the home’s interior continues on a path of modern minimalism, almost clinical with its white-on-white palette that’s colored only by bold blasts of orange on the ceiling and walls. A barely-there exterior accent, the irregular walls create a contemporary focal point of the interiors, casting an artistic light treatment that flows in through the slits in the walls. Endoh Design.


Luxury Thai Beach House One look at this Thai Beach House, the Samujana Villas, and you’ll know you’re home. This collection of 26 exotic, private island homes on Thailand Koh Samui is inspired by the luxurious resort lifestyle most only dream about. Overlooking the beach about 300 ft. below, Gfab Architects has designed these contemporary cliff-top villas with each approximately 4,843 sq. ft. of living space that blends the indoor and outdoors seamlessly. The elevations boast a tiered plan integrating sliding glass walls than open onto sun-soaked decks off of each floor. A “top down” entrance opens the home’s foyer to the outdoors, while transforming the rooftop reflecting pool into an infinity pool. Inside, four bedrooms, indulgent ensuites and an overall laid-back island attitude are key. Interiors are designed as contemporary, cool lounging areas that, like the infinity pools above, seem to hang over the edge endlessly. Gfab Architects via Contemporist


Costa Rica Beachfront Home Inspires a Writer and Modern Architecture Lovers Built using traditional techniques with a modern slant on architecture, Gianni Botsford of GB Architects built this spectacular beachfront home for his father, a writer with an eclectic taste for fine details and finishes. The contemporary house in Cahuita, Costa Rica, boasts no vertical walls to uphold its prominent roof, creating a unique silhouette among the trees. Beneath the roof, the main living space is a large library housing one floor-to-ceiling wall of built-in bookshelves and another of glass. Books, a writing desk and a grand piano fill this inspiring space. An outdoor walkway leads into another pavilion that houses the sleeping and bathing quarters. GB Architects via Arch Daily


The Sweetest Suite in Lower Manhattan, Where Nature Meets Modern Architecture An experiment in the integration of nature and architecture, this ultra-modern penthouse yields some stylish results. In the hands of a couple of innovative Yale professors – architect Joel Sanders and landscape architect Diana Balmori – the 3,100-sq.-ft. suite in Lower Manhattan boasts a spectacular rooftop garden (complete with an outdoor shower) that blankets a set of stairs leading inside. But nature doesn’t stop at the front door – interiors are brimming with lush plantings and an impressive irrigation system. The master bathroom showcases 50 sq. ft. of vertical plantings that conceal drip irrigation tubes, transforming the design into a living, breathing environment. Warm, natural woods finish the modern interiors – a naturally perfect complement to the lush plants both inside and out. For details visit The New York Times


Sustainable Tree House Actually Hugs Trees From the pages of building and architecture website BD, London, this modern residential design is a tree house by all accounts – built from trees, built among trees. With an £800,000 grant to construct in a conservation area of west Beaminster, Dorset UK, Western Design Architects have planned this sustainable home with recycled timber, a Green roof and a ground-source heat pump. The contemporary 3,875-sq.-ft. house is


comprised of three pods, each approximately five ft. off the ground. And while these pods are not actually secured to the trees that dot the surrounding landscape, the magnificent oaks will pierce through the terraces of the home. "While not physically bolted to the surrounding oak trees which are protected by a tree preservation order, the oaks will penetrate each terrace so 'you can hug a tree if you want to,'" according to the architect, reports BD. Inside, the main pod houses the kitchen, dining and living areas, and is connected to the neighboring two pods which accommodate the bedrooms. The start for construction is slated for spring 2009. Western Design Architects Read more on BD - Building Design, London photo credit: BD


26 Sep 2008 | Sustainable | Comments (0)

Contemporary Dialogue House in Arizona Desert Speaks Volumes The Arizona desert is a hotspot for modern architecture. Dialogue House, designed by Wendell Burnette Architects, offers a unique balance of light, materials, styles and volumes facing opposite directions. The lower level of the home features the main living areas, and faces towards downtown Phoenix. Perched atop the main level, the upper volume of this contemporary home boasts a work studio and occupies the north-west corner of the property. After sunset, this upper level of the home appears as a floating box of light. This modern oasis in the desert includes a luxurious pool and an enclosed outdoor living area. On the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the grand living spaces include all the usual suspects plus a den, three bedrooms and a loft-like master suite. Wendell Burnette Architects via Contemporist


Swedish Sauna House - Spa-Inspired The luxurious Mill House by architect Gert Wingardh is a gleaming gem of glass and wood, hidden quietly in its rural setting of Southern Sweden. In true Swedish tradition, this rustic yet refined design is “a manifestation of the ritual of sauna and sunbathing,” according to the architect – an age-old practice so loved, that the designer was compelled to incorporate living space into the spa-inspired structure. Enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass with extensive woodwork both inside and out, the home boasts a warm appeal when regarded from the inside and out, and is surrounded by a cool pool for dipping after a good, hot steam. Gert Wingardh via Best House Design photos: James Silverman


Underground House by EM2N How does one accommodate a growing family and a much-needed home extension without going to the trouble of getting neighbors’ permission? AThe architects at EM2N found their answer underground. Haus Gross in Greifensee, Switzerland, looks like a typical house by all accounts. But this modern and inventive design proves that looks can be deceiving. This understated, low-profile house holds a buried treasure in the form of an underground living space. The 721-sq.-ft. sub-grade home addition includes two sunken open-air courtyards leading into the three children’s bedrooms, a bathroom and a state-of-the-art home theater for private film screenings. A two-storey glazed façade lets light flood every corner, above ground and below. And while you’d think this design would mean a lot of stair climbing, the architects let their fun side out to play in this funky design, incorporating a slide to take the kids from the upper ground level down the slope and to the lower deck, which leads inside. EM2N.


A Reflection of Modern Thinking in Glass-and-Mirror Villa 1 House Design And the Dutch Design Award for “Best Private Interior Design” goes to Villa 1, the architectural dichotomy designed by Powerhouse Company and completed in 2007. This modern design is sleek, polish, and commands attention among its wooded surroundings in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The architects did a 50/50 number of this futuristic design, with 240m2 of the home’s volume above ground, and the other 240m2 nestled below grade. Like its physical placement, the upper portion of the house is light, boasting a glass-box enclosure that’s bathed in bright, natural light. The lower level of the home takes on what the architects call a “medieval” persona where the living areas are cave-like – “carved out of a mass.” Interiors are finishes with barely-there glass, mirrors and ultra-polished woods that are the picture of perfection as curved walls and closets, and pristine white walls and floors. Powerhouse Company.


Organic Wooden House on Seattle’s Skyline by Pb Elemental Architecture Seattle’s Pb Elemental Architecture is putting an organic notch on the city’s concrete skyline. The Dang Residence is a two-storey private wooden house of 3,600 sq. ft., clad in naturally beautiful cedar. Interiors are divided into a series of modern loft-style living spaces, including three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a media room and a study. The upper and lower levels are connected by a sky-lit staircase that allows the spill of natural light into the whole of the home. Throughout the house, thoughtfully placed skylights and windows light up corners and crannies, and unique architectural details like art niches. Two balconies and an intimate courtyard at the center of this design embrace outdoor living. Pb Elemental Architecture.


Exotic Wood Home in Seattle by Pb Elemental Architecture Dressed to the nines is nature’s finest, this contemporary wood home by Pb Elemental Architecture stands tall among its Seattle surroundings. The exotic Norman Residence is a sleek-looking single-family home clad in three main materials – cedar, glass and hardipanel – which form this natural architectural wonder of 2,647 sq. ft. This modern design occupies a small footprint, but its strong vertical presence makes a bold statement. Thoughtfully placed windows break up the woody facade while flooding interiors with natural light. Interiors, like the home’s exterior, are finished in rich and refined woods. Walls are minimal. A central staircase is the home’s centerpiece awash with warm sunlight. Three bedrooms, a master suite and a “lower-level accessory dwelling” complete this spectacular home design. Pb Elemental Architecture.


Modern Glass House in London Overlooking Historic Victorian Cemetery You know what they say about people who live in glass houses – those fortunate folks get the best view. In the case of this magnificent, modern glass house by London-based architects Eldridge Smerin, the view is a peaceful one of the historic Victorian-era Highgate Cemetery in London, UK. Notable of this unique, contemporary design is the home’s two contrasting faced. The glazed facade of the house facing towards the cemetery allows light to spill into every corner inside; while the street side of the home boasts a combination black granite, glass and steel. The design is also distinctive for the architect’s innovative incorporation of the outdoors into indoor spaces, the expansive windows being the most obvious. As one passes through the house, the ceiling opens up to reveal an open sky above the top-floor kitchen which is covered with a sliding glass skylight. Below, in the home’s four storeys, spacious living rooms, bedrooms, and gracious entertaining areas are the mark of a truly grand home. The outdoors make their way in through multiple balconies. Individual interior living areas are united through the glass floors, wall panels and frameless doors. Eldridge Smerin via Dezeen


Contemporary House in Japan by Curiosity Inc. - C-2 For curiosities and architectural oddities, the aptly names Curiosity Inc. delivers with some unique modern residential designs, like C-2 House in Yamanashi, Japan. This cool house design is characteristic for its contemporary facade which comes to a peak – literally and figuratively – with a unique shape. The home’s exterior carries a retro quality, clad in dark-stained cedar shakes and bright-white slabs, while interiors are cleanly contemporary with a minimalist feel that follows the sharp angles of a distinctive roofline. The home’s unconventional entrance welcomes you into an open hallway that leads through the house and out the opposite end. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring you back to nature, revealing a splendid view of earth and trees. Curiosity Inc.


Exotic Modern Home in the South of Chile It’s something you might expect to see in a lakeside city in the south of Chile. The exotic, unyielding essence of this modern home by Beals Architects boasts two competing volumes, parallel in both position and presence, and working their way through the immediate forest, Lake Rupanco and an endless sky. With an exterior of pine treated with a black sealer, this modern design pays tribute to the grandeur of the trees that surround it. Picture windows neatly frame the breathtaking views while flooding interiors with soft sunlight. But the home’s overall rustic character is complemented by the fine, contemporary details. Rich, untreated, warmly lit manio and ulmu wood is a natural highlight of interiors, covering the floors, walls and ceilings; flowing from the entrance, through the kitchen, hallways, a lounge, the dining room and office, and full circle back, outside to the terrace. A modern floating staircase leads upstairs, where at the rear of each volume is a bedroom, connected to its counterpart via a glassed-in hallway. Following the sloping landscape, the home narrows and ends each volume with an observatory open to the magnificent view. Beals Architects via Plataforma Arquitectura


Luxury Wooden House Among the Trees of Rural Seattle When architect Nils Finne of Seattle-based Finne Architects conceived this contemporary residential design, he had an artful vision of wood and windows intermingling with nature in the Seattle suburb of Redmond. The delicate design offers intricacies imagined impossible in large-scale construction. But this 4,225-sq.-ft. luxury wooden house proves those theories wrong. Both inside and out, this modern home’s meticulous woodwork is simply spectacular, becoming a focal motif of the overall design. "There isn't a whole lot of drywall in this place. Nature's my artwork," owner Julie Burnett told The Seattle Times. Windows appear at every turn, flooding the home with natural light. “During the day I don't have to turn on the lights, even in winter,” said Burnett. From the grid-patterned exposed ceiling beams to the sleek and polished floors; throughout bedrooms, 3.5 baths, the sprawling 1,100-sq.-ft. kitchen and all living spaces, wood in the king of this castle. Finne Architects via The Seattle Times. Images courtesy of Finne Architects.


UK First Net-Zero Carbon Self-Built Home - Stepping Stone to Sustainability Touted as the UK first net-zero carbon house to meet the highest code for sustainable building, the Lighthouse by Potton was designed with thoughts toward a sustainable future. Almost a decade before zero-net carbon homes are code, this innovative eco-friendly design is meant to “encourage a way of living that is inherently ‘light’ on the world’s resources whilst combining the practicalities of today’s average homeowner,” according to Potton. From the ground up, all building methods and materials have been thoughtfully chosen to maximize the eco-friendly factor. The house itself sits on screw piled foundations, raising it off the ground to minimize impact. The house is clad in a rapid-growth chestnut wood cladding, with a sloping 40-degree roof that’s topped by a glass device designed to “catch” wind for passive cooling and ventilation and off-the-grid lighting. The large windows are triple glazed to reduce heat loss and gain, and the home


features biomass boiler, photovoltaics and rainwater recycling. That said, the Lighthouse looks very cool too. Potton.


The Window to Modern Style at Chicken Point Cabin Leave it to Seattle-based Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects to add some contemporary class to a country cabin. Chicken Point Cabin is a house on a lake in northern Idaho which the architects describe as “a little box with a big window that opens to the surrounding landscape.” The facade of the house is an expansive 30-by-20-ft. window, which winds open with a rustic hand crank – a quirky touch. Constructed of concrete, steel and plywood, are unfinished to lend the cabin an authentic feel. Inside, knotty woods and gritty concrete floors are complemented by bare brick walls and a repurposed pipe-turned-fireplace at the hub of the home. The floor plan is designed around the awe-inspiring window, providing each room a piece of this spectacular view. Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects.


Modern Green Roof House Overlooks Bay of Biscay Clean, green and ultra-contemporary, this cool house by the architects at Nolaster conceals something quite spectacular beneath its grassy cap. Located in the city of Laredo along the northern coast of Spain, this house isn’t so easy to spot from above. A bird’s-eye view is of a site where grass climbs to the edge of an imposing cliff, with the waters crashing below. But a closer look reveals an innovative home designed into this rocky landscape. This modern single-storey home sits perched on stilts, with a covered outdoor living area tucked beneath the house. The home’s facade is designed for function, enclosed in a durable cladding to withstand the strong northern winds off the Bay of Biscay. Inside, you can almost feel the spray of the waves as you sit at the storefront-style windows and take in the view. A stairway leads up to the lush rooftop overlooking the beach below. Nolaster via Obvious


Luxury Custom Cottage by Renown Brininstool + Lynch Architects - Coffou on Lake Michigan A more luxury rural retreat there could not be, thanks to the opulent creativity of the architects at Brininstool + Lynch. The contemporary Coffou cottage on Lake Michigan is the dream retreat for a Chicago family looking to trade the hustle and bustle for the trees, the water and the unobstructed views. Essentially a custom cottage – but so much more than just a cottage in its traditional sense – this magnificent, modern retreat blends seamlessly with surrounding nature. Concealed by a wooded rain screen and clad in large expanses of glass, the three-bedroom house has a certain quietness; an understated quality about it that disappears as soon as you cross the threshold. A charming country exterior gives way to chic, contemporary interiors that continue to make great use of natural materials. The open-concept kitchen, living and dining room and porch frame the forest views. In fact, Brininstool + Lynch have thoughtfully planned every room to underline the pristine views. But behind the beauty there is a purpose. These floor-to-ceiling windows absorb the sun to passively heat the home during the cold months of the year. Radiant-heat concrete flooring also does its part. Brininstool + Lynch.


Modern Bird-Inspired House Takes Flight in Southern California The New York Times reported on a unique house design with the grace of a bird and the innovation of a modern mind. Forward-thinking architect Tom Kundig, of Seattle-based firm Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen, brings a beautiful sense of motion to this awesome residential design, set in the Southern California landscape with a view of the ocean. An aerial perspective of this home reveals a bird-like silhouette, with the upswept wings of the roof inclined for flight, and a 100-ft. long passage leading to the front door concealed beneath the bird’s tail – the home’s roof. Kundig wanted the home to resemble “a small building that landed lightly on the landscape,” according to The Times. Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen photo credit: Tim Bies


Contemporary Urban House Design in San Francisco - embracing outdoor living The designers at San Francisco-based Feldman Architecture were thinking outside the open box in this contemporary urban house design. Tucked within a dense downtown, the Open Box 2 House in San Francisco embraces cool northern modernity, while paying tribute to its hot California roots with a unique open-roof design. Topping this sophisticated structure, the contemporary rooftop deck features a removable roof for sun-soaked afternoons. Inside, the two storeys of living space are flooded with natural light and modern touches at every turn. “With eco-friendly principles guiding the design direction, elements that once appeared dark and unwelcoming were given a glamorous new beginning with the introduction of translucent glass kitchen tiles, white oak plank floors and fold-away ground-level doors,” according to Feldman Architecture.


Big Brother House - Ultra-Modern Residential Design in Inner Mongolia, China This modern house by Julien De Smedt Architects was designed for the Ordos 100 project in Inner Mongolia, China. One of 100 participating designs, Big Brother house is a 1,000-sq.-meter structure where you can be seen at any place, at any time, hence its name. In terms of interior environment, this house functions like an igloo, with a cooler exterior layer insulating the interior. In terms of layout, Big Brother House boasts a central atrium, surrounded by a series of stacked, open-ended boxes that make up the individual living areas. At the very top, a lone cube houses the master bedroom. The open boxes and their voids allow for natural ventilation, not to mention a curiously contemporary concept for the future of residential design. Julien De Smedt Architects via Dezeen





Luxury Makes this Modern Multi-Unit Home in Seattle – Orcas Residences by Pb Elemental Known for their distinct clean-lined, modern yet warm style of architecture throughout the Seattle area, Pb Elemental Architecture designed this four-unit multi-family residence in the Georgetown neighborhood. The Orcas Residences project boasts a contemporary facade incorporating wood paneling and storefront-style windows framed with a cool, industrial frame edge. Inside, each two-storey residence boasts 1,100 sq. ft. of living space and a complete list of luxuries, leaving nothing out. Warm woods make their way from the exterior in, framing doorways, finishing floors and features as the main material of the open-riser stairs leading from the airy main floor up to the master suites. Each bedroom features a private bath and access to a rooftop deck. But the best features are possibly those hidden behind the walls – the claim of being “4-star built green.” Pb Elemental Architecture.


Cool Contemporary Design in Toronto Trendy Queen Street West 91A Claremont Street in Toronto trendy Queen Street West neighborhood represents a move to the modern. Developer Cityspace Urban Developments strayed from the “faux Victorian” style typical of this downtown residential and entertainment hub, opting to go the modern industrial route. Set amid its brick semi-detached neighbors is this striking, 2,100-sq.-ft. home boasting simple lines and a contemporary rectangular profile. This semi-detached design makes the most of its long frame with a main floor encompassing a single, elongated, open-concept space. The linear layout takes you from the dining room at the front of the home, through the kitchen, a cozy living room and to a rear patio. The interior style is exactly what you’d expect from the exterior impression – meticulous in its details and spot-on in the execution. Every element appears thoughtfully considered, from the warm woods and sleek countertops, to the cool floating staircase enclosed in a


barely-there glass wall. 91A Claremont is currently for sale through Paul Johnston Unique Urban Homes at a price of $849,000. Cityspace Urban Developments.

Contemporary Cave House by Award-Winning Polish Architect Robert Konieczny The multi-award-winning Aatrial House by Polish architect Robert Konieczny (pictured) of KWK Promes transforms the spatial configuration of the traditional Polish cube house. This contemporary house in the woods near Opole boasts a cool, cave-like appeal which immediately sets the mind awhirl with modern innovations shrouded in mystery. The design concept is the opposite of an atrial building; closed to the inside and open to its surroundings with terraces, and access to the garden via an inner atrium. The inner atrium


also features the unique underground driveway which gives the home its cavernous characteristic. The 10-meter wide driveway slopes and burrows its way beneath the structure, flanked by walls and a road of quarried granite blocks. But what’s visible from afar is the clean, contemporary cube house with a minimalist white facade, dotted with picture windows and a green garden. KWK Promes.

Modern Lakeside House in Italy by Architect Marco Castelletti This cool, modern lakeside house by architect Marco Castelletti breaks all convention when it comes to style and special configuration. The home’s vertical configuration adopts a uniquely Italian architecture style, with a twist of modernism within its unusual profile. The modern house in Como, Italy, is set on a sleep slope overlooking the street


below and boasting an endless view of the lake at its feet. A long set of stairs leads from the street to the home’s entrance, which covered by an overhanging hall, and into a glass atrium. The home’s main floor – a horizontal volume – faces the lake and houses the living areas and bedrooms. The home’s second level – the vertical volume – contains the service wing. This functional and fashionable design is clad in a combination of Iragna stone and white marble-dust plaster, lending the home an authentic yet contemporary flair. Marco Castelletti.


Modern Minimalist Weekend House in Japan With one view of the sea and another of the garden, the ultra-modern Garden and Sea House by architects Takao Shiotsuka Atelier was designed to frame the picture-perfect panorama. This modern weekend house in Japan is nestled at the center of a plot that’s lower than that of its neighbors. The sunken home boasts a main floor that opens onto the garden and features expansive windows making up a large part of the facade. The rectangular shape of the house is slightly skewed, wider at its sea-fronting side to allow for maximum views from the second floor. Interiors are sun-soaked, thanks to an expansive picture window. Interior walls of glass allow every room to enjoy the same spectacular view of the sea. Both the interior and exterior of the home is minimalist in style, with a predominantly white palette and clean, contemporary lines. Takao Shiotsuka Atelier photo credit: Toshiyuki YANO (Nacasa & Partners Inc.)


Contemporary House with History in UK – Modern Redesign by architect Sutherland Hussey With history, geography and the environment prevailing in this outstanding design, there’s much to be learned from the unique Yan contemporary house by architect Sutherland Hussey. Originally built in 1903 in the UK’s Lake District, the redesign and renovation of Grizedale Hall is a £4-million project that all started with a competition held by the Forestry Commission – the owner of the property. Hussey’s rustic yet rich design won the bid for the new structure set amid 2400ha of publicly accessible land, dotted with forest and surrounded by winding hiking and biking trails. At the heart of Grizedale Forest sits this luxurious stone and wood structure with a face of windows that welcomes the natural views. On either side, two volumes extend on either side of the large glazed facade. The structure abuts a terrace where the original building stood a century ago. A distinguishing flat-topped roof takes a steep upward turn midway, adding a contemporary twist to the traditional building. The project is said to be completed in early 2009. Sutherland Hussey Architects.


Ultra-modern House in Nicosia, Cyprus Combines Modern Luxury and Sustainability Italian architect Massimo Iosa Ghini has brought his ultra-modern brand of architecture to the residential stage with his design for Cyprus House – a futuristic interpretation of the traditional home. Designed for an up-and-coming community along the Pedieos River near Nicosia, Cyprus, this single-family home will be part of a four-home complex,


designed with organic-inspired shapes and an overall easy flow. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows are framed by clean, white concrete exterior walls. The home’s two levels and various volumes offer a sense of privacy. Aside from looking cool, the home is sensitive to the environment. Designed with a number of eco-friendly features, Cyprus House boasts low-E windows, adjustable solar panels, rainwater recycling, and a storage heating system to see residents through the winter months. Iosa Ghini via Contemporist


For Sale: Rustic Hamptons Retreat with Modern New York Style This modern home’s interesting roofline creates just one of its many points of interest. Designed by architect Stan Allen, the odd profile of Sagaponack House forms a weekend retreat in the Hamptons of New York. Another claim to fame is the home’s element of nature, both inside and out, from its treed surroundings, to the wood-clad exterior, and outdoor patios that lead indoors via large picture windows. This home is a cottage-chic three-bedroom design with warm yet contemporary clean-lined interiors. Cool, uncluttered living areas are naturally lit by the multiple skylights overhead, which make their sunlit marks onto the warm, wooden floors below. This luxury retreat residence is currently listed with Sotheby’s International Realty at an asking price of $2.6 million. Stan Allen Architect.


Modern House in Somosaguas, Spain - sculptural design On the outer reaches of Madrid, in the Spanish city of Somosaguas, A-cero Architects have designed this sculptural, modern home on the water’s edge with the raw power of nature’s forces in mind. Part art, part architecture, this awesome, experimental design features a low-profile, bold curves and a horizontal layout that seems to sprawl out and grow up from its core. The architects describe the house as a “stratified building that seems to emerge from the earth like a natural formation, the facades are treated with a texturized dark concrete, completing the mineral analogy.” The home is encircled in a wide balcony, and a unique rooftop pool brings nature home. A-cero Architects via Contemporist


Luxury Ocean View House in Sydney, Australia - Northbridge Bringing an ultra-modern edge to the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, the award-winning Northbridge House designed by architect Alex Popov sits at the end of a peninsula overlooking the Middle Harbour. The magnificent ocean view is framed by the home’s four steel vaults and 48 concrete columns, which are exposed and enclose its contemporary, open-concept floor plan. The luxury interior of this single-storey design is based on the four vaults. The first vault houses the foyer, a sitting room and a master bedroom; the second features functional spaces including the kitchen, dining room, a


courtyard and a pool terrace; while the third features a formal living room and a stairway to the lower level where you’ll find the remaining bedrooms, a family room and opening to the outdoor tennis court. The pool terrace features a massive skylight above an 18-meter infinity pool, which extends from indoors out and cantilevers over a three-storey void. Alex Popov & Associates via Best House Design


Modern Beach House in Malibu Features Sustainable Design This modern, 3,500-sq.-ft. house set in a swanky Malibu neighborhood not only looks like a million bucks – it’s sustainable design makes it a true treasure. Dubbed “Malibu 5,” this luxurious contemporary home designed by architect Stephen H. Kanner faces the Pacific Ocean, offering breathtaking views that rival the spectacular vision that is the home. Kanner’s eco-conscious perspective on design has resulted in a Green design featuring recycled materials; reduced energy consumption; passive heating and lighting via the sun; and air conditioning courtesy of the cool California breeze. Photovoltaic and solar rooftop panels provide hot water and off-the-grid power. Malibu 5 features an innovative double-C design that makes up the home’s two main volumes – the main two-storey C, and a smaller, single-storey C above the garage, which are separated by a courtyard. Inside, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and living spaces open on at least two sides to facilitate cross-ventilation. The home is largely enclosed in low-E argon-filled windows to reduce heat loss and gain, while flooding interiors with natural light. Kanner Architects via Best House Design


Contemporary California iT House – Sustainable Prefab Design This house is cool; it’s contemporary; simply put, it is iT! Designed by Taalman Koch Architects, iT House, located in Pioneertown, California, is a modern prefab house design, factory-made and assembled on site to control construction waste, environmental impact, labor and quality, according to the architect. “The simplicity and elegance of the design is alert to the essentials; the house creates a focused environment for maintaining harmony and deep connections with the natural world.” Taalman Koch has accomplished this through sustainable building practices and materials, and through the emphasis on indoor/outdoor spaces. The single-storey design is enclosed in glass walls and features an open-concept interior with rustic, raw woods and simple design elements. This eco-friendly house is heated, cooled and powered using passive methods – cross-ventilation, radiant floor heating, solar and thermal panels and energy-efficient appliances. Taalman Koch Architects via Contemporist


A Contemporary Castle Among the Common – Cool Home in Toronto, Canada The Canadian architectural firm of Reigo & Bauer has conceived and created a contemporary castle among the common. The unique and eye-catching design at 12 Cassels Avenue has found a perfect fit within a densely populated block of homes in Toronto’s east end. The home’s slim profile and sleek glass facade really make it stand out from the crowd, but oddly, it still fits within the grander scheme of the neighborhood. What also makes this design noteworthy is its accessibility to the everyman. With a selling price of $414,000, Reigo & Bauer’s houses are designed for an average buyer with above-average architectural appreciation. This modern home boasts a minimalist style throughout its three finished floors. This small but sweet design features two bedrooms and luxurious living spaces with a seriously spacious appearance, thanks to the architects’ efficient use of every available inch. The full-glass front and rear face of the home welcome a flood of natural light, further enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. Reigo & Bauer. photo credit: Tom Arban

Economical Prefab in Oslo, Norway - Modern Boxhome highlights eco-friendly living in Scandinavia


As northern natives, one issue was top of mind when the minds at Rintal Eggertsson Architects took to designing modern and functional homes – climate. Thus, the unpredictable, often harsh weather of Oslo, Norway, played a large role in the final outcome of the Boxhome project – a contemporary house design which is as notable for its function as its fashion appeal. Boxhome measures just 19m2 so its easy to heat (a requirement in Scandinavia at least six months of the year), making it both an eco-friendly and economically sound housing option. Housed behind the minimalist geometric facade is the kitchen and dining room combo, a living room, a bathroom and a bedroom. The space may be limited, but this house isn’t about quantity – it’s about quality. According to the architects, the project is about the use of materials and light, and an efficient use of floor space, resulting in a housing option ¼ the price of comparable units in the area. While Boxhome is just a prototype, the design can be adapted to accommodate larger families. Rintal Eggertsson Architects


Hot Rod House Design by Artist-Architect Tom Kundig Known for daring designs that push the architecture envelope, Tom Kundig of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects made the most of a modest budget in his ultra-cool Hot Rod House. “The design relies on a single move – the insertion of a folded steel stair – to provide circulation while becoming a free-standing 3-D sculptural element,” according to the architect. The simple mechanics of an expansive hinged window open this contemporary house to the outdoors. The architect’s innovative, artful approach to design doesn’t end at the window. The modern staircase is a centerpiece of the home, boasting a unique design without stringers, winding its way up the home’s interior. Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects.


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Mar 17, 2009 5:52 PM

EXEMPLE DE ARHITECTURA MODERNA


Modern Luxury Home on Australia Sunshine Coast by architect Frank Macchia Tucked away on Australia’s aptly named Hideaway Island in the Noosa region, this gorgeous modern home designed by Aussie architect Frank Macchia offers the best of all worlds – sun, sand, surf and a contemporary style that makes it a hot property along the Sunshine Coast. This luxury four-bedroom, four-bathroom home embraces nature with its waterfront facade of glass. Natural light floods every inch of the interior, which is finished in a cool combination of natural and modern materials. With a ground floor dedicated to luxury living and indulgence, a heated pool and water features lead from inside out, solidifying the home’s strong connection to nature. Lounging living areas and a gourmet kitchen all offer breathtaking views, but these are best enjoyed from the waterfront terrace jutting out over the jetty. The home’s second floor was designed with privacy in mind, with three bedrooms and a media room. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the home’s rooftop terrace, which offers panoramic views of Hideaway Island. The house is currently on the market, and will be auctioned off on January 10 by Richardson & Wrench. Frank Macchia via Contemporist


Modern Mini House Makes a Big Impression - a prefab in Sweden by architect Jonas Wagell Mini House is quite possibly the next big thing in modern homes. The cool little design was developed from a master thesis by Swedish architect and designer Jonas Wagell. According to Swedish building laws, property owners may build a second home on their property without a building permit. This allows homeowners to maximize their lot potential, and create a custom living space on an existing lot. The modern Mini House makes sense, both economically and stylistically speaking. The home’s prefabricated flat-pack design offers an alternative to the traditional cottage, boasting the illusion of space in an ultra-compact 15m2 structure. An outdoor living area is separated from the fun, funky interiors by a large expanse of sliding glass. Beyond that, the details of the design are totally customizable, allowing the owner to create a mini dream design with a sauna, an office space, as extra sleeping quarters, or as a haven for relaxation. Jonas Wagell.


House Design by Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects - each room has its own roof Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects took the concept of a simple, rectangular home and crowned it with a jewel of an idea – a totally unique concept in roofing. The result is something quite contemporary and innovative, and certainly unexpected. The modern Parr House in Chiguayante, Chile, has been designed with a standard set of rooms, and a fairly traditional division of interior spaces. But what makes this design truly one-of-a-kind can best be seen from above. An aerial view of the home reveals that each room is topped its own sloping roof, and embedded within each roof – a skylight. Checkered between the roofs of this single-family home, a series of interior courtyards offer views of wide-open sky. This contemporary architectural detail allows for individual yet interconnected interior spaces, each flooded with sunlight by day and by night, each boasting its own celestial centerpiece overhead. Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects via Cool Boom Photo credit: Cristobal Palma


Cool Minimalist House Design in Japan This ultra-modern, minimalist house design in Komae, Japan, was completed in 2007 by architects Makoto Yamaguchi Design. This cool house proves that simplicity is beauty, with its contemporary, clean lines and a crisp, white palette both inside and out. From its exterior, the clean, cube shape boasting a slight slope, which lends the illusion of fluidity. The facade is interrupted by few but focal floor-to-ceiling windows, but beyond that, the exterior leaves everything to the imagination. Inside, this modern design continues with the design’s milky motif, with understated finishes and tall walls, faced with mirrors, forming narrow hallways that sweep you from one living space to the next. Makoto Yamaguchi Design Photo credit: Daici Ano


Magnificent Modern Mountain Home in Whistler, British Columbia


Built into the Canadian Rockies of Whistler, British Columbia, the Spring Creek Residence by aka Architecture+Design is a modern mountain residence if ever there was one. The home’s grand luxury commands attention from near and far with its design perched precariously atop this remote, rocky slope. Actually, this contemporary home was designed into the mountain – “a series of walls cutting into an extraordinarily steep site,” as described by the architects. Clearly inspired by its surroundings, the sprawling home of 4,000 sq. ft. incorporates the rock and the wood that define these natural surroundings. Walls of wood and concrete are set aglow from the light within, pouring out from the massive expanses of glass making up much of the home’s facade. Interiors are simple, yet lavish. Contemporary open-concept spaces boast high-end finishes, polished slab floors and wonderful woods exposed in the beams and frames throughout. aka Architecture+Design.


Luxury Resort-Style Villas in Bali – Alila Villas Uluwatu by WOHA Geared to open its doors early in 2009, the Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali, Indonesia is a resort development encompassing a hotel and 34 modern, luxury villas that take “hotel chic” to a whole new level. Available for sale and intended for permanent residence among the visitors, these three-bedroom homes boast authentic Balinese building materials and methods, which are enhanced with a modern edge. Set on Bali’s southern coast, the villas are tiered to offer unobstructed views of the sea. A series of outdoor living spaces include covered and open-to-outdoors lounge areas and endless infinity pools. On the inside of the floor-to-ceiling glass, “interiors are lushly furnished and resonate with a soft, clean chicness that contrasts with the rich and rugged gardens and site,” as described by the architects, Singapore-based WOHA. via Contemporist


Contemporary Seattle Dwelling - Gorgeous EB1 House is for sale As though made expressly for a year-round, ripe autumn scene, this modern, minimalist home in Seattle, Washington picks up on the golden hues of the surrounding landscape in its warm exterior wood cladding and an expansive glazed facade flaming views of the West Seattle Golf Course, Elliot Bay and the Seattle skyline. The contemporary EB1 Residence by Replinger Hossner Architects blends beautifully with nature while offering a sense of refined luxury. Every room of this three-bedroom 2.5-bathroom home seems to center around the magnificent views visible from virtually every room. This luxury house in the Pigeon Point neighborhood is currently listed with Modern Dwelling agent Chris Stark at $895,000. Replinger Hossner Architects.


Modern Boat House in Norfolk, UK - Ferry Boatyard House by LSI Architect Built by Ferry Boatyard with Norwich-based LSI Architect at the helm of the design, these modern boat houses in Horning, Norfolk, UK, were created as holiday homes for water-lovers with an appreciate for unique, unconventional architecture. The community of nine contemporary homes, set on the River Bure, maximizes on the surrounding views by positioning the living areas on the upper level, while lower-level bedrooms and bathrooms offer peace and privacy. Each house features its own mooring outside, with the boatyard as its backyard. According to the architects, “External materials are varied but reflect the industrial heritage of the boatyard and vary from metal cladding to cedar shingles.” LSI Architect.


Sustainable Modern Cottage on Georgian Bay, Canada Nestled on the rocky Canadian Shield in Pointe Au Baril, three hours north of Toronto, this sustainable 3-season modern cottage quietly overlooks the shimmering waters of Georgian Bay with a design that blends with nature, but remains a focal point on its 2.8-acre island property. Designed by architects Agathom Co., the goal of this modern design was to deliver creature comforts – with a little class – while treading lightly on the land. The result is a cool, contemporary profile that’s balanced by the rustic look of its reclaimed wood-clad facade and topped by a green asphalt roof. Inside, the 1,000-sq.-ft. cabin boasts a bedroom, a living room with a library, a kitchen and dining room, and a loft. Solar panels power a pump that supplies water to the house. At the center of the cottage is a Rumford fireplace built of locally sourced stone. Agathom Co. via World Architecture News


Modern Dome Home – Sustainable Solaleya Dome Design Originally designed by Patrick Marsilli in 1988, the Solaleya Dome Home is a modern innovation in sustainable, contemporary housing. The futuristic dome design offers dual benefits. While lending the house its cool, characteristic profile, the carefully considered shape also weighs heavily on the home’s function factor. The overarching roof features skylights that allow for bright, naturally sunlit interiors. At the base of the house, a mechanical structure allows it to rotate 360 degrees, thereby maximizing sun absorption by the roof’s solar panels. Ninety per cent of the house is built using FSC-certified wood, and the structure is insulated with eco-friendly cork. Interiors are predominantly of wood, with sloped walls and the modern open-concept layout center around the floor-to-ceiling fireplace. These durable domes have been proven to withstand category 5 hurricanes and earthquakes up to magnitude 8 on the MSK scale. The original manufacturer is Domespace Homes of France. Domespace Homes are exclusively distributed in the US by Solaleya. via Inhabitat

Also see Japanese styrofoam prefab dome house and Danish sustainable domes.


Cool Modern Home with Hidden Interior Garden Takeshi Hosaka Architects have devised a truly cool and modern way of incorporating the outdoors into an otherwise traditional home. The Garden House ingeniously and beautifully blends indoor and outdoor living spaces with a two-storey interior courtyard, enclosed within the home’s walls. The architect decidedly made the garden the home’s main focal point, featuring a seating area, a tree and a variety of plantings. Surrounding the space, rooms boast large sliding glass doors that when opened, effectively bring the outdoors in on a whole new level. Apart from its unique inner garden, this modern home boasts all the traditional living spaces, but dresses them with a minimalist elegance that’s echoed in the home’s white, angular facade. Takeshi Hosaka Architects via Cool Boom


Upscale Contemporary Home by Lundberg Design in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California Pacific Heights is the perfect spot for this upscale contemporary home by Lundberg Design. This San Francisco, California home boasts vistas of Alta Plaza Park and a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. The breathtaking views are complemented by a design about as cool and contemporary as they come – without becoming overly eccentric. A sleek, glass front and rear facade ensure the views are enjoyed from every room. Taking an unconventional approach to entry, the architects at Lundberg Design planned this upscale home with its entry level on the second floor, and the ground floor reserved for guest rooms and a garage. The centerpiece of this house is a futuristic circular staircase. The winding sculpture of stone and steel is as magnificent to behold as it is to scale. Topping this three-storey design is the third, private level, dedicated to lavish comforts and delicious solitude, complete with a master bedroom, an ensuite and office space. Lundberg Design.


Amazing Weekend Cabin in Washington State – Modern Delta Shelter Design Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects have designed this magnificent home that stands as a beacon of innovation and modern style among its wooded surroundings. Delta Shelter is a small but sweet weekend cabin in Washington State that rivals any home in terms of luxury and innovation. The 20-by-20-ft. square footprint makes way for a three-storey home that, despite its cozy 1,000-sq.-ft. size, makes the grandest of impressions. Oversized 10-by- 18-ft. steel rolling shutters conceal massive expanses of glass, and can be simultaneously opened or closed using the hand crank inside. A contemporary interior layout features the kitchen and living room at the top of the home, where residents and guests have the best seat in the house to take in the breathtaking view of the floodplain and wooded valley at its feet. Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects. Photo credits: Tim Bies and Benjamin Benschneider


Luxury Retreat in Rural Colorado makes a Modern Statement - Logjam House This rural retreat-turned-residence set in a treed Colorado grove is as much about nature and its surroundings as it is about a cool concept for a home. Dubbed the Logjam House and located at the remote northeastern end of the Rio Blanco River Basin, this modern home is surrounded by mountain peaks and alpine growth that make their way inside via the expansive picture windows making up much of this home’s facade. The unique “block” style of building balances various spatial volumes which overhang, extend and retreat from the main form, creating an architecturally interesting profile. Along the home’s southern and eastern faces, thoughtfully planned outdoor living areas follow the natural path of the sun. Inside, the kitchen, dining room and living areas are linear and open to one another and to above, overlooked by an upper-level loft space housing a guest bathroom and a work studio. The interior style is defined by the rural appeal of this house. Overhead, uncut logs stretch from wall to wall, displaying every crack and knot. Interior finishes include wood and stone, lit via the many windows encircling the home. Antoine Predock Architect in association with Jon Anderson Architect.


Prefab Floating Home with Sustainable Style in Germany – Das Schwimmhaus The Schwimmhaus by German architects Confused-Direction Design is truly a forward-thinking residential design that touches on a range of building innovations, from its prefab construction and use of sustainable building materials, to its floating fashion for modern living in northern Germany. According to the architects, this contemporary house design was created not just as a floating log cabin – although this distinct influence on its style can’t be denied – but rather as an alternative to traditional city homes that still offers a comfortable, livable balance between modern technology and comfort. The Schwimmhaus floating house is meant to be anchored for a permanent place on the water near densely occupied urban centers. A green roof highlights the home’s sustainable style, while adding a “yard” element where residents would otherwise have to do without. The eco-friendly roof is complemented by environmentally friendly wood salvaged from an old farm house, as well as other eco-friendly building materials. A large window created the front facade of the home, revealing its two storeys and the cozy but comfortable rooms inside. Confused-Direction Design.

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