Author Archives - Magaly
SCDA Architects Designs Soori Bali, a Resort Residence in Tabanan Regency, Bali
By Magaly • Jul 27, 2020

Soori Bali is a project designed by SCDA Architects in 2010.
It is located in Bali, Indonesia.
















Soori Bali by SCDA Architects:
“Soori Bali lies within the Tabanan Regency, one of Bali’s most fertile and picturesque regions. Here, the landscape ranges from volcanic mountains and verdant rice terraces to beautiful black-sand beaches overlooking the Indian Ocean. The location provides for a complete hideaway and offers numerous quality views of the surrounding beach, ocean, mountains and rice fields.
Soori Bali was designed with the overt principle of green sustainable initiatives in mind. The project is conceived to be both climatically and socially reactive to its locale. The design responds to the notions of climate and place, and endeavors to engage the local landscape and community. The design of the resort was approached with a sensitivity to the nuances of the site setting, and thus executed with the strategy of minimal environmental impact, minimal built footprint and with local cultural practices (religious and ceremonial processions) taken into consideration.
With an understanding that the beach is an important socio-economical aspect of the site, deliberate efforts were taken to consult and incorporate the customs and contributions of the local community within the conceptual design process. The construction methods adopted also creates training and jobs for the neighbouring villages. About 50% of the workers currently on site are recruited from the surrounding community.
The resort reflects on its privileged location by adopting the predominant use of locally sourced materials, together with a careful integration of indigenous motifs, forms and elements. The result, a harmonious balance between the clean, contemporary lines of the architecture and the soothing tones and textures of the internal and external finishes and finishing.
The design of the restaurant terrace and spa facilities incorporates terracotta screens; adapted and stylized from traditional Balinese motifs. These screens generate a marked visual contrast when combined with the dark terrazzo floors and feature walls clad in dark grey volcanic lava stones, such as Batu Candi and Batu Karangasem.
The villas are characterized by the interplay of materials which flow from the interior to exterior spaces. Smooth terrazzo walls and floors are combined with hand brushed natural timber screens, soft silk upholstery and custom designed dark stained timber furniture to form a serene internal space. The use of timber flows into the external spaces, where timber screens wrap a private bale overlooking a private plunge pool lined with Sukabumi stone. Paras Kelating, a light grey volcanic stone is applied to feature walls along the pool edge which combine with soft hues of beige and warm grey textured paint to complete the palette.
A mixture of Villa types were sensitively designed to respond to the local climatic conditions whilst maximizing views out to the surrounding beach, sea and paddy fields. Careful consideration is given to each villa plan and its built form and details to create a comfortable, energy efficient resort style living.
PASSIVE DESIGN ELEMENT
The climatic parameters particular to site, sun movement and prevailing wind direction, were established to assist in the formulation of the orientation of villas and common areas, and their planning concept.
The major building orientation is toward the North-South direction. Some are tilted a few degrees to the East to incorporate the morning sun. Openings were maximized on North-South face to encourage filtered natural light into the building whilst minimizing large openings on west side to reduce heat gain during daytime. Provision of overhanging roof eaves, roof screen systems and deep ledges were employed to reduce heat from direct sunlight.
Operable windows are provided on at least two sides of each room plan, and on each end of the villa to encourage effective cross ventilation and to bring in natural air to the interior spaces. Cross ventilation to all room interiors would provide natural cooling and sufficient fresh air intake in room to minimize CO2 level, thus reducing the reliance on Air Conditioning Systems.
In addition to the siting aspect and layout design of the villas, several design elements and materials were intentionally selected to control the buildings on a micro-climate level.
Provision of a 2nd layer of timer trellis on villa roof would minimize direct heat absorption to the roof itself; the actual roof incorporates additional insulation to further reduce heat gain internally. Material finishes are using “cool colors” in both the paint and stone selections to minimize the absorption of thermal energy, local materials selected naturally respond to the local climate, for e.g. Paras Kelating, Paras Kerobokan, Batu Chandi & Batu Kali for Feature Walls throughout the resort. Location of planters and position of low shrubs and taller trees would be placed to maximize wind flow through villa and common spaces, thus avoiding creation of wind barriers.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The exterior hardscape and softscape designs are intended to create a seamless transition between the interior and exterior spaces, with the specific goal in preserving the natural topography. Built elements are planned to sit ‘lightly’ on the land. The selection of trees responds to both the local climate and the resort planning with tree types playing a key role in the creation of ‘shaded spaces’, private pavilions and communal areas.
Due to the relatively severe coastal conditions which exist during certain periods of the year, the landscape design also incorporates a variety of indigenous local plants and coastal ‘hardy’ species, for e.g. Ipomoea Pes-caprae, Scaevola Taccada, Cocos Nucifera & Cerbera Odollam. This selection identifies and responds to the need for less long term maintenance and reduced water requirements for irrigation.”




- Floor plans
- Floor plan
- Floor plan
- Floor plan
- Section
- Section
- Site plan
Photos by: Mario Wibowo
Ralph Germann Architectes Design a Private Residence in Préverenges, Switzerland
By Magaly • Jun 11, 2020

House FFL is a private home located in Préverenges, Switzerland.
Completed in 2014, it was designed by Ralph Germann Architectes.
Brunoir & Java Architecture Come Together to Create an Elegant Interior for Nuun Jewels in Paris, France
By Magaly • Jul 3, 2019

Brunoir & Java Architecture have come together to design the interior of this sophisticated and luminous jewelry shop – Nuun Jewels Store – located on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, one of the most luxurious and fashionable streets in the world, located in Paris, France.

Nourah Al Faisal, owner and Art Director of Nuun Jewels, wanted to create a space where Middle Eastern culture could meet a more traditional French style in a way that felt seamless and organic. Having already previously worked with Brunoir to create Nuun Jewels’ first window display at the Four Seasons George V., Nourah Al Faisal wished for this, their first boutique in Paris, to embrace a combination of the brand’s identity along with the style that Brunoir had already created for them.
After the Java Architecture team joined the project, it was agreed that the design style for the boutique should be subdued and minimalistic, allowing for the jewels they would showcase to become the main focus and shine fully.

The interior is modern and bright, with a highly-fashionable style that makes customers know, as soon as they walk in, the quality of the products they’re about to admire. The rose-pink tones of the back-walls, however, along with the light-colored wood of the parquet that covers the floors, adds a touch of welcoming warmth that envelops us as we enter the space. The touches of rose gold, a favorite of Nuun’s, pervade the entirety of the design, creating a pleasant sense of elegant uniformity.







- Details
- Wood table
- Jewelry exhibition
- Elegant space
- Entrance

The architectural firm Rob Paulus Architects renovated this construction in 2012 for a doctor. Its size is of 4500 ft2, and is located in Tucson, Arizona, USA. This renovation opens up the house to encompass the lush desert landscape while improving the interior of the property. The new shapes are crisp and clean to contrast with the rounded exterior of the existing building.

Using a reductive approach in the interior, the walls are disassembled to provide better function, circulation, and views. Outside, an existing trellis porch transforms into an outdoor living room and a kitchen with a new elevated canopy.





A palette of colors and natural material dominates the new scheme with an emphasis on fir wood that was influenced by the client’s desire to create spaces inspired by nature. This warm wood is used in all interior cabinets, but it also appears on the outside as the bottom part of the roof plane that hangs over the area of the outdoor room. The existing closed house is transformed to interact with the exterior while creating a relaxing interior space in a decidedly modern transformation.






- Terrace with arid vegetation
- Outdoor furniture
- Large decorated terrace
- Pool area
- Living area in leather furniture
- Large kitchen-dining area
- Modern kitchen in wood
- TV room
- Modern sink area
- Pool area at night hours
Modern Apartment with a Marked Industrial Style Designed for a Young Businessman
By Magaly • Nov 8, 2018

This fabulous and modern apartment located in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, has been designed by the architects Ivan Yunakov, Olga Korniienko, Natali Raga, and Yaroslav Katrich, all working for the firm 33bY Architecture. The client was a young entrepreneur, and the home has a distinct industrial style.

It has an area of 97 square meters and was carried out in 2018. In the interior, a palette of dark colors and a variety of materials were used, with different structures. Among those materials were brick, natural African black stone, onyx, leather, copper, and wood. Upon entering the apartment, the first thing we notice is the wall made of black stone on one side, and the black surface with golden decoration elements on the other side. The living room is combined with a kitchen, a dining room, and a work space.


The space was separated by using glass partitions, looking to align the boundaries between the facilities, but at the same time to achieve open and floating spaces. The glass structure is made by using the “smart glass” system technology; it can be converted to matt to achieve greater privacy within the room.
The panel that was used to balance the dark tones is white onyx with backlighting framed by copper edges. It works at night and creates a cozy atmosphere, and is the focal point of our interior, seen from all the main facilities of the apartment.












- Elegant entrance in black and gold
- Spacious and modern lounge
- Elegant lounge area
- Modern furniture in leather
- Stone wall
- kitchen area
- Modern kitchen with bronze details
- Details
- Sober dining room
- Modern room with brick wall
- Room connected with modern bathroom
- Modern and elegant bathroom
- Modern and elegant bathroom
Project Based on Optimizing the Reuse of Small Sites in London
By Magaly • Nov 7, 2018

With the aim of optimizing the reuse of small plots, part of a new policy of the mayor of London, the architectural firm FORMstudio set to work on this new project, located in London Borough of Southwark, United Kingdom. The 240 square meter area is part of this new plan that encourages municipalities to proactively support new, well-designed homes in small plots through planning in order to significantly increase the way small challenging plots can meet the needs of housing in London. Benbow Yard is a perfect response to this policy.

The houses with patio, in the London district of Southwark are located in a closed and irregular plot, previously occupied by a metal factory. The challenging site had narrow access, perspectives and problems with daylight, and these limitations have directly determined the shape and the fenestration of the pair of new single-family, two-story and three-bedroom homes.


The ground floors are lined with a contemporary pale brick with vaulted floors with zinc coating for retaining walls: materials that refer to the industrial heritage of the site but that are articulated with a refined level of detail to create a sense of quality.










- Small terrace with stone wall
- Terrace connected to the interior
- Modern lounge area
- Living room with stone wall
- Living room-kitchen in modern style
- Modern minimalist kitchen
- Modern dining room in wood
- Stairs in wood
- Room full of natural light
- Modern bathroom
- Exterior night view
Modern and Simple Coffee in an Area of Exotic Atmosphere Marked by Contrasts
By Magaly • Nov 6, 2018

This modern café is located in the city of Maemachi Chuo-ku Hyogo, in Japan, an area where there are still many old, Western-style buildings which has a very striking and exotic atmosphere. The building where the cafe is located is not an old Western-style building, but it is designed to look like one. Blue Bottle Coffee Kobe Cafe has a high ceiling and ample storage space on the ground floor, located between high fashion brands stores.

The space of 214 square meters was designed by the architectural firm Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects, led by the architecture professional Masami Nakata in 2018.

The purpose of the design was to maximize the feeling of spaciousness by building a simple island-style structure where coffee functions are concentrated and seeking to counteract the exotic atmosphere of the area with a simple but distinctive style.

With an industrial style where we can see exposed pipes in the concrete ceiling and simple furniture in light wood, the space invites us to enjoy its simple decoration.







- Main entrance
- View of the spacious interior
- Modern interior with wooden furniture
- Industrial style interior
- Interior with concrete ceilings
- Large interior
- Wooden chairs and tables
- Details
A Remodeling that Manages to Fuse the Interior with the Exterior
By Magaly • Nov 5, 2018

This modern residence of open spaces and full of natural light was re-designed by the architecture firm David Coleman Architecture in 2015 in the city of Seattle, United States. It has an area of 6058 ft2, and we can see the result of the attempts to merge both the interior and the exterior. The original house, designed in 1956 by a prominent Seattle architect, is located in the private enclave of Broadmoor. It was conceived as a serpentine structure of a single floor.

The objective of the firm was to clarify the layout; add where necessary to improve habitability, merge the interior and exterior space where possible, and improve the general ambience. To achieve this, a series of initiatives were launched that had the effect of better defining the access to the house, the movement through the house, and the relationship between the interior and exterior space. This resulted in a transformation of the whole, raising the overall quality of the building and the landscape, allowing the promise of the original structures and the site to be fully realized.


The plan preserves the openness that one expects in a modern home, but it also contains an appearance of intimacy that is not expected in such a large and open building. This is achieved through the insertion of subtle but effective architectural devices, all lending a more human and accessible scale.















- View of the external terraces
- Main entrance
- Spacious interior full of light
- Modern kitchen area
- Modern kitchen in wood
- Large living room
- Internal corridors connect the areas
- Wooden internal stairs
- Room with glass walls
- Large bathroom in wood
- Large bathroom
- Nocturnal view
Wonderful Construction Overlooking the Pacific
By Magaly • Nov 2, 2018

This new home of some 300 square meters was designed in the Puntarenas Canton area of Costa Rica by the architectural firm Benjamin Garcia Saxe Architecture in 2013. The Gooden-Nahome family wanted to create their home on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and found an incredible site overlooking the sea. The biggest obstacle they found was that the site was predominantly on a very steep slope, and the view of the ocean is captured only in the upper-middle part of the ground. However, they did not see this as a negative aspect but rather saw the opportunity to explore together an architecture that was appropriate for these conditions.
Together they explored the possibilities of creating large retaining walls in order to relocate the house on the land, which is a technique commonly used by most houses in the area.







In the end, they decided to do exactly the opposite, and in fact allow the slope, land, vegetation, water and animals to flow underneath the house. The house was elevated, and by doing so, made it possible to save on the immense cost of creating retaining walls. This almost common sense decision created a very light intervention that allows the terrain to breathe while providing a spectacular ocean view from the key location on the site.


- Views from the house to the sea
- View of the terrace area with pool
- Large terrace with sea views
- Rest area inside
- Modern living-dining area
- Modern kitchen with views
- Room with wooden floors
- Room with private terrace
- Bathroom connected to the outside
An Old Carpentry Workshop Maintains its Essence even Though it has been Transformed into an Architectural Workshop
By Magaly • Nov 1, 2018

Transforming, rescuing and recycling were the main themes in this new work space, ensuring that the essence of the house and the old carpentry workshop were not lost. The architects and designers Carlos Cardona, Diana Amador, Paulina Gonzalez, Felicia Ureña, Merlina Stephens, Alberto Molina, Jessica Young, Miguel Montor, and Francisco I. Bustillos from the Miguel Montor Architecture Workshop were all involved. They had this study house that they found interesting, and that, mixed with the idea of an architectural workshop, they wanted to achieve a place where they could discuss materials, details, textures, and environments. It would be the perfect place for brainstorming and contemplation.

The area of 145 square meters is distributed in 4 levels: reception and showroom on the ground floor, two levels of work areas, and a roof where a small meeting room and a private one were located, the latter separated by a small terrace.







The goal was to achieve a study and architecture workshop where the aura of experimentation was always present and felt, as well as the essence of that house, and that the angel of that carpentry workshop remained present in this new work space, integrated as a renewed member of the alley.















View in gallery
View in gallery
- External details
- Details of the exteriors in wood
- Views of the external gardens
- View of the interior from the outside
- Interior with wooden walls
- Internal walls in concrete
- Wooden stairs
- Small work area
- Offices
- Offices
When Cooking is an Art that We Enjoy
By Magaly • Oct 31, 2018

Cooking is definitely an art and this space has been designed for those who revel in the pleasure of cooking. The space looks to bring to life the concept of a free kitchen that brings together lovers of good food, becoming the throne of a large, versatile, and functional space with an air of lightness. The one in charge of this project, carried out recently, has been W4 Arquitetura Criativa under the direction of its professionals Camila Pigatto, Fernanda Sá, and Laura Tavares.

It has an area of 35 square meters and is located in Três Figueiras, Porto Alegre, Brazil. As a sustainable solution, the iron mesh of rods in the wall serves as a custom mural in the space and is reused from the construction phase, avoiding its elimination and the waste of material. The wall with vertical garden is made with recycled cloth bags.


Another element considered sustainable is the presence of an orchard that serves as raw material for the preparation of the chef’s dishes in the workshop space, using organic spices from direct sowing.










- Kitchen area with space for relaxation
- Small corner of rest
- Large kitchen area
- Kitchen table with accessories
- Recycled wall grille
- Recycled wall grille
- Vertical garden area
This Detached Villa has the City of Beirut at its Feet
By Magaly • Oct 30, 2018

Located in the village of Baaddat in Mount Lebanon, twenty miles above Beirut, this detached villa has excellent views over the mountainous landscape. It has an area of 562 square meters and was designed in 2016 by the architectural firm Joe Serrins Studio, under the guidance of its architects Joe Serrins and Jared Brownell. The property is covered with pine nut trees that cling to the rocky slope that falls twenty meters on a 45 degree slope. The architecture allows us to cross the steep slope and put us in contact with the landscape.






The program is organized by floors: the lowest level is the garage, and level two includes a media room and three bedrooms. The third level is the living room that has high ceilings and the largest of the four terraces. The fourth level contains the master suite and a private terrace with a pool hidden against the hillside. The building is mostly made of concrete, typical of structures of this size in the region.
The exterior is covered with a coarse gray stone interrupted by a volume of white plaster and several folding glass planes with operable doors. The landscape terraces and property debris walls are made with a local rock with a rough face.


















- View of the villa on the top
- Villa surrounded by tall trees
- Details of the exterior of the villa
- Views of the town over the city
- Pool area
- Details of the interior
- Salon in cream and black tones
- Dining room with views
- Wooden stairs
- Room with terrace
- Double room
- Bathroom connected to the outside
- Night view of the exterior

This project of 243 square meters, developed on a single floor, has been recently designed in the northern area of the city of Cordoba, Argentina, by the architectural firm Fanesi Navarro Arquitectos and carried out by its professionals Agustina Fanesi and Mariangel Navarro .

It consists mainly of two rectangular volumes that intersect at one point. Responding to the idea of the project, the volumes, each with a different height to house the different uses of the house, leave their structures visible, which are supported one above the other. In this way, the structure becomes part of the façade of the house.

The volume with less height contains the private spaces and the garage, while the other volume houses the social spaces of the house. At this higher volume, two lightweight structures are attached to each of the sides, which work as an eaves for the entrance and gallery in the quiet part of the building. They tried to compose the project of simple forms and materials, in such a way that the exposed concrete and sheet perfectly accompany the composition of volumes on the outside.


The interior of the house sought to generate bright, warm and pleasant spaces with large openings. The eaves and the gallery not only fulfill the function of giving the house a semi-covered space, but also protect the construction from the sun.











- View of the house among the tall trees that surround it
- Details of the side walls
- White external walls with black details
- Large covered terrace
- Interior spacious and full of natural light
A Small House Where you Feel the Balance Between Inside and Outside
By Magaly • Oct 26, 2018

In a quiet street in the city of Akashi, in Hyogo prefecture, Japan, is this house designed by the architect Yousaku Tsutsumi of the architectural firm Arbol. It has 81 square meters on one floor where three patios have been designed.

They sought to make their spaces harmonize with the wind, sunlight and lifestyle, since the house is surrounded by forests. Without invasion of privacy, approaching nature, the design mixes a rich life that eliminates the barriers between the inside and outside, in order to feel the endless expansion to the outside world from the comfort of their home.


As for natural light, the design takes direct sunlight and the reflection of light on the exterior wall. The afternoon sun, which comes from unexpected places through waves of sunlight that seep through the trees, flows silently into the rooms in winter
In the surroundings, the house is closed, seeking to provide privacy to its inhabitants. The plan was created to create a feeling of warm life, with rich vegetation.











- View of the wooden entrance
- Black fireplace
- Living room overlooking the small garden
- Dining room connected
- Dining room in fine wood
- Light wood kitchen
- Bath in simple lines
- Night view of the dining room
- Night view of the dining
- Night view of the living
- Night view of the exterior
Remodeling of an Old Apartment in one of the Best Areas of Barcelona, Spain
By Magaly • Oct 25, 2018

The architectural firm TEd’A Arquitectes was commissioned to carry out this project that consisted of the interior remodeling of an old apartment located in the Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona, Spain.

The project focuses its efforts on a single strategy, which consists of opening the floor longitudinally. The entire project is condensed into a single gesture that manages to visually connect the street and the interior courtyard, joining the opposite and, until now, distant façades. A single element is the heart of this strategy. A new wardrobe crosses the entire house from one end to the other. Those in charge of this project, architects Irene Pérez and Jaume Mayol, who in 2017 managed to create functional and welcoming spaces in this 65 square meter floor.


There was, previously, a pavement of clay tiles of 13×13 cm placed diagonally. Its condition was not very good: it had been partially modified, there were many patches and different types of tiles, the result of alterations and overlapping modifications. It was decided, thus, to replace the pavement with a new one. They chose a hydraulic pavement manufactured by Huguet.




















- Open entrance and full of natural light
- Walls and closet divide the spaces
- Simple and cozy lounge area
- Small dining room with round wooden table
- Entrance to the side kitchen
- Narrow wooden kitchen
- Entrance to the room with wooden doors
Fantastic Remodeling of a Cabin Dating From the 80s
By Magaly • Oct 24, 2018

Perfectly integrated into the natural environment of a wooded area on the outskirts of Guatemala City and trying to erase the edges between interior and exterior in a particular way is this imposing construction of 415 square meters of construction.

The person in charge of the project, Alejandro Paz, who is a central part of the architectural firm Paz Arquitectura, set to work and remodeled the old construction that had been built in 1985 – and which consisted of a small cabin that had a cantilevered platform of large proportions – in a functional way. The original construction had a triangular metal frame whose structure allowed the platform to fly over the slopes of the mountain. The cabin had only a small social area, a kitchen, and in the upper part a small bedroom.







30 years after it was built, the owners requested an extension in order to obtain more formal spaces with proportions according to their contemporary lifestyle. The forest around the original cabin grew, and the vegetation occupied an important space around the whole project. The design strategy consisted in respecting the original cabin, since the sense of space, risk and permanence of its architectural configuration was valued. In view of the need for a social area and a single bedroom, two independent modules were generated on each side of the original cabin.




View in gallery
View in gallery








- View of the imposing front of the cabin
- Side view of the cottage
- Large terrace with views of the forest
- Entrance area
- Entrance area
- Internal corridors with glass walls
- Large kitchen-dining area
- Bath open to the outside
- Night view of the terrace
- Exterior view of the cabin
Modern Construction with an Intimate Relationship Between Exterior and Interior
By Magaly • Oct 23, 2018

This residence of beautiful interior and exterior spaces is located in Alajuela, Costa Rica and was designed according to the requirements of its clients by the architects Ana Ulloa and Roberto Rivera both wroking for the architectural studio Ecostudio Architects. The project carried out in the year 2017 has an area of 3767 ft2.

Its volumetric expression becomes imposing in a flat context, under a geometric superposition between a trapezoidal surface and a rectangle, where the interaction of its simple materiality, characterized by the use of exposed concrete, glass and steel, is sought.


The project is located in a hot climate zone, which implied having considerations in terms of using strategies to generate the optimum comfort state. Because of this, bioclimatic guidelines are established that range from the orientation of the home, closing towards the points of greater solar exposure, in addition to the use of crossed ventilation with large openings to optimally ventilate the different spaces as well as provide natural lighting for all the rooms. It is also characterized by having large heights and wide eaves, as well as the appropriate choice of materials to prevent overheating to the internal.






- Exterior view of the modern construction
- Perfectly maintained internal garden
- Modern interior connected to the outside
- Floor details
- View of the garden at night hours
- View of the garden at night hours