Contemporary Interior Design
Modern Construction Designed with a Space Dedicated to the Exhibition of Classic Vehicles
By Magaly • Aug 14, 2018

The architectural firm CU + AR ESTUDIO, under the direction of its professionals Santiago Cuenca, Gabriel Arias and Wilson Andrade, recently designed this modern house, which has a total area of 550 square meters and where there are four bedrooms. It is located on relatively flat land on the banks of the Paute River in Ecuador.

The house is arranged on the ground in a “U” shape enclosing the social area between its lateral arms with the intention of directing the visuals towards the mountains, which are far to the west, creating interesting environments in the interior of the house, thanks to the nuances of colors that the sunsets present.




One of the fundamental requirements of the project was the creation of a space dedicated to the exhibition of classic vehicles and collectable artifacts; For this reason, the proposal raises this space as the protagonist of the project, which integrates all the different areas of the house and can be admired from anywhere in the same.

The house in general offers a direct dialogue between functionalism and nature, and is framed in each space of the house.

The house is for people with a free spirit because of its atmosphere, its subtlety, and eloquence of having arranged windows strategically, so that they frame us outside and allow us to discover the different picturesque sights that nature herself develops in a single day.


- Exterior view of the modern entrance
- Entrance of high ceilings
- Terrace with pool
- Roofed Jacuzzi
- Roofed Jacuzzi
- Vehicle exhibition area
- Large living-dining area and kitchen
- Dining- Kitchen area
House With Wonderful Panoramic Views and Maximum Privacy
By Magaly • Aug 13, 2018

Located in the city of Austin, Texas, United States, this 8,800 square foot house was commissioned to the architectural firm Forge Craft Architecture by a long-time collaborating general who wanted a well-designed home that could attract a wide range of people within a specific market of luxury home buyers.


In 2016, Forge Craft Architecture, together with its collaborator Camelot Custom Homes, set to work together to create this elegant design of spacious spaces full of comfort and good taste.
The house is organized to optimize the landscape of the site and the panoramic views while offering maximum privacy. The open and airy floor plan connects the interior with the exterior creating lines of vision from the living room to the east facing garden and the western negative edge pool. The most private suites are located on the top floor, away from the public area, and each room has its own bathroom and dressing room.


Materials such as limestone, fiber cement panels and stucco allow the house to blend in with the surrounding landscape while maintaining a modern living environment in the interior.














- View of the construction
- Main entrance
- Wonderful terrace with pool
- Pool with beautiful views
- Large living-dining area
- Modern and spacious kitchen
- Kitchen in white and wood
- Modern and elegant dining room
- Modern lamps
- Spacious bathroom
- Walk in Closet
- Night view of the outside
Modern Building Located in Sydney, Australia Designed by Smart Design Studio
By Magaly • Aug 7, 2018

Smart Design Studio designed this project located on Crown Street, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and consists of a restaurant in the lower part of the building and five apartments in the upper level. The building is comprised of two different architectural blocks that are nevertheless interconnected with each other.The exterior walls, white and modern in design, are lined in mosaic tiles. Below it, dark glass walls allow us to have a complete view of the exterior from inside the room and vice versa.






Stairs, decorated with mosaics, lead us to the apartments located on the upper floors of the building. There, we can find comfortable spaces where we can feel the simplicity and good taste for design which is present there.


The spacious and bright living room, with furniture that looks very comfortable, welcomes us. The kitchen, perfectly lit by the sunlight that sneaks through the door leading to the terrace, looks small but comfortable and modern.


A wooden dining room with plenty of natural light is located in a corner of the space – without a doubt a simple but charming atmosphere.



The bathroom, decorated in ocher, has been mostly covered by small mosaics that match the colors of the furniture placed there.







- Side view of modern white building
- View from the corner of the building, with white walls and black glass
- Lateral view of the building
- Internal stairs with green walls and small mosaic floors
- Living room with comfortable sofa and terrace
- White and blue kitchen with door to the terrace
- Wooden dining room
- Wooden dining room
- Bathroom in ocher
Rendering of the expansion of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
By Magaly • Aug 6, 2018

The LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) will, in the near future, be expanded by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The most striking change, as far as we know, will be its color, which will go from dark to light, giving it a look more in line with the building’s current exterior. The imposing and modern new structure will offer recreation and resting areas on the outside. In its terraces, we will be able to enjoy various options in a café-restaurant located on its premises, and from where the diners will be able to enjoy the wonderful views and the good weather so characteristic of Los Angeles.




In its monumental interior, the very high ceilings and textured walls will give it a totally solemn and refined aspect that will be even, to a certain degree, intimidating due to the immense space within. From there, through its numerous curved glass walls, we will be able to sit placidly to observe and enjoy the views to the outside.


The openings that will lead from one room to another look tiny compared to the height of their walls, and even the paintings placed there will immediately highlight this striking aspect of the new construction. It will definitely be a place worthy of being visited and admired.




- Aerial view of the new wing of the museum
- Side aerial view of the imposing building
- View of the exterior terraces of the Museum
- Catering area
- Internal lounge with glass walls and views
- Internal lounge with glass walls and views
- Inside view of one of the rooms with artworks
- Internal views of the textured walls and the high ceilings
Minimalist Style Home Designed by Thomas Gouws Architects
By Magaly • Aug 3, 2018

This home was designed for a family that wished to own a minimalist house that could provide separate functional areas for the family members’ activities. It was designed by the architectural firm Thomas Gouws Arhictects, undertaken by Thomas and Sureen Gouws. It is located in a golf estate east of Pretoria, South Africa, and it was built on one of the last open stands in an established part of the estate. It is next to a green belt surrounding the golf course, but is separated from it by a street – the best of both worlds.


It covers a total ground area of 633 square meters and was finished in the year 2016. It possesses spacious recreation areas in the exterior, amongst which we find the pool with wooden terraces and spacious garden areas.


From the outside, a concrete lintel walkway defines the entrance route with the swimming pool on the northern side utilized as visual focal point in the entrance procession. The main house contains the family living spaces and bedrooms, while the outbuilding is a home office space on the ground floor and a guest bedroom space on the first floor. Its spacious interior has high ceilings, which allow the space to flood with light. Its spaces are decorated in a modern and simple style.



























- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- Exterior view of the home surrounded by gardens and lush vegetation
- View of the modern living room with high ceilings
- View of the modern living room with high ceilings
- View of the modern living room with high ceilings
- Modern white kitchen and modern dining room
- Modern white kitchen and modern dining room
- Modern white kitchen and modern dining room
- Modern white kitchen and modern dining room
- Modern stairs
- Modern stairs
- Modern stairs
- Bedroom connected with the bathroom with a glass door
- Bedroom connected with the bathroom with a glass door
- Exterior night view
- Exterior night view
- Exterior night view
- Exterior night view
Boutique Hotel in Costa Rica Designed by Studio Saxe
By Magaly • Aug 3, 2018

This boutique villa was designed in 2017 by the award-winning architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe (Studio Saxe) and with the help of collaborators Alejandro Gonzalez, Cesar Coto, and Laura Morelli. It is located in Costa Rica’s coolest surf town, Nalu Nosara.

The project is another in a long line of sustainable buildings that blend contemporary design with local craftsmanship, encompassing the natural surroundings that surround and frame the architecture. It consists of 3 wonderful private villas and a hip fitness studio, offering everything from yoga and dance to kickboxing classes.
This charming property has a privileged location as it is close to restaurants, shops, as well as beaches.

This family friendly villa is a private oasis with its own garden and saltwater pool. Interiors are bright and open, with chic, modern decor and smart hi-tech features. All spaces are open to the beautiful outdoor areas, allowing the fresh air to improve the experiences.
The slick, fully equipped kitchens come with everything you need to prepare lip-smacking smoothies, while the alfresco showers add a sweet, tropical feel to the spa-like bathrooms.
The architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe said: “Our project in Nalu represents the power of simple and discreet modern tropical architecture. It has quickly become a favorite of the city, which shows that there is a real desire for spaces that bring the people and nature together, all the while taking care of the necessities of contemporary life “.







- View of the Yoga area
- View of the outdoor terraces with pool
- View of the outdoor terraces with pool
- View of the outdoor terraces with pool
- Clear, cool and relaxing interior
- Clear, cool and relaxing interior
- Clear, cool and relaxing interior
- Exterior night view
- Exterior night view
Spectacular Construction with Elegant and Welcoming Interiors
By Magaly • Aug 2, 2018

The main idea of this project was to preserve the original nature of the land as much as possible, which included pre-existing topography and stones, creating a minimum occupation house. We look for a better relationship between landscape and architecture.

This project had to be placed in a lot that was somewhat far from the bay. However, it had a magnificent view, encouraging the client to invest in that particular space. Due to the construction of the neighbor’s house, that view was partially lost. The first wish was to recover it. The second desire was to build a contemporary house, with integrated spaces, aligning design and style with efficient technologies.



The objective was to combine passive strategies with new technological systems to have a comfortable and energy-efficient home. To preserve the landscape, the house was suspended, leaving most of the land as a garden. This privileged position on the main floor allowed a great view of the entire North Bay and even the center of the city.




The project, of 340 square meters, is located in a low_density suburban residential neighborhood called Cacupé, in the city of Florianópolis, an island in southern Brazil. It was designed in 2018 by the architect Henrique Pimont of the architecture firm Pimont Arquitetura.










- Aerial view of the magnificent construction
- View of the roof of the building with solar sheets
- Aerial view of the pool
- View of the pool and terrace area
- Modern and spacious terrace with pool
- Front view of the modern construction
- Terrace with wooden floor
- Modern interior with wooden floors and ceiling
- Gray metal stairs
- Rest area connected to the room
- Rest area with terrace
- Small terrace connected to the room
- Night view from the terrace
- Night view of the exterior
A Remodeling has Given a New Face to this Construction
By Magaly • Aug 2, 2018

The main objective of this remodeling was to build another floor, creating a space that would become part of the original building without the other half being affected. The former residence, of 210 square meters and that only had one floor, was part of a terraced house. Certain demands had to be satisfied: only part of the building could be remodeled. The architects had to give it a new, more modern and contemporary look that could distinguish it from the others.

The project, which is located in Caniço, Portugal, was led by architect Dirk Mayer and his collaborators Susanne Selders, Elizabeth Nobrega, belonging to the firm Mayer & Selders, in the year 2017.
The solution was very simple: take the original shape of the ceiling and create a floor above. This created a balance that would give it a rather dynamic appearance.







The balcony provides shade for wide openings and shelter for the outside seating area. The town of Caniço, on the island of Madeira, has a very mild climate throughout the year, so a protected outdoor place, connected to the garden, is where family life is centered.
The lower floor is conceived as an open space for the kitchen, the dining room and the living room, where you can enjoy the light, the green garden and the sea view between the trees and the neighboring houses.












- Front view of the construction
- Spacious interior full of natural light
- Modern kitchen on white
- Minimalist kitchen on white
- White kitchen
- White kitchen with wooden floors
- Spacious living room space
- Stairs on white
- Modern wooden stairs
- Modern bathroom in white
- Views from the terrace
- External view at sunset
Country House Surrounded by Lush Landscapes
By Magaly • Aug 1, 2018

This house, with wide open spaces and full of light, that merges with the nature that surrounds it, is located in Sapucaí-Mirim. This is a city located near Serra da Mantiqueira, a mountain range that separates the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The residence is inserted in a natural clearing in the Brazilian forest.


Designed in the early 1980s, this country house was completed in 2014, two years after the death of its designer, architect Paulo Bastos, in 2012, who worked for the architectural firm Paulo Bastos e Associados. The location was carefully chosen by the architect, with absolute respect for the existing vegetation, abundant in Araucárias, large trees indigenous to this mountainous region.



The owner’s request was simple: a four-bedroom vacation home with an indoor pool. The architect organized the program in three blocks of land, which were sometimes connected with internal / external circulations, in a conception that spreads the constructions throughout the land. This was done in an attempt to take advantage of the exuberant landscape of the surroundings in the best possible way.
At the entrance of the residence there is a rectilinear pavilion, which houses rooms, a work-shop and a garage, as well as a home theater.
On a lower level of the dining room / living room area, making the most of the sloped ground, is the heated indoor pool, which is bathed in natural light through the sheds on its roof.














- Rear view of the house with terraces
- View of the main entrance
- Corridors that surround the house
- Large roofed pool area
- Pool with glass roof
- Interior with carved walls
- Room with red brick wall
- Modern and open bathroom
- Open shower area
- Night view of the interior
- Night view of the pool
Small and Charming Mountain Retreat on a Steep Hillside”
By Magaly • Aug 1, 2018

This small mountain refuge could not be more charming. It is located next to the “old” ski slope, near the border post of Pomezní Boudy in the Krkonoše Mountains of Czech Republic. The architects Petr Kolář and Aleš Lapka, of the architectural firm ADR s.r.o., were in charge of carrying out this project, which was completed in 2016.

The mountain lodge is a wooden structure measuring approximately 5.3 meters by 5.6 meters, with an adjacent steel structure terrace of approximately 5.3 meters by 2.5 meters. It has a corridor, a living room with kitchen facilities, a bathroom, and a toilet. The sleeping space extends on the upper level over part of the living room and the lobby, and is accessible via a staircase from the living room.






The living room has an open roof with exposed beams, with the sleeping space under a protective net.
The structure is embedded in a steep slope facing northeast, right next to a stream. The foundations are concrete springs and the structure on the ground is made of wood. The roof and side facade are blackened aluminum sheet, while the gabled walls are lined with blackened wood. The mountain lodge is alone in a mountain meadow.







- Magnificent view of the refuge in the mountain
- Mountain shelter under the snow
- View of the cabin
- Interior of the cottage clad in wood
- Dining area with windows
- Small kitchen in black
- Fireplace in black
- View of the roof inside
- Bath
- View of the cottage at night
- View of the cottage at night
Magnificent Remodeling of a House in Australia
By Magaly • Jul 31, 2018

High ceilings through which the natural light filters in, illuminating the interior spaces, is the first thing you will notice in this house, which was designed by the architectural firm Amrish Maharaj Architect, and which is located in the western suburb of Enmore, Australia.

This modest and semi-detached house was designed in 2018 and has an area of 160 square meters.
Its design was inspired by the lofts and industrial warehouses of New York City, and the centerpiece is a six-meter vacuum with a large window facing north to capture the best of light and give the house a really amazing factor, with a feeling of space seldom achieved.


Previously, the back of this home consisted of a series of small spaces that included a kitchen, a dining room and a laundry room, which restricted access to the back garden. Being oriented to the south, the spaces lacked natural light, which results in artificial lighting used most of the day. The renovation summary included a large and bright space that includes a loft parent retreat, a well-planned kitchen and a family area that flows into the outer space. The extension also needed to be linked to the original house but not imitate it.







- Main entrance showing original details
- Spacious interior filled with natural light
- Predominantly white interior
- White kitchen
- Stairs made of black metal and wood
- Modern room in black and white
- Night view from the garden
Residential Complex Designed to Offer the Opportunity to Choose
By Magaly • Jul 31, 2018

This new and modern design is a residential complex designed as a kind of puzzle with four buildings of different architectural plans and materials. Located in the district of Perdizes, west of São Paulo, Brazil, it offers people interested in living there the opportunity to choose not only their favorite apartment, but also their favorite facade.

The project was carried out by the architectural firm FGMF Arquitetos, with headquarters in São Paulo, in collaboration with the firm idea! Zarvos. The design presents a sequence of roofs with terraces and gardens in the four modules, which act as substitutes for the backyards of the ground floor. One of the modules, made of synthetic wood, stands out as a suspended sculpture, and connects the building with its surroundings at the same time.



The entrance hall presents a garden full of vegetation and a large panel by artist João Nitsche, made of hydraulic tile. A total of 22 apartments, measuring from 136 to 253 square meters, occupy the other levels, and offer those who are interested a series of spaces full of elegance and good taste.



- Aerial view of the residential complex
- View of the complex from the side street
- View of the modern complex
- Pool area
- Internal area with gardens
- Modern and illuminated elevator area
- Modern and illuminated elevator area
Modern Construction in Which the Yard Plays a Fundamental Role
By Magaly • Jul 30, 2018

The architectural firm Hamed Tadayon, led by its team of professionals Taiebeh Amini, Mahsa Fazileh, and Zahra Nasr, designed this modern construction in the city of Isfahan, in Iran. The structure covers an area of 781 square meters in which they tried to give their inhabitants a yard, one of the most fundamental elements that have been lost in the Iranian houses of today, especially in the upper levels of the buildings.

In this project, they try to redefine the main character of a traditional garden in a new context. In addition to providing green space, the traditional Iranian yard has some special characteristics, such as the presence of water and privacy.




Water plays a prominent role insofar as it provides a broad condition by increasing humidity, visual quality and the pleasant sound of falling water. Such factors create a perfect traditional garden. The house has three levels. The ground floor has a good connection to the main yard and there is a water fountain and a pool exactly in front of the living room, which improves the quality of the space.
















- External view of the house
- Front view
- Details of the gardens
- Outdoor garden
- Covered terrace
- Internal main entrance
- Modern kitchen in brown and white
- Night view of the garden
- Exterior night view
- Exterior night view
Mi Casa, a Project in Which an Architect Designs for Another Architect
By Magaly • Jul 30, 2018

This project, carried out by Studio [+] Valéria Gontijo under the direction of Valéria Gontijo, Isabela Moura and Isabela Valença, was divided by the dichotomy between the enthusiasm and the objectivity of the creative process. Designing for an architect, by architects, was and always will be a challenge, since they seek to create a practical, functional and timeless home.

Located in Brasília, Brazil and with an area of 890 square meters, the studio sought an architecture that reflected personal taste but also the desire to simplify the lives of its inhabitants.

Clear volumes and pure geometries gave the design group rationality and harmony. The house was distributed in three blocks: function, connection and permanence. In addition, the consistent application of concrete and wood created harmony, as this uniform materiality creates a sense of integration.





The interior design is marked by personal choices (antiques, pieces chosen during trips, family art). The search for each piece, each painting and adornment gives the project a rare and important uniqueness.
It is a seemingly simple house, but it is one that carries a history full of challenges and efforts, right from its conception, as demonstrated by the carefully chosen lighting design, the effort in the execution of the walls, the mixture of concrete formed in a board, and the stroke of a client-architect.










- Spacious and well-kept gardens
- Gardens with trees
- Pool area
- Terrace with wooden floors
- Covered concrete terrace
- Wood details
- Interior of living room with brown leather furniture
- Modern living room area
- Kitchen in wood and concrete
- Large kitchen in wood and concrete
- Modern room with wooden floors
- Room with concrete walls
- Modern and spacious bathroom
Spectacular House with Open Spaces that Invite Nature In
By Magaly • Jul 27, 2018

This wonderful house with open spaces was designed by the architect Otto Felix of the architecture firm Studio Otto Felix in conjunction with interior designer Tici Andriani. It is located in the city of Joaquim Egídio, Brazil.

The project was carried out in 2016 and has an area of 410 square meters. The main intention of the project was to incorporate the external spaces in the social spaces of the house, allowing nature to enter areas of the house. To allow this integration between spaces without losing privacy in the most intimate areas of the house, the main divisions between the spaces were made through folding wooden doors. In this way, we have the option to integrate these spaces when we so wish.

The most important part of the project is the volume that corresponds to the social areas of the house with the Gourmet, Living and Dining area. This environment is surrounded by glass panels that open completely, freeing the passage of natural light and ventilation, creating a fluid and contemporary atmosphere.

The residence also has a kitchen, dining room, TV room, master suite, guest suite and service area, distributed within a private block in the shape of an “L”, which opens outwards through the wooden folding doors.



















- Fantastic exterior that blends with the interior
- Interior view from the outside
- Interior full of light and comfort
- Interior with glass walls
- Details of the interior full of natural light
- Modern and elegant furniture
- Modern dining room set
- Bathrooms full of style
- Night view of the interior
- Lounge in night hours
- Night view of the exterior
- Night view of the exterior
Marvelous Transformation of a Twentieth Century Building in Valencia, Spain
By Magaly • Jul 27, 2018

Located in an apartment unit in a building dating back to the early twentieth century in the heart of the beautiful city of Valencia in Spain, this apartment presented a challenge during its renovation. Heading the project was the architectural firm Roberto Di Donato Architecture, which focused on the idea of creating modern living spaces that left the existing structure almost intact.

After many years in a state of neglect, the apartment was an empty shell when it was bought by the client, creating numerous opportunities but also challenges for the design team.

Space flows constantly from one area to another, with the separation between night and day areas provided by two tall wooden elements. These custom-designed items also contain the bedroom cabinets and three sets of doors that allow varying degrees of privacy.




The height of the roof was also considered a particularly valuable element in the renovation. The structure of the roof was restored and maintained completely exposed; no element of the new design comes into contact with it, which underlines the respect for the past and also allows us to perceive the full feeling of space and volume of the apartment.
By adding only new essential features, the “wounds” and layers of transformations over the years were carefully preserved and displayed to improve the sense of continuity with the history of the building.










- View of the small but comfortable lounge
- Kitchen with aged brick walls
- Kitchen area connected to the living room
- Kitchen with ceilings with wooden beams
- Room with brick walls
- Room connected to the lounge
- Room in night hours
- Modern bathroom with old details
- View of the kitchen at night hours
- View of the apartment at night hours
- View of the apartment at night hours
Unique Structure in the Center of a Public Square in London
By Magaly • Jul 26, 2018

This unique structure is located in the center of a public garden square commissioned by the City of London Corporation, which has replaced an old gyrometer. It was designed by the architecture firm Make Architects in 2018 and has an area of 325 square meters. The small building is part of a broader civic goal to provide space for events and leisure, improve well-being, and provide natural surveillance.


The new ‘Aldgate Square’ is one of the largest public spaces in London’s Square Mile and enhances the connection of the two distinctive heritage buildings on either side of the square: St Botolph Church without Aldgate and the Foundation Elementary School of Sir John Cass.
It only has one floor on the ground, but has used part of the old underground tunnels to accommodate a basement for plants, house facilities, kitchens, and bathrooms. This has significantly reduced the amount of soil needed on the ground and therefore delivered more public space for the gardens.
The constant temperature of the concrete tunnels also works to help regulate the temperature of the building: the air is extracted through the tunnels and goes up to the cafeteria, heating it in the winter or cooling it in the summer.












- Total view of the structure
- Front view with glass walls
- Cantilevered glass and roof walls
- Roof details
- Magnificent and modern interior
- Night view of the exterior
- Night view of the exterior