Landscaping
Cozy Holiday Home in an Old Fishing Village of Copenhagen
By Magaly • Oct 10, 2018
This holiday home is located in an old Danish fishing village 100 km north of Copenhagen, Denmark by the name of Kikhavn. The home was designed by the architect Mette Lange of the architectural firm Mette Lange Architects. It has an area of 128 square meters and the project was carried out in 2015.
Located on the top of a hill, the plot has a beautiful view over the mountainous landscape, as well as the northwest with a perfect sunset over the sea. You can’t ask for more! All of the surrounding houses on the road have plots that are quite open, providing a beautiful view of the landscape.
The architects have worked with sheltered corners and a south-facing patio, since the very exposed position can be very windy. All the insulation is placed on top of the roof structure, so that the beams and slats, which carry the plywood from the roof, are visible. The house, both inside and outside, has been covered with pine, providing a warm feeling.
- View of the house surrounded by greenery
- View of the wooden terrace
- Side view of wooden walls
- Furnished wooden terrace
- Glass doors
- Interior covered with wood
- View of the sea from the inside
Charming House with Views of the Norwegian Fjords
By Magaly • Oct 9, 2018
This charming house with cozy and wood-covered spaces was designed, in 2012, by the architect Knut Hjeltnes, from the architectural firm Knut Hjeltnes.
It is located in Sandefjord, Norway and has an area of 250 square meters. It is located on the upper part of the Vesterøya peninsula, with views of the fjord to the east and west. The site is steep and was considered unbuildable; it had been vacant for 20 years. It is very wet and windy due to the location, so special care must be taken with the outer later of the house.
The lower part of the house is concrete, while the upper part is a prefabricated solid wood construction, with the interior skin visible in aspen.
Between these two parts, a vacuum is produced that contains the entrance and the garage (which functions as a covered outdoor summer living room). The exterior of the wooden construction is completely covered with fiber cement cladding.
- View of the front of the house
- Main entrance with modern design
- Terrace with modern details
- Dining area with circular window
- Small and functional kitchen in wood
- Aerial stairs in thick wood
- Stairs covered with wood
- Room with circular window
- Modern bathroom in wood, white and gray
Imposing Retirement Retreat in the Mountains of the Western Cape, Overberg, in South Africa.
By Magaly • Oct 8, 2018
This fantastic residence, which was completed in 2017 by the professionals Philip Olmesdahl, Tamaryn Fourie, and James Minchener, is located in the region of the Western Cape, Overberg, in South Africa.
This property, covering a large area of 1610 square meters (423 square meters), has incredible views over the Bot River Lagoon and the Overberg mountains.
The continuous flow from the interior to the external space is reflected in the presence of fynbos (vegetation typical of the area) that fill the edges of the construction, allowing the surrounding nature into the home.
The architectural design, created by SAOTA (its interior was done by ARRCC), of this holiday home perfectly combines various materials that allow it to face the different natural agents of the region: sunlight, salt, rain and, in particular, strong winds. A pleasant side effect is the views residents and visitors alike are able to enjoy from the home’s perch.
The owners’ vision for this retirement home for their children is in a “C” shaped layout to help maximize the panorama, the views, and create a large sheltered yard.
Through the use of rich materials and a tame color palette, the decoration is integrated perfectly, optimizing the sense of space.
- View of the construction on the top of the mountain
- Terrace with wonderful views over the Bot River Lagoon
- Living room with a modern and simple style
- Informal lounge-dining room
- Modern dining room in wood
- Modern and elegant kitchen area
- Modern and elegant kitchen area
- Stairs with glass handles
- Spacious room with terrace
- Bathroom with views
A Holiday Home Full of History
By Magaly • Oct 8, 2018
This house, located on the top of a mountain in Marušići, Croatia, is a holiday home designed by the firm Studio Ante Murales d.o.o. in 2016. The architects Ante Nikša Bilić, Sunčica Mastelić Ivić and Hrvojka Kalogjera were responsible for carrying out this project, which covers an area of 270 square meters.
The conditions of the microclimate and the view from the site determined the design of the building. But the same applies to the materiality and tactile properties of the house. The cubes are made of concrete and are related to the rocks of the Biokovo mountain range due to their color.
The traditional construction of small rural houses in this area involves the construction of the whole building with a single material. As such, this home was mainly made of stone, and the roof was made of stone slabs. This practice resulted in beautiful functional units of spaces that were either open or covered by vines and tiles.
And as the people in charge of this project say: “To direct a space to live in, the space must be filled with us. I wanted to protect myself from the sun, to protect myself from the wind, the rain and the cold. I wanted all the windows and openings to be full of the sea.” Their wishes are now a reality.
- View of the extensive covered terrace
- View of the terrace from inside
- Terrace with pool
- TV room with concrete walls
- Comfortable living-dining space
- Living room and kitchen sharing space
- Living room connected to the terrace
- Ledge full of color
- Concrete and wood stairs
- Room with terrace
Just one hour from the center of Lima, Peru in the area of Chaclacayo, this home of 528 square meters is used to get away from the chaotic city. A perfect place to embrace peace and tranquility, surrounded by family. It was designed by the architecture firm SOMA Lima under the direction of the architects Daniela Chong, Daniella Suazo, and Andrea Silva in 2017.
The architectural program of the house includes living room, dining room, four bedrooms, kitchen, living room, service area, and a separate volume of bungalows that house four guest bedrooms.
The main house has an integrated and oversized living and dining room, since this is the main social space and where the whole family gathers. With a double height ceiling, this space expands both vertically and horizontally, and integrates the interior with the exterior, creating a covered terrace surrounded by green.
The intimate area of the bedrooms opens onto another garden to the west of the house to maintain privacy, while the other social spaces, such as the kitchen and living room, are visually integrated with the rest of the house.
When entering, the main house located towards the bottom of the land is framed by a large garden, with the hills and blue sky in the background.
- View of the large terrace
- Terrace with brick wall
- Dining area connected to the terrace
- Exterior view with red brick walls
- Living room with brown leather sofa
- Room with brick wall
- Bathroom in white and gray
- Night view of the lounge
- Night view of the exterior
- Night view of the pool area
Charming Cottage Surrounded by Movie Landscapes
By Magaly • Oct 4, 2018
This charming, 81-square-meter cabin is located in Sandefjord, Norway and was recently designed by the team of architects Sebastian Bjercke, Bergur Briem, and Francisco Kocourek at the head of the Thomas Thorsnes project, all belonging to the firm of architecture R21 arkitekter.
The cabin is designed as a pavilion between the other buildings of Sand Farm. The building has the same footprint as a previous annex building and reinterprets the building to meet modern demands. The system of construction of wooden frames is reinterpreted in the new building, with a layer of glass with shutters that close the original volume.
The wooden load columns are on the outside of the glass wall. The construction is located in a concrete basement and consists of four roof frames supported by columns, reinforced by a rigid core that contains a bathroom and kitchen. In the upper part of the nucleus is a mezzanine. All open during the summertime, the building appears as a simple pavilion, an outdoor kitchen under a large roof. The wooden shutters create a flexible outer layer to close the building in varying degrees to the surroundings.
- View of area surrounding the hut
- View of the hut with terraceSide view of the cottage
- External view of the cottage
- Interior of the dining area
- Dining area and kitchen
- Room with wood and glass walls
- Exterior night view
- Night vision
House with Wonderful Views of the Desert
By Magaly • Oct 3, 2018
The Ghost Wash House, as this private property is called, was designed by Architecture – Infrastructure – Research, Inc., which is an architecture and urban design firm focused on applying advanced research methods and sustainable practices into designs that cover the needs and wishes of each client, and which was founded by Darren Petrucci in 2001. The home is located along the lower hillside of the north side of Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, in the United States. It was completed in 2017 and covers a total ground area of 8,500 square feet.
The site is flanked by two desert washes that move water from the top of the mountain into the valley below. A third topographic condition — a “Ghost Wash” — runs through the center of the site, giving the property its name, and is framed by brick bars.
The eastern of these two protects the wash from the desert sun that shines upon it in the morning. It also houses the garages, the kitchen, an office, and the family room. The western bar shields the property from the intensely hot west sun as it sets in the valley. In turn, it houses the private areas of the home, such as the bedrooms, another family room, and a recreation space. The living room and dining room are house in the interior of a long sequence of courtyards and gardens that flow along the Ghost Wash from the south entry to the north pool house.
- View of the main entrance
- View of the main entrance
- Entrance with glass wall
- Entry in concrete and glass
- View of the landscape from the terrace
- Furnished terrace with views
- Modern and spacious lounge
- Living room with modern furniture
- Rest area
- Hallway in wood
- Large kitchen in white
- Modern dining room
- Bathroom with glass walls
- Study with views
- Modern desk in wood
- Nighttime views from abroad
A House with Open Doors to Enjoy Nature
By Magaly • Oct 2, 2018
Deloia, as this private residence is called, is a home located in Duluth, a major port city in the state of Minnesota, in the United States. The home consists of the second project that Salmela Architect, a local architectural firm that was in this instance led by Souliyahn Keobounpheng, completed for these clients. It was finished in 2017.
Previously, Salmela Architect had completed an extensive renovation for a rural home for these clients. Now that they decided to move into the city, the clients purchased a lot with views of Lake Superior, and decided to work with the architectural firm once again.
This new project is divided into three structures which are themselves interconnected by glass corridors which in turn create two distinct – yet visually connected – courtyards, with one oriented toward the lake and the other tucked into the graduated slope of the hill.
The interior of the home is spacious and brightly illuminated, with clear glass walls that allow natural light to flow freely into the interior, while also blurring the dividing lines between indoors and outdoors.
The wood pegged timber frame pavilion located in the backyard was handmade by the client’s husband years before in a folk school timber framing class, but had not been properly assembled before. Once they set off to build this home, however, they realized it would be the perfect addition for their home — and even served to host their daughter’s wedding.
- Frontal view of the house
- Small terrace with wooden furniture
- Glass walls
- Spacious living room with glass walls
- Modern kitchen in white
- Minimalist kitchen in white
- Dining room in wood
- Dining room with views toward the garden
- Gallery with both windows and floor in wood
- Bedroom with large glass window
- Exterior night view of the house
- Night view from the gardens
Renovation of an Atypical House to Reorganize its Spaces
By Magaly • Oct 1, 2018
Dank Architectes, a La Mulatière-based French architectural firm, have designed this home — EDUT — in Caluire-et-Cuire, the fifth largest suburb of and commune of the Metropolis of Lyon in the Auvergne – Rhône – Alpes region in eastern France. The project was lead by the architect Steven Guigoz, and was completed in 2017.
The motivation was to renovate an originally atypical three storey home by transforming its existing small living room into a large contemporary and minimalistic space. This took the re-organization of the living spaces, making the utmost use of the interior light. Additionally, the terrace became an extension of the living room.
While the exterior is surrounded by lush vegetation and has a bit more of a rustic feel, the interior is strikingly modern by comparison, seeking a more minimalistic aesthetic and focusing on the play of contrast between black and white. Clear glass walls allow the living room, kitchen, and dining room to enjoy uninterrupted views of the exterior landscape. Through glass doors, residents and visitors alike can step out and enjoy a bit of fresh air from the terrace.
A glass ceiling allows light to flow into an underground office, austerely furnished with a small desk and chair, a small window looking out into the living room and other social areas.
- Exterior view of the old construction
- Entrance with glass door
- Modern living room in gray
- Small bar area in black
- Kitchen with glass walls
- Stairs in black
- Bedroom with wooden floor
- Studio area
- Bathroom in pastel colors
- Night view of the interior
- Night view of the exterior
Remodeling an Old Farm to Turn it into The Home of a Large Family
By Magaly • Sep 28, 2018
House EKC, as this project is called, was designed by Ralph Germann architectes, an architectural firm based in Martigny, in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland. The project itself is located in Val Ferret, the name given to the two separate valleys, departing from the Col Ferret on the border between Italy and Switzerland, on the southern and eastern sides of the Mont Blanc Massif, in Switzerland. It was completed in 2016 and covers a total ground area of 200 square meters.
The home was built to house a family of five consisting of a couple and their three children who live in the village of Orsières. Previously an old barn originating from the 1920s, the upper part of it was used to store hay, while the lower end served as a stable for goats, sheep, and other animals. The size of the barn, however, was not enough to house such a large family (five members), so Ralph Germann architectes added a contemporary wooden annex to the barn, which is connected by a gangway on two levels.
The interior was completely refurbished and refurnished with a reinforced concrete structure of walls and slabs in order to meet the seismic requirements of the Swiss region.
- Living room with wooden floors
- Modern fireplace in black
- / Dining area in wood
- Large and open kitchen
- / Gallery
- Wooden stairs
- Wooden stairs details
- / Bathroom in wood
- Exterior night view
Redesigned Private Residence that Still Maintains Traces of the Traditional Architecture of the Area
By Magaly • Sep 27, 2018
House P is a private residence located in Styria, in southeastern Austria, as evidenced by the spectacular rolling hills that characterize the landscape by which it is surrounded. It was designed in 2015 by Irene Nikolaus of Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten, an Austrian architectural firm with offices in Vienna and Graz, and covers a total ground area of 330 square meters.
The home resembles, in structure, an old barn, and so recalls and preserves the architectural traditions of the area. The complex consists of a main home and four annexes, which were once farm buildings themselves. It is this main building which continues to hold the main residential areas of the property, whereas the old barn has been adapted and converted into a garage and storage space. The remaining structures – which were previously used for the production and storage of wine – have been repurposed and are now used as a guest house, and a pool and wellness house.
The interior of the building mixes contemporary design and a rustic country feel seamlessly, creating an atmosphere that is unique and innovative. Scarce decorative accessories, including tasteful works of art, allow the home to have a sense of serenity and amplitude, and the floor to ceiling glass walls provide it with an easy relationship with the exterior.
- Exterior view of the residence
- Side view
- Details of the old construction
- Bright and spacious interior
- Large kitchen with glass wall
- Large bathroom with glass walls
- Exterior night view
- Night view of the swimming pool area
An Annex Designed as a Space for Leisure and Fun
By Magaly • Sep 24, 2018
This project is an annex of a house that serves as a leisure area and has an indoor pool. It is located in a residential neighborhood of Curitiba, Brazil and was designed in 2016 by the architect Jorge Elmor Neto of the architectural firm Elmor Arquitetura.
The 190 square meters that covers the space are located on a single floor, surrounded by a large area comprised of wood. In the program requested by the clients, accessibility has always been at the top of the list of requirements and all spaces, dimensions, circulations, and materials were designed to meet all kinds of special needs.
The annex is a rectangular volume of 18 meters long by 8 meters wide, executed in exposed concrete (with wooden laths) and glass (aluminum frames with double layers of glass), forming a contemporary and timeless architectural ensemble, robust in durability but lighter in compositional lines. Living room and dining room are integrated to host social activities. The large, sliding glass doors open completely, allowing free access to the outside, doubling the size of living room. The swimming pool, the garden, and several adjoining terraces offer multiple uses and occupations for various activities. Its occupants can float between spaces while the sun and light move until nightfall.
- Entrance through small curved street
- Large living room with access to the terrace
- Modern and spacious living room area
- Modern minimalist kitchen
- Dining room in wood with access to the garden
- Kitchen-dining room with concrete walls and glass
- Large indoor pool
- Swimming pool with terrace
- Large wooden terrace
- Night view of the terrace
- Exterior night view
Its Wonderful Views are its Most Outstanding Point
By Magaly • Sep 21, 2018
In the “Region of the Lakes”, located on top of a mountain on the Peninsula of Lonconaos Lake, about fifteen kilometers from the city of Futaleufú, in the Chilean Patagonia, this small but charming cabin frames its main view towards the lake and everything else is forgotten before the wonderful views.
It has 65 square meters of construction and was designed by the architectural firm Paul Steel Bouza Arquitecto in 2017.
The living room and the master bedroom are connected to a terrace above the lake, with a glass wall providing an absolute and free view. The restroom and other rooms are at the back of the house, which reduces the overall space space, creating an “A” form.
A backyard with an acrylic roof serves as access to the house. It is closed through a metal door that works in two ways: the first is to protect the house in periods of storms, and the second is to give privacy to the bathroom since it has an open window that leads directly to the lake.
The sloping roof rises to create a loft which is accessed by a retractable staircase, which frees up space in the small dwelling.
- View of the cottage on the top of the mountain
- View of the cabin among thick vegetation
- View of the cabin from the air
- Cottage with wonderful lake views
- Interior covered with wood
- Rustic and cozy interior
- Cozy relaxation area
- Warm and cozy room
- Exterior night view
Wonderful House Located in a Desert Landscape with Wonderful Views
By Magaly • Sep 20, 2018
US firms DeForest Architects and NB Design Group have created a home in Bend, a small town surrounded by trails and ski slopes in the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon, USA. The residence is on a large plot, covered with tall grass and low shrubs, and dotted with pine trees.
It belongs to a couple who bought the property, enchanted by its “high desert landscape, discreet local culture, fabulous food and unlimited outdoor activities.” As soon as they saw the wonderful panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and the Deschutes River National Forest, they knew they had found their new home.
Clients had several applications for their new home, specifically covering the desert landscape and offering a high level of flexibility. The couple also wanted the house to feel “fresh, calm and collected.
In response, the company conceived a residence that has an approximate L-shaped design that is composed of rooms with clean lines and abundant natural light. Covering 3,320 square feet (308 square meters), the single-story dwelling has exterior walls lined with horizontal cedar planks, which helps merge with the natural environment.
It has sliding and rotating panels that allow spaces to expand and contract as needed for owners, a few guests or a large meeting.
- Outdoor terraces with views
- Entrance of glazed walls
- Entrance with unique decorative accessories
- Modern and spacious lounge
- Modern dining room full of light
- White kitchen in minimalist style
- Room with wonderful views
- Outside views during night hours
A House in Which Concrete and Glass are The Protagonists
By Magaly • Sep 19, 2018
This construction, in which glass and concrete act as protagonists, is located in a pericentral neighborhood of the city of Córdoba, in Argentina. It has been designed by the architectural firm Adolfo Mondejar – Architects Studio under the direction of its professionals, Adolfo Mondejar, Francisco Figueroa Astrain, Adriana Barberis, and Ezequiel Lauria. It is intended for a young family, and covers an area of nearly 350 square meters.
The program incorporates intermediate spaces such as the gallery, the green expansion of the bedrooms, and a pond in the master bedroom, which give the necessary environmental conditions. Also, there is a space of semi-open expansion in the living room, conceived with vines that refresh the interior of the house from the south and propose a new place of play and rest. The social areas of the home are accessed directly from the gallery.
A concrete staircase leads to a terrace space for events. The idea is summarized in two concrete walls that have a large slab of exposed concrete for a ceiling, 4 meters above the ground, creating the gallery. To further preserve the vision of concrete walls, three interior boxes lined with quebracho wood were designed to hold the bathrooms, toilets, and bedrooms.
- Aerial view
- Front view of the construction
- Terrace with large pool
- Entrance area with concrete beams
- Large outdoor area
- Furnished terrace
- Covered terrace with dining room
- Terrace with outdoor furniture
- Modern living room with glass walls
- Social areas connected
- Internal corridor with wooden walls
- Large bathroom
- Terrace in night hours
This fantastic remodeling of two narrow houses that were in very poor condition, as they had been used by their former owner as a rental for students who needed cheap accommodation, was carried out in 2016 by the architectural firm K2A. The interior was designed by the firm Permis de Construire and Denis Dujardin was in charge of the gardens.
The property covers a total area of 500 square meters and is located in Brussels, Belgium. It is located in a prestigious and vibrant area of the city, in a basement with little insulation, with little air and little natural light inside. The project consisted in uniting the two houses while respecting the typology of the existing buildings and making the most of their new width to offer generous and luminous spaces to the new residents.
The front façade, a beautiful 19th century brick façade belonging to a row of similar houses, was restored and remained essentially intact. However, the large rear façade opened generously to encompass the south-facing garden.
There, wide glass doors open onto the wonderful garden where a dining room and an outdoor living area have been installed to spend time with friends and family while enjoying the good weather.