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These two photos of a 70’s villa are uber-minimal/sparse, but the other shots show a quirky side. Refurbished by interior architects Renaud De Poorter and Femke Holdrinet, the home still has the bones of the original build, but the updates make it feel thoroughly modern and livable. It’s quite the showpiece.

Photography: Verne

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So, this house looks pretty interesting, right? Large windows, large overhang/cantilever, idealic setting, all these signs point to ‘yes’.

However, looking at this image below:

you kind of get the impression of an old mobile home perched dangerously on the edge of a hill. Some graffiti, a little trash strewn about, and the setting is the kind you hope your kids aren’t spending time around. Am I wrong? Ah, now wait, before you go getting all upset, these photos reinstate the initial opinion of excellence and grandeur: (more…)

OWI is a treasure trove of homes to break my heart against, I swear. This strange one has all sorts of odd choices, but the end result is honest and comfortable. Things to pay attention to: the unassuming facade, the atrium with retractable roof (of course), the staircase through the brick wall and the small glass floor portion below (shown lower right), huge metal bookcases filled to the brim, the lack of ‘finish’ to the ceilings, and about ten other things that I won’t list. It’s like a person you meet that seems sort of boring until you discover they are absolutely fascinating.

If you saw the dreamy film “A Single Man” by Tom Ford, you were probably wondering about the lovely house in the center of the film. If you want it, you can have it for a mere 1.5 million.

Hidden in a wooded valley at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains, the redwood, concrete & glass residence opens to the oak forest that influenced the form and orientation of the design. A meticulous restoration of systems, as well as surfaces, hardware & appliances has been completed. This published, world class architectural treasure incorporates open plan living, dining and den areas, two bedrooms, one & a half baths, laundry and attached two carport. In nature and apart, yet just 15 minutes to downtown Los Angeles.

Thanks to Matt for link!

Here’s an office/study on wheels that proves not all shacks have to be eyesores. Smart.

design by Piet Hein Eek, thomas mayer architecture

[via Make:]

Check out this slim-fit house in Toronto. Making use of a super tight lot, the home is a smart example of how space and light can be used to the best advantage. Dwell has some good shots of the interior and exterior, and check out the architect’s site (Donald Chong Studio) for floor plans and extra photos. I especially love the landscaping in the outdoor areas.

[via Dwell]

A Grand Designs episode was on the other night featuring two eco houses squeezed into a rather narrow plot in South London. The plan was to build two identical homes, selling one to finance the other in hopes of living mortgage free. Even though the owners ended up way over the original budget (as most builds do on the show), the outcome was spectacular. Despite the small footprint, the use of oblique windows and skylights opened up the space and maximized light, all while maintaining a keen sense of privacy. Plus, seeing as the home owner was also the owner of a joinery/carpentry firm, he was able to construct the houses himself alongside his team, and, as a result, the craftsmanship was impeccable. It was altogether inspiring. If you’re planning on building on a small plot of land, you might want to check it out.

other bullet points: grass covered roof, constructed using sustainable materials and high performance glass and insulation, low impact piling foundation system, rain-harvesting system

list of materials and sources used here

architect: hampson williams, architecture
homeowner’s site: Talisman Manufacturing

If you are dreaming about your dream house, yet aren’t quite sure how it will fit together spatially, you might want to try out this inexpensive kit. Seeing your design properly in 3d might help iron out any kinks and get it closer to becoming a feasible project.

3D Home Kit (left): $39.95, Buy it here.

Also shown (right), Home Quick Planner: $29.95, Buy it here.
(kit includes 700 precut, reusable peel-and-stick furniture and architectural symbols for every room in the house including the kitchen, study, bedrooms and bathrooms.)

Wow, you’d think something as simple as sticking a box onto an older row house could not look this beautiful, but somehow it succeeds inordinately well. Check out the last image where you can see the old/original staircase and beyond into the addition. It looks as if they’ve used the existing garden wall as the interior wall, painting it white to differentiate it from the outside. Spectacular.

photos Dujardin Filip

[via OWI]

I just came across the brilliantly simple work of Guga Architecture. The architect removed the dropped ceilings in the public rooms of the house, sandblasting the exposed rafters and raising the height to an expansive 16 feet.

David Baker + Partners is just the type of architecture firm you like to hear about. They are active in urban development and they turned this sad building into a great live/work space for Baker.

The home also has an impressive list of environmental features:

2.0K solar electric system generating over half of electrical power on site.
Solar domestic hot water collection system providing over half of water heating needs.
Digital dimming lighting controls on all lights to reduce consumption and extend bulb life.
Small-scale appliances: under-counter refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher.
Passive solar design: high thermal mass, polished concrete floors, and south-facing clerestory warm the living areas.
Casework and wood doors made from rapidly renewable material: bamboo plywood.
Walls insulated with ground recycled denim batting.
Rain garden system diverts roof water runoff from city sewage system and into local aquifers.
Permeable infiltration garden and pavers in city public sidewalk intercept storm water runoff in public right of way.

Whoa, take a look at this kick ass hallway. Folding doors are located within the walls that swivel open in different directions depending on the privacy needed. I also really like the way they handled the exposed brick and white columns.

Reforma de piso
Architect: Alfredo Sirvent
Photographer: Santos-Díez

See it here.

[via materialicious]

[posted by katie]

Seeing as I posted the Slow Chair today and mentioned this houseboat, I might as well give you the pics too. While not all of us can live on the water, the Maison Flottante does give inspiration for a minimal aesthetic. In this particular case, a few curated pieces allows for more visual space while large windows center attention on the view.

The Floating House is a studio for resident artists and authors invited by the Cneai, national contemporary art center for publication. Initiated in 2002 by a public commission and finished in 2006, this habitable barge was realized in collaboration with the architects Jean-Marie Finot and Denis.

photos: www.gaelleleboulicaut.com

See it here. (click 2006, floating house : interiors)

I remember seeing this on one of Fine Living’s Dwell series (do you remember them?) a few years ago. Located in central Texas, this ranch is miles and miles away from its nearest neighbor which allows for huge glass walls and uninterrupted views of the landscape (I think I remember the owner saying he sometimes wakes up to a cow looking into his bedroom wall/window). The large overhang roof provides much needed shade during hot summers, and as I remember, there’s a central brick structure that anchors the home and retains temperature*.

visit Cottam Hargrave’s site for more.

[via 2Modern Design Talk]

*please correct me if I’m wrong on any of this