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ARCHITECTUE / INTERIOR / TRAVEL/ ART

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness�

- Frank Gehry -

5 - Zaha Hadid

Contents

9 - Rem Koolhaas 13 - Modern vs Contemporary 17 - The New Way - Minimalism 19 - Coming of age - Granny Flat 21 - Bright Modern Row House 23 - Villa Storingavika 25 - Materials 29 - Builing a new future 47 - Environmentally Concious 51 - Mediterranean Escape 55 - Shipping Living 57 - Pyramid Cottage 61 - Tubular Glass tree house 65 - Architectual Drawing

67 - Modern Drawing 69 - Inspiration Station 81 - au courant’s modern house - tips and tricks

ZAHA HADID Zaha Hadid Born in one of Baghdad’s first Bauhaus-inspired buildings, when modernism connoted prestige and progressive thinking in the Middle East, one could easily tell that Dame Zaha Mohammed Hadid’s long-standing love story with architecture started the day she was born, well almost.

She recalls: “I must have been six or seven when my family and I went on holiday in Alahwar, a natural park in the south of Iraq; I was fascinated by nature, by tidal patterns on the sand, by wildlife, the fauna and flora, as well as the Tigris-Euphrates marshlands inhabitants.” For Hadid, it was when it all fell into place “I realised that there was a relationship between mathematical logic, architectural thinking and abstraction”.

Zaha Hadid was influenced by a cosmopolitan and liberal upbringing that broadened her mind and widened her horizons.

But when it comes to the essence of her cultural catalyst, she is rather straightforward: the designs of Russian supremacism and constructivists artists, alongside famous architects like Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

‘As Rome was not built in a day neither was her success’

Buildings should not merely serve a sheltering purpose, for Hadid, “[they] should feed the soul.” Her work was often described as De-constructivist and Neomodernist, but it was Britain’s Design Museum that first put an emphasis on how her Arab identity and background have shaped her creative mind: “Hadid shatters both the classically formal rule bound modernism of van der Rohe and the old rules of space”. She reassembles them in what she calls “a new fluid kind of spatiality of multiple perspective points and fragmented geometry, designed to embody the chaotic fluidity of modern life”.

When it comes to her cultural roots, Hadid, wears them lightly. She would rather let her architectural spaces speak for themselves. Her obsession with shadow and ambiguity is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and calligraphy, embodying the fluid and abstract processes used by Hadid. As Rome was not built in a day, neither was her success and life lessons were sometimes bitter pills to swallow. Zaha Hadid has learnt a lot in her work as an architect: from how to thrive in a male-dominated profession, to how to get a client’s approval for a rather ambitious project.

“My success is the fruit of diverse human experiences I had throughout my life and career; maybe it all boils down to my strongwilled personality”

she says. “Yes, I have been successful, but it was no bed of roses, it is the result of constant dogfights and a lot of sleep-deprived nights”.

All these efforts paid off. In 2004, she was the first woman ever to receive the Pritkzer Prize (said to be the unofficial Nobel Prize for Architecture), and to top it off she was the youngest ever. And this is nothing but the beginning of the award rain that was awaiting her. In 2008 she was ranked 69th on the Forbes list of “the World’s 100 most powerful women”, four years later Hadid was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She won the Stirling Prize twice: in 2010 for one of her most celebrated works: the Maxxi, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome and in 2011 for the Evelyn Grace Academy. And the list goes on, and on.

Zaha Hadid is the most famous architect from the Middle East, and one of the most acclaimed architect in the world.

Her bold and daring, innovative and aesthetic vision has set new standards in the field and will continue to do so with a number of her designs waiting for completion in the coming years |

REM

KOOLHAAS

Rem Koolhaas has been causing trouble in the world of architecture since his student days in London in the early 1970s.

Architects want to build, and as they age most are willing to tone down their work if it will land them a juicy commission. But Koolhaas, 67, has remained a first-rate provocateur who, even in our conservative times, just can’t seem to behave. His China Central Television headquarters building, completed this past May, was described by some critics as a cynical work of propaganda and by others (including this one) as a masterpiece.

Earlier projects have alternately awed and infuriated those who have followed his career, including a proposal to transform part of the Museum of Modern Art into a kind of ministry of self-promotion called MoMA Inc. (rejected) and an addition to the Whitney Museum of American Art that would loom over the existing landmark building like a cat pawing a ball of yarn (dropped).

Koolhaas’ habit of shaking up established conventions has made him one of the most influential architects of his generation. A disproportionate number of the profession’s rising stars, including Winy Maas of the Dutch firm MVRDV and Bjarke Ingels of the Copenhagen-based BIG, did stints in his office. Architects dig through his books looking for ideas; students all over the world emulate him.

The attraction lies, in part, in his ability to keep us off balance. Unlike other architects of his stature, such as Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid, who have continued to refine their singular aesthetic visions over long careers, Koolhaas works like a conceptual artist-able to draw on a seemingly endless reservoir of ideas.

The world’s most controversial architect

Yet Koolhaas’ most provocative—and in many ways least understood—contribution to the cultural landscape is as an urban thinker. Not since Le Corbusier mapped his vision of the Modernist city in the 1920s and ’30s has an architect covered so much territory. Koolhaas has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles in search of commissions. Along the way, he has written half a dozen books on the evolution of the contemporary metropolis and designed master plans for, among other places, suburban Paris, the Libyan desert and Hong Kong.

His restless nature has led him to unexpected subjects. In an exhibition first shown at the 2010 Venice Biennale, he sought to demonstrate how preservation has contributed to a kind of collective amnesia by transforming historic districts into stage sets for tourists while airbrushing out buildings that represent more uncomfortable chapters in our past. He is now writing a book on the countryside, a subject that has been largely ignored by generations of planners who regarded the city as the crucible of modern life. If Koolhaas’ urban work has a unifying theme, it is his vision of the metropolis as a world of extremes—open to every kind of human experience.

“Change tends to fill people with this incredible fear,” Koolhaas said. “We are surrounded by crisis-mongers who see the city in terms of decline. I kind of automatically embrace the change.

Then I try to find ways in which change can be mobilized to strengthen the original identity. It’s a weird combination of having faith and having no faith.”

Tall and fit in a tapered dark blue shirt, with inquisitive eyes, Koolhaas often seems impatient when talking about his work, and he frequently gets up to search for a book or an image. His firm, OMA, for the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, employs 325 architects, with branches in Hong Kong and New York, but Koolhaas likes the comparative isolation of Rotterdam, a tough port city. Housed in a brawny concrete and glass building, his office is arranged in big, open floors, like a factory.

Unlike most architects of his stature, Koolhaas participates in many competitions.

The process allows for creative freedom, since a client isn’t hovering, but it’s also risky. The firm invests an enormous amount of time and money in projects that will never get built. To Koolhaas, this seems to be an acceptable trade-off. “I’ve absolutely never thought about money or economic issues,” Koolhaas said. “But as an architect I think this is a strength. It allows me to be irresponsible and to invest in my work.”

Koolhaas sometimes seems to be a reluctant architect someone who is unconcerned with the conventional ideas of beauty. This is what makes his work so individual to him and why he is such an icon in the architectural world |

Architects of the late 18th century struggled with a style that was rooted in the classical orders and no longer served the social, economic and technological needs of the people who were about to move into the machine age. Then along came Violett-le-Duc in the following century, whose writings and teachings began to address the functional needs of this emerging modern society. It was his theories that excavated the trenches for the foundation that was to be poured by the modernist pioneers to follow.

Contemporary is not an architectural style as much as it is a portrayal of what is happening or needed today; an exploration of, or expression of an idea that defines a need. Such as a shoe that has an unusually long toe to provide the allusion of height. The shoes are still modern, but the feature was contemporary of the early 2000’s.

But to truly understand where the difference lies between modern and contemporary, you will need to understand style.

STYLE: a rule or custom of typology in the matters as they relate to the needs of a society or civilization.

To better clarify modern vs contemporary you will need a history of how modern architecture evolved.

As the time line moved through the 19th and into the 20th the machine age was in full throttle and the new materials it brought were becoming cheaper and cheaper. The result of a new concept called mass production. But the question still remained, what does this new modern style of architecture look like?

While architects such as Louis Sullivan, Gerrit Rietveld, Frank Lloyd Wright, Oscar Neimeyer offered their contributions, it was the work of Le Corbusier and then Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius who were able to build upon Violett-le-Duc’s foundation.

Modern vs Contemporary The Breakthrough

Some might say the work of Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid or Moshe Safdie might be the By a rigorous use of new technology and con-temporises of today. But I might disathe materials made available by the magree and describe what is happening today chine age, primarily steel and reinforced as concrete, they stripped the monster colsustainable design, and only because its a umns, flashy cornice and crown details, trend that is expressing the ‘now’. But we pointed arches and really won’t know until a name is attached symmetrical compositions, while remaining to it in the next decade or century. Will the true to the proportions, relationships and theorists of the 22nd century be describing articulation of formal themes of the classi- the work of the last three mentioned archical. What they revealed was an abstracted tects as the form that was characterized by large open emergence of the NEXT style in its infancy? plans, expansive use of glass, natural light, deep overhangs and a whitewashed min- It is certainly a robust departure from that imal exterior finish that clearly expresses which defines the modern, one that better form, all made possible by these new ma- suits the age | terials. And the answer to the question that gnawed at the architects for nearly a century and a half; what does this new modern style look like?

Answer: Open and bright to fully display and express form.

In summary, we have established that contemporary architecture is not a style, instead it is an expression of the ‘now’ and its temporal needs. However, when modern architecture broke from the classical ornamentation and its formality of symmetry, it was a revolutionary shift in theory thus classifying it as a movement and therefore a style. Contemporary architecture is today’s (or tomorrow’s) expression of the current style, whatever that style is or was.

“The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building ” - Louis Kahn -

The New Way Tucked neatly into a compact plot on a traditional Dublin street, the ‘Grangegorman Residence’ presents a complete contrast to the adjacent architecture. This ultra modern architecture residence is stylish compact and a fine example of a highly practical minimalist home design. Built for a motor cycle enthusiast, the project was designed by ‘ODOS’ architects, to provide a fine living space conjoined to an ergonomically designed workshop.

The outer profile of the house is strictly rectilinear with no superfluous decorative features. Ample provision has been made for enjoying both internal and external areas of this super stylish home. There is a relaxing paved patio on the ground level and a further ‘secret’ decked area at the top of the house

Stylish Minimalist Home Design The workshop and motorbike storage areas obviously have to occupy the areas at street level. These may be neatly concealed by a system of plain white panelled doors. For a totally streamlined affect the entrance, via stairs, to the upper living areas is also disguised in the same sequence of white panels. The exterior elevations are composed of a balanced composition of stacked geometric layers.

Visual interest is achieved through creative variations in the simple configurations of horizontal and vertical elements.

The interior of the modern architecture residence is decorated white throughout to match the exterior. Pale wood is used on the flooring to compliment the light and airy interior design scheme. Ample storage shelving is integrated into the stair well this enables personalization of the interior through the selective placement of artworks, books, DVDs and CD’s.

Large plain plate glass windows allow natural light to flood into this modern architecture residence and also maximize views of the exterior. A pleasant external seating area is provided on a concealed terrace at the top of the house. This allows full enjoyment of sunlight and fresh air but slatted screens create a subtle privacy barrier. This feature extends the space and versatility of the attractive open plan living area on the second floor. The more private areas of bedrooms and bathroom are located on the first floor. A feature of the architecture is that this minimalist home design can be very open and transparent but a simple system of external shutters enables the home to become very private and secure when desired.

Project Designs Architects have introduced a new type of granny flat – one that provides accommodation, whilst allowing occupants to remain close to the surrounds and lifestyles to which they are accustomed to. Lifestyle Pavilions is the name of this new type of flat – a 70sqm pavilion with open plan living.

The pavilion is built next to a primary residence, which offers flexibility but also independence.

“The concept was initially born after speaking with many of our long term clients. They still loved their family home, having raised their children and lived for many happy years there, but their needs had changed,” says Project Design’s director, Colin Lewington.“The solution for many therefore, was to have their adult children move into the main home and themselves move to a smaller, more easily contained space nearby.” Each unit is designed with an extensive covered Merbau timber deck, while glass walls allow the interior to be flooded with natural light.

Touches of luxury are not compromised by the downgrade, and Caesarstone bench tops, bamboo floors and in-built custom cabinetry feature throughout each unit. Hansgrohe tap-ware and a Phillipe Starke Basin are also installed in the bathrooms. The pavilions are completed as a standard, and include a Ritek insulated roof system, gas hot water system and a Colorbond roof. A fixed roof and fan over the deck area, or a pergola with solar cells are other included design options, while ducted air-conditioning, plaster-board cladding over the ceiling and external ramp access are optional construction extras.

Coming of age-Granny Flat

Occupants can choose one of three finishes on offer – Sante Fe, where marble-like finishes are layered with cool blues and neutrals; Provence, which utilises the warmth of timber as a base for taupes, mushroom and mocha; and Manhattan for a monochrome palette of stark contrasts.

Not just confined to multi-generational living, these granny flats can also be used as a pool house, studio or office, or self-contained guest accommodation. The architects oversee the whole process, from initial concept through to moving in.

These new and innovative designs are going to be the future of extensions, studios and granny flats. The new materials that have been incorporated make it an affordable project that is stylish and convenient |

Sometimes the best way to start any large project is to create a focal point that can be the “must have.” It’s no different when it comes to designing a home that perfectly suits a client. For instance, this row house in Washington, D.C. was built around the

Bright Modern Row House

idea of a cook’s kitchen where the owners could spend hours creating elaborate meals for friends and family. While that wasn’t the end of the design, it was an effective place to start. Let’s look inside the house to see what else the team at KUBE Architecture was able to do to create this adorable, colourful “Salt + Pepper House”. The upstairs area is perfect for a young From the rear of the house, it is difficult couple, with a spacious master bedroom to even discern its traditional architecand pleasant balcony overlooking the ture that permeates the curbside portion. living area below as well as the yard a little The architects opened up the back of the further out. The love of colour makes its house for easy, spectacular access to the way up the stairs as well with lime green back yard, which is itself a serene oasis in and bright red accents. Finally we get to the city. By removing what was once the that cook’s kitchen, opening up into the second story of the home, the back section main living area with spacious abandon. A deep, under-mount sink, breakfast bar that gets an even more dramatic look, with windows climbing right up the side of the easily becomes a chopping and prep space, and luxurious gas stove, this is definitely the building. chef ’s choice of kitchen designs.

Once inside, drama largely gives way to playfulness. Despite a leaning towards black and white (hence the name of the project), there is actually a great deal of colour inside. From electric orange dining chairs – where lucky dinner party guests can await the next course – to deep purple armchairs that would be just as suited to a Prince listening party as to an after dinner cocktail.

Located in Norway, this family dwelling, Villa Storingavika, was designed by Saunders Architecture. The main faรงade of the house faces south to the ocean while the balcony offers stunning views to the south and west. The unique residence combines everyday comfort, flawless functionality and an awe-inspiring, contemporary style. The upper floor is to be used by the parents and the lower floor by their two children when home from university. The lower floor also contains a small (35 m2) guest studio. The house is clad in black stained wood, with natural wood between the window partitions. For the bathroom, the absence of any adjacent houses allowed the exclusive use of glass for exterior construction, providing a shower with a view.

Villa

Storingavika

Oscar Neimeyer + concrete Although you could argue that many iconic architects have had a love affair with concrete, Niemeyer’s understanding of concrete’s aesthetic and potential for structural plasticity - on display in works as distinct as the Cathedral of Brasília or the UN Headquarters in New York - is arguably unrivalled. Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa first employed the material as a potent symbol for modernity in Brazil’s new capital, Brasília, in 1956. Concrete took pride of place as their material of choice, and the vast expanses of shimmering, smooth white concrete surfaces defined the city’s civic heart as well as much of Brazilian Modernism. With concrete, Neimeyer left a built legacy more significant than most architects of his (or any) generation.

MATERIALS SANAA + Glass SANAA, also based in Japan, are known for expertly crafting glass around translucent volumetric spaces. All sense of weight and gravity falls away from their design for the Louvre, which uses mirrors and hidden detailing to turn glass into the only visible material. In a similar vein, the New Art Museum in New York City employs a clever combination of glass, anodised aluminium mesh and white painted walls to make the building shimmer in a semi-transparent way.

Zaha Hadid + Composite Fibres Zaha Hadid’s practice is at the forefront of using new materials to express the complex geometries they create through parametric design. Although they are famed for making concrete appear weightless, many of their building’s skins are clad in different types of composite fibres. The Heydar Aliyev centre in Baku, for example, uses Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester (GFRP) to create an almost seamless flowing exterior. Their recent extension to the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London uses much the same technique, with their experimental materiality even extending into the design of super-yachts.

Kengo Kuma + Wood Japanese practice Kengo Kuma + Associates have created some of the world’s most striking wooden buildings in recent years. The Cité des Arts et de la Culture in France is an example of how a wooden façade can transform internal spaces - a theme which is also evident in their GC Prostho Museum Research centre in Japan.

Kuma’s skill at making heavy, dense materials appear soft and light is perhaps unrivalled in the profession.

“To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history but to articulate it �

- Daniel Libeskind -

Building a new future

This collection of images showcase what makes Architecture such an amazing aspect of our lives. Architects pushing the conventional boundaries to create masterpieces and push us into a new and innovative era of Architecture.

BURJ AL ARAB

Architect: Renzo Piano Location: London, UK

THE

S H A R D

Architect: Daniel Libeskind Location: Berlin, Germany

SAPPHIRE

Architect: Daniel Libeskind Location:

B U I L D I NG

Architect: Hiroshi Nakamura Location: Hiroshima, Prefecture Japan

RIBBON

CHAPEL

V I K I N G

Architect: Crown by MHN Design Union Location: Sydney, Australia

YOUTH HOTEL Architect: O Office Architects Location: Shenzhen, China

T O ID W N

Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects Location: Oxford, UK

MAGGIES CENTRE

Architect: Patrick Killen Location: Manhattan Beach, USA

MODERN MARVEL

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us ” - Winston Churchill -

Environmentally Conscious Elliot Bay House, located on a narrow site that faces Puget Sound on the west coast of Seattle, Washington was designed by Nils Finne of FINNE Architects to embrace Eco friendly features without compromising the fine craftsmanship his firm is known for. The environmentally conscious waterfront home is designed with such unique features as a reflective pool fed by a 10ft waterfall of rain collected water that lands next to what appears to be a floating basalt boulder and that is just one of the many fine craftsmanship details used throughout the home.

The hovering basalt boulders are actually mounted onto stainless steel stands submerged below the water’s surface.

The south facing side of Elliot Bay House has energizing views of Puget Sound and the Olympia Mountains while the north facing side and its reflective pool offer a more Zen like atmosphere.

Written by Trendir

The facade of the home is covered in red cedar with two different profiles and two different stains. Sustainable and energy efficient Elliot Bay House is insulated 40% more than required by code and the home has been pre-wired for photovoltaic roof panels. There is also an electric car charging station in the garage.

A custom gate greets guests upon arrival.

The rusted steel design was cut with a water jet and the voids abstractly represent the strokes from an ink brush. Once inside the home a wall mounted wardrobe of FSC beech wood continues the craftsmanship within its custom CNC milled oceanic pattern called “Imaginary Landscape�.

Just around the corner from the entrance the living room features a exposed wood beams and walls of glazing that expose the panoramic views of Puget Sound. It also boasts a FINNE designed area rug. Radiant hydronic heat systems used throughout offer the homeowner lower operating temperatures with a higher comfort factor and the Gypcrete radiant tubes radiate it up from the floor.

The fireplace continues the theme of natural products within its rusted plate steel and concrete facade. The large expanses of glass provide natural daylight and ventilation while the generous roof overhangs create sunshade and rain protection. The windows also have built in shading to protect from UV rays.

As with the entry wardrobe, the kitchen features FSC certified beech wood cabinetry with sections of “Imaginary Landscape” custom CNC milled into it. All the lighting used throughout is LED and the plumbing fixtures are all water conserving.

The craftsmanship within the mill-work is exemplary. The stairwell features the same attention to detail as the cabinetry and showcases the same ink brush pattern as the entry gate – only in reverse. Each tread is a solid slab of wood mounted onto a steel plate that is subsequently bolted onto the steel stringers. The handrail is jointed into one continuous section of wood that curves as the stairs change direction. Upstairs the master suite is wrapped on 3 sides with glass and projects out over the lower volume. The master en-suite features book-matched drawers with the wood’s natural grain traveling upward from the bottom drawer through to the top drawer. A second bathroom leaves the wood cabinetry behind in favour of a stainless steel vanity positioned in front of a frosted window and in order to hang a mirror above the sink, FINNE Architects cleverly hung it from the ceiling..

Blue Villa is very cool indeed. Surrounded by not just the Mediterranean Sea but also by lush natural landscape, this holiday villa does not rest on the laurels of its surroundings but ups the visual intrigue by including creatively unique details in every room of the house – both inside and out. Designed by 123DV Modern Villas, Cool Blue Villa is located on a 1 hectare site in Marbella, Spain, near the beach and was designed as a holiday home for the owners with the knowledge that in the future this stunning home will become their place of choice to “grow old happily ever after�. The challenge was to create a 6-bedroom home that would offer panoramic vistas of the natural land and waterscapes without sacrificing privacy so although the home boasts large expanses of glazings the street view is closed and contained.

Even though the street view is very private and minimalist, the visual intrigue is ever present with its vertical strips of LED lighting crating a fun, geometric statement. Even the sliding barn door style car gate is a unique design, first dipping in height to break up the long continuous line of the fence and then using a frosted glazing on the upper portion clamped in place by custom hardware.The other side of the home is where the real magic happens.

Written by Carlos Caceres Lavergne

nean Sea but they also have their very own glass walled and swimming pool – it even has glass corners! For easy indoor / outdoor entertaining, the kitchen is located just behind the pool lounge area and its design includes a large triangular shaped Hi-macs cooking island made from solid Corian that blends beautifully with the natural stone floors. Beside the kitchen is the homes dining and living areas and beside them, outside is a second water feature. The second water feature is a channel of water that flows along the length of the social zone but can just as easily be viewed from the upper volume. This water channel is discreetly tucked into the space between the home and the back fence. The dining and living areas continue a geometric theme within the architecture via the inverted triangular wall that separates them and the wall shelving. The decor continues the theme within the dining room light pendants, the alternating bases on the dining chairs and with the linear bamboo poles in the statement vase.

The living room dramatically continues the aesthetic within the black and white area rug. Geometry also is used to create visual interest within the minimalist stairwell by the use of repeating oversized stainless steel bolts that clamp the clear balustrade to the white treads and risers.

Mediterranean Escape

The homeowners not only have a fantastic panoramic vista of the Mediterra-

Even the light play from the windows and skylight add to the geometry – as does that amazing swimming pool clearly visible through the glazings. Upstairs is where the bedrooms are located but not forgot when it comes to unique design details. I just love this headboard wall with its street art vibe and splash of Mediterranean blue. While the bedroom en-suites are positioned to take advantage of the view, the downstairs guest bath is located on the privacy wall next to the neighbours. Although not featuring a stunning view the room itself is a work of art. Whether facing the view or not, Cool Blue Villa is very cool indeed.

Shipping Living Designed by HonoMobo, these prefab shipping container homes come in 3 different sizes and layouts making them the perfect choice for a Laneway Home, guest suite, or as a stand alone mini home perfect for a lake front or forest getaway. In fact each unit is solar photo-voltaic ready.

The HonoMobo shipping container homes can be used for a home business, an in-law suite or as rental units. HO2 is the smallest studio unit. Designed to fit above a single car garage it can also be placed on the ground and can even be stacked on a second unit.

The efficient layout of the 352sqft HO2 makes the space feel larger then it actually is. The HO3 is comprised of 3 containers and has an interior space of 528sqft.

This larger design even has a 21ft expanse of glazing for that sought after indoor/outdoor connectivity. The HO3 even has a small foyer, a private bedroom, private bathroom and a social zone that includes a large kitchen island with bar seating. The HO4 is the largest of the three designs at 640sqft and is made from 4 containers. Like the HO3 it has a long expanse of glazings with an uninterrupted run of 20ft. A 2-bedroom design, the HO4 is designed to sit on top of a 2-car garage but is also a great stand alone unit.

Written by Leonard Pulter

The 3 designs are also able to be stacked in a variety of configurations to create a multi family dwelling. Shipping containers are an under utilized idea when it comes to residential living but slowly more an more architects and designers are starting to embrace the idea of affordable living within these upcycled units. While the Honomobo designs are prefab, there are a number of shipping container homes with unique designs. Some showcasing the natural finish of its corrugated steel shell and others are tweaked with art as an added layer of creativity.

PYRAMID

COTTAGE

The Pyramid Cottage is located in Norway. It encapsulates the landscape in a very unusual way and seamlessly fits in. There is no doubt that this cottage is a masterpiece. It involves woodwork and also showcases new insulation available on the market. The vast landscapes make it a prominent feature and it almost seems alone in the wilderness.

These images showcase it in its best forms and show how one building can withstand all of the features of one terrain.

Tublar Glass Tree House This house was designed in 2013 by Kazakh architect Aibek Almassov, but funding fell through and it sat on the shelf until now. A new investor has been found for the concept home and not surprisingly, it’s a solar panel manufacturer. This environmentally friendly home has a lot to offer, not the least of which is the ability to have a full grown tree inside your living space. A very tall, full-grown tree. Designed as an inverted tree house, it features a completely glazed and cylindrical structure to give 360-degree-views.

The home was first conceptualized in 2013 but when the investment funds fell through, it sat on the shelf for a while. Now, the home has come back to life with investment from a solar panel manufacturer. There are four floors, connected by a spiral staircase that wraps around the tree trunk. You are totally connected with nature in this home – through the tree growing in the centre of your living space and through the glass to outside. The architect wanted to offer an alternative to city life. We think this fits the bill. Almassov likens climbing the staircase to arriving at different levels of spiritual enlightenment. You certainly get a birds-eye view from the top floor of this glass house.

Glazed balustrades with wooden railings will surround the atrium on each level so as not to block the views. An entirely glass shower cubicle mirrors the tubular form of the building.

Written by Mattew Westbrook

“Bridges are perhaps the most invisible form of public architecture ” - Bruce Jackson -

Architectural Drawing

An aspect of Architecture that is somewhat overlooked when the project is finished is the design and creative process that it takes to actually get there. Architectural drawings and sketches are among the most intricate things in this industry. They determine whether the project will be successful or a failure and they show an Architects ability to solve problems in the most extreme circumstances. It is an art, and like every artist every Architect has their own signature style. This is not shown purely through the amazing structures they produce but also what they create when they are expressing themselves through drawing what they imagine. Some Architects use watercolours, its more of a visual aid, some use pencil, pen, tetxters, they use technology as well. Anything you can draw with they have experimented with, it showcases their style and individuality and thats what makes them, unique.

New York architect James Wines’ 1981 proposal for housing in densely populated areas. The ink sketch argued for turning high-rises into framed plots that could include houses and gardens, with internal streets, shops and offices to create a village atmosphere.

Le Corbusier outlined his vision for Buenos Aires, which included hiding traffic underground, in this 1929 lecture diagram.

Stephen Kanner’s gouache painting for Harvard Apartments in Los Angeles, 1989, captured his California pop style.

During World War II German architect Hans Scharoun surveyed bombed-out buildings and spent his evenings making pencil and watercolour drawings of architectural fantasies like this example from 1943-45.

Danish architect Jorn Utzon’s preliminary sketch for the Sydney Opera House, c. 1960, made with pencil and coloured crayon on tracing paper

French architect Raymond Cornon’s rigorous, highly realistic pencil sketch of the restoration of a half-timbered building in Rennes, France, 1965

ModernDrawing

INSPIRATION STATION

Some of these homes are seriously popular on the internet which is just proof of how incredible they are and another reason for you to check them out.

Take a look!

Of course, all of those modern house designs are chosen according to my personal taste, so you don’t have to agree about being the best part, because, as everybody else of course, you have your own taste in modern houses. But after you see those photos below, I expect you to at least admit that those homes are truly incredible pieces of modern architecture.

Location and modern house designs What makes these modern house designs so special and different from others? Well, one of the criteria was location of the house, which often plays important role in the way house is designed. For example, houses designed by SAOTA, are almost always built somewhere on a cliff, high above the ocean, or down on a rocky beach, giving its residents an opportunity to enjoy in breathtaking views or relaxing sounds that ocean waves make while crashing into the rocks below the house.

Nature will always have huge impact on the house design.

House size Next, size of the house. Common opinion among people is that house has to be huge or expensive to be beautiful or amazing. This is really, really far from being true. You will notice I picked some pretty small houses (in comparison to others) for this gallery. For example, a minimalist house and a creative home. Good architects and their clients who have taste and style will together create gorgeous modern house designs, no matter how big the house is at the end.

Architectural style Speaking of style, this brings us to the next criteria.

Style in architecture. This is another thing strongly related to someone’s personality, but you have to admit, when someone has style, this is obvious to everyone. I think architects and owners of those homes have amazing style in architecture and this is one of the reasons why I put those homes on the list.

“The wow factor” of modern house designs When we take all the criteria described above, we get one and only, “the wow factor”. When you see a modern home and its design, you’re either impressed, or not impressed. This can be described as “the wow factor”, and, at the end, this is the main reason why those homes are on this list. All of them attracted my attention, got me all interested and left me impressed, which made me put together this gallery. Now let’s see what you think about these homes. Do you find them impressive as much as I do? Do you think architects deserved some kind of award?

MODERN

VISUAL

STYLE MINIMALIST

ARCHITECT

VIBRANCE

SIMPLE

DESIGN

POWERFUL

STRUCTURE

au courant’s modern home Tips and Tricks

Modern designing is simple and distinct. In order to achieve a great design, you have to make sure that you will choose the right colour, textures and use clean lines. Modern houses use a range of style. It could be Bungalow, French Eclectic, A-Frame, Craftsman, Art Deco, Neoclassical, Neo-Victorian, Neo-Eclectic, Neo-Mediterranean, Neo-Colonial, Postmodern and Contemporary.

If you want to have a modern house design, these tips will help you ensure that your house will really have the kind of design you want. Here are some tips and features you need to consider in designing and planning a modern house.

1. The Design Modern houses base their design on function. The design focuses on minimalism and technology. The use of modern technology is being incorporated in the functions of the different areas of the house. These types of houses include the use of stereotypical concrete, steel and glass looks. There are times that it has the touch of historical old houses and subtly use glass. You could also observe that modern houses usually have a smooth and streamlined look.

2. The Function In designing modern houses, function is the most important thing to be considered.

Before you jump right away in creating a great design that will not really work for you, be sure to think of what you really need first. Your house will only be successfully designed if everything can work well according to your lifestyle, profession and taste.

Everything should be as functional as possible. This is the best way to make your house, your home.

3. The Colours In modern house designing, the colours used are composed of neutral colours with bright bold accents. Pastel colours are not usually used in modern decorating. Yet, you can still choose whatever colour you want, you just have to make sure that they complement each other and are well-balanced. The modern or contemporary colour palette is composed mainly of neutrals and is accented with bright, bold colour. You can choose any colours that you like, but you will need to be careful that they are complementary and well balanced. Modern colour palettes include cherry red, black, white and silver; orange, cream and brown; mocha brown and ivory; cobalt blue, slate, white and charcoal; bright yellow, white and gray; lime green, cobalt blue and white; and many others.

4. The Lights Modern design uses good lighting. Most of their structures have a light and almost translucent look. The use of pin lights, up lights, wall lamps, spotlights, lights with dimmers and others are common in modern design..

5. Textures and Patterns If you want to use textures and patterns, choose those with clean lines. Ideal ones are solids, stripes, geometric patterns and abstracts. You can also use animal prints subtly on rugs and other decorative accessories. Do not use ruffles and laces for it doesn’t complement to a modern design.

6. The Window There are different window designs which always complement with the exterior design of the house. Most modern houses use window glasses with aluminium framing but some creatively use wood, too. You can even add some mouldings around the window to have a more appealing exterior view. You need to decide if you want more light inside your house or not. This way, the sizes of the window could be determined. But most modern houses use wide windows to allow apt amount of natural light inside the house.

7. The Storage Spaces

Most modern designs use unique storage areas. These will help you have a neat house for everything is well-kept. Have different storages for your hobbies, clothes, activities, important files, and others. You should even have good cabinets in your kitchen. You may use hanging cabinets to save space and let it the reach ceiling to avoid accumulation of dust on the top..

8. The Spaces Modern houses have open spaces. Do away with crowded layouts. You can have high ceilings. Use only furniture that you need and make sure it is right for your space. Do not use large furniture if your area is small. Avoid using too small furniture if your place is so wide. Everything should match well with the space available.

9. The Furniture Simple furniture is used in modern design. The usual furniture used is vinyl cushioned, plastic, and brushed metal. You may also use lacquered woods that are designed with sleek lines. Consider colours in choosing your furniture. Make sure it fits your house colour. Do not use antique furniture for modern design, it wouldn’t fit in.

10. The Decorative Accessories

Simple furniture is used in modern design. The usual furniture used is vinyl cushioned, plastic, and brushed metal. You may also use lacquered woods that are designed with sleek lines. Consider colours in choosing your furniture. Make sure it fits your house colour. Do not use antique furniture for modern design, it wouldn’t fit in.

11. The Bedroom

Modern bedrooms are mostly vain. Personal taste and needs of the homeowner should be considered here. If the person wants a dark bedroom, you can use light colours or neutral colours inside but have dark curtains and dark fabrics. There should also be lights with dimmers, pin lights and a lampshade. Some modern bedrooms even have their own bathroom inside, or a whirlpool bathtub, and spas. Even some have a swimming pool directly connected to the room. There are also bedrooms that have their own balcony or porch. Some sports equipment is also seen in some rooms. It really depends on the needs of the homeowner.

12. The Kitchen

Know the type of layout you want for your kitchen. It could be open or close layout.

Open layouts are good for entertaining and conversing with people in the other areas of the house. Consider good lighting in your kitchen including natural light. You may use recessed lighting in your kitchen which is commonly used of modern design style.

Use an island, splash-backs, bench-tops and drawers to keep things. Make sure they are smooth and streamlined.

13. The Living Room

In a modern house, the living space should be open. The traffic should always be considered with the arrangement of furniture. You may use natural light and you can do this by having wide glass windows. This way, your open living room will be well-lighted especially in the morning. You need to consider the placement of the television. Before you start designing your living room, you have to think where you would like to position your television. It could be mounted on the wall or placed inside a concealed cabinet.

Knowing the placement of the television can greatly aid in having a good design.

14. The Bathroom You may want to have a wide bathroom if you have enough space in your house. You can even have a couch inside if you want to. But some just opt to have a shower covered with glass. Modern bathrooms use glass and ceramic tiles. Choice of colour depends on the taste of the homeowner but most bathrooms are white, grey, beige or cream. Light colors are usually used here but there are still bathrooms that use bright pastel colours.

For sure, you will be excited to see your dream modern house! Of course, if you will consider the aforementioned tips, you will be well-guided in creating the design. But to really make sure that you will be able to get the kind of house you want, you can hire an expert.

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