Book Excerpt: City Living: Apartments, Lofts, Studios, and Townhouses

CHAMBORD RESIDENCE NATUREHUMAINE CHAMBORD, MONTREAL, QC, CANADA © ADRIEN WILLIAMS

Longitudinal section

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he second floor of this twenties duplex was converted into three bedrooms and a study. The frontal façade was simply restored, but the back was completely transformed into a transparent area. Cantilevered over the backyard, cedar wood is used to trim the glass and frame the master bedroom.

A cedar-clad volume above the kitchen contains the master bedroom. It punches through the glass back faĂ§ade, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior, and cantilevers over the backyard, sheltering the patio below.

BRISBANE STREET HOUSE ALEXANDER &CO. QUEENS PARK, SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA © MURRAY FREDERICKS

West elevation

East elevation

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he aim was to reinvent a home for a young family, to create a space in which they could grow and explore. Although the site was compact, the space was utilized to the full; in fact it was the limitations of the site that led to this simple architectural solution, based on a structure of beams and crossbeams. This formal balance is one of the great successes of the house.

HOUSE OF JOYCE & JEROEN PERSONAL ARCHITECTURE THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS © RENÉ DE WIT

Rear elevation

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his house was designed for a young couple, Joyce and Jeroen. Initially the pair were only looking to bring the house up to date but they soon discovered that the structure was in much worse condition than it had appeared. Rather than seeing this as bad news, they took it as an opportunity to convert a typical Dutch house into a bright and contemporary dwelling.

The need of a thorough remodel led the owners and the architects to explore sensational design solutions. A vertical void space in the interior spanning over three floor levels accentuates the full height of the typical row house.

While the front façade maintains its classical flair, the house boasts a contemporary and sophisticated design that extends through the all glass new back façade into a backyard.

Old floorboards and a wood staircase are incorporated in the new design as original elements. They contrast with new elements such as a spiral steel staircase, creating an interesting tension.

CUT AND FOLD HOUSE ASHTON PORTER ARCHITECTS LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM © ANDY STAGG

Location map

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he remodel of an existing Victorian house includes a rear extension aimed at improving the connection between all interior spaces and between the house and the garden at the back of the property. The design is a juxtaposition of frames and squares of different materials. The use of stainless steel and glass gives the house a contemporary stamp and creates a marked contrast with the original brickwork.

H24 HOUSE R-ZERO STUDIO MEXICO CITY, MEXICO ÂŠ AKI ITAMI

Building section

Main elevation

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his family home situated south of Mexico City suffered from a lack of contact with its greater surroundings, so a unique landscape was configured around it. Thus, an intimate and private home was created. It appears to have been inserted into the city to form a part of its very fabric. Lightness and transparency dominate the home and lead the flow of interior movement.

The property opens in L shape towards the garden, a space in which the house is able to breathe. Despite the houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban setting, the garden creates its own little oasis within it.

Second floor plan

Ground floor plan

BROWN VUJCICH HOUSE PETE BOSSLEY, ANDREA BELL, DON MCKENZIE, KAREN NGAN KEE/BOSSLEY ARCHITECTS HERNE BAY, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND © PATRICK REYNOLDS

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ocated on a sloping plot in the heart of Herne Bay, this long and narrow house adapts to the incline of the ground. The property is accessed via a bridge over a planted moat. The entrance, a large, translucent glass wall, provides privacy while ensuring that a warm and gentle light permeates the interior.

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1. Glass balustrade 2. Roof extends out over deck 3. Louvretec 200 Louvreline® rear pivot aluminum panels color to match window joinery 4. Pilkington Optifloat® opal glass 5. End of window 6. Louvretec 200 Louvreline® rear pivot aluminum panels with dressed cedar plywood facing 7. Final ground level 8. Existing ground level 9. Site boundary 10. Footpath

West elevation

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4.5 m front yard setback Pilkington Optifloat® opal glass Parking area Outline of foundation to wall Roof extends out over deck Outline of pool foundation

East elevation

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North elevation

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Site boundary Entry roof Pilkington Optifloat® opal glass Final ground level Existing ground level

Site boundary Outline of pool beyond Final ground level Existing ground level

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Fine vertical cedar shiplap and double skin bagged brick reflect the clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love for fifties and sixties architecture. The house is laid out so that it opens to the surrounding space, with a terrace and outdoor area for each room.

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Entry level floor plan

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Ground floor plan

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Entry Cupboard Powder room Dining Kitchen Living

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Deck Roof Parking area Driveway Terrace Pool

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Bedroom 1 En-suite Storage Lobby Laundry Bedroom 2

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Bedroom 3 Bathroom Bedroom 4 Family living

An open riser jarrah wood and steel staircase features a stainless steel mesh guardrail that juxtaposes the rough brick wall. The use of elegant materials and rich textures throughout the house is enhanced by the soft natural light that filters through the translucent glass.

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