Category Archives: Architecture
Life Sized Barbie Dreamhouse Tour Experience in Florida and Berlin
Wow. This sure is pink!
Many young girls have always wanted the “dream” life just like Barbie. While she always has the unattainable, now girls in Florida and even Berlin have the opportunity to visit “Barbie: The Dreamhouse Experience.” Visitors on both sides of the globe will have the chance to truly get inside of Barbie’s home and see it all from a doll’s perspective.
The dream home location in Sawgrass Mills of Sunrise, Florida is over 10,700 square feet and opened on May 8th for a limited time. The incredible Dream House was built in less than a year, and incorporated over 20 lbs of glitter and 100 gallons of pink paint along! Each area of the home includes an interactive space such as the kitchen, vanity, closet, office, and there’s even a runway to participate in a fashion show during your experience.
Giant Trees Repurposed Into Garden Tree House
Japanese Architecture firm Hironaka Ogawa were the masterminds behind this amazing home expansion in Kagawa, Japan. With the new found need for space, came the necessary demolition of old, sacred trees that had so much sentimental meaning for the homeowners. Instead of just parting ways, it was decided that the two trees would be repurposed into something greater for the family.
After cutting them down, the giant trees and their respective branches were dried and smoked for a two week process to relieve them of any excess water, and get them to their final size. Once finished, the trees became an integral part of the home – utilized as structural columns to support the high ceilings and extend just up to the edge of the mezzanine structure. They now sit in the central hub of the home, with their arm-like branches extended out nearest the walls and provide a hanging place for pendant lighting. An amazing and creative, adaptive reuse for these beautiful trees!
Sculptural Stamp House by Charles Wright Architects
Charles Wright Architects has been known for statement forward buildings, and the Stamp House is one of those residences.
Located in Queensland, Australia, this space sits atop a body of water and is accessed by a floating bridge in a man made wetland environment that once was in this area just at the rainforest’s edge. The manmade marsh type setting was a part of a larger plan to help create not only a beautiful home, but one that helped get the residence closer to being “off the grid.” The entire roof is solar paneled, and also incorporates grey water recycling among many other sustainable techniques.
Minimalism by Betillon / Dorval-Bory in Paris
You really need to think creative when you barely have any room. This apartment in Paris, France, is microscopic. So French design firm betillon / dorval-bory used a minimalist approach in its design where light becomes an important element to compartmentalize the space. Using white as its primary color was key in making the apartment look more spacious than it actually is. This proves that square footage doesn’t actually matter that much, and it’s how you take advantage of it that counts.
The Ark Floating Housing by Alexander Remizov
Disaster relief is never really an exciting topic of choice to discuss, but with global warming a very real issue at hand – there are people and architects out there thinking about the future. For those thinking of extreme climate changes and environmental conditions, the Ark may be a great solution.
Created as a building that has its own independent life support sources, this space has a dome-like top and certainly is built to withstand floating through rising sea levels if need be. The Ark works all within itself to heat, cool, and sustain energy. Planting greenery is also a part of living in the Ark, in order to produce oxygen and liven up the contemporary interior areas.
Learn more about the Ark and its building construction and systems via Remistudio.
High style barn home in Burgundy, France
Interior Designer Joséphine Gintzburger of France is certainly a master when it comes to combining contemporary and rustic styles into a space. The historic architectural elements also help, but her keen eye for it makes the end product that much better.
This residence in Burgundy, France is full of gorgeous architectural elements such as wood beams and concrete floors. There’s a great art collection throughout the space as well, with each room having its own identity. The large open plan design in the main areas really make this barn a gem in both usability and interior stature, with the mix of contemporary fixtures and vintage accessories complementing each other just right.
Rocky Mountainside Chair House by Igor Sirotov
Ukranian architect and designer Igor Sirotov thinks outside of the box when it comes to conceptual designs and interiors. One of his latest is the “Chair House” which appears to be embedded within a mountainside just along the coast.
The interior features a chic simplicity, with graphite stone cladding along the walls, a softly lit ambiance with small skylights throughout and pretty minimal furnishings. Unlike most interiors, with this space you start your way from the top and work downstairs to the remaining portions of the residence. Sirotov describes his own works as “simple, strong and extremely gentle,” and this motto rings true for the Chair House.
Quinta da Baronesa in São Paulo, Brazil, by Studio Arthur Casas
Nestled into the rolling green hills of a golf camp just outside of São Paulo, Brazil is Quinta da Baronesa, a modern dream home both sustainable and stunning. Designed by Studio Arthur Casas, this weekend family retreat is barely recognizable from the street, as it seems to organically jut out of the rugged terrain.
World’s most expensive Tour Odeon Penthouse in Monaco for $250 million
OMG! Check out the slide from the balcony to the pool. And imagine the view – as if you slide directly into the sky. Awesome, or f-ing scary! Depending on your personality.
With a projected asking price of more than $250 million, the 33,000 square foot penthouse in Monaco is the most expensive in the world.
And it sure is luxurious. Take a look at the outdoor area with the rooftop pool. There’s also a gym and multiple public areas to lounge and enjoy the unobstructed views. Called the “Tour Odeon” the home is still under construction, but it will be interesting to see how it all ends up built out in 2014.
Lounging by the window
Absolutely awesome architecture! I’d love to sit in one of these tunnels by the window and look at the fireplace.
Contemporary Orient IV Home in Long Island
Long Island is home to a number of interesting homes, and the Orient IV Residence by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects is one of the gorgeous pieces of contemporary architecture that really stands out within the green landscape.
Originally a 1970s home, this space was renovated to reflect that of the inhabitants and their personality. Plenty of the interior spaces have a one finish mentality, from the wood clad bedroom to the white mosaic tiled bathroom, this space is cohesive and simple from head to toe. The exterior sports a weathered timber that screams retro, although it works with the updates and gorgeous glazing paired with it.
Gorgeous Iceberg Housing in Aarhus, Denmark
Go to Aarhus in the other part of my country, and you’ll find this gorgeous housing project. In Danish it’s called Isbjerget – meaning The Iceberg. because that’s what inspired the architects. And you can sure tell from looking at it!
With architects (seARCH, CEBRA, JDS architects and Louis Paillard), urban planning experts and so many more involved in this huge scale project, the “Isbjerget” housing is an amazing complement to the frigid waters just adjacent to the concrete and steel built housing. The entire project contains four “L” shaped wings that have over 200 apartments within which range greatly in size. Penthouses have the peaked roof lines and glass balconies look outward for a stunning view of water and more.
Awesome indoor staircase with slide
I’m a huge fan of indoor slides. If I had the opportunity, I’d build one like this! It’s a staircase with an integrated slide – and an integrated seating possibility too. Absolutely awesome!
H3 by 314 Architecture Studio
Such a beautiful and super minimalistic home located in Athens, Greece designed by 314 Architecture Studio.
Stainless steel slide for emergency use in Shanghai
You don’t need to have followed my blog for long to know, that I love indoor slides. This one too! Even though it’s made for another purpose than just fun and play.
Inventor Zhou Miaorong came up with a great addition to a five story building in Shanghai, China that allows occupants to escape quickly. While swirling slides have been seen more often in residential spaces, this particular slide is for a serious purpose.
According to the inventor, people who may need to escape can deploy the slide with the press of a button, and those using the slide would be able to escape from a 5-floor building in 14 seconds. Though it’s a prototype for now in this residential space, patents have been obtained for the safety conscious slide in Shanghai.
