Three villas + three architects = three different attitudes in Costa Rica
Atelier Villa was designed as a private residence for the investor and his family. Nestled against a steep slope, the 26-metre-long prismatic object partially levitates over lush tropical vegetation. Looking outside, there is only the distant ocean or green hills as far as the eye can see; the back wall facing the driveway and the neighbouring villas is intentionally windowless, to maintain privacy.
The villa possesses a minimalistic spirit with the utility and storage rooms, bathrooms and the kitchen placed along the back wall. The layout of the rest of the house is very open; there are no boundaries between the inside and the outside world and the whole space seems like a roofed terrace. Lightweight sliding partition walls may serve as a tool to create private zones and shake the space up as needed.
The interior is in warm, earthy tones of natural materials. All of the furnishings, apart from the lounge and dining chairs, are tailor-designed for this villa and custom-made. Commissioned in the area, the major part of the furniture was made with the help of local craftsmen.
Penthouse's panoramic views over Italian city
Located on the top floor of a historic building built in the 1930s by architect Ettore Gilberti, the apartment has views of the city and castle of Udine.
In the living area a winter garden has been created, located at the end of the attic, which communicates with the living room through a large floor-to-ceiling window. This private Eden is immersed in greenery and soundproofed.
To provide for the lack of an external space, a roof terrace was built to enjoy the 360° views of the city, which can be accessed by means of an iron staircase set on the “mobile scenario” at the entrance.
Floating houses built to occupy space between the trees in Costa Rica
The Bosques 20HOUSES project from Joan Puigcorbé, PAAS / María K Hawkins, MKBSTUDIO features 20 houses built amid 200 trees set on a gentle slope.
The design sees houses arranged in an orthogonal grid which outlines patios that embrace and frame the trees, placing the natural elements as central to the atmosphere of the entire site. The single-story houses float slightly above the ground to allow the roots to pass freely beneath, while rooflines remain below the main branches. In this way, the homes occupy the free space left by the forest, so that the dweller can live among the trees. All houses establish a fluid relationship with the outside, both its horizontal and vertical component.
On the interior route, natural light filtered by the branches reaches through interior patios that give both privacy and the exterior in a single gesture. The houses open in all their dimensions to the rear garden, both in width and height, thus making mangoes and Guanacastes part of the interior atmosphere.
Collywood: Californian house fit for adventure
This West Hollywood retreat is located just above the Sunset Strip and overlooks Los Angeles with sweeping views that stretch from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
Maximizing access to these breathtaking views from all parts of the home was a key design directive. Other design goals were to blur the boundaries between inside and outside as much as possible. The client comes from a background of outdoor adventures, so wanted the house to feel like an adventure to him and his many guests. Many custom-designed and automated elements throughout all three levels contribute to the home’s uniquely modern identity.
This connection to the outdoors continues on the upper level, which contains the master bedroom and a den, home gym, and a series of roof decks. The lower level reflects the client’s personal interests and hobbies, containing an auto gallery, game room and media room. A large outdoor terrace extends from the auto gallery, cantilevering out over the hillside with unobstructed views of the cityscape.
This project was the intervention of a detached house located in a residential area filled with similarly styled housing; the intention in recreating the house was to isolate it from the surrounding ones, granting the owners a sense of stable mental liberty. The structure features three levels, an underground, ground and first floor; two studios for architectural and artistic creations were designed to be separate from the other rooms. The material application of wood and metal contributed in creating the relationship between architecture and nature; the unity between architectural functionality and comfortableness was a priority in the design.
The original floors, walls, roofs and external structures were aligned as much as possible to maintain the continuity from inside to outside; with the exception of a layer of glass for heat blocking. The pursuit of unity aimed to introduce the existence of nature directly so that the natural light and scenery could extend to interior space without any obstacle. The interior space is symbiotic with nature, and will change with the seasons, including the indoor colours. Therefore, in addition to the compulsory functions and materials, the interior space needs no extra decoration. Here, the huge "cover" will mix all together, the natural and artificial environment blur; the building is no longer a device which separates people from nature, but a junction of the two.
Illa Bimini bring the Bahamas its first overwater bungalows
Set on a 9,000ft stretch of Bimini’s coastline and featuring the first overwater bungalows in the Bahamas, the resort is a holistic community where every element is designed to blur the boundary between architecture and the landscape, bringing residents and guests closer to nature.
The villas themselves are each designed as a collection of small volumes that enclose an outdoor pool and garden, creating secluded pockets of privacy in the community. A walking path through the garden connects the villas' main living spaces to the sleeping pavilions, softening the distinction between indoor and outdoor space.
Ecological responsibility is central to the design of the resort, which features a solar array, a state-of-the-art energy management system, fully integrated smart-home technology, and back-up generator applications.
Canadian's Tridel tech savvy signature residence: the future of condominium living
Immediately upon entering the suite, residents will be able to activate key features through voice control, like the centralized lighting, audio visuals and motorized blinds. The suite’s system control panel can be controlled by voice, phone, or touch, and can be programmed with different scenes to customize the suite experience at key times throughout the day – opening/closing blinds or turning lights on/off at sunrise or sunset for instance.
Leading into the central living area, the first of four wireless charging pads throughout the suite make access to device power consistent and easily accessible. An ultra short-throw laser projector offers HD viewing and entertainment opportunities, while maximizing space and aesthetics by sitting in the millwork below the screen rather than hanging from the ceiling.
All features of the Innovation Suite are tied into the overall concept and design of the space and most are synchronized with the assistance of smart home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa.
After five years of design and construction, ODA New York has completed Denizen Bushwick, a 1.2 million sq ft residential development featuring 911 apartments, 20% affordable housing units, 15 mega-murals, 100,000 sq ft of outdoor space and a full suite of curated amenities. ODA designed the entire development, architecture, interiors and landscape design.
To date, Denizen is one of ODA’s largest projects, and one of the largest residential projects in NYC. With it, ODA envisions a more connected future for this area. Denizen is welcoming and inclusive of the community around it, while providing a sense of ownership and personalization for the people living there. In areas of rising urban density, ODA is working to create transparency and belonging through art, public space and community involvement.
Inside the development, amenities include a game room, chef’s kitchen, bowling alley, rock climbing wall, spin studio, yoga studio, pool, a golf simulator and a movie theater. Denizen hired a team to maintain the ODA designed amenities, choose expert fitness instructors, and craft events such as poker nights, beer tastings, pasta making classes, and movie nights.
African inspired house for Lake Geneva
Working closely with the homeowners, ARRCC Director Mark Rielly sourced from a wide range of South African and international décor and furniture brands. Internally, finishes include walnut joinery, marble and travertine floors and light granite wall cladding with stainless steel detail insets.
Furniture with organic and rounded shapes were selected to accommodate the irregular shape of the main living spaces, with the living room divided into two zones, a formal and informal area that are centred around the feature fireplace – a suspended black flue and fire dish secured to the floor.
Comfort in this generous, open-plan layout is achieved using modular furniture pieces, such as Arne sofas from B&B Italia, that can be easily reconfigured to create continuity between the two living areas. Custom GT armchairs by South African studio OKHA and a leather pouffe by Dominique Perrault and Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost add to the luxe layering, further bridging the gap between formal and informal spaces.
Californian geology inspired home’s floating roof canopy design
Using the principles of sustainable design, Patel Architecture’s goals for Durante Residence were to be both environmentally responsible and a healthy place to live.
The design for this Palm Springs home goes beyond modernism; its uplifted ceilings provide extensive views to the mountains beyond and its use of spatial ambiguity is present throughout, with the lines between the finished interior and exterior being blurred, creating an open living experience.
Desert form, indigenous materials, natural light and mountain views inspired this home; layered walls of stone, metal, concrete and glass create a playful collection of organic forms within a natural desert setting while visually articulating the various functions within.
The first rental condos in Quebec aiming for WELL Certification
Designed by Lemay, the avant-garde mixed-use project, aspiring for LEED and WELL certifications is firmly dedicated to sustainable development.
The 314 rental condos within the Humaniti Montreal complex will be ready for occupancy in July. The WELL Certification program is the first of its kind, focusing entirely on the health and well-being of residents and users of built environments.
Along with abundant natural light and premium finishes, these magnificent rental condos also provide residents exclusive access to on-site hotel services, two swimming pools, an intelligent fitness centre, the elegant Sky Lounge, and the complex’s gourmet dining.