This beautiful barn has been renovated by Seattle based architects Shed. According to the architects who both designed and built the barn: “the project involved the conversion of a barn into living space supporting a variety of activities and guests. The program called for a workroom/kitchen, an apartment, a bunk room, and bathrooms to be arranged within the existing building envelope.”
Each space was developed around a minimal palette of materials and color, with extensive re-use of existing barn materials. Some of these materials included the re-use of the original barn siding for interior paneling, re-milling of salvaged floor joists for stair material, trim and counter tops.
Emphasis was placed on durability and directness of design solutions with the aim of creating practical and unique results.
(via freshome)
At the Venice Architecture Biennale 2010 Lisbon firm Aires Mateus Architects are exhibiting these houses with sandy floors called Casa Areia. The project comprises seaside accommodation made of wooden frames covered in natural fibres. Sand covers the floor in the kitchen and living space, connecting them to the beach and landscape outside.
The architects: “This project was build on the sand that is a natural and abundant material that was transported to the interior of the common places (the living room and the kitchen) giving this way the connection between the environment and the new and totally integrated construction.
(via Dezeen)
This stunning house, designed by Murdock Young Architects, is located on a lake in Montauk, New York. The home has white painted wood floors, walls, and ceilings to reflect light and accentuate the open spaces.
I especially love the painted white ceiling beams! The wooden dining table and benches give a bit of colour to the room.
The architects: “Designed to accommodate a growing family and close friends, this lake-front compound includes a 4,500-square-foot main house with 50-foot lap pool, an 1800-square-foot three-bedroom guest house, and a barn. An aggregate of smaller, informal living spaces carefully composed to disguise the bulk of the building and create a variety of views and experiences, each structure centers on a great room open to the northern water views and the southern sun and breezes.
The structures combine modern design with the local gabled vernacular of cedar shingles and white-painted wood: large expanses of glass, painted pine board walls, exposed structural trusses, gray-painted pine floors, and driftwood-clad storage elements that subdivide the interiors.”
(images from Murdock Young)
The cosy mountain cabin is a modern take of a traditional barn of the region in Härjedalen, Sweden. The cabin consists of prefabricated wooden units. It was originally designed in 2005 by architect Peter Sahlin for his own family, as a vacation retreat in the fells of Härjedalen. Five houses have since then been produced in the region.
The interior is modern and white. Warmth is added with wooden plywood walls and ceilings. The cabin is not very large (between 85 – 100m2) but it has full amenities including kitchen, bathroom, a sauna, two bedrooms and a loft with a third bedroom. Ecological and rational concerns have been important when choosing materials and construction methods – the lodge is very energy efficient and is built with sustainable and natural materials.
(images from ps arkitektur)
This modern aquatic complex Les Bains des Docks, recently opened in Le Havre, France, is designed by Jean Nouvel. Les Bains des Docks is a revitalisation project lead by the city in order to create together with a new shopping centre a unique destination in the long term.
The 5,000-square-meter complex, inspired by the Roman thermal baths, offers a beautiful atmosphere of tranquility with the fantastic play of natural light soothing the eyes, the masterful acoustics pleasing the ears, and the pools and treatment areas taking care of the rest of the body. Although the main “color” of the complex is white, each section’s distinct atmosphere and hue is created by flowing water curtains, color walls, and various textures and surface treatments. Each pool is designed, shaped and lit to create a unique “private space” for its specific users. These seemingly enclosed areas help minimize echoing and sound carriage – an annoying aspect of most aquatic centers — as do the varying-height floors and ceilings, and the acoustic false ceilings. Saunas, a hammam, cold and hot baths, and a spa area with hydro-massage and aqua gym areas complete the atmosphere of pampering and care.
