Friday, November 27, 2009

House in Menorca | Dom Arquitectura | Architecture

Summer-House-in-Menorca1



Dom Arquitectura projected this summer house in Menorca inspired in the typical “tanca” of the region.

Summer-House-in-Menorca2


Being a summer house, the main idea is not only creating the interior spaces of the house, but distribute all outer space. The interior spaces seek good relations with the outside world, colonizing their surroundings and their views.

Summer-House-in-Menorca3-1Summer-House-in-Menorca3-2

Inspired by the typical Menorca “tanca”, stone walls divisions of the realm.
The plot is organized from a space frame, fully passable, based on a trace orthogonal, combining floors, platforms, water, trees, plants, tanca, pergolas, walls and the house itself.

Summer-House-in-Menorca4

By combining these elements we are encountering this approach in which each piece is delimited and acquires its own identity and use within a harmonious whole. The diversity of outdoor stays provides the site a space balanced richness.

Summer-House-in-Menorca5



The house is situated in the center of the outer solar stays divided in two, front and rear. The hall of the house with two large openings on each side operates as a mixed external-internal transition. Falls outside the pavement causing a passage that connects the back yard with the front porch.

Summer-House-in-Menorca6-2Summer-House-in-Menorca6-1

Based on typical lattices menorquinas designed a sliding wooden slats fixed set a filter to the outside, they act as sunscreens, giving privacy and multipliplying the usability. They combine the vertical slats of the east and west facades with horizontal south facade. Most of these openings are floor to ceiling, allowing for greater continuity to the outside and making the most magnificent views of the site.

Summer-House-in-Menorca7


Summer-House-in-Menorca8-1Summer-House-in-Menorca8-2


Summer-House-in-Menorca9


Summer-House-in-Menorca10


Summer-House-in-Menorca11



Dom Arquitectura

Lindale Bach | Herbst Architects | Architecture

Herbst Architects Lindale Bach



Sticks and stones - Blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior, Lance and Nicola Herbst have become the masters of the simple, elegant, functional beach retreat. If they'd take the job, Lance and Nicola would be my choice for designing an eco retreat.


Overview
Built on an island with no mains electricity and daily ferry connections, the Lindale residence on Great Barrier Island HAD to be as energy efficient as possible.

Minimal materials were freighted in and the central Gabion wall of the residence an ideal solution. Using local river stones, the wall provides a fantastic heat store and structural backbone to the build. The wall also counters the wind in covered outdoor spaces, together with a cosy fire making this retreat and so special.

Prior to the build beginning, large rainwater and sewage treatment tanks were buried under the site. The cooler environment promoting less bacterial growth and leaving the relatively pure rainwater, collected from all roof sections, requiring no treatment to drink.

A Full functional kitchen the heart of the residence is flanked by a covered porch to the right with open fire and shaded midsummer dining area to the rear. Sunken, in front of the kitchen and nearest to the beach, is a cosy built in couch and tv nook.

Traversing the Gabion wall to the rear of the house is the bedroom tower and bathroom. Two bedrooms with surf views or walk out patio respectively.


Our primary concerns in the design of this building have been to:

- create an environment that facilitates and enhances the experience of living outdoors

- challenge convenience as the driving force behind decisions, concentrating rather on the rituals associated with space

- establish a range of spatial, light and textural experiences be responsive to the small scale of the existing builtenvironment.

In order to articulate the building in a scale of forms appropriate to the environment the functions of the house that require complete weather enclosure are broken into three individual masses:

- a horizontal structure housing the living functions

- a tower housing the sleeping and bathing functions and a boatshed.

prevailing south-west wind a spine wall of gabion baskets is set at right angles to the site. The wall sets up a strong enclosing edge for the main covered living deck and provides an intimate textured backdrop to the bathroom space. The masses of the building are arranged around the gabion wall to form edges, create a range of negative spaces and provide wind shelter to two covered outdoor living spaces.

Lance Herbst








Project location Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

Architect Herbst Architects

Plans




Photos Patrick Reynolds

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Iporanga House | Arthur Casas | Architecture



Arthur Casas Architect’s House in Iporanga.

In the form of two large symmetrical cubes supporting and open space this house was idealized as his dream house. “I always wanted a house in the middle of the forest, in a place where I could recharge the energies”, says Arthur.


Within this context, leftover space to the addendum that most pleases him: interiors in total synergy with the exteriors, seen within a large 11 meters floor to ceiling height, with intermittent glass windows, from one edge of the façade to the other. From walls to floor, the cumaru wood runs from top to bottom.

In the ground floor, the absence of partitions potentially amplifies the integration of the ambient, such as living room that communicates both with the kitchen and with the office. All of it surrounded by a large charming terrace. Very close to it, on a well designed edge, the elevated deckfunctions as a belvedere to observe untouched spaces of the Atlantic Rain Forest.







Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Deepstone House | Simon Winstanley | Architecture

Deepstone house in south west Scotland Simon Winstanley Architects


The Deepstone House by Simon Winstanley Architects
The house is located on a spectacular site overlooking the Solway Firth in south west Scotland.
The site is a steeply sloping, former quarry in a National Scenic Area which slopes steeply in two directions from the quarry base which forms the only level ground access.


The house is conceived as a stone plinth which echos the exposed quarry face and houses the bedrooms with a garage & entrance under at the level of the quarry base. The principal living accommodation is expressed as a lightweight glazed ‘pavilion’ sitting on the solid plinth. It is set back to form an external terrace facing the sea and to reduce the apparent mass of the house.


The glazed pavilion is constructed with a steel frame and highly insulated timber infill panels clad in cedar and triple glazed windows. The roof, although thick internally to provide very high levels of insulation, is cantilevered on all sides with projecting expressed douglas fir rafters to give a thin, elegant leading edge.


The roof is finished in standing seem pre-fabricated grey zinc. The masonry base is finished in stone from re-cycled quarry waste.

The design uses the most energy efficient construction & technology where possible as part of a sustainable approach to building for the future:
-the external walls, floor and roof are insulated to a high standard and air infiltration is minimised.
-triple glazed windows with warm edge spacer bars, thermally broken frames and inert gas filled to achieve a whole window u-value of 0.7W/m2K.
-heat pump using a borehole as the ground source for the underfloor heating and hot water system with a closed combustion wood burning stove as back up.
-micro generation of renewable electricity using roof mounted Photovoltaic Panels.
-whole house heat recovery ventilation system.

The design met the client’s brief for a contemporary, energy efficient home which fully embraces the view and relates to the surrounding context and and landscape.