The central oak tree sprouts out of the rear deck. The atrium’s array of windows draw the eye in the tree’s direction. The wood cladding of the single-story wings provide a pleasant contrast with the central volume’s stucco finish.
The family retreat abuts a rocky cliff in Herfell, Norway. The central cabin provides communal living spaces, while the two cabins that flank it are used as private sleeping quarters.
Seen from a distance, the farmhouse has a time-honored quality, though it’s still clearly a product of the 21st century.
In the bedroom wing, sunlight shines down from the Plexiglass bubbles. Steel in the cutaways reflects the light.
An elegant steel-framed glass door sweeps out from a dramatic entryway.
The kitchen is a long sleek space.
What else is the porch good for? Tricycle races, of course.
Strategic site planning and smart technology help the 3,200-square-foot Great Gulf Active House achieve hyper-efficiency. The Toronto-based architecture firm, superkül, used triple-glazed windows; a solar hot water system; zoned heating; a fully automated HVAC system, skylights, and roller shades; LED lights; and spray foam insulation, among other green strategies.
The exterior features vertical, untreated cedar panels. “We tried to use materials that are beautiful in their natural state without excessive treatment or finishing,” Pavonetti says.
A Simple Plan
A Marmol Radziner–designed prefab house, trucked onto a remote Northern California site, takes the pain out of the construction process.
The exterior is clad in Siberian larch, which doesn’t require paint and will develop a gray patina.
The Shayan House takes full advantage of its canyon site.
The Desert House located in Desert Hot Springs is a steel structure designed with large expansive windows, and concrete flooring.
The apartment above the garage received a dormer to enlarge the interior footprint.
SHED also installed a large dormer on this side of the building to fully accommodate the new upper level plan, and get views of the apple orchard on the other side of the building.
FL009 is a minimal residence located in Stockholm, Sweden, designed by Förstberg Ling. FL009 is an ongoing renovation project located in a courtyard close to Humlegården, Stockholm. The brief looked for a way to turn the small building, previously used as storage and office space, into a ground level apartment. As the property is partly protected, the changes on the outside are few: a large steel door is replaced with a pair of glazed doors, and a new dormer window adds a room to the second floor. The building spans in total 120 m2 over three floors, with a large part of the area in the basement. With only a few windows to the courtyard, our proposal seeks to make the rooms brighter and includes a light shaft down to the living room and the removal of a technical space on top of the kitchen, thus greatly expanding its volume.
Large 10x10 dormers provide ample light and views within the second floor bedrooms. A pizza oven and grill are built into a steel cabinet which will patina over time. Decomposed granite provides an affordable and flexible surface for outdoor activities.
The upper bathroom has been extended into a former attic space where a new dormer and Marvin window make the perfect niche for a classic clawfoot tub, with views of the garden.
A view of the front entry dormers from the entry vestibule as they extend up into the vaulted ceiling.
www.clarkrichardson.com
angled window in new dormer with view of Sutro Tower at Twin Peaks
A perfect cube cantilevered three feet off the ground, the “eyeball” dormer punctures the guest bedroom.
The deep-set dormer windows, which extend into the roof, have black interior surfaces, creating dramatic cut outs in the simple gabled form. The pendant above the kitchen counter is the Modo Chandelier by Roll & Hill.
The dormer windows frame views over the neighboring yard. The openings are conceived as simple slices taken from the gabled form.
A dark, lightweight rooftop with large dormer windows sits atop a white brick base.
A view of the house from Crossfield Street. A small ground-floor window punctuates the existing brick boundary wall in a counterpoint to the home's large dormer.
"The entrance is a stair that goes through the building, taking you to the entrance on the front side," says the firm. "The entrance sequence marks a transition and prepares you for the life on the island."
A floating staircase leads up from the common area to the bedrooms.
Staircase and the extended passageway
stairway
Villa H | oak wooden stairs between raw concrete walls
The concrete stairwell leads from the ground floor up to the front door and a sliding partition that opens to two more bedrooms and another living space with a kitchenette. The library/study and living room spaces are separated by several stairs to create connected yet separate living spaces.
The exposed concrete is thoughtfully balanced with warm wood and minimalist details.
First and foremost, the home was designed to be a comfortable family home.
The wall beneath the stairs holds hidden storage, including an Enomatic wine dispenser and Sub-Zero refrigerated drawers.
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