Homes

It took Selin + Selin Architecture approximately nine months to build Kim Smith’s modest new home, which he originally envisioned sited on the property’s old granary.

The firm also widened the room and raised the ceilings. A coat of bright white paint modernizes the historic details.

A large living space combines the best of all elements: exposed truss, steel framed windows, wood accents, simple pendant light, and mod furnishings.

Traditionally home to merchants and craftspeople, a machiya is a type of Japanese wooden townhouse that originated in the Heian period and developed through the Edo and Meiji periods.

"Some of my favorite spaces are those that weren't even necessarily planned," says Shahane. "For instance, underneath the stair on the first floor it ended up being a few inches deeper than initially planned because of plumbing requirements. But those inches made a perfect and impromptu alcove for our daughter's drawing table."

Rear Facade

Exterior

The facades features mahogany panelling and ample glazing. Vertical windows tilt open and bring fresh air into the home.

In Hong Kong's Happy Valley—where land is scarce and living spaces are usually pretty small—multi-disciplinary design practice Lim+Lu revived a three-bedroom apartment in an old residential building into a gleaming, visually-expanded abode. With the aim of separating various functional zones while maintaining privacy, freeing up space, and making the apartment look bigger than its actual size (1,206 square feet), Lim+Lu incorporated suspended glass and sliding doors made with black powder-coated stainless steel.

- Brooklyn, New York Dwell Magazine : July / August 2017