Design

Due to the very complex urban planning, technical and economical requirements we designed [Atelier Thomas Pucher & Bramberger] a building, that is calm and reduced, but at the same time a dominating aesthetic solitaire. This building becomes a sculpture through its simplicity. Based on the clear steel framed structure with light weight wall panels, a multifaceted playful facade with clear vertical alignments appears. The closed elements on the façade have a gold glimmering appearance and can accommodate shelves or archives on the interior. The height of the building adapts with the surrounding buildings and mediates between a high -density area and an open space — via ArchDaily

Vigil’s passion is XDL Sportbike Freestyle, which is the national stunt riding competition in the US. XDL stands for Extreme Drifting League and the bikes are modified to increase maneuverability and control. In 2010, Ernie got himself a new mount—nicknamed Carbon Lifeform—and it seemed better than his previous rides — via Bike EXIF

This simple and understated project, designed by Tridente Architects, sits comfortably within this transitional streetscape and provides a glimpse of what is possible in the changing Australian cities. North Adelaide, as for most inner precincts of Australian cities, continues to transform from established older residential building stock to larger and more contemporary commercial buildings. In the case of Melbourne Street the predominant character of single storey buildings has long been under pressure due to the limited commercial accommodation available in close proximity to the adjacent Central Business Precinct. As a direct result the established patterns of narrow sites with stand alone residential buildings providing a mix of both residential and commercial activity is now less desirable; especially given an increasing awareness that consolidation within such existing frameworks offers a more appropriate approach to sustainability and environments more suited to present day usage — via ArchDaily

Terry & Terry Architecture transformed this 1960’s house into an open plan modern dwelling. The design for this renovation involved subtracting specific existing walls and parts of the existing roof to let in natural light and improve circulation. This included hollowing out the space at the rear of the house to accommodate an exterior deck and capture views to the north. The transformation of the existing typical San Francisco box house into the new opened wood tube form that shelters/adds protection from wind and weather to the rear deck at main floor and to the openings at the middle floor — via ArchDaily

In 2009, the Canadian city of Vancouver made an effort to increase density in its single-family neighbourhoods by allowing home owners to replace their garages with laneway houses. The Mendoza Lane House by Lanefab was the first laneway house completed — via CONTEMPORIST

The most recent addition to the iconic buildings of Independence Mall in Philadelphia is one dedicated to illustrating the American Jewish experience. The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) designed by Ennead Architects opened in November 2010. Adjacent to Independence Mall, the museum overlooks such attractions as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center — via ArchDaily

The design [Studio Zero85] of this building is part of the testing rooms of a type of settlement pattern residential. The idea behind the project is the search for a development distribution that can return to the inhabitants of the highest degree of privacy allowed by a residential unit — via ArchDaily

The site is very small measuring 7.5 metres wide by 10.5 metres deep, and is flanked by 3 metre high walls to the East and the North, and a 2 metre high wall to the West. The new house [Ashworth Parkes Architects] was not allowed to rise higher than the eaves of the house next door to the North. We were only allowed 1 metre squared of obscured window on the Southern elevation, no windows above the top of the wall on the Western elevation and 1 metre squared of window on the Northern elevation. We had to set the building back from the road, decreasing the usable space on the site even further — via ArchDaily

The Wedge House is a seemingly simple, yet efficient three-bedroom house that uses structural insulated panels and stack-effect cooling to reduce energy consumption by the house year-round. It is originally designed for a site in Phippsburg, Maine by Min | Day — via ArchDaily

This new neighborhood, situated on seven-and-a-half acres in the southern end of Oakland, has a range of affordable housing, green pathways, pocket parks, and open spaces. The development [David Baker Partners] has achieved one of the first LEED ND Certified Gold Plans — via ArchDaily

A repeat client from New York approached LOCAL to turn an old stone barn on his wife’s family farm compound in Ireland into a painter’s studio and vacation cottage. Because she is a landscape painter, she wanted a view and lots of light. At the same time, they wanted to retain the rustic character of the old stone barn. LOCAL decided to keep the façade facing the other buildings on the compound virtually untouched, and instead break out the entire façade facing the best view of the hills beyond the farm. Two skylights, invisible from the street, bring in light into the rear part of the house — via ArchDaily

From a small footprint, the Rehabilitation Centre Groot Klimmendaal designed by Koen van Velsen gradually fans out towards the top and cantilevers out over the surrounding terrain. Despite its size, the brown-golden anodised aluminium facade allows the nearly 14,000 sqm building to blend in with its natural surroundings — via ArchDaily

From Solaleya, the makers of the rotating dome house that can withstand a Category 5 hurricane, comes a new and rather more sybaritic model – the glamorous passive solar Pearl.

David Fanchon’s elegant design maximizes passive solar energy while enabling a 180 degree view from the open-plan interior — via Home Design Find

Bates Smart Architects designed the Salvado Street Residence in Perth, Australia — via CONTEMPORIST

At the hottest spot in the most important alley of decoration in the city: alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva there was the only empty plot left. The client rented it and commissioned the architect [Marcio Kogan] to come up with a very low budget design, something that could be assembled quickly, respecting the existing trees — via ArchDaily

One of the first and only examples of the Prairie Style in Ohio, the Westcott House became a significant work in the prescribed methodology of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Completed in 1908 for Burton J Westcott and his family after moving the Westcott Motor Company from Richmond, Indiana, the Westcott House is an early staple in Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic detailing and integration of a building into its landscape.

Completed shortly after Wright’s trip to Japan, the Westcott House implements similar Japanese styling’s that enhance the low-lying, horizontality of the house and its connection to the landscape — via ArchDaily

John Maniscalco Architecture have designed the Russian Hill residence in San Francisco, California– via CONTEMPORIST

The Box House designed by architects Studio H:T and located in Boulder, Colorado provides the homeowners with compelling views. Taking into consideration a steep slope and wildfire prone area the architects capitalized on these site challenges creating a home that is unique in form, space and materiality — via ArchDaily