Saturday, February 27, 2010

All Wood Home in Chile


Muelle House is an all wood home made entirely of timber and is one of the last of its kind among Chile architecture in its home town of Chiloe. This unusual house plan designed by Jonas Retamal sits on a 28-degree slope, and is made to weather the region’s unstable climate. Come rain, come wind, come fire, this awesome wood clad house can stand up to anything. Stilts bring it up off its hillside, and the house extends onto a cantilevered deck, which overlooks Castro’s fjord. The all-wood design is made of peanut, tepa and ulmo wood, which gives it a lot of variety in color and texture. Inside, three volumes cover off the home’s three functions – service areas, sleeping quarters and a living and lounging area which combines a kitchen, living and dining room opening onto the deck.










Monday, February 22, 2010

Wood and Glass House in Croatia - Central Atrium with Spiral Staircase



Check out the cool design for House K, located in Zagreb, Croatia. Designed by 3LHD Architects, this modern wood house leaves your typical brick home in the dust. The contemporary teak-clad facade boasts large expanses of glass set into its two-storey design. The obstacle of a sloped terrain became an advantage to the contemporary design. The architects created a volume that expands as you continue down the hillside, resulting in an understated grand space inside. The second storey slightly overhangs the main level, creating a covered deck surrounding the home. “The concept of the house is inspired by the shape of a snail’s shell, which involves a spiral twisting around its own axis,” according to the architects. “As such, all functional elements of the house follow each other and are built around a central atrium.” The atrium floods the space with natural light, illuminating windowless corners that would otherwise be cast in shadows. The open-concept interiors are designed for socializing, equipped with unique half-walls that define areas without closing them in. As on the outside, teak boards inside add an element of nature into the comfortable environment. An external staircase leads from the atrium up to a rooftop patio overlooking the horizon.












Sunday, February 21, 2010

Norwegian Wood House


Norwegian architects Jarmund/Vigsnaes AS Architects MNAL designed this contemporary wood clad house in Nesodden, Norway. Tucked between the sea and a pine forest, this peaceful location sets the tone for this rustic house style. The modern Norwegian house boasts a triangular shape that really sets this design apart. Wood panels alternate between horizontal and vertical, defining each of the home’s three storeys. Lots of windows ensure plenty of natural light and natural views in every direction. Inside, this unusual house plan's interiors are too predominantly of wood. Particle-board lends the home its casual, unfinished, country-chic look. Built-in shelving units line walls with books, while the kitchen and even the staircase is also particle board from floor to ceiling.







Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Wood Country Home with a Centrifugal Layout in New York


OBRA Architects had some circular logic for their stunning wood country home design in Southampton, New York. Among the grass and trees of this five-acre property, this wonderful wood clad house features an unusual floor plan with a hollow center, “as if the heart of the house had somehow fallen outside its body,” according to OBRA Architects. But that’s not to say this country home doesn’t have heart! A linear layout of living spaces leads you from one part of the home to the next, creating a sense of whole throughout the separate spaces. Adding interest to minimalist interiors, constantly shifting vanishing points create large openings in the roof for centrifugal views of the surrounding country. Inside, this unusual home’s shape creates atypical angles and architectural features that add an element of surprise around every corner. A minimalist loft area overlooks the main floor, further enhancing the already-striking sense of light and space. Beyond its unique architectural design, this eco house design also incorporates a number of sustainable technologies like geothermal heating, passive ventilation and natural lighting.
















Monday, February 15, 2010

Long Narrow House Design in Wood


This long narrow house design by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects really brings nature home. Apart from its lush redwood forest setting in Sebastopol, California, the natural design features a wood facade framing massive windows that invite the outdoors in. Topped by a metal roof, the narrow wood frame is clad in rich cedar siding, with two Douglas fir decks at each end of this very long house which allow for casual outdoor entertaining areas amid the trees. Interiors open onto these outdoor spaces seamlessly. Inside the organic 1,700-sq.-ft. forest home, an open concept house plan creates a sense of openness which is enhanced by the vast windows and natural light.