* Residential Architecture: Rosie House by ARTechnic architects

Residential Architecture: Rosie House by ARTechnic architects: “..“Overcome the disadvantage of the land condition, turn it into the beauty of the architecture”..When the client found this land, we were asked to give an advice.  It was a strip of pentagonal land facing west with only a pair of parallel boundary lines. Because of this land condition, it was valued lower, almost 30% larger than regular priced lands for the same cost.  Even though, the land was such an odd shape, we were sure that we could create a house with more freedom from the extra space by giving a careful attention to improve the land’s disadvantages such as an angle, orientation, height limitation and confined facade.  Therefore we suggested the client to go for it..“Plan with no right angle”..Two parallel boundary lines became the main axis, the angle of the front street, west boundary line and angles perpendicular to it became the other axes.  We created a plan that could absorb each angle into the interior of the house.  As a result, the plan with many odd angles didn’t become to interfere the space, also the odd shaped exterior and interior space became harmonic.  The front street met the land with a deep angle, and this caused a conflict between the angle of the avenue and the facade which design was determined by the function of the interior space.  So, we created the facade with a gate like structure with eaves of a roof slab and side walls to face straight to the street..Also the contour of the sloped roof was planned to be seen horizontal from the eyelevel at the front avenue.  Because of the land being extremely thin like a strip, running from East to West, due to the consideration of sunlight for the neighbors who lived north of the house, there was a strict architecture regulation to limit the height of the house.  Therefore we decided to bring the first floor lower than the land height in order to have enough ceiling height for the second floor.  To handle this height matter (the building being lower than surrounding land), we have set the concrete intermediate floor slab to avoid the possibility of water coming into the interior space.  The west side back yard was all decked, created to bring up the viewer’s focal point level gradually from the interior floor, intermediate concrete floor to exterior deck for providing the exaggerated perspective view among the crowded neighborhood..“Rationalize the construction method, aim for reasonable but solid architecture”..The reinforced concrete walls contained insulating concrete forms.  The interior walls were directly plastered and finished with paint. The exterior walls were exposed concrete and finished with the penetrative sealer.  In order to provide comfortable living, we placed the cold/warm air in-floor heating underneath the floor.  The air circulated under the floor and finally came out through the grills located around the perimeter zones.  Its system worked as an air conditioning system combined with a radiant floor heating/cooling system..”  Interesting form and contextual sensibility; interesting interior volumes..

See our post on another residential project by ARTechnic architects: Residential Architecture: Shell by ARTechnic architects.

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image: © Nacasa & Partners; article: Cifuentes , Fabian . “Rosie House / ARTechnic architects” 19 Oct 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/283904&gt;

* Residential Architecture: M House by Ong&Ong Architects

Residential Architecture: M House by Ong&Ong Architects: “..This haven, nestled in the lush greenery of Bukit Timah Road, captures the ingenious display of mankind’s modern existence with the natural environment in perfect harmony. In keeping with the client’s request, the home provides the ideal balance between the needs for family bonding as well as for personal space..The house’s design takes full advantage of the native tropical environment, and the building’s shape as well as its placement were carefully planned so as not to dwarf the site’s rich, natural space. Basic elemental forms were used – namely, a cube and rectangle block comprise the stacked volumes of this house – and with no shortage of sunlight in the Singapore climate, the structure’s open layout is ideal for natural lighting and cross-ventilation..Sunlight enters from all sides of the house, providing illumination during the day whilst also keeping the interiors warm during cooler weather. To battle the heat, one can have a dip in the edgeless pool encircling the home, while natural wind also circulates within the building to bring down the temperature. The second level is also cantilevered, providing shade to areas on the ground floor..Within the house, communal areas are spacious, with a double-volume void over the living area seamlessly unifying the two levels as a collective whole. This facilitates interaction between the close-knit family as communication across the house can be direct and intimate..Even though space is abundant in this house, it is still able to accommodate numerous bedrooms for the many family members, with four on the second floor as well as a guestroom and maid’s quarters on the ground floor. Louvres lining the sides of the upper floor provide the choice of either opening up the floor to take in the surrounding views, or keeping the bedrooms hidden for privacy..The selection of materials used in various sections of the house was cost-effective, with an emphasis on high-grade quality without being excessively extravagant. A Classic Modernist style was adopted through the use of fare-faced concrete and timber planks for the walls as well as teak for some of the flooring and underside of the roof. The designers also attempted to revive the terrazzo tradition, once popular in the region, by applying the composite of white cement on polished marble chips to areas such as the living room, giving its floor a seamlessly sophisticated finish. In the bathrooms, Ardex was employed in creating a raw-looking finish for the walls, which provide an interesting and striking contrast against a single feature wall that is encased in dark marble..The concrete that covers the façade is also unique, looking very much like liquid stone and adding a raw quality that is very fitting for this nature-inspired home. Interestingly, this effect, coupled with the cantilevered second level and opened up first floor, gives the Zen-like imagery of a floating stone when the house is viewed from afar..”  Extensive glazing, natural light; cantilevered second storey; interesting interior volumes and details including abundant wood: flooring, ceilings, details..

See our post on another home by Ong&Ong Architects: Residential Architecture: jkc1 House by ong&ong.

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image: © Derek Swalwell; article: Gaete , Javier . “M House / Ong&Ong Architects” 11 Oct 2012. ArchDaily.<http://www.archdaily.com/278072&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Pit House by UID Architects

Residential Architecture: Pit House by UID Architects: “..Keisuke Maeda of UID Architects has designed the Pit House in Tamano, Okayama, Japan..The house positions itself in Okayama Prefecture near Seto Inland Sea. The site is located on a terraced mountain hill that was developed as a residential land. The family is consisted of a married couple and a child. We considered a new way of architecture on the site condition, where views are open towards the north and the ground level is one meter higher than the road level..The relationship is as if the site’s natural environment and the architecture coexist at the same time. The architecture has become a part of the whole landscape of undivided environment, not simply thinking about connection to the surroundings from the cut off opening in walls. This time, we came up with a living form that accepts the outside environment such as surface of the terraced land, surrounding neighboring houses’ fences and walls, residences that sit along the slope and far beyond mountains. The architectural principle is not a division from the land with a wall, but an interior that is an extension of the outside and connection of the surface like a pit dwelling that is undivided from the land. In concrete, six types of floor levels including a round floor that is created by digging the surface are connected with a concrete cylinder core at the center. Furthermore, delicate and multiple branch-like columns that support the slightly floating boxes produce various one-room spaces..Environment and architecture create new extensive relationship by connecting surfaces. The territory is undefined in the space in a body sense. I think that is more natural relationship of an architecture standing in a landscape..”  Very interesting multi-level, multi-form interior volumes; extensive use of wood: ceilings, walls, flooring; abundant glazing and natural light..

See our post on another home by UID Architects: Residential Architecture: Nest House by UID Architects.

image: Koji Fujii; article: Contemporist

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* Residential Architecture: House in Asamayama by Kidosaki Architects Studio

Residential Architecture: House in Asamayama by Kidosaki Architects Studio: “..japanese firm kidosaki architects studio has recently completed the ‘house in asamayama’ for a client who spent years looking for the right site. perched on a steep incline, the house projects out at a tangent from the roadside, almost navigating over a sea of trees towards mount asama. three reinforced concrete planes act as stilts for the base of the residence where a steel structure frames the livable space. a clerestory on the southern facade brings natural light into the private bedrooms while the public areas are arranged in a linear fashion with a glass wall oriented towards the mountains. an outdoor terrace wraps the northwestern side so the owner may be outdoors at the forefront of the landscape. wood planks wrap the exterior of the dwelling to create a dialogue with its natural environment..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views; horizontal wood cladding..

image: image © 45g photography- junji kojima, courtesy of kidosaki architects studio; article: Designboom

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