* Residential Architecture: Lavaflow 7 – Mayer/Penland House by Craig Steely Architecture

Residential Architecture: Lavaflow 7 – Mayer/Penland House by Craig Steely Architecture: “..the dense ohia forests on hawaii‘s big island is home to countless species of plants and wildlife, as well as the ‘lavaflow 7 – mayer/penland house’ by local practice craig steely architecture. the linear one-storey home is based around a continuous concrete beam measuring 140 feet long, 48 inches tall and 12 inches wide, that runs the span of the entire dwelling. it is supported by three cast-in-place concrete vertical partitions that separate the public and private program and allow the glazing to take on larger proportions that create an invisible threshold between interior and exterior spaces. a swimming pool bisects the living area perpendicularly creating an outdoor courtyard that separates the living room from the bedrooms and kitchen. large retractable glass walls also allow the user to connect with the ideal climatic environment with a series of patios and small verandas and overhanging wooden roof structure that shades the inside from direct sunlight..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views; extensive wood interiors..

image: © bruce damonte, courtesy of craig steely architecture; article: Designboom

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* Residential Architecture: Tree Houses by Takashi Kobayashi

Residential Architecture: Tree Houses by Takashi Kobayashi: “..takashi kobayashi is a self-taught designer that has brought treehouse vernacular to the japanese landscape. the carpenter and architect of 120 houses throughout japan, his prolificness is borne of a deep-seated investment in the creation of a new architectural tradition in his country added to the hefty, overall aim of each project- to erode the boundary between man and nature. using reclaimed wood, the designer and his collective treehouse people have developed methods since the first building in 1993 for the arboreal structures balanced on living boughs and limbs that avoid stunting the growth of the tree..”

image: courtesy of treehouse people; article: Designboom

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* Residential Architecture: Rio Bonito House by Carla Juacaba

Residential Architecture: Rio Bonito House by Carla Juacaba: “..carla juaçaba‘s design for a weekend home in mountainous eastern region of rio de janeiro, Brazil, uses the load bearing properties of meter-thick stone walls to suspend the roof and floor joists. four steel beams puncture walls so as to allow a sliver of glazing to wash the interior of the stone walls with diffused light. the visual weight of the rustic stone counters the lightness of the horizontal planes, creating an effect that mirrors the nearby river where diaphanous space confronts stalwart earth. the home explores the architectonics of encounter; water and fire, weight and lightness, archaic and industrial, and solid versus void.  the brazilian architect was awarded the 2013 ‘arcVision prize for women in architecture’ for her ‘pavilion humanidade 2012’. Extensive glazing, natural light; interesting fenestration and  juxtaposition of materiality and immateriality; numerous photos in original article..

image: © nelson kon; courtesy of carla juaçaba; article: Designboom

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* Residential Architecture: Villa F by Hornung and Jacobi Architecture

Residential Architecture: Villa F by Hornung and Jacobi Architecture: “..a curving road wraps the coast of rhodes, greece, flanked by the ocean on one side and a pre-existing retaining stone wall on the other. german practice hornung and jacobi architecture have proposed a single-family residence embedded into the fibers that make up the mediterranean context manifested as a contemporary vessel. the main entrance is the only object that interrupts the continuous rock barrier, a garage that resides underground ending in a winding staircase at the opposite end. the first level puts the user in the middle of the convergence of light, space, and views. the general form consists in a bent and faceted rectangular prism, lifted off the ground framing the ocean’s horizon. the elevated exterior ground plane houses a swimming pool and ample yard space under the overhanging bedroom space, where parametric triangular apertures open sight lines from the private program to the water below. the living and dining rooms are next to the pool, in a semi-elevated level from the entry and kitchen area. the program also prompted for a guest house which was embedded into the landscape as a separate structure from the primary house, connected by a landscaped walkway that maintains a certain level of privacy for each party but retains a sense of unity as well..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views; interesting form, materiality, interior volumes, details..

image: © bloomimages; article: Designboom

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