* Residential Architecture: West Lake Hills Residence by Specht Harpman

Residential Architecture: West Lake Hills Residence by Specht Harpman: “..On a densely tree-covered site in the Austin, Texas, USA, exurb of West Lake Hills, Specht Harpman was tasked with the renovation and expansion of a modest 1970′s house. Much of the original internal structure was maintained, but the alterations sought to erase all visible traces of the original house..The primary goal of the new renovation and expansion was to preserve all of the site’s large twisting Live Oak trees while creating a new and open home that embraces the landscape and weaves itself around the existing trees..The primary mass of the house was lifted off the ground plane by creating a series of masonry walls that extend across the site to form interior and exterior rooms that frame views with the Live Oak trees beyond. The walls define family spaces on the lower level, while supporting a “floating box” of bedroom and private spaces above..Ceilings of the existing house were low. For the expansion spaces, the ceiling plane was maintained, but the floor was lowered to follow the contours of the site, creating a terraced interior landscape that gives height to rooms while maintaining a modest exterior expression..”  Interesting interior volumes; extensive glazing, natural light, views..

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image: © Casey Dunn; article: “West Lake Hills Residence / Specht Harpman” 24 Aug 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/265765&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Villa 4.0 by Dick van Gameren Architects

Residential Architecture: Villa 4.0 by Dick van Gameren Architects: “..A simple bungalow dating from 1967 on a hexagonal ground plan had been radically altered and modified through the years..Although this had made the house bigger, it had also become increasingly inward-looking. The expanding wings were steadily enclosing the heart of the house with the hall and living quarters, and direct contact between the house and the magnificent surroundings was largely lost. The original detailing and material form were consistently adhered to during all previous interventions but the result was now thoroughly outmoded and of a poor technical quality. The house has now been given its fourth look..The principle guiding this most recent intervention being to create a house that is much more sustainable and able to reinstate the lost relationship between it and the landscape. There has been kept as close as possible to preserving the existing house, which gave the first step towards a sustainable end-result. Taking the existing structure as the basis, the outer walls and roofs were modernized by adding insulation and replacing all windows and larger areas of glazing. The walls in the central section of the house were removed to create a new living hall looking out onto the surroundings on four sides. In addition, the physical bond between house and landscape has been consolidated by an all-glass pavilion attached to the living hall that reaches out to the brook flowing past the house..”  Interesting form and interior volumes; extensive glazing, natural light; skylights; very nice surroundings..

image: Marcel van der Burg – Primabeeld; article: Contemporist

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* Residential Architecture: Casa Sasso by 57Studio

Residential Architecture: Casa Sasso by 57Studio: “..The project consists of the expansion of a 1960’s single unit house, transforming it into a hairdresser shop and residence for the owners, a young entrepreneur couple. The two programs – hairdresser shop and residence – were separated by relocating them according to their relation to the street through regular and compact volumes differentiated by the use of color. The hairdresser shop is a brown parallelepiped with the large front towards the street. The house is developed in a red cube towards the backyard, conserving the old dwelling’s structure on the first level, with the second floor emphasized over the hairdresser shop..The volumes are covered with fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) panels, in modules that optimize their industrial format. The hairdresser shop’s access is defined within that modulation and its interior space is illuminated through a skylight. Glass was also utilized in the house, incorporated as a new enveloping material. The second level corner windows were designed according to the requirements of each interior space. In the bathroom, an elevated window controls the view from the exterior..For the area of the staircase, a window was located between the two levels, to accompany the descent into the first floor. The children’s room has a mid height window, and in the main dormitory a large fixed full height window is incorporated, offering a direct view to Santiago’s Manquehue hill. The intention was to bring out the glass, without frameworks or openings, therefore the ventilation is provided through a hatchway, lost to the exterior through a FRC module..The project is resolved with basic interventions where light, color and details of the envelope are the protagonists..”  Extensive glazing, interesting fenestration, natural light; exposed beams..

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image: © Mauricio Fuertes; article: “Casa Sasso / 57Studio” 15 Sep 2011. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/168935&gt;

* Residential Architecture: 25th Street Residence by Shimizu + Coggeshall Architects

Residential Architecture: 25th Street Residence by Shimizu + Coggeshall Architects: “..The project hinges on the following main ideas: the first was to insert a LEED platinum contemporary renovation into a 1920’s structure in a way that would contrast and complement. Small unused spaces were reconfigured by expanding them for a multiplicity of programs..Connections with the exterior were set up where every space has a unique relationship to the outside; sometimes framing a view, sometimes blurring the boundary between inside and out.The street elevation scale was preserved while the entry and site were designed to promote neighborhood interaction on a corner in a highly walkable area..Strategies to reduce demand include improved daylighting, 90% high efficacy lighting, and relocating openings. Additional sustainable issues for this project combined passive and active technologies: radiators fed by a high efficiency boiler, solar water heating, improved existing envelope, greater water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, phase changing drywall, and photovoltaics..Simultaneously, there was a material agenda that not only contrasted new from old but re-used materials on site: beams became benches and counters became fountains. Salvaged walnut slabs became a counter and framing harvested from a local demolished factory became the living room floor..The result is a high-performing home that has been completely transformed while respecting the layered history of the house..”  Interesting form, interior volumes, fenestration, materials; ample glazing; contextual and indoor / outdoor sensibility..

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image: © LEE; article: “25th Street Residence / Shimizu + Coggeshall Architects” 14 Sep 2011. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/168587&gt;