* 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

designalog : contact

* Residential Architecture: Wisnu & Ndari House by djuhara + djuhara

Residential Architecture: Wisnu & Ndari House by djuhara + djuhara: “..This project was offered to the architect after the client had seen his project for the low budget Sugiharto Steel House. The client had previously lived on the site in a tiny, 36 square meters real estate house, on a 78 square meters piece of land in a high density housing area in the suburbs of Jakarta, Indonesia. Piece by piece, he bought the lands behind his house, acquiring a total of 250 square meters, but sloping up to the rear boundary of the land. After buying the land, he only had a limited budget to renovate the house, which presented the challenge for the design..The concept was to build a floating box that shelters an open space on the ground floor, a modern reinterpretation of the traditional rumah panggung (platform house). The ground floor became the living and dining room, and the box on the second floor contains the bedrooms, a sitting room and a study. The entire ground floor only had one gate in front that functions as the main entrance, and can also entirely open to connect the house to the communal garden and badminton court in front of the house..With the limited budget in mind, the basic structure of the ground floor consisted of concrete columns, beams and slab, because at the time of the construction, concrete structure was cheaper than steel structure. But to create a lightweight structure, the second floor was formed from lightweight steel framing covered by a metal deck roof. A screen made of reclaimed wood covered the front façade of the box to shield it from the hot Western sun..On the right side of the house, a 60 centimeters gap was created to allow sunlight in and rain to fall into the gutter that flowed to the front of the site. This gap prevented problems with leaks that could have occurred if the house had touched the neighboring house. The open air concept of the ground floor is also intended for the occupants not to be dependent on air conditioning..Unlike most houses in Indonesia, the servants’ quarters is located in front of the house, giving the servants easier access, plenty of sunlight and ventilation, and allowing the servants to watch over the house..”  Contextuality, materiality, and indoor / outdoor sensibility..

designalog : contact

image: djuhara + djuhara; article: “Wisnu & Ndari House / djuhara + djuhara” 21 Feb 2013. ArchDaily

* Residential Architecture: Hunter House by Darren Carnell Architects

Residential Architecture: Hunter House by Darren Carnell Architects: “..From the street this inner city facade is a conspicuous one amongst its more traditional post-war clinker brick neighbours, indicating a ‘dare to be different attitude’. Extensive glazing ensures a desirable response to the city views across parkland to which it sits adjacent to. The house reflects the natural beauty of the red gums that inhabit the parkland both inside and out the home. The grey and white tones of the bushland are expressed through zinc and antique white render as well as reclaimed timber columns. The rich palette of natural timbers and stone flows from the outside in being an essential element to achieve the understated elegance of the home..A seamless ground plane is achieved by amalgamating the internal spaces with the exterior, creating large flowing areas in which to congregate. The Courtyard is an important element it suggests protection, which is important in Australia’s climate and internalising a space like this also allows you to engage with the exterior and interior simultaneously on all sides..The upper level acts as the client apartment, housing a master bedroom, his and hers ensuites, robes and a personal retreat. This allows for a degree of intimacy when just the two of them are home..”  Extensive glazing, natural light; interior courtyard, indoor / outdoor sensibility; abundant interior wood, sophisticated interior decoration..

designalog : contact

image: Peter Clarke, Emma Cross, Courtesy of Darren Carnell Architects; article: “Hunter House / Darren Carnell Architects” 18 Jan 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/200598&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Mountain House by David Guerra

Residential Architecture: Mountain House by David Guerra: “..The idea was to create a house linked to nature which works as a big deck of contemplation and sociability using natural material to make an atmosphere of snugness in a contemporary proposal..All private and social areas were developed in one single level which faces the mountains. The verandas of these premises are turned to a grassy courtyard where the swimming pool with a deck, a douche, a water mirror and a cascade is located..Another challenge was the reconcilement  [sic] of the steel structure which was used in the living room, the veranda and the bedrooms with its reclaimed wood coating and with the conventional structural system of the rest of the project..The materials were chosen with the aim to combine beauty, snugness and ease of maintenance and to create a contrast between natural and technological materials such as reclaimed wood, stones, earthenware, bamboo, tile, fiber, metal, stainless steel, double glazed and laminated glass, glass tile, anodized aluminum, wood venetian and tecnocimento..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views; interesting interior volumes and materials sensibility..

designalog : contact

image: © David Guerra; article: “Mountain House / David Guerra” 27 Nov 2010. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/91620&gt;