Casey Key Guest House, located on a barrier island, is set within a mature oak hammock along Sarasota Bay. The wooden guest house created by TOTeMS Architecture is located in a highly regulated FEMA flood zone requiring elevated floor levels. To preserve the health of the oak hammock, the house is supported on a specialized steel piling foundation system designed to avoid root disturbance and minimize sub grade impacts to the oaks. As a result, all existing trees were preserved. According to the architects’ description, “the owner requested a “house in the trees.” A small program, including one bedroom, bath, living area with kitchenette, and a loft, is organized to provide privacy between a neighboring property to the north, while offering broad views of the oak hammock, and Intercoastal Waterway. Glulam beams were selected for their ability to enfold the structure around the space. The laminated pine beams, which curve over the entire space, blur the distinction between wall and roof. The result is an open structure to the east and west, yet solid and private to the north. The ground floor includes a small storage room for kayaks, and a covered deck. The loft interior, defined primarily by the curved beams, alludes to the aquatic bay environment, and wooden boat hull construction. Ship lap cypress siding is used to clad the exterior walls and interior curved wall.” Take a look!
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UNStudio‘s design for The Scotts Tower in Singapore will be the first development to be unveiled today under the Far East Organisation’s new SOHO brand. Designed to conserve space whilst maximizing live/work/play areas, The Scotts Tower presents a new dimension of functional and flexible vertical space. “The concept of The Scotts Tower is that of a vertical city incorporating a variety of residence types and scales. In addition, outdoor green areas in the form of sky terraces, penthouse roof gardens and individual terraces form an important element of the design. The vertical city concept is interpreted on the tower in three scales; the “city”, the “neighbourhood” and the “home”.” Have fun!
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This creative concept called “Istanbul Disaster Prevention and Education Centre” was created by Portuguese firm OODA. The aim of the competition for the Istanbul Disaster Prevention and Education Centre was to establish a proposal for a centre fully equipped with adequate technology and facilities in order to be prepared against a disaster that may affect Istanbul and to develop public consciousness about the disasters in general and specifically about earthquakes. "For this unique equipment, our proposal approach tries to merge the most efficient program articulation with a strong concept which intends to suggest the overall theme integrated with Istanbul’s context. On the interior we created a multi-level space experience having the entire required program connected through a central point that simultaneously receives and guides the public to interact with the building. We also created a progressive cladding concept to the facade that introduces and enhances the Arabic atmosphere while it’s reacting – through density combination and geometrical driven development- to the local environment." Take a look!
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Well known Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid represents her new luxury project “Capital Hill Residence” that will be built near the Moscow, Russia. “Located on the north-face hillside in Barvikha where pine and birch trees grow up to 20 metres high, a villa with fluid geometries emerges from the landscape. Its programme is divided into two components: one merging with the hillside, another floating above the ground with dynamic views overlooking the forest.” On the lowest level, swimming pools and entertainment spaces compliment essential living, cooking and dining spaces, connected upward via a glass elevator to higher-level bedrooms, lounges and decks shooting up nearly seventy feet into the air. Take a look!
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Team of creative designers from architectural firm Taranta Creations created concept of beautiful Eco Bridge. This bridge suppose to be built in the Chongqing mountain area, China. Form of the bridge reminds people of the dragon shape. The huge platform of the bridge is interconnecting the green hills and makes a connection between the natural valleys and thus implementing a man made design in the laps of a beautiful landscape. The grid shaped roof top of the bridge has a function of sun reflection. Eco Bridge is both aesthetically beautiful as well as functional but it’s still under construction.
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Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, a collaboration between young Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh, have built a see-through church in the Belgian region of Haspengouw. The ten metre-high church is constructed from 100 stacked layers of weathered steel plates. Gaps between these plates allow visitors to through through the walls. Entitled Reading between the Lines, this amaing church project forms part of the Z-OUT programme coordinated by the Z33 gallery, which aims to bring art into public space. Take a look!
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Incredibly mobile California Roll House by Violent Volumes was designed to be assembled and disassembled in record time. “Made from fibre-reinforced plastic and supported by carbon trusses, the material that is wrapped around the shell extends out onto the ground as a kind of platform for activities, night time dining, and in general to distinguish between the cube and its surrounding landscape. To maximize space, doors are automated using hydraulic power, and bedrooms are separated using either curtain dividers or bookshelves. In addition to being very interesting to look at, this home’s microclimate – controlled electronically – is actually very comfortable. During the heat of the day, the glass panels’ transparency can be manipulated to let in very little light, and later, when it’s cooler, daylighting can be extended. Modularized skylights permit even further light.”
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