Displaying posts labeled "Uncategorized"

Minimal forms and considered  finishes. A new modern luxury with house like apartments. Think marble, stone, wood and concrete softened by layers of natural fabrics. These Walsh St apartments in South Yarra, Melbourne are a collaboration between Neometro, MAAArchitects and Carr Design Group.

Don’t you sometimes wish you could be a kid again? After seeing this play structure by the office of mcfarlane biggar, I ABSOLUTELY DO! sam + pam is a play structure for kids. The two-metre by two-metre twin structure is made entirely out of 2×3″ spruce-pine-fir protected from the elements with a clear varnish. ‘Sam + Pam’ suggests new forms of play from the premise of doing “much with little”. Inside the slatted three-storey towers are ladders for climbing up to various perches and protected spaces. Kids can clamber through the multiple entrances connected by a rope bridge and monkey bars. Outside one of the towers, a pole slide offers another escape route. (It was built as part of the Playhouse Challenge for charity)

The office of mcfarlane biggar is an architecture and design firm based in North Vancouver. Their portfolio has plenty of modern designs with a mid-century, Dwell-magazine-lovin’ vibe. What I really love about these creative folks is this: We are champions of wood in buildings – where it makes sense to utilize its structural and aesthetic properties. Recognized as leaders in the use of innovative wood technologies, we have maintained this focus throughout our firm’s history. Many of our projects demonstrate our ability to provide simple, yet innovative wood solutions that bring warmth and character to spaces while also drawing from a local resource that speaks to the natural history and wood processing industry of our region. AMEN! An architecture firm after my own heart. 

Soledad Alzaga is an interior designer based in San Francisco whose portfolio I came across the other day. I was immediately captivated as her designs included such a variety of styles and are so unique. I selected a random mix of favourites to share. (p.s. I’m totally gaga for the chairs in the grey dining room)

The folks of Seattle architecture firm atelier drome shared with us this incredible home they designed. Located on Orcas Island (just north of Seattle), it was created for their artist client as a home and studio…to serve as a quiet retreat, disciplined working environment, and with low energy needs, all within a strict budget. The main house is essentially one large space divided by a utility cube – the kitchen, bath, and pantries. The living space is on one side of the cube, the bedroom on the other. On the west side of the space, floor to ceiling glass doors create slices of views across the archipelago. The east side has small high windows to create summer ventilation and morning light in winter. The studio is also composed of a large space divided by a utility core. However, here the focus is decidedly inward with no windows. A skylight filled vaulted ceiling keeps the space bright and light filled. Could I ever get my art on in this gorgeous space!!