House Hohlen by Jochen Specht

 

Originally built in 1961, the Austrian house was expanded in 2012. The architect, Jochen Specht preserved only the stonework.

The windows provide views of the valley from different perspectives.



Inside, it was important to keep the old house’s structure recognizable within the new: old windows became passageways, an old kitchen window became a pass-through; another window became a niche for a basin.





Love the concrete stairs with the negative detail, giving the impression the stairs are floating in space.

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New Zealand's first passive house designed by Darren Jessop in Glendowie

 
Darren Jessop designed New Zealand's first passive house based on principles prevalent in Germany in the 1980's. For more...Read the  blog (describing the construction) here. Read the Building Design article here. See a newspaper article with video on the house here, and an article in Architecture Now.

Below is a video summarising the "passive" home principles:


Passive House Explained in 90 Seconds from Hans-Jörn Eich on Vimeo.

From this experience, Jessop has now created Cool House, a collection of "modern" or contemporary factory-built or modular home kitsets. But obviously still giving the option for a fully customised "architectural" home also. See Jessop's "cool house" collection below:


Via Jessop Architects and Cool House.

And here is a great podcast at Homestyle Green with Elron Burrell from Architype (expat NZ'er) about "passivehausing" and the importance on investing in quality construction from the outset.

House wrapped i a translucent polycarbonate cladding

    

This house in Spain uses concrete slabs and a double layer of cellular polycarbonate panelling – a type of corrugated plastic with strong insulating properties.

The panelling, supported by a white metal framework, gives the house a soft white colouring that blends with the rendered facades of neighbouring properties.

In places the corrugated sheeting runs across windows, while in others expanses of glass are left unshaded giving a layering effect.

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House in Donvale (Australia) by Wilson Architects

   

House alteration - uses sustainable spotted gum and bamboo to complement the existing exposed timber throughout, and factory painted cabinetry.

Seamless stairs accentuated by the white wall.

The dining room cabinet doubles as a storage unit, balustrade, seat and structural display unit all in one.

(via) (architects)

Shutter House

    

Australian studio Philip Stejskal Architecture has equipped a white timber extension to a 1890s duplex with shutters and sliding panels that camouflage with the walls when closed.

(via) (architects)

Koro House ("Passing of Time")

   

This (irregular hexagon shaped) house in Japan designed by Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates features sculptural wooden slats suspended from the ceiling.

The architects maintain this is to diffuse light into the interior from the clerestory windows that wrap around the house - due to it's close proximity to the surrounding buildings.

The beautiful form does create a circadian effect on the structure's surrounding walls - creating a space that is alive.




(via) (architects)

A reno of a villa uses an internal cast-in-place textural concrete wall

 

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Salter Point House by Mountford Architects

   

A renovation of a 1960s home... A open gabled roof with large stone infill walls delineate informal and formal spaces. Large overhanging eaves (using a post-tensioned beam) create generous front and back porches.

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The Napa Valley House by Eliot Lee and Eun Lee

   

This house in the Napa Valley of the United States sits within the topography, the landscape driving the design. The “house” is actually a compound of four buildings that sit in a row between two hills. One is a living/dining space, one is a master bedroom and bath, one is a guest house, and one is a spa with a sauna.

The separate buildings are united by a series of orthogonal intersection paths and rammed earth walls, which also extend into the landscape and incorporate other elements, such as the pool, into the property.

A small amount of stone was excavated, though none was actually removed from the property; it was either used for the walls or crushed for the paths.

Most of the original flora was preserved; larger trees were temporarily moved elsewhere on the site and then replanted. Additional plantings were added, though all the plants are native species such as tanoaks, madrones, and manzanitas.

The overall philosophy of both the construction process and the final design was to step lightly on the existing landscape.

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A farmhouse on Banks Peninsula by Pattersons

 
Mark Palmer, who grew up in NZ and lived in the US for 25 years has bought Annandale Farm in Christchurch. He has renovated the original farmhouse and constructed two new, one of which is this house set in a private bay (which incidentally you can rent here). He has also planted thousands of native trees.



The farmhouse’s walls and roof are clad in cedar.

Sliding cedar panels provide shelter in bad weather.

The main living space is anchored by a fireplace and chimney made from stone from the farm’s quarry, and features furniture by Roche Bobois and a rug made from wool from the farm’s sheep (left). Each of the home’s three main bedrooms (there is also a bunkroom) features a bath with a view (right)

The living room opens onto a large north-facing deck with a view of the ocean.

(via) (architect)

South London house by Ian McChesney

   

This house is constructed from a sustainable timber frame and clad in flush glazed black opaque glass panels.

(via) (architect)

A home in the hills of Tasmania, Australia by Room 11

 

Designed by and for architects Thomas Bailey and Megan Baynes’ of Room 11, the box-like home is a special place. “It was a good opportunity for us to clarify our architectural values and have them manifested directly,” says Thomas, Architect + Director of Room 11.

The architects (and owners) took the environment into consideration: In order to combat the “cold, damp and claustrophobic” environment, due to low cloud and mist, creating an interior that was “generous, warm, and spacious” was crucial. “While this is a beautiful area, it is challenging for long term occupation,” says Thomas.

Polycarbonate cladding on the eastern and western facades "render luminous shadow walls " and with the considered placement of windows brings an overall high quality of light while framing views to the exterior.

(via) (architects)

Medium-Density Units in Los Angeles by LOHA Architects

   

These 6 units 2-storeys high in downtown Los Angeles have a timber structure and are clad in white corrugated metal cladding - both solid and perforated offering layers of privacy and views out not in.

A variety of window types offer uniqueness to each of the units.

Instead of interior corridors, the units are entered from the exterior promoting spatial efficiency. Each with their own private entrance.

Inside, oak floors and extensive windows and doors gives ample daylighting to the spaces.

(via) (architects)

A renovation in Kohi - by A+E

    

What was initially a kitchen reno - became a reconfiguration of space to maximise living spaces - designed by Grahame Cunningham.

The lounge, kitchen and dining was opened up and 4 outdoor decks were added. 

New timber cladding, timber decking, stonework features and a elevated pool also feature in the newly renovated home.

A pergola and built-in bench seating increase the connection between indoor and out, while offering a space for the adults to watch the children play in the pool below.

(via) (architect)

Wirra Willa Villa by Matthew Woodward Architecture

 

This pavilion (a private spa and guesthouse) in Australia's Somersby in New South Wales is akin to Mies Van der Rohe's architecture.



Floating steel and glass makes for an elegant and unobtrusive incision into the landscape that allows for both prospect and refuge.

A mini sanctuary.

(via) (architect)

House in Brazil by SPBR Architects

This 'weekend house' in Brazil cleverly negates a narrow site and focuses on three strong programmatic elements: a ground floor garden, a level 1 apartment, and a rooftop swimming pool and terrace offering views across the city of Sao Paulo.

Vertically stacked insitu concrete volumes are interspersed with natural greenery and pools, and vertical timber cladding.

The 'suspended' pool and rooftop terrace volume are conceived as two parallel volumes with a staircase descending between them.

Landscaping offer a multitude of relaxing spaces hidden from city life.

Large concrete columns (spanning 12 metres) hold the two volumes.

Invisible sliding doors creates a seamless transition to the landscaped outdoor "oasis".

The architects have successfully pulled off a strong concept that makes use of the available inner city site.

(via) (architects)