Tag Archives: Architecture

A Tiny Home Was Stacked On Top Of Another To Create More Floorspace

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Tiny homes aren’t the largest, I mean the name says it all. Often they are made wider to create more space, but Romania-based Cabini decided to stack one tiny home on top of another to create more living space, showing us a novel and interesting way to build more living space in a little house. Called the Cabini Edelweiss, this tiny home comprises a support frame made from square metal pipes.

This frame is insulated with a PIR sandwich panel using Rockwool and then topped with a fiber cement facade and some wooden detailing. The home was constructed at the firm’s headquarters as two distinctive components, and then transported to the stunning property in Rasc, Valea Fericirii, in Romania by road.

Designer: Cabini

The home occupies around 387 sq ft, and it spans over two floors. The interior is cozy and light-filled, owing to large floor-to-ceiling windows. The glazing incorporates blinds for privacy. The furniture and finish are of premium quality, adding a sophisticated touch to the home. An audio system by Bang & Olufsen is integrated into the home. It also includes Schueco aluminum fixtures.

The ground floor holds a large living room with seating and storage space. The kitchen is located nearby and it is equipped with cabinet space, an oven, sink, and an electric hotplate. This section also includes a bathroom finished in Neolith stone, as well as a shower, sink, and toilet. You can access the upper floor via a staircase. This floor includes a bedroom with generous glazing and an ample amount of room to stand upright. A lovely outdoor terrace has also been included.

The model depicted in the pictures costs around US$100,000 including appliances and furniture. However, the price can vary depending on the options the buyer selects. Worldwide delivery is possible, and buyers can opt for an off-the-grid setup with solar panels as well. The Edelweiss is a unique and innovative option in a world where tiny homes have become quite mundane. All of them feature a similar aesthetic and floorspace, this one is quite different.

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Small School In Sydney Respects Indigenous Culture & Won Best New Building In The World

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Designed by fjcstudio, Australia’s Darlington Public School won this year’s prestigious World Building of the Year Award. This was announced at the World Architecture (WAF) in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The school was appreciated for its sensitive and inclusive approach to early learning and education.

It is the second school to win the World Building of the Year Award in a row, and it is tucked away in an inner-city suburb of Sydney. An old 1970s school on the site was replaced to create the new and improved Darling Public School. The school maintains a strong connection to the local Aboriginal community, and the construction process was a collaborative approach and quite cost-effective.

Designer: fjcstudio

The school adopts the beautiful Indigenous culture by preserving and displaying an amazing collection of Aboriginal artworks around the school. It also includes a community garden with indigenous plants to help students learn indigenous cooking and culture. You can catch a look at the inner courtyard from the main entrance while curving metal screens offer privacy and protection to the outdoor learning and play areas. This creates a pleasant and lovely light. The structure is also equipped with passive elements like sawtooth roof angled to the sun, high-level glazing, and protective curved screens,

“The architect of the winning project explored and extended the formal program of the client, to include the views and experience of the local community and a variety of users,” said Paul Finch, Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival. “This generated a reading of the history of place, culture, and time. “The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials, flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way. It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgment and reconciliation of historic difference – a pointer to brighter, better futures for all.”

The building will accommodate a preschool, kindergarten, and primary school. It will be able to accommodate more than 500 students, according to the school’s website. Since the building process included two stages, classes were conducted during construction.

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BIG Transforms A Former Aldi Store Into A Visually Stunning Paper-Inspired Paper Museum

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Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) recently transformed a former Aldi store into an extraordinary museum. This isn’t something we see usually, but it is interesting to see the firm convert a humble store into something quite so impressive. The former store will be completely transformed into a paper museum with a light-filled space.

A visually intriguing and eye-catching roof will top the structure, and remind you of a massive piece of paper, that seems to be draped over the building. It is located in Jutland, Denmark, and currently, there aren’t any photos of the original store. But we have caught a glimpse of the current museum building. Dive in!

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

The building occupies around 900 sq m, but it will be increased to double the size to host workshops, events, teaching rooms, offices, and storage facilities. The pre-existing building walls will be equipped with a new acoustic-regulating layer of paper art on the exterior. This paper art draws inspiration from origami, and it will include loads of glazing.

The timber sourced will be from the same wood used to produce the paper. The museum will host paper-related exhibitions, and currently, it also includes a Paper-Plane airport and paper boats for children to interact and play with. It will be exciting to watch the exhibitions and events the museum will hold in the future.

“Paper art is about creating three-dimensional shapes and complex images from a monochromatic two-dimensional material – a sheet of paper,” said BIG boss Bjarke Ingels. “By treating the roof surface as such – a single sheet of folded paper – existing and new functions are brought together in one unifying gesture. The expressive is accentuated by the clear, complexity arises from simplicity. And an obsolete supermarket finds new life under the floating curved roof.”

The Museum for Papirkunst is a fine example of how many architectural designs and firms are undertaking initiatives to conduct massive and ambitious renovations. They are taking steps to improve existing buildings and elevating them, instead of building new structures and creating more pollution. This is a commendable effort on the part of majors firms and designers.

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Spacious Tiny Home That Sleeps 5 People Proves A Life On The Road Doesn’t Need To Be A Tight Fit

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A couple of years ago Minimaliste unveiled the Nomad – a tiny house that is perfect for off-grid travel in all kinds of weather. The firm then rejuvenated the home with a larger design but still retained the basic essence. The improved Nomad 5th Wheel features a more spacious interior and can sleep up to five people.

It is finished in vertical steel sheets and faux wood steel. It features a length of 30.5 feet, a width of 8.5 feet, and a height of 12.5 feet. It weighs around 14,000 lb and is based on a double-axle gooseneck trailer. Let’s dive in more!

Designer: Minimaliste

You can enter the home via a motorized folding deck and French doors. It has more floor space than the original Nomad, which makes quite a difference, creating a more spacious and comfortable living environment. The living room is equipped with a sofa bed and a pretty big closet. The home also includes anchor points, since the owner will be traveling with a motorbike within the home. A small dining area is placed next to the living room, and it can seat four people. The dining area can be converted into a single bed, which is quite nifty.

The kitchen is well designed and equipped, featuring a twin stainless steel sink, propane-powered three-burner stove, fridge, freezer, oven, cabinetry, and pantry-style storage space, as well as a gun cabinet for the owner’s hunting rifle. A small bathroom is located near the kitchen, and it contains a small bath/shower, sink, and a composting toilet. The Nomad 5th Wheel only includes one bedroom which is placed in the raised section (gooseneck) of the trailer. You can enter this room through wooden steps, and it is like most bedrooms found in tiny homes. It has a loft style with a low ceiling, a double bed, and a few closets.

The tiny home is powered by a standard RV-style hookup, or it can be outfitted with a full-off-the-grid setup including solar panels and batteries. The house is designed to handle a North American winter, and it is equipped with premium-level airtightness and great insulation to help it adapt to the heat and the cold. It is priced at around US$97,500, but it could increase if you select more options.

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Economical Housing For Students Preserves Historical Facades, Merging The Old & The New

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Canada-based ACDF Architectural firm recently designed an impressive 19-story apartment building in downtown Montreal. It is called the LINK Tower, and it beautifully merges contemporary architectural design with the preservation of historical Victorian facades. This forms a seamless and interesting combination of the old and the new, in the center of Shaughnessy Village.

It is designed to be an innovative solution to the city’s requirement for student housing. ACDF Architecture adopted a preservation-first approach, and saved three historic facades, instead of demolishing them. The Victorian facades were incorporated into the new construction.

Designer: ACDF Architectural Firm

ACDF President, Maxime-Alexis Frappier was focused on creating a seamless “dialogue” between the past and the new tower. “Rather than erasing the area’s history, we wanted to respect it,” said Frappier. The project maintains an important connection to the architectural identity of Shaughnessy Village by preserving the Victorian facades. A the same time, it meets the requirements of contemporary urban living. This initiative was complex and not economical, but it displayed respect and sensitivity for the local community’s history and heritage.

The LINK Tower showcases a lovely modern contrast behind the Victorian facades. The facades are equipped with a bunch of architectural elements – ranging from arched, gabled, and rectangular openings, which add a certain dynamism and personality to the dull and mundane concrete environment of Lincoln Street. Black granite frames and precast concrete heighten the composition while pairing well with the surrounding structures. The LINK Tower was created to be visually intriguing while harmoniously blending with its surroundings. It allows the past and the present to beautifully co-exist, elevating the architectural diversity of the street.

The apartments aren’t as spacious as typical apartments, and they are a bit cramped, but according to ACDF, the design meets student’s needs well without feeling too restrained. It displays an efficient use of available space which reduces operating and construction costs, while also saving energy. It is equipped with 122 units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. They have all been designed to be economical and easily accessible to students.

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Slide Out The Bed Of This Off-Grid Tiny Home For The Ultimate Stargazing Experience In Nature

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Ample was commissioned to design a lovely tiny home for the Australian tourism and events company Visit Victoria. They came up with a charming and quaint house called Stella the Stargazer. The name sounds pretty poetic, and the off-grid dwelling is quite cute too. It has a rather rustic and raw aesthetic, bringing to mind the image of a rural farm shack. But the interior is really quite comfortable, with a bed that can be pulled out to let you sleep under the stars!

It is based on a triple-axle trailer and features a length of 32 feet and a width of 7.8 feet. Old sections of steel were sourced from an abandoned farm shack in rural Penshurst, Victoria and they were used to build the home. Reclaimed corrugated iron and hardwood from the same site were utilized as well, giving the tiny home a shed-like aesthetic.

Designer: Ample

“To break away from the trailer footprint, we have incorporated fold-up corrugated eaves, large steel framed East-orientated glazing, and an operable gas strut window,” said Ample. “Through this primary aperture, our bed platform rolls out and cantilevers from the trailer base. This treehouse-like element is covered from above by the Kundig-esque window and protected from bugs by a mosquito net hung at points from the window frame.”

What makes the tiny home truly stand out is the wonderful stargazing bed! Visitors can raise the glazed wall, and pull out the bed manually, to create the most comfortable and mesmerizing under-the-stars experience. If the weather isn’t right, they can simply push the bed and stay inside.

As you enter the home through sliding glass doors and a deck area, you are welcomed into the kitchen. The kitchen includes a wood-burning stove that also serves as a hotplate, as well as a propane-powered stove, fridge, sink, and some shelving. Reclaimed hardwood and porthole-style windows were incorporated throughout the home, to add some interesting personality and character.

An operable window offers access to the deck area, allowing you to serve food and drinks. The tiny home also includes a dining table and a living room area with a sofa. A bathroom is placed behind the kitchen, and it also showcases a shed-inspired look. It features burnished steel, copper, and brass plumbing fittings.

The tiny home can run off the grid using a solar panel system and batteries. It also includes a generator that will work when needed. A rainwater collection system has also been integrated, as well as tanks to hold greywater and waste. Stella the Stargazer can be booked for around US$210 and moves around in different locations.

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Visually Unique Tiny Home Adopts The Form Of A Traditional Shepherd’s Hut With A Modern Twist

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Dubbed the S’Mouse City Model, this modern dwelling adopts the aesthetic of a traditional shepherd’s hut. It is equipped with a compact yet comfortable interior, and is also available with optional off-the-grid updates. Shepherd’s huts are often used in the UK and France as resting spaces for farmers after working in the fields.

They are also often used for home offices, tiny homes, and vacations houses. This dwelling is designed by Texas-based S’Mouse Tiny House Co., and it is supported by a double axle trailer, and features a length of 18 feet. The exterior comprises of white asphalt shingles and cedar shakes, topped by a curving roofline. An exterior storage box is also included.

Designer: S’Mouse Tiny House Co.

The interior of the home features a finishing of cork paneling. It is also equipped with a big window that allows natural light to stream in effortlessly. As you enter the home, you are welcomed by the kitchen. The kitchen contains a two-burner electric cooktop, a microwave, fridge/freezer, a coffee machine, sink, and cabinetry. The living room is closely located, and it also functions as the main bedroom. This space includes a sofa bed that can be folded out into a double. It also contains a coffee table, TV, and loads of underfloor storage.

The opposite end of the house includes the bathroom. The bathroom is compact and snug, featuring a shower, sink and bath. Besides the main sleeping area in the living room, this tiny home also accommodates a bedroom above the bathroom. It is a typical tiny house-style loft space with a double bed and low ceiling. This room can be accessed via a removable ladder.

The home is priced at US$84,500, and it is up for rent on Airbnb. An off-the-grid model is also available which is equipped with solar panels, and a composting toilet, and on-board water tanks. The off-the-grid variant is priced at around US$94,500.

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‘Not So Tiny’ Tiny Home Offers A Peak Cottagecore Aesthetic On The Road

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Designed by Alabama’s TimberCraft Tiny Homes, the Big Sky is a rustic not-so-tiny tiny home with a spacious interior that can sleep four people. Timbercraft Tiny Homes are known for their luxurious cottage-like models, and the Big Sky lives up to their reputation. It is based on a quaint-axle trailer and features a length of 41.4 feet.

It is on the larger spectrum. The home is based on the firm’s Denali model, but a few western Montana architecture-inspired changes were made. The exterior of the home features a western cedar finish, and a horizontal metal siding, topped with a metal roof.

Designer: TimberCraft Tiny Homes

The interior occupies 399 sq ft and is equipped with shiplap walls, hardwood floors, and a tongue and groove ceiling. The main entrance leads to an L-shaped kitchen, which includes a breakfast bar for two people, an oven, a propane-powered four-burner stove, a fridge/freezer, a dishwasher, a hammered copper sink, and plenty of cabinetry. The living room is closely located, and is quite spacious owing to a high ceiling and generous glazing. This room contains a sofa, and optional French doors that lead to the outside. A porch area can be installed if needed.

The kitchen in this tiny home leads to a hallway, which in turn connects to a bathroom. The bathroom contains a shower with subway tiles, a vanity sink, a flushing toilet, and a stacked washing machine and dryer. The opposite end of the house includes the master bedroom. Since, it is a downstairs bedroom, it has plenty of headroom to stand upright. It includes a king-size bed with integrated storage space, a spacious closet, and a stained black feature wall.

You can install a second loft bedroom in the home if needed. This can be accessed via a staircase from the hallway that is linked to the master bedroom. The second bedroom is a conventional loft-style room as found in most tiny homes. It features a low ceiling, and can sleep one or two people.

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Zaha Hadid’s Curving Science Center Is Marked With Big Swooping Arches & Expansive Glazing

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Zaha Hadid Architects is building a scientific research center in Uzbekistan. They adopted a low-tech approach to create a comfortable climate. The building is visually appealing, and equipped with a clever passive cooling system that draws inspiration from the traditional local architecture.

The center is named after the 15th-century poet, author, linguist, and statesman Alisher Navoi. Called the Alisher Navoi International Scientific Research Centre, it is marked by big swooping arches and expansive glazing. The form is inspired by the traditional wind-catching towers of  Central Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture, to remove the string from the desert heat.

Designer: Zaha Hadid Architects

The building is equipped with curvy supporting arches, which have been constructed from local bricks. The arches are built as hollow structures with openings that collect wind, and channel air into the building. During summer, the system will be offered support by electric fans and water misting to cool the air before it moves around the building. The hollow arched structures form a chimney effect, which enables the warmer air to escape through the openings at the top of each arch. The warm air rises naturally and escapes, building a pressure difference that pulls in the cooler air from lower levels, promoting ventilation throughout the building.

“These cooling principles are enhanced by the day-night cycle, extracting warmer air while trapping cooler air below,” said Zaha Hadid Architects. “Coupled with the high thermal mass of the center’s structure, optimum conditions of comfort can be maintained with minimal energy consumption. Courtyards and skylights bring natural light into the heart of the center while deep roof overhangs provide its facades with effective solar shading in summer yet permit winter sun into the building to warm the interiors.”

The interior will occupy 23,000 sq m, and will also include the Navoi State Museum of Literature. It also contains research areas, a workshop, and a repository housing a collection of 3,500 historical books and manuscripts. 13 permanent exhibition halls will be placed around a central courtyard, promoting collaboration between literary education, research, and performing arts.

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Bjarke Ingels Group’s New HQ In Copenhagen Is An Energy-Efficient Concrete Wonder

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The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is known for creating extraordinary and unique buildings, they recently designed their own headquarters, and we’re really quite curious to know more about it. The HQ is called Piranesian, and it is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is tucked away in a popular section of the Nordhavn Harbor neighborhood. It isn’t as extravagant as some of BIG’s creations and instead adopts the form of a chunky concrete building with a height of 89 feet. A 460-ft staircase wraps around the exterior of the building, forming an outdoor terrace and fire escape for all seven floors.

Designer: BIG

The building is made from Uni-Green concrete, which was developed in collaboration with Unicon. A section of the cement clinker was replaced with calcined clay and lime filler, leading to a carbon dioxide reduction of around 25% in comparison to a traditional concrete mix. The interior adopts a lot of concrete, and some wood too. It also features another large staircase that seems to zigzag through the multiple floors. The inside is designed to be free-flowing, with an ample amount of floor space left available. Natural light was maximized, and an elevator and a small secondary staircase were placed at the northern edge of the structure.

Quite a bit of greenery was incorporated around the building as well. The outdoor staircase features wind-tolerant species of trees, shrubs, herbs, and perennials. The herbs are utilized by the chefs for cooking in the staff canteen. The rooftop terrace is equipped with wood from a local sawmill and plenty more greenery. The terrace also offers lovely views of the surrounding landscape. A park was also constructed for visitors.

“At the tip of Sundmolen in Nordhavn, we’ve transformed what was once a parking lot into a 1,500-sq-m (roughly 16,000-sq-ft) beach park – a hidden gem in the heart of the city,” said Giulia Frittoli, Partner and Head of BIG Landscape. “Inspired by Denmark’s beautiful coastal landscapes, we envisioned a place where people can relax, play, fish, and connect with nature. The park reflects what would have naturally grown here before the harbor emerged, making it an homage to both the past and future.”

BIG’s HQ is designed to be pretty energy-efficient,  given its size and type. The roof is marked with solar panels to cut down on grid-based power use. A combination of a geothermal energy system and natural ventilation delivers 84% of heating requirements, and 100% of its cooling.

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