l House by Moomoo Architects

It is the first house whose elevation has been made entirely of a plastic insulating material -Thermopian. Usually, this material has been used only for roofing. Thermopian has good thermal, acoustic and insulating properties and it can have any required colour.

The architect intended on the house form to relate to the proportions of a Polish house but at the same time trying it to be simple and redefined. One distinctive leaning wall is a result of a compromise between a simple shape and the local law, which requires building in line with plot borders.
Visit the Moomoo Architects website – here.

Modern Contemporary Cottesloe House by Paul Burnham Architect

Australian architect Paul Burnham designed modern contemporary house architecture design named Cottesloe House. The modern contemporary Cottesloe House is located in Perth, Western Australia, in the beachside suburb of Cottesloe in Perth.

Concrete material is a recurring theme throughout the house in recognition of the owners’ occupation and willingness to engage alternate methods of construction and finishes. The successful aspects of the property appear to be the sense of privacy, the consistency of light quality and the uplifting sensation from the significant winter sunlight penetration throughout the building.
Visit the Australian architect Paul Burnham website – here.

Unique Design The Moebius House by Tony Owen Partners

Tony Owen Partners was designed the Moebius House in Sydney, Australia. This house in Dover Heights has panoramic views of Sydnay Harbour. This family house faces onto views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The house explores the maximisation of light, space, ventilation and views on a tight sight. We are exploring a more environmentally sensitive form of design called ‘micro design’. Micro design utilises parametric modelling software which can respond to very small changes to design input criteria. In this case issues such as maximising ventilation, views and efficiency of structure and minimising impacts to neighbours views and overshadowing were the key design criteria.

The unique form is a response to the requirements to maintain view and solar corridors.

The house building is responding to the site with a series of movements which folded and twisted the space in order to maximise the changes of level, view opportunities and potential for connectivity to outside spaces at various ground planes.

The house has a fluidity of space which is a direct result of having a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape. Via
Visit the Tony Owen Partners website – here.

Sustainable Design Northcote Flexible House by Zen Architects

The Northcote Flexible House project is an alteration and extension to a family home. A solution was presented that met the client brief while suggesting an alternative to the traditional way a family home might be operated and inhabited. The design is important to sustainable architectural practice, as it demonstrates that a well designed, sustainable, modern family home is achievable in inner city suburbs, within the constraints of a family budget, planning regulations, a heritage overlay, and limited site size.

The house demonstrates innovative use of space to maximise living areas and storage, and creates exciting spatial volumes. Instead of providing every space in the brief individually, the solution reduces the building footprint by providing easily operated, highly flexible spaces, and maximising the use of existing and new volumes to cater for a range of uses.

The method was successful, as the required functions were catered for, while reducing the consumption of materials, energy and money. In addition, the garden area has been maximised and internal spaces are allowed to stretch to outdoor living areas and the garden, connecting users to the outside environment via views, light and natural ventilation.

There was a focus on sustainably sourced and re-used materials. Much of the existing structure was retained, demolished materials were re-used on and off site, and appliances were re-used. The engineering design minimised the use of steel. Sustainably sourced, radially-sawn timber decking, flooring and fencing reduced waste, and natural ‘lino’, carpets and underlays, low emission paints, and ply wood cabinetry all contributed to reduce off-gassing.

Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling have been fully incorporated, minimising storm water run-off, and use of mains water. In addition, all outdoor areas are permeable, to assist in watering the garden, and further reduce run-off. Water-efficient showerheads and appliances further reduce waste. Existing vegetation assists to retain water on site, and landscaping incorporates indigenous and drought tolerant plants.

Living spaces are oriented to the north, thermal mass naturally heats and cools the building, and double glazing and high levels of insulation reduce heat transfer.

The high ceiling uses a ‘stack effect’ to collect and remove heat via clerestory windows, and openable windows throughout facilitate cross ventilation.

Sun penetration to west windows is controlled with external blinds, operable shutters, and a shade sail, and north windows are shaded in summer months via eaves and fixed louvres.

The ceiling form bounces light into a living space through an internal window that would not otherwise have received natural afternoon light. In addition, the building form allowed for retention of solar access to adjacent properties.

To achieve maximum impact, the clients were educated on how to operate the building to best utilise passive heating and cooling and reduce water use.

On site composting, worm farm, clothes line, secure bike storage, solar hot water with gas boost for hydronic space heating, zoning for heating, and ceiling fans all act to further reduce energy consumption and waste. Via

Project Details:
• Project Name: Northcote Flexible House
• Clients: Jeremy and Kim
• Project Type: Renovation and extension
• Principal Designer/s: Zen Architects
• Design Team: Shae Parker and Ric Zen
• Contractor/s: Rex Building
• Date of commencement of project: April 2006
• Date of completion of project: December 2006
• Location of site: Melbourne, Australia
• Site Area: 379 square meters
• Building footprint area: 187 square meters + decks and sheds
• Cost of Construction/Execution: $ 385,000

KRE House by No.555 Architecture Design Office

Japanese based architecture firms No.555 Architecture Design Office was designed Japanese single family house named KRE House located in the high-end residential area. The most remarkable requests in the various clients’ demands are “garage space for nine cards”, “the most favorite car in the living room” and “high tree in the living room”. Since all the request are not able to be accommodated on the project site, the of maximizing the living room, the building itself was designed as big “Ling Room”. Utilizing the entire basement, nine cars are able to be parked.

Various height and size rooms are floated randomly in the big living space. Structurally, light steel structure boxes are hanged from or attached to the reinforced concrete box. These randomly floating boxes keep adequate distance and height with the car and the high tree and create attractive open space. Spaces under the boxes have invisible borderline and each space has the different functions according to the height. Though there are numbers of large scale items in this house, instead of setting the usual layer of floors, random floating boxes make the spacious living area possible.

Architects: No.555 Architecture Design Office
Project: KRE House
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Type: Single family house
Photographer: Torimura Koichi

Contemporary Glass and Steel House Architecture Design by Utz-Sanby Architects

Utz-Sanby Architects have designed this new house in the Church Point suburb of Sydney, Australia, this new house is formed by glass and steel architecture.

This new house is on a steep sloping block, facing due East toward Pittwater. The decision to locate the house at the top of the slope toward the rear of the block was made with the clients, early in the design phase, to ensure that the house took best advantage of the views, privacy and natural vegetation on the site.

The house sits amongst the trees and is supported on a series of concrete piles with tree-like steel supports. The house has a simple linear plan and is softened by the addition of timber decks that meet the ground at the back of the house. The curved steel beams that frame the decks and floor plate, are reminiscent of a ships prow and hover above the ground. An angled steel stair leads to the front door, which is painted a bright red, in contrast to the lush green landscape.

The house is open and light, and engages with its natural bush setting. The kitchen bench extends to the outside and a large covered deck allowing for easy entertaining and open-plan living in all weather and all year round. This tree-house sits quietly on the site and is barely visible from the street, offering seclusion and sanctuary to the inhabitants. Via
Visit the Utz-Sanby Architects website – here.

Warringah Road House – Modern Home Design by Corben Architects

Sydney based architectural firm Corben Architects was designed this new, three storey, four bedroom, north facing residence, sited on a battle axe block was designed to take maximum advantage of outstanding views over Middle Harbour and maintain absolute privacy to the adjacent neighbours.

The building is a simple rectilinear form of concrete and masonry construction, carefully layered with timber battening and sandstone cladding to present a modern home with a focus on natural materials and clear design principles.

The main entry, two living areas and guest wing are located on the middle level with three bedrooms on the upper level, the main one designed as a luxury suite. The lower level incorporates a large rumpus / media room and store areas.

The interior finishes incorporate American Oak timber floors to the living areas, Serena Grey honed stone floors to the circulation areas, Capricorn Walnut veneered joinery, white polyurethane cupboards, Raven Caesarstone island benchtops and Nero fossil stone slabs in the bathrooms to create a contemporary, sophisticated interior with a warm inviting feel.

Energy saving options were adopted including an operable skylight over the central core allowing natural light and ventilation, timber slated screens provide sun control, concrete floors and roof to provide thermal mass and low E glazing to the external windows and doors.

The finished house is a fine example of an understated but luxurious house that takes maximum advantage of a difficult site.
Architects: Corben Architects
Photographs : Alina Gozin’a

Modern Design Villa BH by WHIM Architecture

Villa BH has a 280m2 floor area designed by WHIM Architecture located in Burgh-Haamstede, the Netherlands. Villa BH is a modern, (environment) friendly house with a remarkable experience of space, light and the natural context.

The villa is positioned on a rectangular plot of 34,75 x 50m, that is enclosed at 3 sides with similar plots and freestanding houses. On the back (north east) of the plot there’s an old embankment with several tall trees, which existence is protected by local regulations. From the living program; the kitchen, dining area and living are all orientated on this embankment with the large trees. Here the villa has a facade width of 20 meters.

Villa BH designed to optimize the accessibility of the house with all the program is situated on the ground floor level around a patio. This enclosed outdoor space provides the owners of the house the privacy they admired. As at the same time the patio makes the living area an enlightened space and gives it a facade to the south.

On the other side of the patio is the main bedroom situated. By making the facade of the patio totally from glass panels, the main bedroom has a great see through towards the existing embankment with the several tall trees as a central focus point on the plot.

The ceiling of the living area has an extra height in the shape of a sloped roof. The physical appearance of this area becomes hereby more specific and highly qualitative. Lifting the roof in this area also allows perspectives to the existing treetops, that give this plot it’s specific character, from all the different areas inside the building.

The villa is designed as environmental friendly with extra insulated facades, with 30cm of insulation. With this thick insulation there’s a timber construction that suits the thickness of the package. The roof is as well extra insulated and covered with sedum, which also regulates the distribution of the rainwater more gently. On the flat roof are 20 solar panels for electricity. A heat pump warms the interiors in the winter and cools them in the summer with natural temperature differences retrieved deep in the ground. As an extra heating there are 2 fireplaces for wood, one in the living and one in the TV-room.
Visit the WHIM Architecture website – here.

Luxury Villa Samujana in Thailand by Gfab Architects

Gfab Architects was designed luxury villa named Samujana is located in the north east of the resort island of Koh Samui, in the gulf of Thailand beyond. Gfab Architects are designing 26 villas each tailored to its unique topographical conditions and the requirements of the individual owner. Each villa is set on a 1 rai plot (1600sqm) within a master plan designed by Gfab. The first villas were completed in 2005. Each villa averages 450sqm living space with private swimming pools. The accommodation offered is typically 4 bedroom/suites with en suite bathrooms, a study which converts to a 5th bedroom, naturally ventilated living & dining rooms and air conditioned rooms for audio/visual activities. Most villas feature “top down” entries and as such roofs are conceived as flat reflecting pools with “infinity edges designed to finish in the ocean beyond. Via

Visit the Gfab Architects website – here.

Luxury Villa Casa Son Vida by TEC Architecture

This is 8,500 square-foot luxury residential designs called Casa Son Vida is located in the Balearic Islands off Spain, on the Island of Mallorca, just 15 minutes from the capital of Palma. The Casa Son Vida is remodeled into a fantastic, sprawling luxury residence, discerning and bold incredible extraordinary Mediterranean residence which was constructed in 1960s.

Minimalist design interior decoration of the Casa Son Vida combines elegant interiors with plush furnishings such as leather sofas, chairs, etc. This makes the house more comfortable and more modern look.

Casa Son Vida is a world-class luxury villa designed by the Los Angeles and Switzerland based architecture firm TEC Architecture.
Visit the TEC Architecture website – here.

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