18th Century Church Transformed Into Private Residence

Adaptive reuse projects generally call to mind industrial warehouses and factories turned into trendy studios, or shabby-chic restaurants and bars, but the transformation of the St. Nicholas Church in Kyloe, Northumberland, England has taken this concept of renewal and grounded it much closer to home. The church was purchased not too long ago by Sally Onions and Ian Bottomley, who went the unconventional route when scouting for their newest digs. Far from a Norman Foster style box, or even a classic and quaint Victorian house, the duo instead opted to transform an 18th century basilica into the sanctuary they now call “home.”

The church was originally built in 1792, so the couple wanted to maintain as much of the building’s classic architecture as possible. Rather than undertaking a full-on renovation — which actually would have been cheaper — they opted to restore the key elements of the church, such as the vaulted ceilings and original stained glass windows.

While sofas and beds have replaced pews, the integrity of the architecture remains – you can even find the old cemetery within the churchyard. But don’t think the two are reading by candlelight once the sun sets — the former house of worship has evolved to accommodate contemporary living with modern appliances, fixtures, electricity, and other creature comforts.

Read more: Dilapidated 18th Century Church Transformed Into a Private Home | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Cool Architectural Alternatives for Living Without Air Conditioning

With the heatwave sweeping the country, an urban air conditioning addiction is also on the rise. For those of us lucky enough to have it at work or at home, the generated air is an easy (if pricey) comfort that often leaves us avoiding the foreign realm of the outdoors. However, air conditioning wasn’t always there for us to fall back on so easily. Believe it or not, architecture can help us alleviate some of the heat.

Above: Thick Earthen Walls: Sagburg by contexture studio

Top image: Cave Dwellings: Chair House by Igor Sirotov Architect

The advent of the air conditioner not only meant less sweat; it also changed the very way that we live, and the buildings we live, work, and play in. Cool porches and deep eaves were unnecessary, walls could be thinner, high ceiling and attics were a waste of space, and development could generally spread into increasingly hot climates. Such temperature control also allowed for steel and glass towers of greenhouse-level-heat to become a practical notion.

Ventilation Strategy: Axis Administration by Krishna Chaitanya Dommu

Prior to this luxury though, if you weren’t submerged in water, buildings actually needed to pitch in with the job of cooling during the summer. Here is a collection of homes that show features that could help you to build your way out of heatstroke. Oh, and also: climate change.

There is a reason why people started by living in caves, as seen in the top image, the Chair House by Igor Sirotov Architect. The thermal mass of the huge volume of earth surrounding caves helps to stabilize temperature inside. Plus, it looks awesome.

Underground: BCHO Earth House by BCHO Architects Associates

Same goes for buildings that are constructed underground. Not only is the sun stopped from entering the interior, but the earth that surrounding the building is slow to heat up and cool down, also making it warmer in the cold months.

Read on for more brilliant examples of living A/C-free!

For more imfromation see link bleow:

http://architizer.kinja.com/cool-architectural-alternatives-for-living-without-air-824993990

Contemporary Living

Enjoy the eye candy!
Would you want to live in any of these spaces?

Architectural Award-winning Beach House. This dramatic sculptural residence is situated in the very private and gated Sanderling Club on Siesta Key. The home turns abstract art into concrete reality. After a four year collaboration, the homeowners and their architect, Guy Peterson, agree that they achieved exactly the modern masterpiece they envisioned. Peterson organized living spaces in color coded "cubes". The cubes reflect a privacy gradient from public uses to shared spaces to family areas. The home is perfectly designed for its' beachfront setting with deep overhangs which shade the property from direct sunlight… but allow for maximum light and spectacular water views. The home functions like a private family resort with its wonderfully large pool designed to accommodate both water polo games and lap swimming. The pool features a slide purely for the fun of it and an oversized Jacuzzi for relaxing. A fire pit is ideal for evening gatherings and the volley ball court attracts players of all ages. The stunning 1.53 acre site features beautifully landscaped gardens on both the entry side of the residence and the beach side living and entertaining area.

Click here for more info: Sanderling-Rd-Sarasota-FL



A. Quincy Jones' 1962 Sherwood residence has been recently transformed into a most sought after, just north of Sunset, Beverly Hills private estate. Period modern details merge flawlessly with cutting edge contemporary systems. Glass walls give way to water features seamlessly blending the outside and in. Master suite is now 2 stories with a spa bath & screening room or gym. Private patios, decks and outdoor access from nearly every room. Truly once in a lifetime opportunity to live in one of the most notable architectural estates available in Beverly Hills. 

Foothill-Rd-Beverly-Hills-CA



Amazing contemporary home in Tanglewood school district! Designed by architect, Ken Shaumberg, this spacious home brings together style amenities, beauty and functionality. Featuring a vaulted wine cellar, gorgeous design and a sparkling pool with water feature, fire pit and cabana with half bath and outdoor shower, this home is one of a kind!

Briarhaven-Rd-Fort-Worth-TX



A dramatic reinvention by NYC's Garrison Architects garnered international recognition for a modern home of wood, steel and vast stretches of glass. While a walking trail weaving through the 9+ acre wooded site invites direct interaction with nature, the peacefulness of the Princeton property is ever present within the 7,000 square foot interior. Each main level room opens to outdoor space, displaying the beauty of natural stone and finely grained wood. Tinted Venetian plaster and mosaic glass tile, used judiciously, energize spaces with color and texture, but perhaps the most striking feature is a set of translucent… inclined panels that wash the Great Room in diffused light from above. A bevy of intuitive technological amenities includes a screening room on the fully finished lower level and a newly updated integrated Apple audio system. Even blinds descend at the touch of a button in the gloriously bright and open master suite (two MBR suites) with one of 4 fireplaces and one of 4 uniquely luxurious full baths. Choose between office all 3 miles to town. 

Province-Line-Rd-Princeton-NJ


(Shout out to Maricela! Thank you!)

Sports Hall by Takenaka Corp

Entitled Harmonie Hall, the building functions as both a basketball court and auditorium for the Kobe International Junior High School and Senior High School, and was designed by Takenaka Corporation to fit in with the wood and concrete buildings that already made up the campus.


A 46 metre-long wall of uninterrupted concrete lines the north elevation. Narrow lengths of glazing run along its top and bottom, bringing light through to the floor and ceiling of the hall.


Larger windows span the southern elevation so that students elsewhere on the campus can catch a glimpse of activities taking place inside, while students inside can look out towards the surrounding woodland.


Structural timber columns are positioned along this facade to take some of the vertical load from the wooden roof, which protrudes over the edges of the walls.





Design Intent
The Kobe International Junior High School and Senior High School Harmonie Hall was based on an idea of a clear and open axial plan utilising concrete and wood to respond to the campus' history while creating a new relationship with the natural landscape. Harmonie Hall is an ancillary facility that includes a teacher's room, storage, toilets, and a gymnasium that can be used as both a basketball court and an auditorium.

Site plan

This building is designed to capture the most from the rich surrounding environment while inheriting the formal language of the campus as it exists today. Functionally, gyms tend to be enclosed spaces removed from their surrounding environment, but this time, by utilising a wood structural frame, the building is in concert with the vibrant local environment as much as possible.
The south side leads to an existing building and is comprised of a long 20m wood structural span for views of the woodlands supported by a 6m high and 46m long concrete wall. Opening the building to the lush ecosystem of the north campus was a natural configuration.
By supporting the horizontal force with concrete walls on three sides, with the north side being the exception, the structural roof frame was designed to transfer vertical load to the wooden poles on the north facade.

Ground floor plan

The north side is a rich and open ecosystem. Through the framing of landscape views, the beautiful surroundings engage with the space and offer openness by using the trees and sky to highlight the structural frame. From the beginning, the design has been interested in offering the experience of simultaneous continuity between the paired horizontal open spaces.
Furthermore, by providing a sufficient aperture to the wind and natural landscape, a space filled with light and consistent breezes from the north is realised.
Also, by using vegetation identified from research and field surveys, trees are transplanted from the construction staging areas while simultaneously cultivating local seeds as a means to visually and biologically produce a landscape of continuity with the local context.

Cross section

The idea for using structure to maximise openness to the surrounding environment, both conceptually and visually, marries the wind and light of the natural environment with the new space. The environment is the architecture.

Site and Context
The context for this project was a combined junior and high school located in the peaceful hills overlooking Suma with a view of the Akashi Straits and Awaji Island. This school was established in 1992 with aims to foster women with prolific knowledge and grace, and the campus has since been designed with the theme that the campus has made an impression on their memory. The exposed concrete of the design provides a sense of integration with the campus which includes many memorable places.

Long section

The existing school buildings, located on the north-south and east-west axes, consist of just two basic geometric shapes, the square and the circle, and were built of exposed concrete. This prompt for this project was to build a gymnasium the size of a basketball court for the 20th anniversary. For this project, I tried to create a new gymnasium, on the angle shaped site located in the west part of the campus, that was in harmony, to the greatest degree possible, with the surrounding environment. The junior high school building has a circular hall in the centre which is surrounded by open related rooms. This memorable hall within the square shaped form is inserted into the hill, but for this project I aimed to create memorable places between this building and the hills.


To see more photos, click here: http://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/24/harmonie-hall-by-takenaka-corporation/

Credit goes to: Amy Frearson @ dezeen

Reading Nest in Cleveland

YEOW for today~ a temporary art display in front of a library...read more to see what its all about below!



Artist Mark Reigelman used over 10,000 discarded wood boards to create a nest-shaped temporary installation inspired by mythical creatures and ancient symbols of knowledge. The Reading Nest is dedicated to books and, with its gold-hued interior, references the legend of the Griffin- a half-lion half-eagle creature, who built his nest of pure gold.



Visually, the installation resembles both a forest and fowl. It symbolizes growth through knowledge and is designed as a fresh interpretation of the Griffin sculptures which can often be seen at the entrances of civic buildings throughout the country. It took ten days and a team of five people to build the piece, which is currently on display in the Eastman Reading Garden of the Cleveland Public Library.



The installation is 13 feet (3.35 meters) high and 36 feet (11 meters) wide. It is comprised of 10,000 boards, held in place by wooden armature, steel cables and around 40,000 nails. The boards were locally sourced through Cleveland industrial and manufacturing sources. Around 4,000 boards were kept in a raw and weathered condition, while 6,000 were painted gold. The exterior of the installation is made of a combination of gold and raw pieces, while the interior is completely painted gold.







Read more: http://inhabitat.com/mark-reigelmans-reading-nest-in-cleveland-is-built-from-10000-discarded-wood-boards/

 

Exbury Egg: Amazing Self-Sustaining Floating Office Launches in the UK

  the exbury egg - images courtesy of nigel ridgen

 

 

 

Two years ago, a group of architects, artists and engineers announced plans to create a floating egg-shaped room to be occupied by artist Stephen Turner. Last month, the fruit of their labor was realized as the Exbury Egg, an energy-efficient, self-sustaining pod was launched in an estuary of the River Beaulieu in the UK. Turner will live in the egg for 12 months while he uses the space to study the life of a tidal creek and the ways in which humans interact with nature.

the exbury egg is a self-sustaining work space that is the result of a collaboration between PAD studio, the SPUD group and artist stephen turner, who will work from vessel for the next year.

located in in the estuary of the river beaulieu UK, the egg is a place to stay and a laboratory for studying the life of a tidal creek, a collecting and collating centre with integral storage & display areas.

the structure built using boat building techniques and local materials features a bed, a desk, a small stove, and a wet room. it will take on the patina of 730 daily tides below the water line, and 365 days of weathering by wind, rain and bleaching by the sun above.





the egg will be ‘tethered’ like a boat and will rise and fall with the tide. the light touch and basic nature of the 'exbury egg' aims to re-appraise the way we live; to properly consider sustainably and future use of natural resources. stephen turner is interested in exploring a more empathic relationship with nature which reveals the precious and transcendent in everyday life. the artwork created will stem from stephen’s occupation, developing through direct experience an understanding of local natural cycles and processes and the relationship of the environment to the narratives of human activity in the unending calendar of seasonal life.




the ‘exbury egg’ adopts the two key premises of 'lean, green and clean' and 'reduce, reuse and recycle'. the potential energy requirements during occupation were determined through exploring stephen’s anticipated daily routines, including a consideration of the variations that would result from seasonal differences. stephen’s requirements for electricity use including electricity for charging items such as a laptop, digital camera and mobile phone will be met using solar.































stephen turner
artist’s impression of the exbury egg exterior
watercolour on paper, january 2013
740mm x 1000mm
the watercolour was made by the artist from the western red cedar timber used in the actual egg construction.

For more information see links below:

Read more: Exbury Egg: Amazing Self-Sustaining Floating Office Launches in the UK | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Life of an Architect: The Graphics

TGIF!

I came upon this site: Life of an Architect and it had me quite amused...and smiling too.

I think we need some humor today...hence...this YEOW.

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/life-of-an-architect-the-graphics/

The sketches on Bob's site has links to his other entries. So you might want invest your lunch hour to read some.... ;-)