CubeMe » Beach House

Villa Widlund in Öland, Sweden by Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects

Shan Tara — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:09:34 +0000

This house built by Claesson Koivisto Rune is like a funnel of light, space and sea views. The location is the west coast of the Baltic island of Öland. The white concrete box is “corsetted” in the middle, creating slightly sheared wall and roof angles. This gives the house both its direction and character, while also marking the difference between the rear private two-storey bedroom part and the communal double ceiling-height front part.  Precast concrete is perhaps not the most common choice for a private house at this scale, but was ideal for achieving the ultimate precision in manufacturing tolerance and colour/finish.

 The concrete is not painted or surface-pigmented but solid white, which gives it a wonderful glow. The joints between the concrete elements are carefully designed and positioned so that – instead of interfering with – they become part of the building’s geometry and expression. The sealant in between is gray to enhance the graphic effect rather than matching the concrete surface.

Aan Zee Restaurant by Emma Architects

Ian — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:34:04 +0000

Aan Zee which mean ‘ at the Sea’ in Deutch is a new restaurant along the beach path in Oostvoorne, The Netherlands. This amzing restaurant built by Emma Architects has wooden wall that rises up from the sand dunes and curls up to a watchtower. The wood is layered and in small parts mounted on the facade. It is exposed to the elements and will weather beautifully to blend into the surroundings. A glass façade ensures light and views. A third wall is concealed in the dunes and is formed by a series of buried shipping containers.

The building has a special water and energy management. Electricity is generated by windmills and solar panels. Heating and cooling is extracted from geothermal energy, and a natural convection system is used for the ventilation. The wastewater is treated in a helofytenveld. The regional, seasonal food is prepared on a wood burning stove and grill. Finally, the building is constructed so that it is possible to dismantle it again. Thus, the materials can be reused and the location again be returned to nature.

The restaurant provides day and evening service, as well, the building displays information about the surrounding Dutch countryside and facilities for outdoor sportsmen.

Dune House, England by Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects

Shan Tara — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:59:59 +0000

Dune house by Norwegian Architects Jarmund/Vigsnæs is Located in Thorpeness, England on the Suffolk coast has an open-plan ground floor that is entirely surrounded by clear glass.To get the effect, the ground floor is primarily composed of glass while the top consists of an imposing, thick black roof. Grass-covered dunes surrounding the house protect the ground floor rooms and terraces from strong sea winds.

Its form derives both from a wish to echo local traditions while providing something ‘refreshingly new’, and from memories of childhood holidays in England, spent in the attic bedrooms of gable-roofed B&Bs.

The upper storey is divided into four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, over which the orange steel-clad roof is folded in peaks, and a library space providing access to the roof terrace. Bathtubs are placed in bedrooms rather than bathrooms to take advantage of the views out.

Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects

Beach House at the Harbor by P + P Architects

Ian — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:14:38 +0000

P + P architects has designed a project consisting of 92 public housing and 140 accommodation units for students at the North Port of Aarhus. They used materials that refer to the port environment, such as: rusted corten steel, hardwood and concrete. The facade of the building is cladded with corten steel.

The architects have selected materials as white steel, vertical green areas and green glass shield for the inner facade appears as a contrast more light and open. The inner courtyard is designed as a beach with sand, lyme grass, wooded boardwalk bridges, and small crooked wooden houses for storage of kayaks, windsurfers, etc. The housing project is designed based on the desire to create a living house, which is both energetic and socially sustainable.

‘First Light’ House for Solar Decathlon 2011

Shan Tara — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:07:22 +0000

The house is called ‘First Ligh’t because “New Zealand is the first place the morning light shines at the start of a new day” . The Meridian First Light house was inspired by the traditional Kiwi bach – a New Zealand holiday home. The design reflects the relaxed New Zealand lifestyle where socializing and a connection with the outdoors are central to living. The heart of the design is the glazed central section which functions as a bridge between the natural environment and the indoors.

Though First Light is modeled on a vacation home, it was intended as a permanent residence for a couple. It was recently sold at an auction, and following Solar Decathlon 2011, it will return to New Zealand and its new owners. The student team, along with Victoria University, are exploring commercial opportunities as a result of the project, according to Nuttall: “There is a lot of demand out there for this sort of thing and we hope to continue our creative involvement in this field.”

First Light, Victoria University of Wellington’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 entry, is inspired by the traditional New Zealand holiday home–the “Kiwi bach.” First Light’s design reflects a relaxed lifestyle in which socializing and connecting with the outdoors are central to living. At the heart of the design is a glazed central section that functions as a bridge between exterior and interior. A cedar canopy supports the solar array, which produces hot water and generates energy to power the house.

AIBS House in Spain by AABE Architecture

Shan Tara — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:14:23 +0000

‘AIBS’ house has been completed by Atelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners in Spain. The house which overlooks the sea from the cliff seems to engage in landscape. Away from view, the swimming pool lies to the side of the building beyond the terrace, surrounded by the natural environment.

Under blue skies the building appears calm and serene whilst in stormy weather it has a striking and tormented air about it. The land becomes rippled before turning into a staircase which leads you down to the lower bridge from where you can appreciate the landscape in all its beauty. The living areas are enclosed by a single large window frame. The windows also provide protection against the winds.

There are also large windows along the patio which is in an enclosed area. The cliff which has an olive tree on top provides a second wall for the patio. A number of walls and pillars have been painstakingly erected on the concrete surface and support the floor above which contains the bedrooms. Located at 159 metres altitude, none of the building’s features constitute a threat to nature.

Photographs by Jean-Luc Laloux

Coromandel Bach House by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects

Ian — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:28:50 +0000

Coromandel Bach house located in Coromandel, New Zealand has beeb designed by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects.The house was conceived as a container sitting lightly on the land for habitation or the dream of habitation. A simple mechanism opens the “box” on arrival, providing a stage for living – and closes down on departure, providing protection.

The intention was to reinterpret the New Zealand building tradition – the crafting of wood – the expression of structure, cladding, lining and joinery in a raw and unique way. The construction is reminiscent of the “trip” or “rafter” dams common in the Coromandel region at the turn of last century. Heavy vertical structural members supporting horizontal boarding.

The unadorned natural timber, a sustainable and renewable resource, provides a connection to nature and the natural.
A simple mechanism to the deck allows the “box” to open up on arrival – providing a stage for living – and to close down on departure – providing protection.

The house has a simple rectangular plan that sits across the contour in a patch of cleared bush in the manner of the rural shed, facing north and the view.

The living room is open to the outside and the sun, a metaphorical tent or campsite, while the bunkrooms are enclosed and cool. The large fireplace allows winter occupation and the open bathroom and movable bath allows the rituals of showering and bathing to become and experience connected to nature.

This bach is an attempt to provide an environment to capture the essential spirit of the New Zealand holiday in the New Zealand landscape.

Photographs by Patrick Reynolds

Luxury Villa Mayavee in Phuket, Thailand by Tierra Design

Shan Tara — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:51:23 +0000

Tierra Design has completed a new luxury villa called Villa Mayavee in Phuket, Thailand. The private residence is situated on the west coast of Phuket far from popular tourist destinations. This luxury villa offers panoramic views of the Andaman Sea.

Following the terrain of the site, the pool and social spaces are stepped below, offering privacy from the entry but open to views of the sea. The pool traverses the site and while generous in scale, is distinctly secluded by its’ connection with the site’s rocky outcrops and landscape.

From this vantage point, the scale of the house becomes readily apparent and its’ cascading landscaped pathways suggest a discovery of the coastal edge beyond.

Tierra Design
Photograps by Chonnasit Sundaranu

Skäret Villa in Hoganas, Sweden by Chahrour Hutilainen A+D

Shan Tara — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:43:01 +0000

Designed by Chahrour Hutilainen by A + D Helsingborg “Skaret Residence” overlooks the North Sea in Hoganas, Sweden.
This architecture is divided into four different modules including two guesthouses, a sauna, a storage unit and a central building.

Each volume is placed strategically to achieve ideal views of the surrounding landscape with floor-to-ceiling glazing that face out to the wooden decking. capable of sliding open, the interior is projected out into the landscape, blurring the boundary between indoor and outdoor.

D House, Chile by Panorama & WMR Arquitectos

Shan Tara — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:28:54 +0000

The building is situated on a cliff in Matanzas, Chile was designed by Panorama and WMRArquitectos. Build for a couple and their son the house is structured in a square volume of 9 by 9mts. Inside the architects intersect another volume at a higher level, which is rotated 45 degrees in relation to the plan, allowing double heights and the organization of space in the first floor.

The program is ordered in a simple way, a single space for the living room, dinning room and kitchen and on the back a sleeping area and the stairs to the second floor. Then, to the side and facing north the terrace, partly enclosed, allowing the users to be outside the days of extreme wind.

Three defined sectors as the result of the orientation to the panoramic views of the landscape, the isle, the beach and the forest in front of the ocean.

Leaf House in Brazil by Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura

Shan Tara — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:11:03 +0000

This project was inspired by Brazil’s Indian architecture, perfectely suited for the hot and humid climate where it stands, Rio de Janeiro .The roof acts as a big leaf that protects from the hot sun all the enclosed spaces of the house, such as the verandas and the in-between open spaces. These last two types of space are the main social areas, the essence of the design. They allow trade winds from the sea to pass trough the building, providing natural ventilation and passive cooling.

The very generous heights of these spaces, which varies from 3 to 9 meters, allow the SE trade winds from the sea to pass perfectly longitudinally trough the building, providing natural ventilation and and passive cooling both to the enclosed and open spaces. We see it as low-tech eco efficiency, where it has the greatest impact, the concept of the architectural design.

Our practice, lukcily in agreement whit our client, understand the idea of a tropical beach house as a mean to enhance the interaction between man and nature, trying whenever possible not to separete them completely. There are no corridors and inside and outsed are almost fused. Many sliding doors, most glazed, open up the enclosed spaces and let the sea breeze in.

The landscape is everywhere on the ground floor, and the curvy swimming pool snakes into the house. When it passes below the formal dining room, it turns into a pond with aquatic plants and fishes, reaching the rear “veranda”. This veranda is a resting space with five Brazil’s indians’ style hammocks. We call this space “Brazilian lounge”. The roof structure is made of laminated reforestation wood (eucaliptus), capable of crossing big spans (20 meters is the biggest here) with delicacy and warm aesthetics.

The roof is covered in small reforestation wood tiles (pinus taeda), that easily adapt to the complexes surfaces of it. It also collects rain water via the central steel column to be reused in gardening and flushing toilets. All surfaces finishes, except for glass and pre-oxidized copper are natural: Grey tiles of stone from the site, bamboo meshes, local wood from re management forests, earthy flooring and wood reused from old electricity posts.

he use of all these natural materials, the transparency of the glass, the neutrality of the oxidized copper relating to the prevailing green of the designed and natural landscape along with the organic composition of the house and rich diversity of textures and rhythms created a very desirable reality: The sensation of belonging to the site, in harmony with the exuberant Brazilian nature.

Mareines + Patalano Arquitetura

“Cité du Surf et de l’Océan,”in Biarritz, France by Steven Holl Architects

Hans — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:49:55 +0000

The “Cité du Surf et de l’Océan” by Steven Holl Architects intends to raise awareness of oceanic issues and to explore educational and scientific aspects of the surf and sea and their role upon our leisure, science, and ecology.

The building shape, derived from the spatial concept of “under the sky” and “under the sea”, creates a central gathering plaza open to the sky and focused toward the horizon, and takes full advantage of its seaside resort location. This ”Place de l’Océan” with its concave “under the sky” shape, forms the character of the main exterior space, while the convex structural ceiling forms the “under the sea” exhibition spaces. The dynamic curved underside provides a surface upon which films and video exhibitions will be projected, creating spaces enlivened by plays of light and images.

The Cité de l’Océan et du Surf Museum intends to raise awareness of oceanic issues and explore educational and scientific aspects of the surf and sea and their role upon our leisure, science, and ecology. The project, designed in collaboration with Solange Fabião, is comprised of a museum building, exhibition areas, and a plaza, within a larger master plan. The building form derives from the spatial concept “under the sky”/”under the sea”. A concave “under the sky” shape creates a central gathering plaza, open to sky and sea, with the horizon in the distance. The convex structural ceiling forms the “under the sea” exhibition spaces. This concept generates a unique profile and form for the building, and through its insertion and efficient site utilization, the project integrates seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.

K House in Bellarine, Australia by ARM Architecture

Hans — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:09:59 +0000

The dazzling K house on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is the work of Ashton Raggatt McDougall (ARM) Architects. The purpose was to create a house where they could retire for the family whose name begins with letter “K”. The house was planed to be painted in entirely red but due to council regulations it become gray with a lot of red furniture pieces inside.

We decided to use the Kmart ‘K’ for our K, now making it the size of a house. Eventually by cutting the K in half across the middle and rotating the two pieces, the house began to emerge as a composition suspended along the maximum building height envelope to achieve the best sea views. Under this we projected its shadow to form the ground level accommodation including the entry and space for two cars.

From the start we wanted to paint the entire house red but due to council regulations and our client’s wishes we made it grey instead and are probably glad we did.

Cladding both ‘K’ and shadow in the same timber panelling allowed the house to achieve a single dynamic as if inspired more by ships than signage, more like a rather racy ark than the sign and its shadow.

House in Paço de Arcos, Portugal by Jorge Mealha Architect

Shan Tara — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:19:23 +0000

Jorge Mealha Arquitecto have completed a house facing the sea, located in Paço de Arcos, suburb of Lisbon. The house features clusters of rectangular volumes and courtyards. A set of restrictive regulations, defined in the city council urbanistic project, from distances to borders, access and total amount of construction area and volume were also a condition to be addressed and surpassed. The metal screening/shading devices, create large smooth textured surfaces on the facade of the house emphasizing forms and controlling the relationships between indoor and outdoor or between external and internal spaces.

Jorge Mealha Architect
Photographs by Jorge Mealha

Nieuwe Heren Poets Chair

Shan Tara — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:30:50 +0000

The Poets poetically marries the folding chair with a lamp that is sure to be liked by all the bibliophiles. The lamp integrated is cut flat so that it can easily sit against the wall. When you simply want a lamp, the chair folds flat to hang against the wall. The Poets comes in two versions: “W. Blake” is a chair in green that has the lamp on the right, whereas “J.W. Goethe” comes with the lamp on left and is shaded white.

The designers say the concept’s aimed at reading to children, but this looks like more of a solo seat—and some arm rest would have been nice. I don’t want to cramp up in the middle of a long read.

Nieuwe Heren

Dining Tree Pods at Soneva Kiri Resort, Thailand

Shan Tara — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 06:26:52 +0000

At the Soneva Kiri Eco Resort in Thailand, guests have the option to dine in a lofty woven Tree Pod perched 16 feet off the ground. The Dining Pod, engineered with a rigid frame swathed in woven rattan is like a cocoon with an open panorama window. Food courses arrive with a flying waiter harnessed to a zip line.

Soneva Kiri Resor
Via [Inhabitat]

“A House Awaiting Death” by EASTERN Design Office

Shan Tara — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 06:39:57 +0000

“A House Awaiting Death” on the outskirts of Ise, Japan has been created by Japanese studio EASTERN design office. It is an interesting project name for an owner who will die in 15 years. The house is elevated from the ground and capturing the sea view framed by the waving opening which was inspired by the blue butterfly.

The facade is is punctuated by a row of irregularly shaped windows, positioned higher or lower in the wall depending on where the client intends to sit and stand.

What we wanted to capture in this architecture was how to appreciate the appearance of waves. How can architecture showcase the waves and make them appear? It is not just a building with an ocean-view, but a place to observe the ever changing waves… We are not only designing a house, but are creating the port from which his liberated mind will depart across the ocean. This is what our work must encompass.

This is what the client ordered for his house. A view of the magnificent sea in the east where the sun rises. This is the land he chose to live out his final years. “The portion of the sea we have captured encompasses the peninsula that appears on both sides of the site.” Says Eastern Design office.

“He wants to anchor his life before he sails away from the sea coast flashing towards an unknown shore. This is the house we are going to design. How do we interpret his message? We are not only designing a house, but are creating the port from which his liberated mind will depart across the ocean. This is what our work must encompass. Therefore, this house sees waves.”

Eastern Design wants to make you think that the waves are a part of the interior of the house and not just another house which is open to the sea. “We were not satisfied to design a house with a sea view just because the seacoast is a mere 150 meters away. Ｔhe sea must be incorporated into the open space of the house.”

“This form draws in waves. This window captures waves. In this house. waves … are never the same throughout the day….” The design team wants to through their architecture expose the different moods that water and its waves bring.

“It is not a boundless steady blue ocean. The tide, bubbles, and grains of sand are constantly emerging. Unsteady waves, the solitude and calmness of a placeless and solitary man, these are what we want to capture in this new house. Everyone knows it is not a vague and limitless sea. It is also not a horizon. The sea is “the appearance of waves”.

“People want to know the meaning of the sea. The architecture will reveal this meaning.”

The site, facing east, is 440 m2 with a floor space consisting of 73 m2. The following is a brief list from Eastern Design of postures that a person assumes when watching the waves:

･Watch the waves while swaying in a rocking chair
･Watch the waves to observe them while eating and drinking wine.
･Watch the waves and sink into them while sitting on a couch.
･Watch the waves alongside your body as you walk around the room.
･Watch them while talking and rolling in laughter with friends.
･Watch the waves coming to water’s edge while reclining on the wooden lounge. These tangible activities and the places they occur governed the form of the architecture. The way to appreciate the appearance of waves can be designed based on this comprehensive drawing of the house. It was drawn in such way.

Photography by Koichi Torimrua
EASTERN Design Office

The Library Resort, Koh Samui by Tirawan Songsawat

Shan Tara — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:30:16 +0000

The Library Resort also called “The LiB” is a resort in Koh Samui, designed by local designer Tirawan Songsawat with minimalist structure. This library is located between old-growth trees on that resort and minimalist structure become the choice. The use of contrast color such as;white, red, black and grey become one of interesting point which fresh our eyes.

Tirawan Songsawat explained about the concept of this project; This library is built as an exotic smart concept. Semi-minimalist architecture is our solution as it provides a very simple architecture and interior which has a balance with surrounding nature. To complement with architecture style, a smart interactive between staff and guests is added up to ensure that the right combination of both facilities and staff will create a perfect blend of the project.

The strong point of this project is ‘The Library Building’ located by the beach named itself after the project’s title. The White building with high huge ceiling equipped with glass window pane all around will enrich purity, serenity and peace.

The Library Building consists of three box-style units adjoining together where the middle box is an open-air serving as a mini-café.

The other two boxes are the huge library for not only books but also other entertainment media such as music CD, movie DVD. In addition, there will be a small corner for internet access with broadband connection. Guests will enjoy sipping a cup of coffee, writing e-mail, listening to music with sea views.

The Library Resort
Via [karmatrendz]