WANKEN - The blog of Shelby White » Architecture

Whidbey Island House

Shelby White — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:02:08 +0000

I’ve posted architecture from Deforest Architects in the past and figured it was about time to show more of their work. This house is very simply designed and resides on Whidbey Island not far from Seattle. I really like how you can see the open beams of the roof juxtaposed with the metal siding.

Villa Mecklin: A weekend Retreat

Shelby White — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:24:07 +0000

As of lately I’ve really felt the need to detach myself from working and take a vacation. I think I may have found a very cool place to do just that. This villa in the Finnish archipelago looks like a place where you could just relax and enjoy the cool summer breeze.

The house is built from timber that was left untreated giving it a very natural, weathered look. The best part about this house is clearly the deck. It faces south and has a fire pit with a retractable cover. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening than roasting a marshmallow while watching the sunset from the comfort of your very own deck.

Architect: Huttunen-Lipasti-Pakkanen Architects

Devoto House by Andrés Remy Arquitectos

Shelby White — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:24:12 +0000

Argentina seems to be the holy land of beautiful homes. This home by Andrés Remy Arquitectos was created for a young family who wanted to feel close to nature in an urban environment. There are some pretty interesting thoughts by the architect. Continue reading to see what the architect had to say.

Found via Design Milk.

This project was a great challenge for the Studio, considering that it was going to take part of the urban structure. The lot of 18 x 24 meters is located in Devoto. It is between two existing buildings that threatens the project when the problem of isolation and view.

For this reason this project is leaning towards its neighbor, creating an introspective posture that creates the views from the inside rather than from the outside. An architecture that generated its own views.

In this manner the Project was able to solve the basis of isolation and views from the garden. This was a constant worry from the clients since the beginning of the Project.

The house of 500 m2 was done for a young couple with kids. It was larger than the dimensions of given lot, threatening the space of the garden. For that reason, the first floor was given less program, leaving open the exterior spaces.

The living, kitchen and dining rooms expose the garden that penetrates all the volumes in the house. The spaces distort the conventional plans of an urban house. The stone wall guides the inhabitant within the house, therefore, the rough texture of the streets are soften by the water that flows down the stone wall, a walk that is colored by the different qualities the water gives the space.

The green area between the living room and the neighbor guides the way to the entrance of the house. It is surrounded by the natural setting and different tones that the light of the sun gives to the space.
In this Project, the impact of the sun path was carefully studied, especially to place the swimming pool. One more time, water takes a big role in the creation of this house. This time the swimming pool is elevated from the ground creating a glass wall that allows views from within and the outside, creating views from different points in the house and focal point outside the house.

The house is formed vertically having a shifting effect. The bedrooms are located in the east overlooking the heart of the house, the garden. The last floor places a spa; having a jacuzzi, sauna and a gym with an exterior space. Privately settled for the couple.

This Project goes beyond the rigid setting. It translates the urban setting into a natural setting subtlety. It pushes the boundaries of the conventional urban home to a spacious living where one has the best of both, the natural and the urban setting.

Lake Walensee House

Shelby White — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:35:43 +0000

This is a family home by K-M Architecktur along Lake Walensee in Switzerland. It is built of wood and metal. The metal fits perfectly with the cliffs on the far side of the lake’s edge. The wood also looks beautiful with the mineral water in the lake. The house itself is situated on the slope of a green meadow not far from the water.

Found via the amazing Arch Daily.

Swiss Alps Residence: A Mix of Natural and Modern

Shelby White — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:13:57 +0000

Time after time I dream of living in a beautiful home nestled amongst the Swiss Alps. This particular house by Christian Speck (Formzone) is that dream home. It’s style, “modern meets stone” looks welcoming.

The house combines a beautiful minimalist modern interior with a traditional rustic stone exterior that really creates a really sensational design. It’s also really great to see wood used so nicely in the flooring and rooms. I know I’d love to spend a sunrise or sunset out on the deck—would you?

Via Design to Inspire

Ferrous House: A Home for the Winter

Shelby White — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:43:28 +0000

The Ferrous House was designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects and sits in a row of 1970’s ranches, part of a narrow subdivision west of Milwaukee. The existing dwelling that had fallen into serious disrepair and was entirely gutted and stripped of its roof. The budget for building the new house required the reuse of the existing foundation, main perimeter walls, and plumbing cores.

The main level of the house, a simple rectangular volume with 1,380sqf of living space, is wrapped on three sides with a suspended curtain of weathered-looking steel panels, a color of warm, ferrous corrosion. The steel wrapper protects the inside of the house from the elements; in the back, it extends beyond the building’s perimeter, where it shelters the sides of a south-facing patio.

Via Arch Daily

Muston Street House

Shelby White — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:46:12 +0000

The Australians seem to have some of the most stunning houses, especially this one by Fox Johnston Architects. The house combines beautiful wood flooring with large sliding glass doors and windows. The main living, sleeping and entertaining areas are contained in the long linear west wing of the house (seen in the first few pictures). The east wing encloses a living space that serves the barbecue and pool deck, with a separate bedroom and bathroom above. Another cool thing about this house is that there is a long pool that cuts across the building through the entrance hall.

Photos by Brett Boardman

Allandale House: A Creative Getaway

Shelby White — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:02:03 +0000

A-frame houses have always seemed like they would be strange places to live. The extreme roof angle just seemed like it would be a major space limitation. Of course, if I had the opportunity to stay in this modern vacation house by William O’Brien Jr., I wouldn’t complain. The interior is so pure and simplified. The use of space, from the smooth angles of the ceiling to the inset bookshelves gives the house its beautiful nature.

The house has a fairly large amount of space considering it’s vertical composition. It’s divided into three A-frames. The western A-frame (left side) contains a library, wine cellar and garage. The middle A-frame has two floors of bedrooms and bathrooms while the eastern A-frame (right side) has the living, kitchen and dining room areas.

How amazing this would be to wake and get creative next to the massive windows while the fog rolled in. Perhaps this house is more of a creative getaway than just a vacation house.

Images via Buzz Beast

JD House + BAK Architects

Shelby White — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:05:09 +0000

Once again I’ve landed on BAK Architects website. Their work is quite amazing regardless if some of their architectural designs are repetitive. It’s these summer houses made mainly with concrete and in clear wooded areas that really catch me. In my post here, I mentioned that Local construction codes of Mar Azul, Argentina prevent the remove of trees.

Cement houses like this always seem rather dry internally and could benefit from some soft, comfortable furniture pieces. It might soften up the interior and feel more like a place you’d want to live.

Photography by Gustavo Sosa Pinilla & Images via The Contemporist.

Robertson House in Pittwater Bay, Australia

Shelby White — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:22:45 +0000

The James-Robertson house is located on a hill overlooking Pittwater Bay in Australia. The house is made up of three black coated aluminum and steel structures combined with timber decking. All of the house’s sides are opened up to the outside by large glass windows, creating a sense of naturality.

Via Buzz-Beast.

Portugal Residence

Shelby White — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:31:48 +0000

There is something very intriguing about this cantilever home built by Graça Correia e Roberto Ragazzi Architects in Caniçada, Vieira do Minho, Portugal. The ever so simplified interior makes me realize that I should clean up and dispose of some of the objects lying around my own living space. On the same note, I’d really like to see this house stacked with partial floor openings like a loft.

Via Archdaily

The Shelden’s Judith Mountain Cabin

Shelby White — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

I don’t believe architectural beauties in Montana and Idaho get enough credit. This particular cabin is owned by my good friend Ian Matteson’s family friends Jeff & Lois Sheldon. It came to fruition in 1993 when their neighbor deeded 113 acres of land to the Sheldon’s for $2.

A small cabin was already on the land, but at the base of the canyon. The new cabin was to be built further up the mountain to feel as if it was a lookout. I’ve been to quite a few lookouts growing up and I would agree that they are quite amazing—scary at times, but nevertheless amazing.

The cabin is powered by two fifty-watt photovoltaic panels that provide direct power to outlets, lights and the well pump. They also power things like a stereo, running water in the sink and even a wood-fired hot tub.

Photos by Lois Shelden.

Accessible Gazebo

Shelby White — Thu, 27 May 2010 07:03:04 +0000

Aside from just being an elevated gazebo, you have to admire the quality wood structure. According to the architects this was a treehouse but I would beg to differ since the structure isn’t built in a tree.

Via Acrhitects Thomas

Sydney Glass House

Shelby White — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:07:48 +0000

What could be better than a contemporary glass house in the trees of Sydney, Australia? This dream house is a $1.65 million dollar, luxurious investment that looks all too promising for a relaxed work environment. Unfortunately I probably won’t be taking the $1.65 million dollar plunge any time soon. Instead I may have to settle for relaxing out on the rooftop patio while dreaming of this house.

Via Arch.itect.us

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U-House & Office Residence

Shelby White — Mon, 10 May 2010 08:25:28 +0000

This beautiful home and office space designed by Natalie Dionne is located in the trendy outskirts of Montreal, Canada. The design of this house features a very clean modern yet urban look through the interior and exterior of the building.

The garage door opens up to connect the tranquility of the garden to the living room space. At night during the summer, the upstairs windows can be opened and the shutters closed to let in a sufficient airflow while not getting wet or affected by the elements. I wish I had this feature in Seattle for the summer.

Via The Comtemporist.