Posts Tagged ‘small spaces’
Apartment in Junqueira, Lisbon
February 14th, 2013 – Lisbon based Aspa Arquitectos explores the use of void spaces when they re-worked the Junqueira Apartment, and transformed the single level space into a contrasting two level dwelling. The juxtaposing second level expansion comes as a new addition to the existing structure, thought of not as a restoration, but as an extension, putting to good use the “empty” space of the building in relation to its original characteristics. The architects constructed the sleek black unit to fit snug into the 18 foot high ceiling, creating a mezzanine for the residents. Black steps reach down from the mezzanine and meet new steps cut out of a high-gloss white custom unit where they continue to the floor. It was important for Aspa’s Co-founders José Maria Cumbre and Nuno Sousa Caetano to maintain the original decorative and constructional characteristics of the building intact, while revitalizing the space with a unique new addition.
(Photography By Fernando Guerra FG+SG Fotografia De Arquitectura)
Apartment By Weekday, Antique Shop By Weekend
December 8th, 2012 – Every Saturday and Sunday an eclectic Japanese man transforms a portion of his tiny home into an exclusive Scandinavian antiques shop called FIKA, which translates to “coffee break” in Swedish. The ability to transform the home is credited to the versatile architects at ON Design Partners, who created a private sliding door entrance for patrons to enter into the shop from the back of the house, then a massive white two story shelving unit separates the home from the shop – and provides display for the vintage Scandinavian pieces to be sold.
One of the design goals for ON was to create a more intimate shopping experience, a way for consumers to escape the bustling marketplaces on the streets of Toshima, a small town directly outside Tokyo. This is not a one stop shop! FIKA is a place where antique lovers get a refined and fruitful buying/selling engagement on the weekends, then on the weekdays, the business savvy shop owner closes FIKA’s doors and quietly enjoys the rest of his 355-square-foot home.
(Photography Courtesy of: ON Design Partners)
Light Stage House, Japan
The residential architectural style in Japan somehow manages to have a soothing effect. No matter how vibrant and loud their fashion trends might be, at home, they simply practice serenity. Future Studio recently completed a private dwelling, which is a fantastic example of this. The Light Stage House is a two story structure situated in Hiroshima, Japan. The elegantly curved walls, perfectly compact kitchen, and furniture built into the atchitecture, are design features that make this space work in harmony. The orientation of the site made it difficult to receive southern light into the home. Because of this, the architects at Future Studio designated the top floor to be the public areas of the home, where the family most frequented, then created an upper area which acts as an outdoor terrace. From the terrace, natural light beams in through the glass window.
The grey exterior of the oblong home is outfitted with an array of scattered grey windows, making the structure a unique addition to the ‘hood’.
(Photography: Future Studio)
Afgh Architects Unveil A New Hillside Home
Sitting atop a former hillside vineyard in Oberland is a small, three-story family home recently built by Zurich based architecture firm AFGH . The team at AFGH designed the home fill a niche left by the natural topography of the undeveloped land and allow the hillside to organically form much of the design. Considering that the land formed the dwelling itself, the interaction within the activity areas of the home became very important in developing the layout.
