After vacationing in the Sierra Nevada near Donner Summit for years, architects Sherry Scott and John Kosich built their 1,900-square-foot concrete, wood, and stone home in the mountains of California near Lake Tahoe. Home owners Sherry and John discuss the environmental and construction challenges of their part-time home. Read the story here: https://www.dwell.com/article/modern-…
Category Archives: Architecture
Views: Lebanon’s Age-Old Abandoned Houses (Video)
Lebanon’s age-old abandoned mansions have been left to decay but British photographer James Kerwin still sees their charm and magnificence.
English Country Homes: Little Wolford Manor, Cotswolds, Warwickshire
According to its Historic England listing, Little Wolford Manor dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, and although there have been 16th-, 17th- and 20th-century additions, Little Wolford Manor still follows the original medieval plan, its focal point being the great hall with its vaulted roof and hammer beams, minstrels’ gallery and huge fireplace.
An April 1957 piece in the now defunct The Antique Collector describes Little Wolford Manor, in the timeless timeless south Warwickshire village of Little Wolford, as a house ‘of truest Cotswold type… a small gem of Cotswold rural craftsmanship with many well-preserved features in wood as well as in stone’.
Culture & Design: The ‘Chinatown’ Style In Cities
From London, to Manila, to Melbourne, Chinatowns in cities around the world share similar design elements. And that’s on purpose. Their distinct “Chinatown” style can be traced back to a single event: the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which came on the heels of decades of violence and racist laws targeting Chinese communities in the US. The earthquake devastated Chinatown. But in the destruction, San Francisco’s Chinese businessmen had an idea for a fresh start: a way to keep their culture alive, by inventing a completely new one. Chinatown carved out a place for itself under the threat of hate and violence. Today, that legacy is staring us in the face.
Design: Italy Approves New Retractable Arena Floor For Colosseum In Rome
The Italian government has approved plans designed by engineering firm Milan Ingegneria to create a remote-controlled, retractable floor within the Colosseum amphitheatre in Rome.
The design competition for the new Colosseum arena floor, launched at the end of 2020, originated in 2014 with an idea by the archaeologist Daniele Manacorda and was included in the Strategic Plan for Great Cultural Projects in 2015.
The design envisages bringing to life the integral components of the largest amphitheater in the ancient world which is estimated to have held up to 87.000 spectators. The indoor arena measures 86 × 54 m with an area of 3.357 sqm. The new platform is to be placed at the height it had at the time of the Flavians and takes up the layout of the original plan. The beams will rest on the existing walls, with no mechanical anchors or any invasive impact, and will be completely reversible. Having the new floor will allow us to fully understanding its original uses and functions, while the technological solutions will guide visitors in discovering the complex organizational and scenic machine that governed the shows in Roman times.
Read more on Dezeen: https://www.dezeen.com/?p=1644269
Coastal Homes: Puerto Escondido, Mexico (Video)
When Aranza de Arino and Caludio Sodi hired S-AR architects, the ground rules were, The house could not exceed 1,075 sq. ft. and Aranza and Claudio could specify the number of bedrooms, beyond that, it was carte blanche. Watch how this young firm for Monterrey answers the question, “What does it mean to design a vacation home for Mexico today?”
Read the story here: https://www.dwell.com/article/casa-co…
Puerto Escondido is a port town and resort on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca. It’s known for its many beaches and buzzing nightlife. The town’s central Principal Beach is lined with palm trees and thatch-roofed bars. Busy Zicatela Beach is renowned for its Mexican Pipeline surf break. Neighboring La Punta Beach has smaller waves. Carrizalillo Beach is set in a cove backed by steep cliffs.
English Estates: ‘Heath House’ – Staffordshire
Leave your wellies at the door. This 19th Century farm in rural Staffordshire looks less farm, more Downton Abbey. Sitting in a cool 404 acres of land, The Heath House Estate is palatial in all aspects (with not a stray chicken in sight).
It’s hard to know where to begin with a property of this magnitude. The main house (could we try the world ‘palace’?) is a spectacular Grade II-listed, Tudor Gothic mansion, designed and built by Thomas Johnson of Litchfield. With five reception rooms, 14 bedrooms, two flats and a service wing, you’re certainly not short on space.
The main house boasts tall, ornate ceilings, beautiful fireplaces and large, grand rooms, and is not hard to see why this property is listed due to its historical and architectural importance.
Modern Architecture: ‘Glass & Steel House’ – Malibu, California (Video)
Designed by architect Ed Niles, this four bedroom, four bathroom home sits on two private acres overlooking the Pacific and is currently listed for sale at $13.5 Million.
Mountain Views: ‘Chalet On Powder Mountain’ In Northern Utah (Video)
Chalet on Powder Mountain
This chalet is located just slightly north of the top of a gentle slope that stretches from north to south in the natural park in Powder Mountain, Utah, USA. It sits at the northern end of a cluster of chalets spread out to the south, and one can enjoy the view to the south from the second floor. It is a great place to access both the town and the ski resort, and enjoy the magnificent view to the north.
After skiing, they would step off the ski slope and approach the chalet from the south side of the site to take a break. They would go into the mud room, take off ski clothes and skis, hang them there to dry, take a shower on the same floor, change in on of the bedrooms, and go upstairs. The upper floor where one can enjoy the magnificent view on the north side has a spacious balcony resulted from the setback regulation, kitchen, dining room, and living room where they would enjoy the view, delicious food and drinks, light the fire and have a good time together after a long day of skiing. Since the building is located in a natural park, it is subject to very strict building regulations and the buildable area is small. This extremely compact building is designed to take up the maximum allowable volume. The compact size is perfect for experiencing the grandeur of nature, giving you a sense of being nestled in it.
Structurally, the lower floor is constructed with steel frames to maintain an appropriate distance between the slope and the building, and a highly insulated wooden structure is placed on top of the steel frames to protect the indoor environment. The expression of the wooden materials harmonizes and integrates with the surrounding land and stones in summer, and evokes the warmth of home against the white snow in winter.
Title: Chalet on Powder Mountain
Architect: Jo Nagasaka / Schemata Architects
Project team: Matthieu Darcourt, Ou Ueno
Collaboration: Lloyd Architects(AOR)
Location: Utah, USA
Home Tours: A Tribeca, New York City Penthouse With Top Design Architect
We’re in Tribeca at another distinct addition to the New York City skyline – the one that has come to be known a the Jenga building – for obvious reasons. We’re inside one of the penthouses with architect Denis Schofield who created a warm yet unique home against the backdrop of some of the best views of the city you’ll ever see.
Boomers Daily 