Category Archives: Homes

Interior Design Books: ‘Sig Bergamin – Art Life’ (2020)

A vibrant tour of twelve interiors from Brazil to Portugal, Art Life not only celebrates Bergamin’s diverse style, but also highlights his steadfast appreciation for art and history. The result is a kaleidoscopic oeuvre of interiors that serve as cultured dialogues between the comfort of home and the world at large.

Architect and designer Sig Bergamin is known for his eclectic vision and vivid interiors that are the perfect mélanges of chic. A constant traveller, Bergamin loves collecting treasures wherever he goes—totems that inspire and evolve his craft. He is also an avid art collector, a tendency that comes across in each of his meticulously designed spaces, where Warhols, Hirsts and Lichtensteins are seamlessly blended with minimalist and maximalist decor from around the world.

Beatriz Milhazes was born in 1960 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work is included in important museums and collections such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Tate Modern and many more. Milhazes’s practice includes painting, drawing and collage. Characterized by vibrant colors, optical movement and energetic visual cadences, her abstract work fuses a diverse repertoire of images and forms, combining elements from her native Brazilian culture with European abstraction. She lives and works in Rio de Janeiro.

Armand Limnander is the executive editor of W magazine. Prior to that, he was features director at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, the editor of VMan magazine, and a senior writer at Vogue and Style. com. Limnander grew up in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the United States to attend the University of California at Berkeley. His books Brazilian Style and Private: Giancarlo Giammetti were published by Assouline in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Björn Wallander was born in Sweden, where he developed his signature style based in naturalism. His work has taken him worldwide, contributing to global publications including Architectural DigestElle DecorHarper’s BazaarArchitectural Digest India, Vogue India, Vogue Brasil, Casa VogueWSJ Magazine, Departures and Cabana. Although he currently resides a couple of hours outside New York City with his dog Kajsa, he considers himself a world citizen, always with camera in hand.

Romulo Fialdini learned photography while working at the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP). While working at the museum he met some of the most influential artists, architects, designers and publishers in Brazil, becoming their friend and photographer. Romulo photographs for many magazines like Casa Vogue and Vogue Brazil. His images are sold at Galeria Raquel Arnaud, in São Paulo.

Sig Bergamin, a graduate from the Santos School of Architecture and Urbanism, is globally acclaimed for his unique style in creating audacious spaces. Throughout a brilliant career of more than thirty-five years, he has built a personal brand and style combining eclecticism, ethnic diversity, humor and versatility, the tools of his trade for his projects in Brazil, the United States and Europe. Owner of an architecture firm in São Paulo with offices in New York and Paris, Bergamin is the author of various national and international publications. An integral part of Brazil’s heritage, he has won international awards for his work and is featured on Elle Decor’s A-List and on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list.

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Future Of Homes: ‘Ashen Cabin’ – 3D Printed, Waste Wood Building Material

By implementing high precision 3D scanning and robotic based fabrication technology, HANNAH transforms Emerald-Ash-Borer-infested “waste wood” into an abundantly available, affordable, and sustainable building material.

From the ground up, digital design and fabrication technologies are intrinsic to the making of this architectural prototype, facilitating fundamentally new material methods, tectonic articulations, and forms of construction.

Project realized with scientific support from the Cornell Robotic Construction Laboratory (RCL) / Sponsors: AAP College of Architecture, Art, and Planning; AAP Department of Architecture; HY-Flex Corporation; Cornell Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell Arnot Teaching and Research Forest.

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Dynamic Architecture: ‘Sylvan Rock’ – Designed By Aston Martin & S3Arc

The namesake rock ledge upon which the residence is sited reveals itself upon approach to the residence, the architectural form of the residence responding to the dramatic lines of the rock.

As you move around the residence, the form appears to fold down into the landscape – as if the architecture is born of and catapults from the natural landscape. A distinctly modern yet natural form, the residence is clad in blackened cedar and curtain walls of glazing.

SPECIFICATIONS

Residence | 5,983 SF
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 half baths
3 car garage
Pool and deck
Pool House | 873 SF
Three Guest House “Pods” | 1,574 SF
Treehouse – Architect designed
Food Garden and Trails
Total finished spaces in compound: 8,430 SF

As the residence comes into, the first glimpse offers a visual gasp with the distinctly modern architecture in counterpoint to the unspoiled natural beauty. Upon entering the dramatic garage carved from the earth, experience a subterranean lair and custom designed wine cellar.

After the journey, retreat to private quarters in the residence or beyond in the guest pods. Join other guests for dining and lively conversation at the communal table, enjoying fresh produce from the on-property Food Garden.

Interiors designed by Aston Martin — wood, leather and metals integrate into the architecture and furnishings for a seamless and luxurious experience.

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Home Tours: ‘The Garden House’ In Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK

Set within the grounds of a Georgian walled-garden, this superb seven-bedroom house has been joyfully designed around the exceptional architectural landscaping. The internal living space spans over 4,580 sq ft across multiple levels, arranged in a playful layout of floating mezzanines, balconies, and a double-height winter garden.

Designed with high energy efficiency in mind The Garden House has outstanding solar collection, heat recovery and rainwater harvesting and is partially earth-sheltered to conserve its heat and energy.

The Garden House is approached via a quiet country lane, leading to a secluded entrance, revealing little of the house from the walled courtyard. A private driveway leads to a sheltered car port available for several vehicles to park adjacently to the house. There is also a log store, outside store room and a smaller front courtyard garden.

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Top French Estate Tours: ‘Rochefoucauld Castle’ In Charente River Valley

The castle, part of the Rochefoucauld family fiefdom for a thousand years is concealed from the visitor’s eye. Passed the automatic entrance gates, a long tree-lined bridle path with park and woods on one side and outbuildings on the other, turns towards the end to reveal the impressive façade. The estate stretches the length of the village or perhaps the reverse.

“He who lives without madness is not as wise as he thinks”, one of François-de-la-Rochefoucauld’s maxims.

Ground floor: The entrance archway with its mosaic floor tiles leads, on one side, to a small lounge that opens into a through dining room featuring a beautiful coffered ceiling and kitchen that was moved up to this floor in 19th century. Behind the dining room is one of the four staircases and a small bedroom and ensuite bathroom.

First floor: Two more intimate lounges are to be found on the ground floor for a cosier family atmosphere. Four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, two of which have their private toilet and a fifth one with a shower room. Two of the bedrooms are very formal, full of history and decorative features: they have seen visitors such as Charles Quint in 16th century and Queen Mum in 20th century. 

The library: Originally, a renaissance gallery linked the castle to the library and chapel. The library had always been part of an ensemble. It is located in the centre, built on the site of a former watchtower and features a vaulted ceiling.

The main courtyard: An ornamental pond is fed by water from the river thanks to a clever system bringing water up to a tank on the library roof and from where it is then poured. Under part of the main courtyard, there are large vaults, built together in 15th century with the consent of King Charles VII, with an additional defensive wall, after helping the La Rochefoucauld to reconquer their castle.

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Innovative Home Tours: ‘Ultra-Modern Shipping Container’ – Kamloops, BC

In this video, we’re touring a really unique and modern shipping container home in Kamloops, BC, and hearing from the family’s story of how and why they host their shipping container on Airbnb. Cathi and her husband Trevor downsized to this small space three years ago after their sons had left home and the couple has been living in it full-time ever since.

The main house has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, and a full bathroom. It’s built with 4 recycled shipping containers. There’s an additional studio space that’s connected to the main house with a breezeway and it is set up as a fully self-contained micro cabin, plus there’s an awesome outdoor kitchen with a dining space and wood-fired pizza oven.

Italian Estate Video Tour: ‘Villa Iris’ In Positano

Nestled on the rocky cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, a short distance from the historic center of Positano, we find this beautiful 155-sqm villa with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. The building was recently restored and is currently rented out with excellent results. Outside, ample terraces (270 sqm) and a well-maintained garden (200 sqm) complete the property.

California Wildfires: How Climate, Government & Housing Fueled The Crisis

Wildfires are a fact of life in California but extent and devastation in the American West feel dramatic this year: More than 5 million areas of uncontrolled fires lead to incredible footage on the news & reports of orange skies in Oakland or San Francisco. The 2020 fire season has broken almost every record in terms of frequency and ferocity. We analyzed several factors like climate change, housing development and fire suppression & management to see what’s behind the largest and most destructive wildfires in the state’s history and what can be done to solve the worsening problem?

Top Estate Home Tours: ‘Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin’ -Grand Italian Renaissance

The Herman and Claudia Uihlein residence at 5270 N. Lake Drive is situated on over 3 acres in Whitefish Bay and is a spectacular example of Italian Renaissance architecture and old-world craftsmanship re-imagined for today’s living. The residence has been extensively and lovingly restored and the current steward of this property has invested significantly in upgrading and maintaining the home to perfection. With spaces both intimate and expansive, the home is the ideal location and setting for gracious living, family gatherings and events of any size. This home truly needs to be experienced in person to appreciate what the artisans, craftsmen and designers have created. Fabulous new kitchen in 2018, new boiler and air conditioning systems, renovated baths, and a wonderland of fine finishes.

Historic Home Tours: ’18th Century In Sag Harbor, NY’

Dating to circa 1765, with walls originally constructed from the ballasts of ships, and sympathetically modernized in 2012, this graceful 4-bedroom former manse of the Old Whaler’s Church offers impeccable style and irreplaceable character at a coveted address in the heart of Sag Harbor Village.

Period architectural details in the Egyptian Revival style with a whaling motif, matching that of the church, remain beautifully preserved from an addition in the mid 1800s by Minard Lafever, designer of the iconic Old Whaler’s Church. The home opens on a grand 50′ hallway of brick, waxed, Venetian plaster, dentil molding, and the original wide plank, pumpkin pine floors. The living room and dining room, each adorned with fireplaces and Lafever’s authentic moldings, flank the entry and profit from the natural light of nearly full height windows which open to the charming front porch.

The entry hallway leads to the spacious and supremely stylish eat-in kitchen with bay window breakfast nook, island seating, and custom cabinetry by Dereyk Patterson, crowned by a handmade La Cornue Chateau range in Lafayette Blue. Convenient to all the charms of Sag Harbor Village, this is a rare opportunity to own a fully renovated, trophy home of exceptional character and design.