Having spent his formative years working as an actuary, Ross Russell knows a thing or two about calculated risks. As such, there was no better client to commission an experimental house with a 20-tonne sliding shell that can be removed to reveal roofless rooms and a behemoth conservatory-like structure beneath it. Here Ross takes a deep dive into the house’s design and reflects on life in truly versatile living spaces.
The house has been described by drMM as one for all seasons. During the warmer months, the structure can slide over the terrace to give shade to alfresco diners, while in winter it provides as extra insulation. Then there are the adaptable rooms inside the house, designed so they can either be sheltered or open to the sky, depending on the weather. One of the highlights is the bathroom, where people can soak under directly the sun or stars. When guests come to stay the first thing they typically ask, Ross says, is: “Can we have a bath?”
In the Swiss canton of Tessin, a young family is transforming an entire village into a hotel. The abandoned houses of Corippo are being turned into guest rooms, the narrow lanes are becoming the hotel’s corridors. More and more villages in the Alps are dying out, young people are choosing to move to the cities.
At the northern end of artificial lake Lago di Vogorno, Corippo is about 12 kilometers from Locarno. You’ll probably see Corippo on the way to Lavertezzo. Italy is only 20 kilometers away.
Oregon, constituent state of the United States of America. Oregon is bounded to the north by Washington state, from which it receives the waters of the Columbia River; to the east by Idaho, more than half the border with which is formed by the winding Snake River and Hells Canyon; to the south by Nevada and California, with which Oregon shares its mountain and desert systems; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean, which produces the moderate climate of Oregon’s western lands. The capital is Salem, in the northwestern part of the state.
Video timeline: 0:00 Intro of oregon 0:40 Aerial view of smith rock 1:05 Oregon portland at sunset 1:27 Rocky mountain 1:32 Caruthers bridge in 1:40 Stream and mounta in portland 1:50 Newport oregon 2:04 Beautiful crater lake 2:13 Mt hood & mountain 2:19 Oregon portland at night 2:31 Crater lake with snowy mountain 2:39 Ocean with wave 2:48 Aerial ocean 2:53 Aerial oregon and snowy mountain 3:08 Green fields with lake 3:15 Natural landscape 3:29 Golf course 3:38 Lake view at sunset time 3:47 Oregon eugene 3:57 Covered bridge 4:01 Oregon lake 4:29 Aerial oregon 4:29 Sunset and sonwy mountain 4:42 Oregon field 4:47 Oregon eugene 5:03 Oregon waterfall 5:16 Smith rock aerial view 5:46 Rocky shoreline 5:58 Mt bachelor 6:15 Snowy mountains 6:20 Portland at sunset 6:49 Mountain 6:56 Skyscraper in oregon 7:26 Mountain and field 7:36 Skyscraper in oregon, USA 8:00 Waldport oregon 8:08 Colorful sunset 8:12 Aerial view mountain 8:20 Canon beach 8:45 Crater lake 8:56 Canon beach 9:26 Beach oregon 9:38 Crater lake 10:01 Deschutes river 10:31 Mt hood 10:46 Paddle board 10:54 Oregon eugene 11:23 Oregon clear lake 11:56 Mountainside 12:01 Rocky ocean 12:14 Mt bachelor 12:32 Aerial view of portland, USA 12:44 Snowy oregon 13:03 Lake of oregon 13:24 Waterfall in oregon 13:38 Smith rock 14:07 Mount hood 14:27 Painted hills 14:42 Mt bachelor 14:59 Relaxing river & rock 15:09 Oregon mt bachelor 15:30 Oregon rocky hill 15:50 Oregon portland 16:12 Oregon smith rock 16:42 Oregon skyscraper 17:12 Downtown in Oregon 17:42 Aerial Oregon 18:09 Smith rock 18:29 Aerial skyscraper
Admitted to the union as the 33rd state on February 14, 1859, Oregon comprises an area of startling physical diversity, from the moist rainforests, mountains, and fertile valleys of its western third to the naturally arid and climatically harsh eastern deserts.
Mountains, plateaus, plains, and valleys of different geologic ages and materials are arrayed in countless combinations, including such natural wonders as the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Caves National Monument, Crater Lake National Park, the majestic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range, and the central Oregon “moon country” (lava fields that served as a training site for astronauts in the U.S. space program in the 1960s). The name Oregon is thought to be Native American in origin.
Rovinj is a Croatian fishing port on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula. The old town stands on a headland, with houses tightly crowded down to the seafront. A tangle of cobbled streets leads to the hilltop church of St. Euphemia, whose towering steeple dominates the skyline. South of the old town is Lone Bay, one of the area’s pebble beaches. The Rovinj archipelago’s 14 islands lie immediately off the mainland.
Balancing a striking southern perspective with a warm internal character, Grandview House overcomes the limitations of its former self. Created by Ian Bennett Design Studio, the contemporary home undergoes the tactful renovation of a pre-existing family dwelling.
Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to Grandview House 00:40 – A Walkthrough The Contemporary Home 01:16 – Altering The Existing House 01:42 – An Introduction to The Owners 02:14 – A Collaboration of Architect and Owner 02:50 – A Floor Plan Designed for Family Living 03:31 – Family Conscious Design 03:57 – Utilising Durable Materials 04:55 – The Architect’s Favourite Part of The Home
Situated on the southern side of the Mona Vale headland, Grandview House once existed as a cold and uninviting residence with only minimal access to sunlight. The collaboration between Ian Bennett Design Studio and the clients – one of whom heads Northern Beaches Constructions – sees the house transformed into a warm and contemporary home, capitalising on views of Mona Vale Beach, Long Reef and Manly.
Entering the contemporary home, a walkway bridge sits above the ground floor, delineating two voids which allow sunlight to stream into the home. Further into the residence, the kitchen-living-dining area flows towards the external southern aspect. Upstairs, two children’s bedrooms branch off from the bridge, whilst the southern side of the house encloses a master suite, ensuite and an additional children’s bedroom.
An open plan format expands the visual field, softening the sense of transition between spaces and encouraging residents to explore the contemporary home. Voids crafted to the east and west draw natural light into the residence – as do apertures inserted into the awning – with louvre windows maximising cross-ventilation. Crafting authoritatively in a maritime location, Ian Bennett Design Studio nods towards its working history in the Northern Beaches region. Grandview House stands as an intuitive response to its site; a contemporary home that effortlessly captures natural light and inspiring southern views. 00:00 – Introduction to Grandview House 00:40 – A Walkthrough The Contemporary Home 01:16 – Altering The Existing House 01:42 – An Introduction to The Owners 02:14 – A Collaboration of Architect and Owner 02:50 – A Floor Plan Designed for Family Living 03:31 – Family Conscious Design 03:57 – Utilising Durable Materials 04:55 – The Architect’s Favourite Part of The Home
Silicon Valley venture capital is feeding a budding business in fermented, animal-free proteins, creating bacon, turkey and egg white from yeasts and fungus. San Francisco correspondent Dave Lee considers its potential over a few slices of fungus salami.
The Bay of Villefranche, reputed as one of the five most beautiful bays in the world, is embraced by the Cap of Nice to its west and Cap Ferrat to the east. The village of Villefranche sur Mer, perched on the bay, is located just over the hill from Nice (5 minutes away) and 10 minutes away from Monaco.
The charming Old Town of Villefranche cascades down the hillside to the sea, and the bay’s sandy one-kilometer long beach offers great recreation throughout the year.
Rubies are increasingly prized on the international gemstone market. The world’s largest ruby mine is in northern Mozambique, where thousands of people are fleeing extremist militias. Can the lucrative business improve the lives of the people there?
The mine’s executives have a clear-cut position: They say they pay the taxes they owe, and Mozambique’s government should use the money to build schools in the region, ensure security and fight poverty. They say the mine alone can’t provide a livelihood to the entire region. Meanwhile, some residents regularly attempt to enter and mine rubies themselves. In the past, there have been reports of violent confrontations with the mine’s security personnel. Are the rubies a blessing or a curse? A report by Adrian Kriesch.
Google Maps has transformed the way that we navigate the world, make decisions, and think about our privacy in the 17 years since its launch. Here’s an inside look at how it works and what’s next.
Scotland, most northerly of the four parts of the United Kingdom, occupying about one-third of the island of Great Britain. The name Scotland derives from the Latin Scotia, land of the Scots, a Celtic people from Ireland who settled on the west coast of Great Britain about the 5th century CE. The name Caledonia has often been applied to Scotland, especially in poetry. It is derived from Caledonii, the Roman name of a tribe in the northern part of what is now Scotland.
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