Fogo Island Studios by Saunders Architecture

Magnificent, raw landscapes of Fogo Island (Newfoundland, Canada) are a perfect location for photoshoots and art projects. The Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, organizations rejuvenating the local community through the arts and culture, commissioned Todd Saunders to design a series of six artists’ studios. The architect works and lives in Bergen, and designing for Newfoundland, where he grew up, feels like a great opportunity. The whole project will be completed by 2012.

photo credits: Bent Rene´Synnevåg

seen at: knoettehuset

Wheatsheaf House by Jesse Judd

The multi-award-winning Wheatsheaf House, lost in the depths of Australian woods, is a uniqe example of extravagantly modern holiday home. The structure, due to the risk of fires in the Vicoria region, has been shielded by a layer of metal and lifted on a platform. Its bold, graphic style, inspired by Mies van der Rohe works, makes the Wheatsheaf House architecture seem dramatic. But by the well-balanced contrast effect, it does not affect the forest landscape, it does not feel like an "intruder". “There’s no reason why you couldn’t pick it up and move it elsewhere”says Jesse Judd.

Do you like the hot red, plywood-covered, open interiors?

via: dwell

Selgas Cano office: opening interiors

Unusual office building of Selgas Cano architecture bureau was designed by architects themselves and build in the beautiful forest area nearby Madrid. The tunnel-shaped office with curved windows is a perfect example of uniting interior and exterior space. The interior opens to the surrounding nature, but stays pleasantly enveloping and cosy. And notice the cool, air-suspended writing desks!

photographs by Iwan Baan., via: arch daily

Allandale House by William O`Brian Jr

A cabin in Mountain West was designed by William O`Brian Jr in 2009/10 and almost immediately gain a lot of publicity. The structure of the house is extraordinary - based on three extruded, asymmetrical A-frames. The glass walls provide an illusion of unity between the interiors and the surrounding nature. The architect names Allandale House "a cabin of curiosities", as it hosts an eccentric collection of artifacts as well as a library and a wine cellar. 

Don't let your eyes deceive you - the images of beautiful interiors are rendered visualisations created by Peter Guthrie, talented Swedish 3D artist. 

via: arch daily

Mirror cube tree hotel by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

Mirror cube tree hotel, designed by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, was opened this summer in Sweden. Located in Harads, about 60 km south of the arctic circle, Mirror cube is an eco-friendly, unique, camouflaged refuge in the middle of the forest. The exterior surface, clad in mirrored glass, reflects the surroundings and makes the structure almost entirely invisible among the trees.

To protect the birds from colliding with the glass walls, an infrared film, visible only to them was laminated into the panels. 360 degree view from the windows allows the guests to enjoy picturesque landscape all year round.

via: designboom

Garden Museum by Dow Jones Architects

Garden Museum is hosted in the former St. Mary’s church, located at Lambeth Palace Road in London. In October 2007 London based Dow Jones Architects won the competition for the design of a new interior.

The project consist of a two-storey passage, that the architects called the Belvedere. The construction wraps around the aisles of the historic interior and houses both the temporary gallery at the ground floor and the permanent collection at the second level.

Very interesting aspect of the design is the environmentally friendly, carbon-negative material called Euban. Pre-fabricated structural timber panels are also very quick to build with. And what is more, note how the texture and colour of unfinished timber compliments the existing limestone walls.

photos via: arch daily

Sacrum vs Profanum - church buildings redesigned

What happens with Genius Loci, the spirit, the soul of the place, when the building had been redesigned? And what happens when sacrum becomes profanum?

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The White Rabbit Restaurant & bar in Singapore

Charming restaurant housed in beautifully restored old chapel. The interior was redesigned from an abandoned church building by Takenouchi Webb. Visit the architects website and have a look at the photos from restoration.

www.takenouchiwebb.com

via: Yatzer 


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Bookstore Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht

The bookshop installation was designed by Merkx-Girod Architects (Ewelyne Merkx and Patrice Girod). The architects aimed to emphasize the architecture of 13th-century Dominican church without destroying its unique quality. A monumental, multi-level "bookcase" was designed and asymmetrically positioned embracing the gothic columns of the main nave. Wandering between books, the visitors can experience the atmospheric, medieval interior and admire historical murals. The interior design concept was awarded The Lensvelt de Architect Interior Prize 2007.

I like the humorous accent, a crucifix-shaped table at coffee bar in presbytery. And note the amazing aureole-like chandelier! Playing with blasphemy?

www.merkx-girod.nl

photography by Roos Aldershoff, via: urbarama


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Kruisherenhotel Maastricht

Housed in beautiful, 15th-century Kruisheren cloister and gothic church, the hotel seems to be a dream. Interiors, contrasting modern, designer furniture with historic murals and old stained glass windows, were created by Henk Vos.

I smiled at the motto of the hotel: "Design between heaven and earth". The exclusive interiors were proudly furnished with the works of Le Corbusier, Rietveld, Marc Newson, Piet Heyn Eeck and Philippe Starck. The light installations are by Ingo Maurer. Snobbish heaven!