Villa in Rotterdam

It is worth mentioning a little of the history behind the design of this villa in Rotterdam by OOZE Architects: the original building dates from the early 20th century. The first extension, which was built in 1991, substantially increased the raw size of the house. In 2003, three more rooms were added, shortly after which the current owners moved in.

   S-house, Ukraine by KO+KO Architects

Posted date: November 27, 2012 In: Dream Houses

The starting point was to create a holiday home for a young couple and their two children. The main challenge for KO+KO architects was to make the house using the most advanced construction techniques, without losing the warmth and comfort inside. To achieve this, they decided to create a wooden frame. The name of the house comes from the fact that it resembles the letter ‘S’.

Grand Designs awards

'The London entries were strong and bold, particularly in the eco field'

Sliding House (right), by the experimental firm dRMM, was full of surprises.

The house, built from glass and birch, and looking rather like a giant greenhouse to start with, sits in front of a 20-ton timber “skin” that can be rolled over it using railway tracks, transforming it into a well-insulated barn-like building with a completely different mood inside.

London entries were strong and bold, particularly in the “eco” field. The winner in this category was the Shoreditch Prototype house by Cox Bulleid architects. This “town house” has a living green skin that recycles CO2.

Conversions were also strong, reinforcing the theme of improving not moving, while shoehorning houses into small spaces worked well for Vicco’s Tower by 51% Studios or the bold boxy Camden extension by Crawford Partnership.

In the development category, the pretty, stripey Twenty Bishop’s Square by Matthew Lloyd manages to sit next to an ancient church in the middle of Spitalfields and not look odd.

    MU:91 by VOI-D

MU:91 is a minimalist home located in Mulholland Drive, Hollywood, and designed by VOI-D. The location offers sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin, coupled with a winding scenic route and a quiet suburban neighborhood located away from the bustling metropolis below.

The home has two separate access points: one through the garage which leads to the kitchen, and the other from the majestic staircase leading up the front entrance. Ambient lighting can be found illuminating from between ceiling and wall layers. The home has a futuristically polished appeal that represents the complexities and fast-paced environment of Los Angeles.

Archipelago House In Stockholm

A light-weight building in glass and wood, a summerhouse in the Stockholm archipelago. The layout of the plan is generated by the specifics of the site. The house is placed on the flat surface between two mountain rocks, and turns simultaneously towards the sun in the South and frontally towards the sea in the West. Movement, ambiguous spaces and light. With the small rooms located in the back, the rest of the house stands out as an open platform criss-crossed by panes of sliding glass. The zig-zag layout also offers several outside spaces sheltered from strong winds. The house is organized in layers, the big rooms expand with an open relationship to the wooden deck.