American firm Feldman Architecture has nestled this cedar-clad residence on a hilly California meadow, and topped it with a green roof to act as “an extension of the surrounding prairie”.
Meadow Home is located in Portola Valley, an affluent town near Silicon Valley. It serves as a primary residence for a couple with two teenage children and two dogs.
While conceiving the design, San Francisco-based Feldman Architecture sought to capitalise on the scenic landscape while not overpowering it. The low-lying home is nestled into a hilly, tree-studded property blanketed with tall grass.
“Prominent views and beautiful slopes inspired the design team to build a structure onto the landscape, to minimise its massing on the originally undeveloped site,” the architects said in a project description.
L-shaped in plan, the dwelling consists of rectilinear volumes clad in grey-stained cedar. A sense of horizontality is emphasised by flat roofs with deep overhangs and dark fascias. The contours of the terrain drove the positioning of the residence.
“The site moves unimpaired through and over the home,” the team said. “A green roof atop the garage acts as an extension of the surrounding prairie, while visually permeable rooms allow the meadow to continuously flow through the home.”
Inside, the residence features a fluid layout and light-filled rooms. One approaches the front door via concrete steps and enters into the main living volume, which has a kitchen with dark brown cabinetry and a dining area with streamlined decor. The living room is fitted with a large grey sectional and a grand piano.
Floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors provide a strong connection to the natural scenery. A large, shaded patio offers opportunities for outdoor living, as does a firepit in the rear yard.
“The home is at once opened to the surrounding landscape and views of the encompassing prairie – seamlessly merging interior and exterior spaces,” the team said.
The private wing contains a master suite, two bedrooms for the children, and an office. Throughout the dwelling, the team used concrete flooring, white walls and contemporary decor. Rooms are awash in neutral tones with the occasional splash of colour.
Overall, the home is meant to feel embedded in its natural surroundings, while also conveying a “balance between rural and modern aesthetics.”
MAD, which was founded by Chinese architect Ma Yansong in 2004, specialises in buildings that take forms found in nature and exaggerate them to almost alien-like proportions.
This collection showcases 10 key projects, built and under construction, undertaken by the architecture practice, which also has offices in Los Angeles and Rome.
A model of the Pingtan Art Museum, which is still under construction, shows how the galleries will be suspended in the water of a reservoir on Pingtan island.
Cave-like spaces will be embedded in the museum’s humpback shape, which will be cast from concrete mixed with local sand and shells, connecting to the mainland via an undulating bridge.
The upcoming Yabuli CEF Conference Centre, also represented in the 12-strong collection, takes it’s shape from the snow-capped mountains it will be set in
Two models in the collection illustrate the design of the Harbin Opera House, a three-petalled volume clad in smooth white aluminium that echoes the topography of the surrounding marshy landscape.
Another model in the collection is of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, which has just broken ground. Dedicated to the Star Wars creator, the spaceship-like museum will feature a green roof that visitors will be able to walk along.
Other MAD buildings with models in the Centre Pompidou collection are Clover House, a residential building in Japan that was turned into a kindergarten featuring a slide along one wall, and Paris’ UNIC Residential block that will have an wavy profile of curving balconies.
Models of Canada’s Absolute Towers, nicknamed the Marylin Monroe towers for their curvaceous profile, and of unbuilt project East 34th will also go on display in April.
Gav & Dan are at a tank range using the latest and greatest in projectile tracking technology. Combined with the Phantom cameras, they get some absolutely surreal looking footage…(Read…)
The “fast-emerging design scene” in Israeli city Tel Aviv is evident in the breadth and volume of recent apartment renovations, boutique hotels and eateries, according to local talent.
Long known as the creative heart of the small Mediterranean country, Tel Aviv’s design scene has exploded in recent years thanks to the efforts of architects, interior designers, and other industry professionals living there.
“Tel Aviv design wasn’t always this alive, but for the past five years it’s grown tremendously,” said Nurit Koniak, who founded branding agency Studio Koniak – one of many based in the city.
“Despite the fact that Israel is a small country, there is a strong awareness for global brands, as well as a fast-emerging design scene,” she said.
Design-focused projects are transforming Tel Aviv
Evidence for this surge in creativity can be seen in both privately commissioned projects – like new hotels, homes and offices – and public-facing venues and events.
“Pop-ups, gallery openings and art fairs are extremely common these days,” said Koniak. “The culinary scene, bespoke craftsmanship and industrial design are especially interesting to discover.”
“Everywhere you look, there’s a creative collaboration going on,” she said.
A natural palette defines the interiors of Opa, a new vegan restaurant in the city, while another veg-forward eatery Bana (main image) features pops of pink
Established in 1909, Tel Aviv is still a relatively young city. Revered for its beach culture, food scene and nightlife, the city is also now becoming a design destination for the growing number of visitors who travel there each year.
“As a young country there has also been an attempt to find a voice – respecting our backgrounds and roots while creating and renewing,” said interior designer Maayan Zusman, who is behind several renovations of Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus-style apartments.
“Tel Aviv in general has turned into a real social hub,” she continued. “It’s a really cool city with a unique vibe, attracting many people both locally and from abroad. It’s flourishing in many cultural aspects and design is a part of this process.”
Renovations continue to revitalise historic buildings
Zusman’s projects, which range from home interiors to plastic surgery clinics, demonstrate a revived interest in preserving Tel Aviv’s abundance of UNESCO-protected Bauhaus buildings.
In an area known as the White City, over 4,000 modernist buildings were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s by Jewish architects seeking refuge from the rise of the Nazism.
Although many of these structures were neglected for decades, the renewed interest in design and architecture has led to large efforts to breathe new life into them.
Local interior designer Maayan Zusman’s renovation of a modernist building into a medical clinic is part of a renewed interest in utilising Tel Aviv’s existing architecture
“There is a growth in the number of renovation projects in the city,” said Yael Perry, another interior designer working on these types of overhauls. “Many of the Bauhaus buildings are being restored, as well as their apartments.”
Some of the area’s historic buildings, which date back much further, are also being transformed. Boutique hotels and hospitality spaces have opened in restored buildings in nearby Jaffa, like John Pawson’s Jaffa Hotel in a former convent, and the Yoko Kitahara spa in an ancient Ottoman residence.
Several buildings in this ancient port city have also been turned into contemporary residences that retain elements of the existing architecture.
John Pawson has turned an old convent into the Jaffa Hotel – one of many accommodation options to open recently
Closer to the modern city centre, a handful of historic properties have also been converted into boutique accommodation in recent years – partly fuelled by the tourism boom.
“In design, there is also an attempt to create, renew and produce while trying to keep the balance of preserving the old,” said Zusman.
Skyscrapers and modern developments spring up in Tel Aviv
But Tel Aviv isn’t only looking to the past. Multiple skyscrapers and other modern amenities have sprung up recently – a sign of the city’s prosperity and ambition.
“During recent years the standard of living has been raised, parallel to the general global trend,” said Galit Golany, co-founder of Tel Aviv-based Golany Architects.
“This was followed by a raised standard of construction, and the availability of more materials and products,” she added. “This proves to have had a positive contribution to the fields of design and architecture.”
The scale of architectural developments in the city continues to grow – KFP recently unveiled plans for a 340-metre-high supertall skyscraper that is set to become Israel’s tallest.
“In recent years, modesty that was prevalent previously, also in high-budget projects, have been eased up, and there is now no fear to show-off,” Golany said.
This rendering shows Tel Aviv’s existing skyscrapers paired with a spiralling white proposal by KFP, which is projected to become the tallest building in Israel
What’s more, Tel Aviv has become a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Since Israel branded itself as a “start-up nation” – coined in a 2009 book outlining the economic success of such a young, small country – companies and talented workers have flocked to the city to capitalise on the opportunities available.
“Being the biggest and the most modern city in Israel, Tel Aviv attracts talent investment and a demand for good progressive design,” said interior designer Gali Amit, co-owner of Amit Studio.
However, life for architects and designers in Israel is not without its challenges. Tel Aviv is largely considered a safe city for residents and visitors alike, but political and social instability in the region remains a concern.
“Israel’s security concerns and technology focus have yet to allow design and architecture to be a paramount consideration in development,” said furniture designer Sarit Shani Hay. “As there is limited support for creativity within the planning infrastructure, it seems designers have to make initiatives themselves.”
“Having said that, in recent years the design scene has undergone changes,” she added.
A colourful school in Tel Aviv designed pro-bono by local designers, including Sarit Shani Hay, to revitalise an impoverished area is another example of the diverse projects happening in the city
Dalit Lilienthal, another interior designer based in Tel Aviv, also acknowledges the issues faced by the nation, but believes that design is flourishing there nonetheless.
“Although we may be a complicated country, people are exposed to design and how it affects daily life,” she said.
“And the more people are aware of the benefits of design, how good design can improve living, they are more interested and acknowledge the meaning of hiring an architect/interior designer.”
Tel Aviv has seemingly found its place an important hub for design. Architecture projects large and small, interiors that blend the historic and contemporary, and designers that work across technology, branding and products all point to ongoing success for those working in this cosmopolitan creative oasis.
Newly launched Benditas Studio recently debuted Brot, a multi-functional lamp and germinator at the Greenhouse category of Stockholm Furniture Fair. Designed to create a cozy, well-lit atmosphere while growing your own leafy greens, the lamp is made from terracotta and comes in two pieces. The bottom piece holds a tray of seeds, and the piece on top is designed to direct light towards the seeds and the surrounding room through the center gap.
The instructions are simple: First, soak your seeds in the tray (timing depends on the type of seed). Once the allotted time has gone by, place seeds on the stainless steel tray and make sure to moisten two to three times per day. After four to six days, a salad magically appears and ready for harvest.
Brot is the first project from Benditas Studio, founded by Caterina Vianna and Ferran Gest. They launched this year to merge furniture and food, designing new products and services for the food sector. Brot is the Catalan word for ‘sprout’ and we are excited to see what else this duo sprouts, especially if it means helping us eat our vegetables.
Bremont has announced its partnership with Britain’s Ministry of Defense with its new Armed Forces collection. The watch will feature a chronometer rated BE-95-2AV automatic with a 38-hour power reserve, a sanded and polished two-piece MoD case, and a 20mm khaki green sailcloth strap. The collection will also feature a 42mm chronograph, a naval inspired design called the Argonaut, and this marks the first time that civilians are permitted to purchase official military timepieces…(Read…)
Promotion: Milan-based designer Antonio Citterio has created a range of furniture for Italian brand Flexform, designed to suit the practicalities of everyday life.
This collection features sofas, armchairs and dining chairs, coffee tables beds and several accessories. Inspired by the theme of “good design”, the items are each intended to be functional and user-friendly.
“What sets every Flexform product apart is the fact it is easily recognisable, conceived for everyday use and always easy to use,” said Citterio.
“Good design embodies myriad inherent qualities like innovation, functionality and, of course, artistic last and user-friendly, because it’s meant to improve daily life,” added Flexform.
The Campiello sectional sofa has balanced proportions and soft goose down-filled cushions
The first item in the Flexform collection is the Campiello sectional sofa, which has a fine shape and goose down-filled cushions, intended to “magnify the feeling of enveloping softness”.
It rests on an aluminium base that comes in either a grey, bronze, satin, chromed, burnished or champagne finish.
The Leda armchair has a wooden base with an enveloping, angular backrest and a round, padded seat
Another product in the collection is the Leda armchair, which has a wooden base with an enveloping, angular backrest and a round, padded seat. It is available with both a low or high backrest.
The Hera chair and armchair has a round, padded seat and a curved backrest. It is available with or without arm rests and with either tapered, cast aluminium legs or solid walnut or ash wooden legs.
The Hera chair is available with or without armrests, and with legs in either aluminium, solid walnut or ash
The Ascanio Occasional coffee table has a wooden structure and a circular surface available in either wood or marble, as well as elevated handles that make it easy to move around a living space.
Also in the furniture series is the Adda bed, which has an upholstered headboard and a “sleek” metal base that can be upholstered in fabric or leather.
“The uncluttered lines of the Adda bed ensure it looks equally fashionable in any of the fabrics or leathers from the Flexform collection and are its passport to fitting seamlessly in any style of home,” said the brand.
The Adda bed has an upholstered headboard and a metal base
Italian designer and architect Citterio has been designing furniture for Flexform for 40 years. Previous releases include the Adda sofa, launched last year, the ABC Lounge Chair created in 1996 and the Groundpiece sofa released in 2001.
The Flexform collection is available in a vast range of colours and textures.
“With its focus on fabrics like linen, cotton, wool and velvet, the company continues its eco-friendly approach, but this year it is also introducing sensational textures and sophisticated shades of colour that range from the cooler tones of emerald green and aquamarine to warmer hues like rush, mauve and eggplant,” added Flexform.
L’artiste franco-argentin Pablo Reinoso est un spécialiste de la métamorphose du bois. Dans son atelier de Malakoff, en France, il crée des oeuvres d’une souplesse aérienne, nécessitant des savoirs-faire techniques sophistiqués. C’est le cas par exemple de sa série d’installation que nous dirons design, appelée avec humour “les Bancs Spaghettis”. Installés dans des lieux publics et des musées, il symbolisent à la fois le retour de la matière à l’état sauvage, et en même temps l’émancipation de l’environnement, ennuyé et engourdi, tenté de s’étirer et de prendre d’autres positions. Mais l’oeil y verra aussi le prolongement poétique de l’objet, comme en conversation avec son environnement.
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