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27 Dec ’11

Could This Mansion Be Ashton Kutcher’s Next Home?

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Interiors — Tags: architecture, Ashton Kutcher, ashton kutcher mansion, celebrity homes, Interiors, residential design — Sahar @ 8:00 am

According to Home Designing, this could be Ashton Kutcher’s next House. The 9,385 square foot mansion is priced at $10,800,000 located in the Hollywood Hills with spectacular views of Lake Hollywood and the culturally iconic sign, visible beyond walls of retractable glass.

The contemporary five bedroom dream home boasts eight bathrooms, a ‘floating’ dining room, state-of-the-art screening room, and a fitness & massage room. The house also makes full use of the Hollywood heat, enjoying an infinity-edged swimming pool with elevated spa, and a number of outdoor rooms perched on cantilevered decks or far reaching patios with extensive built in fire pits.

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17 Dec ’11

A-Cero Designs Residence In Adma, Lebanon | Architecture

Filed under: Architecture,blog — Tags: A-Cero, Adma, architecture, lebanon, modern architecture, residential design — Sahar @ 12:14 am

Finally one of my favorite architecture firms, A-cero, makes it to Lebanon with this magnificent residence in Adma. This is a 3-level detached house situated in a unique environment on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea.

The basement is around of 546 m2,including a garage for 10 vehicles, 3 halls multipurpose room, sauna, 3 bedrooms,and a kitchen.

The ground floor level is of 486m2 includes an office, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen,a family living room in addition to porches and large terraces . There is also an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.

The first floor is around 475m2 and includes the private areas such as the master bedroom suit , guest bedroom, and 3 bedrooms. Also there is a small garden on this level.

“The materials used for the facade are the white and beige travertine stone with black glass. What is prominent is broken facade forms, coherent with the topography of the land’s stony steep slopes.The architecture highlights the cantilevered master bedroom with spectacular sea views and overlooking the hillside.

The pool is designed with a structural glass in the front to take the advantage of views and the surrounding.

Both the lounge and the dining room windows are retractable, creating a fusion of the exterior with the interior, enjoying the good weather of this region throughout the year

The overhangs favor the visual effect on surrounding vegetation. One of the formal characteristics of this single family house is the blind spot (the wall without windows), oriented toward the street, in contrast to the large windows of the house, facing the valley and the sea.

In the beach area you can enjoy unbeatable views, so A-cero designed a large porch area partially covered by folding arm awnings.

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24 Nov ’11

Algeria Skyscraper By DNA Architects | Architecture

Filed under: Architecture,blog — Tags: algeria, algeria skyscraper, architecture, DNA architects, Le Far du Grand Vent — Sahar @ 8:30 am

Barcelona-based DNA Architects designed this project for Cheraga, Algeria . Known as Le Far du Grand Vent, this building is designed around the form of a ship with similar angles and horizontal protrusions varying from floor to floor. The building will house a residential and a commercial part. Le Far with it’s exquisite design can be considered one of the city’s landmarks. The lighting is beautiful and accentuates its distinct architecture.

DNA Barcelona Architects is a studio of Architecture, Planning, Landscape, Interiors and Design, that develops projects with a high index of innovation inside a global strategy of internationalization. The projects are located principally within Spain, North and Central Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central America for residential, hospitality and tourist developments.

Evolo

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21 Nov ’11

Beirutopia : A Concept For A Greener Beirut By Studioinvisible

Filed under: Environment — Tags: architecture, beirut, Beirutopia, eco, environment, green solution, lebanon, urban design — Sahar @ 10:54 pm

Beirut, Lebanon is known to be a very polluted city. With the chaos during the years of war, building regulations were not respected, not to mention whatever ‘green’ Lebanon was known for is being diminished by the day. Political greed lead to the environmental catastrophe Lebanese are now living in. It is time to raise awareness and come up with solutions to stop the wrong and try to introduce alternatives or some kind of “patchwork” to the existing mess. This is where Studioinvisible come in, they proposed a concept to help Beirut restore some of its ‘green’.

Studioinvisible’s concept:

Given the circumstances, the most pragmatic solution will be to have a municipal decree that requires each building to grow it’s simple rooftop garden (by require we mean harshly implement, by force if necessary). Nothing fancy, just a couple of trees in a large fixed pot on each rooftop. As incentives to the urban population, the municipality can offer tax reductions or benefits to the buildings that have a well maintained rooftop garden, and the gardening/plant companies could offer discounts and sponsorship, and later claim that they turned Beirut green (we can already predict their campaigns).

There are many types of tree that can grow in the Beirut climate to 3-4 meters high in a simple 1 meter pot, such as the olive tree, the Schinum Molle, Morus Alba, Melia azaderachh, Punica Granatum, Etc… In order to prevent these trees from falling in case of high winds, they could be connected by three steel wires to the roof slab.

The advantages of having this done on a large scale are many. Better oxygen levels and a healthy environment is the first that comes to mind, but also a layer of trees will provide shade and accordingly soften the increasingly hot and arid climate, which in turn would lead to a lower level of energy consumption. Moreover, semi public green spaces will be created for the respective residents of each building, increasing even further the quality of living within the city itself. On the other hand, depending on the choice of trees and plants, these gardens can evolve into a sort of urban farming, yielding a small but valuable agricultural output.

Ultimately, If the plan works out, Beirut could become a rooftop wonder forest, the whole city as a Landmark: Beirutopia.

StudioInvisible (pronounced in French), is a multidisciplinary design consultancy working in the fields of Urban Planning, Architecture, Interior & product Design, Visual Branding and Political Science, and aiming to provide the world with Avant-Garde Design interventions as well as in-depth Cultural, Social and Political guidance. Composed of Architect and Urban Designer Wassim Melki, Colonel Sir Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot, the studio is an open platform for debate and thought-sharing.

Do you think this is feasible?

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Design Libya Announces Competition To Redesign Gaddafi’s Former Military Stronghold: Bab Al-Azizia

Filed under: Architecture,New Concepts — Tags: architecture, bab al azizia, competition to design Libya, design Liby, Gaddafi, libya, urban design — Sahar @ 9:18 pm

Many of Libya’s cities were damaged or destroyed during the February 17th Revolution. While the human cost was heavy by any measure, there is an opportunity for Libya to be rebuilt in pioneering new ways. Design Libya will be sponsoring a major international conference in Tripoli in mid to late 2012, bringing together innovative thinkers, designers, architects and visionaries to collaborate on new ideas for Libya’s new schools, ports, hospitals, public spaces, plazas and more.

Bab al-Azizia, Gaddafi’s former military stronghold, bunker and palace in the heart of Tripoli, was transformed from a 2.3 square-mile symbol of fear and oppression into a place for public gatherings and weekly markets before it was finally demolished in late October. Bab al-Azizia is now the site for an open architecture competition.

Announcing an open competition in 2012 for redesigning Bab al-Azizia. Architects, landscape architects, designers, planners, artists, horticulturalists, students and community members are invited to create visionary, inspired design proposals for the space’s reuse as a public, open space for all. The competition will culminate in a major exhibition in Tripoli, Libya, accompanied by a publication and website. Design Libya hope the rebirth of Bab al-Azizia will come to powerfully symbolize the rebirth of the new Libya, and serve as an inspiration to the Libyan people, and all free people around the world.

The competition is not meant to result in awarding of actual contracts to formally design the new site. This is a preliminary call for open ideas, not sponsored by the Libyan government, to help shape inspire citizen participation and creative investment right here on bitcoin360ai which is better in the future of the country. Design Libya hope as the government is formed and elections take place to build systems to properly begin reclaiming Bab al-Azizia, raising funds and preparing a formal call for design submissions.

As much as the competition sound interesting, I just hope their new government will really take on such a project and allow Libyans a breath of novelty.

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7 Nov ’11

Stone Towers In Cairo By Zaha Hadid Architects | Architecture

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Famous Designers — Tags: architecture, Cairo, Stone Towers, zaha hadid architects — Sahar @ 4:00 pm

From Zaha Hadid Architects:

Stone Towers, named for an ancient petrified tree at the heart of this new development, comprises state of the art office facilities for a rapidly expanding city, alongside a five star hotel, serviced apartments, restaurants, bars and a central landscaped area, the ‘Delta’.

Our design mediates two distinct ‘edges’ – high speed ring road to the north and residential component to the south. Deliberately pursuing a rhythm of interlocking, yet individually differentiated building forms, static repetition is avoided and structures successfully merged within a cohesive landscape.

Ancient and contemporary Egyptian stonework is referenced on building surfaces – producing external skins that respond and change under intense sunlight thanks to the use of protrusions, recesses and voids. Both sunlight and deep shadow serve to further define Stone Towers.

North Edge buildings set a strong vertical presence in response to the ring road, forming a gentle S-curve. The skewed orientation of these buildings creates two different effects when observed driving either west or east. From one direction the louvered East Façade is more prevalent. From the other, the curving, solid pre-cast façade dominates. Additionally, the building setout creates a high degree of self shading for the more transparent east and west façades. Each building follows a similar set of rules, yet is entirely unique.

South Edge buildings, adjacent to the residential development are lower in height, seeming to emerge from the landscape as a series of ribbons. They connect to the North Edge via the ‘Delta’ – a landscaped area marked by water features, cafes, retail outlets and shaded areas, which effectively weaves the entire Stone Towers composition together.

Stone Towers

Cairo, Egypt
2008 – TBC
Rooya Group
Design
179,970m²
Retail: 20,813m²
North Office Buildings: 226,163m²
South Office Buildings: 231,134m²
Hotel: 85,500m²

Set between ring road and residential area, Stone Towers avoids the monolithic repetition of static building masses – comprising higher structures, articulated through a series of ‘ripples’ to create North Edge Buildings and lower, softer ‘ribbons’ at South Edge Buildings – a central, outdoor landscape, the ‘Delta’ fusing these key elements.

ZHA

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25 Oct ’11

The New Manila Trump Tower to be Furnished By Hermès

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Interiors — Tags: architecture, Century City, century group, Century Properties Flagship Development, hermes home collection, hermes hotel, Interiors, manila, Manila Trump Tower, trump — Sahar @ 3:57 pm

“I’ve always loved the Philippines. I think it’s just a special place and Manila is one of Asia’s most spectacular cities. I know that this project will be second to none.” Donald Trump- Chairman & President of the Trump Organization

Owned by Century Group, the Trump Tower in Manila Philippines), the most luxurious building in Manila, features high-rise condos with public areas (lobbies, libraries, pools) and apartments decorated by Versace, Missoni. Hermès was approached to design the public spaces of the building complex and, surprisingly, they accepted, making it the very first Hermès interior design for a public project. Despite the fact that Hermès has recently launched an extended home collection, including carpets and furniture, the French maison remains deeply focused on its core product range emanating from their exceptional craftsmanship.

The project is estimated to cost $150 Million and will include 244 residential units. It will rise at Century Properties Flagship Development, Century City.

From a grand lobby that celebrates your arrival, en route to a marvelous hallway that draws your inner effervescence. Amidst a wide array of lavishly designed amenities. Leading to your exclusive living space with sweeping city views.Trump Tower Manila’s emphasis on elegance, quality and craftsmanship will be evident in its amenity spaces. The building will use a selection of Hermès home collections for its amenities and common areas.

At Trump Tower^TM Manila, units are carefully designed to adhere to the Trump brand’s superior design and development standards.The Trump Tower^TM Manilla consists of 3 types of units:

Downtown Soho:

At Trump Tower^TM Manila lends Downtown Soho’s unique sophistication through ebony wood flooring, pristine white walls with linear paneling and white natural stones in smooth matte finish. Downtown Soho is the ideal interior theme for the upwardly mobile citizen with a contemporary taste in design.

Fifth Avenue:

Trump Tower^TM Manila brings glamorous Fifth Avenue’s classic design aesthetic through art deco in light wood veneer floors and walls, marble and granite natural stones in creams and browns. Fifth Avenue is the perfect interior finish for those who want to enhance and showcase their artwork collections like paintings, sculpture and art installations.

Park Avenue:

Trump Tower^TM Manila echoes Park Avenue’s transitional style using traditional moldings on walls and cornices, contemporary wenge wood flooring, lacquered high gloss finish for doors and door jambs, marble and granite natural stones in cream, white and black. Park Avenue is best suited for those who want the best of both worlds – fusing contemporary and classic in interior finishes.

The Trump ® brand now encompasses projects across the United States, Panama, Canada and Turkey and is renowned for representing the highest level of excellence and luxury in residential, hotel, office, retail and golf properties.
Trump branded projects have always been associated with the world’s premier real estate. Trump buildings are known for their spectacular views, prime locations, luxurious amenities and discerning owners. The existing clientele of Trump includes global CEOs and celebrities. The experience of owning a Trump branded property and living in the Trump lifestyle is unparalleled.
Superior Quality, Detail and Perfection are standards that Trump demands of all properties bearing its name. The exclusive touch of the Trump brand is present in every aspect of their properties, from the design driven, cutting edge façades created in collaboration with the world’s best architects, to the flawless interiors designed specifically for each market to the world-class service. No detail is overlooked. With each of its developed and branded properties, the Trump brand continues to raise the bar of super luxurious living consistently.

For information, please contact:
(632) 818 -90 41
(63) 917-555-5274
www.trumptowermanila.com
[email protected]

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22 Oct ’11

1001 Nights Villa By A-Cero | Residential Design

Filed under: Architecture,blog — Tags: a-cero- 1001 nights, architecture, concrete exterior, modern villa, residential design — Sahar @ 12:16 am

There usually isn’t a long interval between posts about A-Cero’s projects. I am a big fan and in love with their vision of volumes. Many might find them bulky and “dry” since they heavily rely on concrete and grey stones for their finishes. Scroll down to check out the remaining photos and enjoy the effects the architecture reveals when accompanied with beautiful lighting and an enormous swimming pool.

A-cero is a Spanish architecture firm which has recently completed the 1001 Nights House project. This 22,600 square foot contemporary concrete residence is located in Madrid, Spain.

1001 Nights House by A-cero:

“A-cero presents one of its more recent projects in single family properties.

It is a single family house located in a development in the outskirts of Madrid. Over a plot of 7000 m2 the building, with 2100 m2, rises with a high standard design answering the owners’ requirements.

The access, through the development walkway, is placed on a higher level. Here is the property, partially hidden by many curved walls that seem to elevate from some water sheets over a stone covering in white, grey and black shades, placed on purpose as a part of the landscape in this area of the plot. Besides its sculptural features, typical of the A-cero style, this side of the facade expects the integration of the building in the surrounding environment. A wide stone path, with water sheets on both sides, lead us to a huge black glass door that gives us access inside the property. In the garden, following the wishes of the owners, there are palms, pome granate trees and Middle East vegetation.

The rear facade of the house, the most visible, makes the most of the slight slope of the plot, where there is the porch, a pool and the garden. Almost all the views from the different rooms of the property are focused here, as the views of the lakes in the common areas of the development.

All the building is dressed in “black villar granite stone”. In this part of the property big windows, with hidden woodwork, are opened, achieving a lot of light for the inside space. In the porch, the window in the main living room, of 10 meters, is automatically hidden, connecting indoors and outdoors.

The passable area is made of white marble, the vase in the pool of blue gressite. The outside furniture is from the Rest collection by A-cero In.”