Design & Lifestyle Blog

8 Jul ’11

Beirut Residential Building by Accent Design Group | Architecture

Filed under: Architecture,blog — Tags: , , , — Sahar @ 2:13 am

 

It seems irregular shapes in architecture is the trend nowadays. This is a project located in Beirut on the Fouad Shehab Highway, which is a convenient and beautiful location. The best part about the location is that it overlooks downtown Beirut, and unlike most other areas in Beirut, the view can’t be blocked.

The design focuses on “stacked glass boxes” with an additional aim from its design, maximizing buildable area.

 

The view from this building is amazing, you can see the best of Beirut, i.e. downtown and the sea at the same time, that’s mainly due to the location of the area on a somewhat higher level. The panoramic glass blocks have shading louvers to provide privacy and shade from the excessive sunlight.

Its important the main view was one sided, as the area behind the building is still to a great extent still abandoned and with no great views whatsoever.

 

 

Architect: ACCENT DESIGN GROUP
Location: Beirut Lebanon
Lead Architect :Elie Abs

Project team : Charbel Karam, Ahmad KHOJA, Petia RATZOV
Project Area: 11,000 sqm

Archdaily

21 Jun ’11

Actress Courtney Cox Malibu Residence | Celebrity Houses

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Celebrity Homes,Interiors — Tags: , , , — Sahar @ 5:18 pm

 

According to Elle Décor, Courteney Cox wanted to be an architect before becoming an actress. She mainly chose this location in Malibu, California due to its privacy especially that her previous home, which she loved so much, was located at the same level of a public pool.

With this house she decided she wanted to go for a design totally different from the previous residence, she wanted it to look like a modern barn. Notice the open spaces, the bright ambience, the use of modern materials and others that are so natural that they take the house to a more timeless feel.

Cox hired architect Michael Kovac for the job alongside Trip Haenisch for the interior design.

“There was a good balance between Michael and Trip,” says Cox. “Michael is definitely more modern; Trip tried to make the house look like it had been here forever.” The result, she says, is “very simple, with bronzed-steel trim, white walls, and wood floors. Nothing too cluttered and not a lot of fancy details.”

 

 

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14 Jun ’11

Bringing Nature Inside: Loft 24-7 São Paulo| Residential Design

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Interiors — Tags: , , , — Sahar @ 4:39 pm

This is a beautiful attempt at creating outdoor moods indoor. In this 250 sq. m loft, São Paulo-based architect Fernanda Marques was able to come up with an earthy and very natural ambiance within the residence’s interior, by using logs, limestone, rough stone, and the likes. Very simple, the use of the right materials and the right combination gave this loft the exquisite look.

 

For more information on the designer, you can check her website, hope you can read Portuguese though.

12 Jun ’11

Minimal Sustainable Design in Australia | Residential Design

Filed under: Architecture,Interiors — Tags: , , , , , , — Sahar @ 10:00 am

 

This project is an example of how a minimal and modern space design can be achieved to respect sustainability and eco standards. Crone Partners are the architects who designed this house located in Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

Embracing the challenge of a relatively tight inner suburban location, and restrictive building envelope, the designers worked closely with the client to rationalize their “wish list” into a concise and deliverable brief. Little was lost in this process and even less in the translation to a finished home for the builder / client and their young family.

The house’s finely detailed bold rectilinear form is set back from the street amidst a carpet of natural ground cover. Entrance down the side of the house is made via a subtle path formed from old railway sleepers embedded into the ground. Whilst sitting comfortably in its street context proportionally, and with setbacks respectful of its neighboring properties, the view from the street confirms immediately that this house is quite different to those around it. The project is realized through a series of simple intersecting and overlapping rectangular forms. Each “box” represents a distinct portion of the overall program. A sleeping / study zone, a living zone, a garage / workshop, and cantilevered above all of this, a parents retreat, complete with its own living area and secluded outdoor terrace.

 

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9 Jun ’11

Foster + Partners Design 3Beirut: Their First Project in Lebanon

Filed under: Architecture,blog — Tags: , , , , , — Sahar @ 8:44 pm

 

As much as I’m thrilled with the idea that one of the world’s top architecture firms are designing a project in Beirut, Lebanon, I’m a bit disappointed its another residential and shopping project locals can’t afford. But let’s look at the bright side, finally we’ll have a Foster + Partners signed project .

From Foster + Partner’s website:

3Beirut – the first project designed by Foster + Partners to break ground in Lebanon – is revealed today. Responding directly to the site and culture of Beirut, the scheme will create a sustainable residential and retail development of international quality. The development will also strengthen Beirut’s role as a center for tourism, commerce, retail and entertainment while providing new green spaces at ground level for the city to enjoy.

Located in the Beirut Central District, the scheme forms a part of the prestigious Sector B of the Solidere master-plan and is designed to enhance this area as a thriving and celebrated part of the city. Particular consideration has been given to the public realm and the creation of an attractive environment accessible to pedestrians. Established around direct pedestrian routes across the site, its design will connect the historic city center to the harbor at the Mediterranean. The podium level and surrounding external spaces will provide a cluster of shops, cafes, restaurants, a gymnasium, an art gallery and public gardens.
The glazed north side of the towers will provide spectacular views of the harbor, while the south facing side steps down in height, integrating the towers into the urban grain. 3Beirut will be the first towers in the city to have green roofs, creating a unique residential development.
Foster + Partners’ vision for the interiors is to create apartments that are based on elegant and functional layouts, allowing the occupants to inhabit them in a number of different ways, while also enhancing the appeal of this distinctive location. The interiors will be signified by calm, uncluttered space and the passive environmental strategy will maximize natural light and ventilation.
Luke Fox, a senior partner and design director at Foster + Partners, remarked:
“I am delighted that our first project in Lebanon is under construction. 3Beirut will be a significant addition to the city and I look forward to it contributing to the emerging success of Beirut as an international destination.”

[ Foster + Partners ]

3 Jun ’11

The Park Hotel Hyderabad by SOM | Hotel Design

Filed under: Architecture,blog,Interiors — Tags: , , , , — Sahar @ 9:40 pm

Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed the new flagship hotel for The Park Hotel Group: The Park Hotel Hyderabad. The project is 531,550-square-feet, with 270 rooms hotel with a modern, sustainable design yet respecting the local craft traditions.

 

The hotel is  well serviced with spas and restaurants, with space designs including materials reflecting Indian materials and crafts combined with the latest technologies to provide the best services for their clientele.

 

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23 May ’11

The Alphabet Building | Architecture

Filed under: Architecture — Tags: , , , — Sahar @ 10:00 am

This is a new project scheduled to be completed by 2012. This office building has its windows in the form of carved out alphabets. The project is designed by  Dutch architects MVRDV. Their description and details are listed below.

 

 

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17 May ’11

Villa in Bryanston South Africa | Residential Design

Filed under: Architecture — Tags: , , , , — Sahar @ 11:02 pm

 

 

This 4000 m2 property is located in Bryanston, South Africa , the beautiful villa is designed by Nico Van Der Meulen. The splendor lies in its magnificent scale yet light impression, the transparency and horizontal span of its structure helps with that. This has to be one of the most residential villas with open spaces and amazing views surrounding it from every angle.

Upon entering through the gatehouse you look down the sloping driveway with several large cantilevers protruding from the building, some in rust, other areas clad with unfilled travertine, and an atrium behind a mentis grating screen.

Next to the front door a large reflective koi pond flows over a retaining wall next to the drive way, with an illuminated glass staircase behind a two story curtain wall in the background. The koi pond was made with help from Living Water Aeration. The lift shaft forms a strong vertical element finished in rust behind the pond. All of this is framed by a cantilevered concrete beam. The staircase behind the koi pond is a double glass construction, with lights between the two layers of glass. Above the lower garage (that was designed by the experts from garage door repair texas city) a huge cantilevered structure hangs out, suspended by beams built into its roof.

The house was designed around three massive trees, one at the tennis court, and the other two on the east side of the house. The view from the hall towards the east is into one of these trees, framed by a large sliding window in the kitchen.

 

The kitchen, breakfast room and family room leads seamlessly through  wall to wall frameless sliding doors onto the patio, with the dining room situated behind the family room, sharing a fireplace with the family room.  When the doors are open, the family room, breakfast room, open and covered patio and kitchen becomes one large area. The home also features Contemporary Garage Door Styles with a view down into the koi pond.

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