Mar 12, 2012 | Architecture, blog
I tend to prefer modern architecture and interiors over the more classic ones, mainly because of the spaciousness and cleanliness when well designed. This beautiful house is designed by SAOTA and is located in the most exclusive street in Cape Town, South Africa.
In addition to breathtaking architecture, this residence boasts a stylish garden with outdoor living area set into the mountain face behind. The openness of the main living area to the terrace makes the seascape a major part of the interior.
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Dec 17, 2011 | Architecture, blog
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 the pergola area.”
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Sep 16, 2011 | Architecture, blog, Interiors
In a very exclusive area known to house properties for the rich and famous, lies this breathtaking residence. This 4,000 square foot property is located in the famous Hollywood hills and is worth almost $10,000,000. I actually think it is totally worth it. Not only does it overlook amazing views, the finishes, the furniture, and the landscaping is of the highest quality.
This residence has 4 bedrooms, five bathrooms, home theater, and a beautiful garden with an infinity pool overlooking a beautiful cityscape. Brands used were B&B Italia, Poliform (kitchen and cabinets), Gaggenau, Sub Zero, Crestron, Dornbracht faucets and Caesar stone countertops in the kitchen, Boffi accessories and fixtures, Antonio Lupi and Paola Lenti outdoor furnishings. Finishes include American Walnut floors, terrazzo, and Macassar Ebony.In addition to that, there are i-pod docks in all rooms, integrated CCTV, exterior speakers and the home theatre professional 3DLP HD projector. A beautiful art installation – “Sprout” by Nancy Braver – dominates the back yard landscape.
All extra information is listed on the property’s website. Check 9010 Hopen for more info.
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Feb 26, 2011 | Architecture, Interiors
This project in particular has sentimental value to me. The Ghazale Residence is three-story villa which is a collaborative work between architect Gilbert Zarka and myself, Sahar Ghazale.
Located in Chtoura, in the beautiful Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, this residence stands out in terms of design. It is the only such architecture in the area, as opposed to the traditional designs surrounding it.
On the exterior facades, we used Basalt stone in both white and grey, and Béton brut (architectural concrete). You will notice several volumetric elements such as concrete pergolas, a 13m high chimney and high glass structures allowing as much light as possible into the house. One of the main features of the garden is the shallow pool with fountains and teak wood pergolas.
In more than one area there are double height voids and skylights. Even the basement enjoys natural sunlight through a garden continuing from the exterior to the interior. The main entrance boasts a long runway of stamped concrete in two different grey tones with contracting white sea stones flanking from both sides leading to a 3meter high solid walnut main door.
The owner is a person who loves his garden and cherishes every single plant, thus requested numerous water features and a beautiful olive tree he raised on a separate hill. Palm trees which are usually synonymous with humid and hot areas such as the gulf, composed a large portion of the plantation in the garden of this villa, something which is unusual for this specific location.
The interior design is a continuation of the exterior. The basalt stone continues to the inside on numerous walls. A red wall supports the main staircase. Apart from that all finishes are in neutral tones indicating luxury and simplicity. Wood used on the ground level is Palisander which contrasts beautifully with the dark tinted walnut doors. All doors were in the form of panels reaching ceiling height.
Most of the furniture used was from Roche Bobois, which is the owner’s favorite brand. Ceiling design is very simple. Lighting is mainly in the form of indirect lighting, halogen spotlights highlighted certain areas for warmer color effect. In future posts I will be introducing more interior photos of the different rooms on the upper floors.
For further information you can contact me directly on my contact page or email.
Jan 15, 2011 | Architecture, Interiors
Those who know me as a designer know how much I appreciate traditional design, yet the style I am passionate about is the minimal modern. To see such a structure in Iran, a country known for and rich in culture and history is magnificent!
Villa Kiani is located in Mohammad Shahr region, near Karaj city, Iran. The 500sq.m residence has a 4000 sq.m garden and was designed by Makan Rahmanian and Kamran Heirati. The volumes of this villa along with the beautiful planes of the garden complement the high ceilings and high glass facades. Everything is minimal, yet luxurious through the use of the finishes and the sleek architectural lines.
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