This unusual house, located on a plain terrain without vegetation near Marrakech, looks unreal at first sight: virgin white wall structures, flat roofs, swimming pool with the white tribune seats, high white columns here and there, situated with no visible purpose or system… I find all this very intriguing, so let us take a closer look. Continue reading →

The work of Mitchell Joachim is far from being conventional. His approach to architectural challenges is fresh and unusual. Further than the concept of “form follows function”, Mitchell Joachim defends the motto “forms follows biology”! The project that I’m about to show you demonstrates how a simple urban space such as a gymnasium can be transformed into the most amazing life experience. Continue reading →

The students of the Kanagawa Institute of Technology are lucky: these days they are able to use a new facility as their Alma Mater. A huge, transparent pavilion of glass and steel is now fully at their disposal.

The idea of the architect was to make a comfortable indoor workshop space, which would give an impression of a public outdoor square. And he succeeded, using a relatively simple structural system and two basic materials: white painted metal and glass. Continue reading →

After first glancing at Villa Rotonda’s pictures you might think this is one more example of a beautiful renovation. Indeed, the traditional form of the house’s main volume, its double-pitched roof, the massive chimneys, the grey brick walls, and slate tiled roof, incline you to think of historic pieces of architecture. Yet this structure is absolutely new! Let’s take a look closer… Continue reading →

This amazing piece of architecture was created due to no less amazing and unusual given conditions: an abandoned Saracen trullo with remains of a lamia (a traditional adjacent structure) among olive and almond trees in Ostuni, Italy. Just like me, you might ask what is a trullo? It is a traditional South-Italian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Continue reading →

There’s a red house at a red hill in Victoria, Australia! It seems a little repetitive but it’s real and worthy of attention. A creative and impressive solution was given to a weekend home located on a hillside overlooking a bay between a framed set of pine windbreaks.

This exquisite construction has two floors gently nestled into the sloping landscape. The program spreads organically along the site like the roots of a tree, between rusty walls and glazed openings. Continue reading →

I know what you think after having thrown a glance at the picture – that it looks very much like Frank Gehry’s style. And – bingo!

This wonderful artist created an independent architectural style and is, undoubtedly, a mighty figure of contemporary world architecture. Gehry’s manner is so very distinctive, that if at some point you’ve seen his work, you will be able to identify his architecture. It is difficult, indeed, not to recognize the handwriting of this prominent contemporary master. Even if a similar style building was created by another architect, you would still describe it as “Gehry-inspired”.

This LA residence was built in 1989 for a man called Rockwell Schnabel, that’s why it is known as Schnabel House ever since. In 2006 this masterpiece was purchased by film producer Jon Platt, who updated the house with modern technological features. Let us take a closer look at this gigantic 5,700 sq. ft.residence, for it is more sophisticated than it may seem. Continue reading →

Tropical countries often surprise us with their finest uncompromising architecture…By this I mean that buildings always get the most profound relation with their surrounding nature without any kind of fear or prudence! A physical frontier between interior and exterior is almost entirely absent in tropical pieces of architecture, just like in the V4 House in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Continue reading →

In Timmelsjoch, Austria, a fine piece of architecture seems to defy gravity! I’m talking about the Pass Museum, where its name fully confirms its function: the perfect spot to rest and enjoy the outstanding alpine landscape. It also serves as a monument in honor of the alpine road pioneers and their exceptional accomplishments.

A sinuous path leads our steps to this amazing structure. The design references the shape of an erratic rock that simply seems to erect itself from the land on which it stands. Continue reading →

A tower for a home… Can you imagine how unusual and seductive this project can be? Let me introduce a peculiar house in Chile, called the Casa Cien. A single family residence establishes an “umbilical connection” with a luxuriant and mountainous site.

The project is composed by a monolithic podium and a tower with different-sized square windows offering framed views of the surrounding landscape. This construction almost erupts from the earth… like a mineral flower firmly rooted to its rocky ground! Continue reading →