Tag Archives: Architecture

Nendo Constructs The Stairway House Like a Semi-Outdoor Greenhouse

Defined by its distinctive continuous staircase, the Stairway house in Tokyo, Japan was conceptualized by Japanese architect and founder of Nendo design studio, Oki Sato. Born in Toronto, Canada, Oki is revered for bringing a fresh and innovative perspective to cultural and traditional design.

Nendo Constructs The Stairway House Like a Semi-Outdoor Greenhouse

In his work with the Stairway house, the architect prioritizes the use of natural light, ventilation and greenery to enhance each living space. Utilizing an enormous glass façade on the southern front of the residence, Oki was able to preserve the neighbourhood’s existing persimmon tree beloved throughout every generation.

Catering directly to the needs of his clients, the residence is organized such that the most essential spaces for everyday living are situated on the first floor where a couple of matured age with numerous cats can roam freely whilst easily accessing the amenities that they need, both in-and-outdoors.

Meanwhile, the upper levels which are home to a younger couple and their child, are connected through a ‘stairway-like’ structure designed in the south yard, continuing upward into the building, penetrating the 1st through 3rd floors. Doubling up for a multitude of purposes, the connecting stairway conceals multiple functional elements such as bathrooms.

Taking on the look of a semi-outdoor greenhouse with abundant greenery as well as a sun-soaked perch for the cats to enjoy climbing, each and every section of the Stairway house presents an air of privacy despite close proximity, and serenity, where all three generations can take comfort in each other’s subtle presence.

Expanding beyond the compounds of the house, the stairway not only connects the interior spaces to one another, it reaches out into the yard and unto the city road.

By Julia Roxan

 

Kapsimalis Architects Transforms Ancient Volcanic Remains into The Saint Hotel

What was once a cluster of abandoned homes, barns and cellars amidst a rugged landscape of ancient volcanic remains, is now the Santorini island’s proudest structure. Designed and conceptualized by Greek studio, Kapsimalis Architects, the cliffside Saint Hotel incorporates the Bronze Age’s rich, classic Cycladic aesthetic.

Kapsimalis Architects Transforms Ancient Volcanic Remains into The Saint Hotel

Through the tireless process of restoring and revamping, the Saint Hotel steps downward on a seaside cliff, providing unobstructed views of the island’s volcanic bay on every level. Featuring rooms built snug into the steep hillside, the hotel’s sixteen suites include private terraces with pools and loungers, separated by white concrete walls.

Comprising of a small reception, restaurant, common pool area, spa, hammam, sauna booths, massage rooms, and gym – the hotel spans over six floors with the entrance positioned at the uppermost level and easily accessed on foot, with exterior staircases creating a central path for guests and staff to navigate the space.

Referencing the area’s authentic cubist morphology, Kapsimalis Architects were careful in ensuring the renewed contemporary space blended seamlessly into the surrounding caldera landscape – restoring caves and maintaining the significant motifs of traditional Cycladic design, the architects heavily-incorporated the use of white and a human scale throughout the construction process.

Enhancing the existing contours and terrain of its natural environment, the Saint Hotel is uniform in its minimal, bright white approach. Featuring the slightest touch of gold and green, the hotel’s interior draws an undivided attention to the mesmerizing scenes of outdoor Santorini, whilst providing guests with a great sense of opulence, relaxation, privacy and comfort.

By Julia Roxan

 

The world’s first 360° Infinity Pool

In the day, sunlight percolates the Infinity Pool and the cast acrylic bottom to illuminate the chamber beneath with an alluring, shimmering bluish tint. Hold your breath as you enter the Pool via a rotating spiral stairwell inspired by a submarine hatch-door.

The World’s First 360° Infinity Pool

Ever ready to push the boundaries of engineering, or in this case, remove the apparent edges, U.K.-based Compass Pool released its CGI rendering showing a 360° see-through Infinity Pool atop a 55 storey building, Infinity London. According to the technical director, Alex Kemsly, the 600,000 litres pool was conceptualised before even thinking about how to prop it in the sky. It is thus safe to say that the open-air Infinity Pool atop the 220 metres tall building is set to be the showpiece of the building, and possibly the world, if realised.

The 360° Infinity Pool is probably the most avant-gardist of its kind. Not only do the four sides provide an uninterrupted view of the London skyline, but even the base of the Pool is also transparent. To further enhance the Pool’s transparency, Kemsly settled for cast acrylic over glass because it transmits light at a similar wavelength to water, giving pool-users a crystal clear view of the beautiful London vista and the sanctum beneath. It will almost be like an aquarium teeming with hyped pool-users swimming around while curious (and bewildered) hotel guests observe from below.

A Submarine Door?

Before we romanticise the Pool, we cannot but wonder about its practicalities. As seen from Compass Pool’s rendering, there are no side ladders or obvious entry point into the Pool. When interviewed, Alex Kemsly explained, “Normally a simple ladder would suffice, but we didn’t want stairs on the outside of the building or in the pool as it would spoil the view— and obviously you don’t want 600,000 litres of water draining through the building either.” To visionary Kemsly, that is enough impetus to adopt the idea of a submarine’s hatch door to engineer a James Bond-esque rotating spiral staircase for the swimmers’ entry and exit.

Thrilling as it sounds, it is still worthy of questioning its efficacy. A point of contemplation—India’s $3 billion submarine, Arihant, sunk due to a mindless human error of forgetting to seal the hatch while in harbour. Admittedly, the rotating spiral stairwell won’t be sinking, but it might render claustrophobes extremely squeamish as water potentially floods into the compartment as the hatch opens for entry and exit. Additionally, the staircase cannot be made too large that it obstructs the passage of other pool-users. Ergo, it may lead to over-crowding—with the Infinity Pool set to be the centrepiece of the 55 storey building, will the rotating stairwell be fast enough to channel enthusiastic pool-users in and out of the Pool? Compass Pool’s rendering may depict a serene pool in the sky, but without seeing to those questions, it could potentially degenerate into a cramped pond of frustrated pool-users queuing to get out amidst the chilly windy backdrop.

Another obvious problem is that 220 metres up in the skies, the Pool is likely to be windswept and subject to the chilling temperature. Thankfully, some well-considered proposals are tackling those shortfalls. An anemometer will be installed and connected to a computer-controlled management system to prevent water from being swept off the sides of the Pool. Riding on the eco-friendliness tide, the Pool will be warmed using hot waste gases produced by the building’s air-conditioning system. Building an unprecedented facility is no piece of cake, but LUXUO is optimistic that it will be the pièce de résistance if Kemsly keeps pace with his ingenious solutions.

Perhaps a literal adaptation of the figurative, the full-spectrum of multi-coloured lights adorning the see-through Pool will make it the sparkling gem of London’s skyline that awes and inspires from afar.

Construction of Infinity London (and the Infinity Pool atop) may commence as early as 2020 if the partners, contractors and location are finalised. 

This article was originally published on www.luxuo.com.

Modscape’s Cliff House in Australia is the definition of living life on the edge

Australian architecture specialist, Modscape, is pushing boundaries with Cliff House, a remarkable luxury waterfront real estate concept with a connection to the ocean below

‘The unique positioning also gives the home’s residents an incredible connection to the ocean below, while alleviating construction problems associated with building on uneven rock.’

Modscape’s Cliff House in Australia is The Definition of Living Life on The Edge

Live life on the edge, they say. And Modscape’s Cliff House literally achieves that. Australian architecture specialists, Modscape Concept, has designed a thrilling five story vacation home that clings on a cliff’s edge over looking the south pacific ocean.

‘The unique positioning also gives the home’s residents an incredible connection to the ocean below, while alleviating construction problems associated with building on uneven rock.’ said Modscape Concept. Indeed, jutting from the top of the rock face like a strange extension of the rocks, Modscape’s Cliff House in Australia is a literal slice of luxury waterfront real estate with ‘an absolute connection with the ocean’.

Looks dangerous yet exciting, this extraordinary home overlooks the coast of Australia and it is definitely a luxurious view to wake up to. Many would question how this residential is built at one glance and engineered steel pins is the answer.

 

The 3-bedroom house would have just a single entrance and this would be via the carport, situated on the top floor of the property. The owners would get to each level of the home via an elevator, one of which would come with an en suite bathroom in the bedroom, a separate bathroom, dining room, lounge, kitchen, spa and an area for a BBQ.

Modscape takes its name from its signature modular design style, rooted in sustainability and speed. Modscape was challenged to rethink its typical modular design for Cliff House due to its remote location on the coast of Australia. Of course, the environmental conditions was considered. Leading architect Maxwell Hutchinson told the BBC the unconventional design was a feasible one despite the threat of coastal erosion.

It’s one epic real estate development but  unfortunately still a concept by Modscape. It is designed to be built from pre-fabricated modules stacked onto each other like Lego blocks and like barnacles clinging to the hulls of ships, the Modscape Cliff House is poetically analogous to the waterfront lifestyle.

This article was originally published on www.luxuo.com.