Brae Restaurant and Accommodation were conceived and designed to provide a luxury, sustainable rural experience. Set amid 30 acres of productive farmland, the restaurant showcases the best locally grown produce, reflecting a connection to the land. The accommodation references the archetypal utilitarian rural shed in the landscape, while providing a handcrafted, bespoke luxury for guests. Simple robust materials and intricate detailing remind you that hands have made and shaped the buildings.
In a quiet, remote slope of Ios Island, far from the sea, we were asked to design a summer house for a couple. The intention was simple: the summer house to be the ultimate resting and relaxation space, offering contact with the nature of the island while aiming to the unobstructed view of the sea.
The design is inspired by the underground architecture, reminiscing a cave. The summer house is developed on one level of about 100 square meters on a slightly sloping plot of 4 acres. There is only one facade facing west, while the others are covered by the slope. The roof is planted with prickly pears, providing insulation while bonding the building to the surrounding landscape.
The facade is lined with local stone, built in such a way that refers directly to the existing stone walls of the plot, integrating in a way with the environment. The interior, in contrast to the exterior style of the building, has been treated with modern design. The kitchen, the dining room, the living room and the bedroom are actually one large space. This feeling is enhanced by the common material that was used both for walls and floors, a forged cement in a soft gray hue.
The natural indirect lighting coming from the skylights increases the luminosity of the premises, giving a calm and relaxed atmosphere. The semi-open space right outside the dining room of the summer house, along with the barbecue under the pergola, are a focal point for the couple and their friends, that want to enjoy the sea view.
The office gfra architecture was founded in 2004 by Tasos Gousis, Joost Frijda and Eddie Roberts as a result of many years of cooperation in previous associations where they participated with the major Greek projects of the previous decade, such as projects for the Olympic Games, the new Athens airport and the Acropolis Museum competition. Joost Frijda is Dutch and has received his degree from the Delft University of Technology, while both Tasos Gousis and Eddie Roberts, who has a Welsh background, are graduates from the NTUA (Athens Polytechnic), just as Fotini Anagnostou who becomes part of the team in 2007.
The multinational background of the team makes them search for new ideas and forms in architecture, to give a ‘European’ spirit to their design. This has been recognized by the numerous publications and participations in exhibitions such as the biennale of Young Greek Architects and the international Piranesi exhibition. At the same time they have a realistic approach and through close cooperation with the client and the consulting engineers, aim of the office is to maintain the quality of design and technology of architecture to a maximum.
The many specializations of the office include: housing, hotels, education, offices, cinema/theatre, retail, interior design, public urban/green spaces, re-use/restoration etc. Many projects are situated in the Athens region, but work is done all over Greece and abroad. Project responsibility includes both design and supervision, and can lead from the initial concept, through obtaining the building permit, to the possibility to organize the complete construction process.
CONTACT
gfra architecture
Komninon 37
114 73 Athens, Greece
T +30 210 6427972
F +30 210 6427203
E info@gfra.gr
ORIGIN is an exceptional cabin, a unique and tailor-made project. The architectural challenge for Atelier LAVIT was to create a functional and comfortable hotel room, being faithful to the first inspiration of the project: a bird-nest. The design of the cabin, coupled with the construction techniques, led to a rationalization of the assembly logic of the branches collected by the birds to create their impregnable shelters.
Born 1986, Marco Lavit studied architecture at Ecole Speciale d’Architecture in Paris and at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne. He graduated at ESA in 2011 with a dissertation on wineries design. His sensibility towards design took shape at the studio of the architect and designer Riccardo Blumer. His time at LAN Architecture further strengthened his architectural direction, with a strong focus on design culture and attention for detail.
Marco founded his architecture and design practice, Atelier LAVIT, in 2014 together with Carlo Lavit. Since then, the practice has been active in France and Italy. Atelier LAVIT’s work originates from the dialogue with artisans and their savoir-faire, especially Made in Italy. Architecture and design often proceed in parallel, striving to reach essential forms. This approach results in an extemporal production, which does not follow trends, but rather lets the strength of raw materials speak for the designs themselves.
In 2014 Atelier LAVIT conceived Venezia, an iron and leather seat which catches the eye for the fluidity and elegance of its line. Venezia was originally designed for the Venice Architecture Biennale, but it was later exhibited all across Europe: at Great Design Gallery (Paris), at Centre Pompidou (Paris), as part of the retrospective on Le Corbusier, at Spazio Rossana Orlandi (Milan) and at Impermanent Collection (Brussels). Today, Venezia, the coffee table Reconvexo and the sofa Atem are represented exclusively by Nilufar Gallery in Milan.
In architecture, the studio has a preference for the use of wood, often applied to unusual and innovative housing structures. In 2017 Atelier LAVIT realized an exclusive tree house for the Park of Raray Castle, France, and a series of surprising, floating cabins for an hotel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France.
Marco is one of the Rising Talents for Maison & Objet Paris 2018 and he is teaching at the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris.
Steel and wood frames diffuse inside-out boundaries in Costa Rica surf town.
Set in the rainforest of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, two modern homes project out of the landscape and are defined by a series of steel frames that bring the best modern methods of construction to a tropical location. The use of large steel I-beams and concrete is a tenet of the international language of Modernist architecture and Studio Saxe have taken this design approach and recontextualised it for contemporary use. This project is a continuation of their search for an authentic Central American tropical architecture.
Concept
The raw materials of steel and concrete are balanced with the careful use of crafted wooden screens and floors, to ensure the design of these rental properties is rooted in local traditions and building techniques. The black metal frames create cantilevered openings that hover over the social spaces below, creating a blurred distinction between inside and outside areas and between private and more communal atmospheres.
Design
Large openings on every level of the building make the building seem lightweight and they connect the inhabitants to the surrounding natural environment. A delicate timber staircase appears to float from one floor to the other, suspended by the finest steel cables. The town of Santa Teresa on the pacific coastof Costa Rica has become a multicultural hub, renowned for its large waves and untouched nature. Joya Villas is situated on a hilltop, with its main terrace directly overlooking one of the best surfing breaks in the region. People have rented the homes can enjoy the views of the best swells from the comfort of their infinity pool or simply walk down to the beach to enjoy.
Architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe said:
“Joya Villas is a clear reflection of a new wave of contextual contemporary tropical architecture that is born from and adapts to its precise location, land contours, and climate. These ingredients are then brought to life through the careful balance of modern building techniques and touches of handcrafted natural materials. Everything we do at Studio Saxe is focused on trying to enhance the experience of the natural in the inhabitant of spaces and perhaps even create moments of relaxation and reflection. This train of thought and the architecture that is emerging could begin to be considered as the birth of an authentic Central American Tropical Architecture.”
Benjamin Garcia Saxe set up his own practice in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2004, with the aim of exploring our relationship with the natural environment through architecture. Since then, Studio Saxe has grown into an award-winning international practice made up of a multidisciplinary team, creating buildings and spaces by blending technological innovation with handcrafted techniques to form truly sustainable designs. Founded on the belief that buildings must connect to their landscape – whether a tropical paradise or a concrete jungle – Studio Saxe brings a global attitude to solve local problems. Ideas and techniques from around the world can be harnessed to benefit communities, both at home and abroad. Local traditions and identities are explored and developed, ensuring a process whereby we learn from the past and build for the future.
The dedicated architects and designers at Studio Saxe uncover new design solutions for every project, treating each building as an opportunity to improve methods and approaches, responding to specific places. Working alongside clients and collaborators, the studio continually seeks new forms and functions that blur the boundaries between natural habitats and inhabited space.
The owners of this beautiful holiday villa in the south of Portugal lead busy lives. With this in mind, we ensured the color palette was subdued, thereby creating a calming, relaxing mood. The lady of the house has a penchant for luxury, stylish fabrics, the warmth of special objects, and details.
This is reflected throughout the home, which is infused with a distinctly feminine touch. We further created a serene atmosphere by choosing tone-on-tone grouping for the sand-colored accessories and textiles, such as fine linen.
We emphasized the summer feeling by opting for transparent curtains that gently ripple when the wind blows. As this is a holiday home, the experience is different to a primary residence: you spend more time outdoors yet expect the same comfort as inside.
This is why we created an abundance of places to rest, sunbath and eat – including an outdoor spot with an open fireplace. The interior and exterior are perfectly in balance, thanks to the use of local natural stone for both.
Studio Piet Boon is an internationally renowned design studio, recognized for its multi-disciplinary design services and it’s remarkable talent of balancing functionality, aesthetics and individuality into one of a kind design experiences. Shifting boundaries and setting new standards.
The studio’s heritage lies in Amsterdam and the nearby Zaanstreek, a region well known for its typical innovative spirit and ‘getting the job done’ mentality as well as being the ‘motor’ behind the success of the epic Dutch Golden Age. It was in the Zaanstreek where painters, woodworkers, carpenters, masons and other master craftsmen turned smart entrepreneurs and tastemakers as early as the 15th century. Building on this grounded mentality and creative expertise Studio Piet Boon was established by Dutch designer and Zaanstreek local Piet Boon (1958) in 1983.
This wooden-clad annexe, completed September 2017, replaced a dated structure in the grounds of a house that Magnus Strom had worked on at his previous practice. The main house was completed back in 2010, and the owner approached Strom Architects in 2015 to replace the existing annexe on site. The client wanted a fun and flexible space that could act as a party house and additional accommodation when needed.
The property sits within the New Forest National Park, making it an ecologically sensitive site. This meant extensive wildlife surveys had to be undertaken prior to beginning any works, in order to minimise disruption to the natural habitats of different species. Once all the ecological issues were dealt with, we demolished the existing building, and replaced it with this timber-framed structure.
The house and the annexe share a common architectural language: the use of sweet chestnut cladding and black Kolumba brick on the exterior visually ties the two buildings together; however, a pitched roof and smaller punched windows provide the annexe with its own distinct design identity.
Internally, the external walls and ceiling are clad in reclaimed pine, and all partition walls are timber stud construction, clad in grey Valchromat; the floor is finished with the same black brick as the exterior plinth. The floor plan consists of two cozy bedrooms, one bathroom and an open-plan living/games/bar area, with a mezzanine storage area.
Interior fitting such as the bar, bedside units and hanging rails have been designed to read as part of the architecture, as if all one giant joinery item. The units are made out of grey Valchromat, wrapped in blackened steel and highlighted by recessed LED lighting.
Outside, there is a wooden decked, complete with semi-sunken wooden hot tub, a built-in brick seating area, and pizza oven and wood store.
Magnus Ström, Director BA(Hons) DipArch ARB RIBA SAR/ MSA
Magnus came from Sweden to study architecture at Portsmouth University in 1995, graduating at the top of his class with a first in his BA (Hons) Degree, and winning two awards for degree projects. After working for a time in London and Winchester, he continued his studies and gained a Distinction in his Diploma. He also received the post-graduate RIBA South Region Award for outstanding design work, and was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal.
After graduating, Magnus joined the esteemed Dublin practice deBlacam & Meagher Architects where he worked for a year. He was then invited to join John Pardey Architects in 2002 South England where he spent 8 years – latterly as a Director of the practice. His work included residential, educational and commercial projects – both for private and public sector clients. He was responsible for the conception and design of numerous private houses, as well as running several large-scale, mixed-use projects in London, Dublin and the USA.
Ström Architects was formed in 2010, and is an award-winning boutique architects’ practice, focusing on one-off contemporary residential projects in the UK and abroad.
CONTACT
Ström Architects Limited
Unit 4, The Old Printworks
85b High Street
Lymington
Hampshire, SO41 9AN
UK
Few Caribbean islands are as inviting as Bonaire, a sand-fringed escape in the former Dutch Antilles. The island is a haven of tranquillity, boasting consistently pleasant warm temperatures and soft sea breezes. Situated on one of the island’s most pristine beaches lies Kas Dorrie: a luxurious designer beach villa.
During the exterior and interior design along with the construction of Kas Dorrie, making use of natural materials and the elements played a key role. Inspired by island living and the traditional local rural “kunuku” houses, the beach villa was designed to benefit from the wind. Contemporary wide entranceways are flanked by slender pillars and the central axis in the middle of the villa provides a symmetric structure, enabling strong sightlines and allowing the always-prevailing breeze to pass unhindered providing natural cooling.
Interior furnishings of the villa are custom-made Piet Boon furniture. The harmonious colour palette of the villa is subdued, making frequent use of colours that are found naturally on the island. To add on to the island experience, coral decorations and artwork handmade by local artisans were used.
Kas Dorrie consists of two volumes, deliberately separating the private living and sleeping quarters on the secluded second floor from the easy accessible and partially open living spaces on the ground floor. The volumes are connected by stairs located in the centre of the villa. Building on the Caribbean outdoor way of life all living areas face the sea, ensuring panoramic views and enabling the outside exterior to connect with the inside interior.
Due to its location near the sea, the villa was built with locally sourced materials such as wood and coral that can withstand the salty air, are low in maintenance and age beautifully at the same time. The island atmosphere is elegantly translated to the interior design and styling of the villa. Wide slatted windows and partitions made of bone-coloured pebbles let in sunlight, whilst the high ceilings and dark poured concrete floors give a sense of cool.
Studio Piet Boon
All images courtesy of Studio Piet Boon
Studio Piet Boon
Studio Piet Boon is an internationally renowned design studio, recognized for its multi-disciplinary design services and it’s remarkable talent of balancing functionality, aesthetics and individuality into one of a kind design experiences. Shifting boundaries and setting new standards.
The studio’s heritage lies in Amsterdam and the nearby Zaanstreek, a region well known for its typical innovative spirit and ‘getting the job done’ mentality as well as being the ‘motor’ behind the success of the epic Dutch Golden Age. It was in the Zaanstreek where painters, woodworkers, carpenters, masons and other master craftsmen turned smart entrepreneurs and tastemakers as early as the 15th century. Building on this grounded mentality and creative expertise Studio Piet Boon was established by Dutch designer and Zaanstreek local Piet Boon (1958) in 1983.
Chalet 4.0 is a part of the hotel complex Relax Park Verholy. New apartments are fully integrated in a pine forest. Instead of the usual solid base the building stands on the so-called screw base. This construction helped to settle chalet just in the forest without harming trees or damaging their root system.
The building consists of two separate rooms with a common guest hall. There is an additional house for the guests in the territory.
The interior is eco-friendly and restrained. Forest theme and connection to nature are emphasized by the selection of principal materials, such as stone and wood. Rhythmic veneer lines on the walls symbolize rows of pine trees outside the window, and cow skin looks like animals that lives in the forest.
“I grew up in the North of Spain not so far away from Villa Slow. I have really good memories of me and my family enjoying nature. This region of Spain has many of the things I always look for when I go on holidays: Mountains, sea, natural parks, hiking, quietness, culture and rich gastronomy. But I always felt I missed here a nice place to stay… a place where you can be warm when it is cold outside and be fully connected to the outside when the sun shines. So I thought: If I cannot find it, there will also be many people not able to find it too….Let’s design and build a beautiful place and share it with more people!… Being myself an architect, it was an opportunity I could just not let go…And this is how it all started.”
Villa Slow is designed and built with extreme mindfulness and care for detail. The house is very respectful with the environment. Its design is based on the traditional typology of a Pasiego House (Cabana Pasiega) but with a contemporary twist. The rough exterior stone walls and roofs contrast with the delicate interior wooden structure and details. Two big panoramic windows in the living room facing opposite directions create a beautiful scenography of mountains, clouds, and trees. The two rooms with their generous height are designed to allow different arrangements: just a couple, couple with children, friends, etc. Each room has its own bathroom fully equipped, barrier-free.
THE WATER
Villa Slow is situated in a very special natural area well known for its spring water formation. The water of Villa Slow comes from its own spring.
A PASSIVE HOME
Villa Slow pays extreme attention to sustainability. Villa Slow is a passive house. It is provided with a heat pump, under floor heating and high quality insulation and windows for a minimum heat loss. All electronic appliances are A+++ and all lightning based on LED technology. The high performance glass warms up the interior in the winter and the big wooden shutters protect the summer from heat gain. All materials used to build Villa Slow are reused from the old stone shed or come from the area of Cantabria.
All images courtesy of Laura Alvarez Architecture (LAA)
Laura Alvarez Architecture (LAA)
Laura Alvarez Architecture (LAA) is a young international architectural practice based in Amsterdam. After extensive work experience at renowned architectural offices such as Mecanoo, SeARCH, Benthem Crouwel and Carlos Ferrater, the company was founded in 2008 by Laura Alvarez. As recognition of her work, she has won a considerable amount of awards, among others the Europe 40 under 40 award, First Prize Europan 13 Santo Tirso, First Prize New Faculty Bouwkunde in Delft and First prize Life-Cycle homes in Groningen.
LAA has deliberately chosen not to focus on a single discipline. She believes that both architecture, landscape architecture and urban are crucial ingredients for a successful and integrated architectural design. In all the projects she begins with a detailed and thoughtful analysis of the context; both physical, global, historical and cultural and at the same time the needs of the client and users.
For LAA designing a building is a multidisciplinary and participatory process in which the continuous relationship between program, user and context is questioned, tested and evaluated. Through intensive cooperation from the very beginning with clients, consultants and users, each design has a multiple authorship, and can be seen as an intelligent construction of choices and ideas.
The broad interest in architecture is also reflected in the active role of the partner in education. Laura Alvarez teaches Master Class of Architecture since 2007 at TU Delft, Interiors, Buildings and Cities.
CONTACT
Laura Alvarez Architecture (LAA)
Nieuwe Hemweg 2
1013 BG AmsterdamT. 0031 (0) 657 78 72 89
T. 0031 (0) 657 88 47 90
An old stone-built ruin in a breathtaking setting, surrounded by 25 hectares of oak forest with distant views of the Mediterranean sea. Local building regulations stipulate that the building had to be rebuilt as it once was, but the owners were seeking a more spectacular and modern house.
Our work aimed to create a modern, luxury estate in an old stone envelope. We’ve opened the house up on all sides, letting the light flood in and bringing the views inside. The house sits on a steep incline and we’ve connected the house and garden on various levels.
When this was a farmhouse, traditionally the animals would have lived downstairs with the living spaces upstairs. We therefore chose to place the bedrooms on the lower level so they stay nice and cool in summer, and the living spaces on the first floor, to make best use of the views and to allow direct access to the newly created south facing part of the garden, with the swimming pool.
The design concept was to create a start contrast between the uneven old stone wall and the geometric new interventions, an effect heightened by the choice of materials. These were all chosen to integrate the house visually in its surroundings, and for their wabi-sabi, the way they become more beautiful over time.
The house is insulated to Passivhaus standards, using cork insulation produced from locally grown cork. These are set behind Claytec panels of clay and straw, making sure the old stone wall remains a breathable construction, while keeping the warmth in during winter and the heat out in summer. Natural Claytec plaster eliminates the need for paint, making the house an utterly non-chemical environment.
ZEST designed special sliding windows, which disappear into the wall when opened, so that the view towards the sea remains interrupted.
A natural pool with a plant and gravel filter system provides an additional spectacular view from the living spaces year round, and an oasis for swimming.
The house has a geothermal installation for heating and hot water, and stays pleasantly cool in summer wihout air conditioning, thanks to well designed cross ventilation through doors and dwindows. There is a plan for a future hybrid installation for the houses energy, consisting of solar planels plus a smal windmill, to take the house off the grid.
All water (including that from showers and loos) is recycled through a reedbed, after which the water is used to irrigate the garden. The garden was designed by Co Govers to be a waterwise garden, with species specifically suited to the Mediterranean climate, capable of withstanding drought. A large vegetable garden and orchard provides food year round for the owners.
ZEST architecture
All images courtesy of ZEST architecture
ZEST architecture
Co Govers
ZEST architecture was founded in 2008 by the Dutch architect Co Govers (Masters in Architecture from TU Delft), after working with architects such as Max van Aerschot in the Netherlands and Josep Lluis Mateo in Spain. From the beginning, ZEST has focused on combining sustainability with natural elegance, which has always been an important aspect of Co’s work.
Set at the edge of a tropical jungle, Tulum Treehouse is a private house for exclusive rental, featuring large common areas, several spacious terraces, multiple areas for indoor-outdoor dining, and five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Locally sourced Tzalam wood contrasts throughout the house with polished white cement. Light and air flow through tranquil rooms appointed with local textiles and ceramics, Oaxacan rugs, and bespoke furnishings by Meridian artisans.
Co-Lab Design Office is a full-service architecture studio located in Tulum. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Yucatan, the group’s projects encourage a greater appreciation of and connection to the natural world through design. Embracing sustainable principles, each project carefully weaves the architectural program with the beauty of each site to create unique contextual designs. Locally sourced natural materials and handcrafted finishes render rooms built around views of nature, gentle breezes, light and shadows, to create new compositions and relationships.
A renowned interior designer based in Berlin, Annabell Kutucu has raised great interest with her work on private residences and various international hospitality projects like San Giorgio Mykonos and Scorpios Mykonos, a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Greek agora. Her work combines the handmade, the artisanal, and the organic—elements such as old linen, rough textiles, and weathered wood—with vintage and contemporary pieces to create effortlessly holistic spaces in perfect communion with their surroundings.
A romantic beachside cottage is set into a rock escarpment in a tiny boulder strewn South Pacific cove. It is a shelter designed as a honeymoon retreat for paying guests consisting of just three rooms, a lobby, living/sleeping and a bathroom.
This retreat is built using all local materials and is constructed largely from rock quarried near its site with in-situ poured concrete floors and an earth turfed roof. The structure is integrated into the escarpment above to protect occupants from falling debris. The cottage is self-sustainable in respect to on-site water harvesting and wastewater treatment. The project incorporated an extensive reforestation and re-vegetation sub project.
Its plan is an interlocking geometry responding to both near views of the Bay and far views out to Rocky Spires. It is lined with horizontal macrocarpa wood. This timber forms integrated joinery, wall and ceiling panels behind double glazed low e-glass in storm and shatter proof steel mullions which utilise earthquake resistant sliding heads.
Andrew heads the conceptual design function of the practice.
In 1988 Andrew represented New Zealand at the New Breed Architectural Exhibition in Sydney and received his first National Award for Architecture in the same year. During his career he has won New Zealand National Awards for Architecture five times.
Andrew approaches people, architecture and the environment as interlinking identities underpinned by the assumption that if a building logically belongs in its ecology, both environment and social, then the people that use that Architecture will feel they belong there.
He is a vivid architectural storyteller with a passion for Maori history and mythology and is a great advocate for Architecture that responds to this history, the landscape and sense of place.
In May of 2012, Andrew was named by the world’s most searched architectural journal, London based World Architectural News, as one of five Architects “whose directional ideas are helping to shape the future of world Architecture”. This achievement is unprecedented in New Zealand’s creative community.
Nano Pad is an interior architecture project within a 22 sqm Art Deco Studio Apartment in Sydney’s inner city. The project was designed as short stay accommodation, as an alternative to short comings of existing “design hotels” in Sydney.
The existing studio was compromised by poor planning with a comparatively over-sized and under utilised entry and lack of defined spaces. The design is conceived around a contemporary plywood insertion that sits within the existing fabric of the apartment. A definitive change in level created by the bed platform and its associated joinery establishes a threshold and visual distinction between the living and sleeping zones of the studio, while maximising opportunities for storage and space.
The insertion allows the original Art Deco structure to be maintained. The use of lime-washed ply is punctuated by black steel details. Bespoke mirrors feature blackened steel frames with curved edges that act as contemporary iterations of the Deco Style. This curve is mimicked in the hanging rails.
The planning of this space allows a number of functions to take place within the 22 sqm studio to provide a short stay that feels like home.
The office gfra architecture was founded in 2004 by 
Studio Piet Boon is an internationally renowned design studio, recognized for its multi-disciplinary design services and it’s remarkable talent of balancing functionality, aesthetics and individuality into one of a kind design experiences. Shifting boundaries and setting new standards.
