Living Archives

Ten living spaces that are punctuated by saturated primary colours

Our latest lookbook compiles residential living rooms that have been given an air of playfulness through their use of the three primary colours.

In design, the primary colours are yellow, blue and red. They usually appear in this context as strong cobalt blues, vivid sunshine yellows and intense fire-engine reds.

This trio of colours is prevalent throughout design history and can be seen in paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and suspended mobiles by American sculptor Alexander Calder.

They are often used when designing products for children due to the visually stimulating nature of their bright, dense hues.

In interior design, they have a similarly invigorating effect, whether applied directly to structural elements such as walls and columns or found in soft furnishings and accessories.

They primary colours help to bring energy into living areas both when used in isolation and when appearing in tandem with one another.

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring four-poster beds, split-level living areas and colourful bathrooms.

Retroscena apartment renovation by La Macchina Studio in Rome, Italy — Photo by Paolo Fusco

Retroscena apartment, Italy, by La Macchina Studio

Vibrant pops of blue, yellow and red are set against a neutral backdrop of white walls and terrazzo stone floors in the living room of this mid-century one-bedroom apartment in Rome.

The space represents the distilled interior scheme devised by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio that characterises the apartment, which is also home to floor-to-ceiling citrus-toned curtains and bright blue doorways.

Find out more about Retroscena ›

Living room in red House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor by Arquitectura-G — Photo by José Hevia

House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

A monochromatic red colour scheme dominates both the exterior and interior of this rural house near Barcelona designed by Spanish design studio Arquitectura-G.

The split-level living space features a rhythm of striking red-painted columns and ceiling-height cupboard doors combined with rosy clay tiles.

Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor ›

Lounge in Red House by David Kohn Architects — Photo by Will Pryce

Red House, UK, by David Kohn Architects

Red House in Dorset, England, was given its name by David Kohn Architects in reference to its red brick facade, however, splashes of the colour also appear throughout its eclectic interior.

Primary coloured furnishings – including a blue rug and footstool, red wall hanging and yellow upholstered armchair – are dotted around the living space, offset by white-painted cinderblock walls and warm wooden accents.

Find out more about Red House ›

Living room interior of Out of the Blue apartment in India — Photo by The Fishy Project

Out of the Blue, India, by The Act of Quad

Renovated by Mumbai-based studio The Act of Quad, this apartment in the Indian city of Thane is defined by its consistent use of cobalt blue in an otherwise neutral interior.

Soothing splashes of the colour appear in pieces of bespoke furniture – including hemispherical and spherical inclusions on light fittings and tables – and line the inside of a wall-mounted drinks cabinet.

Find out more about Out of the Blue ›

Living room interior with red cupboards and blue table — Photo by Jesper Westblom

Apartment renovation, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor

The full trio of primary colours is used across this apartment in Stockholm by local practice Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.

Blue, yellow and red are seen in both full saturation and muted hues on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings and furniture, creating a colourful yet cohesive interior.

Find out more about apartment renovation ›

Duplex in Sant Gervasi by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

Apartment renovation, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

Spanish studio Arquitectura-G used a colour palette governed by shades of yellow in its refurbishment of this apartment in Barcelona.

The living space contains a sunny yellow modular sofa and matching kitchenette, with the spaces united by a backdrop of small golden wall tiles, a honey-coloured wooden floor and white plasterwork.

Find out more about this apartment renovation ›

Interior of Fàng Sōng houseboat in Berlin by Crossboundaries — Photo by Johanna Link

Fàng Sōng, Germany, by Crossboundaries

Beijing-based architecture practice Crossboundaries reconfigured the interior of a houseboat moored in Berlin, which features modular furniture and storage solutions all finished in either red or yellow in reference to the Chinese imperial colours.

An adaptable living area onboard contains a lemon-yellow sofa that folds away to support a double bed, as well as a cantilevered desk integrated into a wall panel that can be stowed away when not in use.

Find out more about Fàng Sōng ›

Point Supreme Athens apartment — Photo by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point Supreme

Ilioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

Graphic primary-coloured details are scattered around this 56-square-metre subterranean apartment in Athens renovated by local architecture studio Point Supreme.

The rough concrete walls and ceilings of the small living area are contrasted by red items – including a bench and window panes – as well as a trio of deep blue flags suspended in the entryway.

Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›

Function Walls apartment, designed by Lookofsky Architecture — Photo by Mattias Hamrén

Function Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

This apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Lookofsky Architecture, is designed around a multifunctional wall that snakes through the interior.

In the living area, the zesty yellow structure contains a sofa snuggled inside an extruded frame, accompanied by integrated shelving and matching golden upholstery.

Find out more about Function Walls ›

Interiors of Polychrome House, designed by Amber Road — Photo by Prue Ruscoe

Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith

Australian design studio Amber Road worked with colour consultants Lymesmith on this house in suburban Sydney, which is charactertised by its excessive use of colour.

The aptly named Polychrome House is finished in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colours, including in its living room where a wall mural of abstract shapes featuring red, blue and yellow is echoed by red and blue seating.

Find out more about Polychrome House ›

Reference

Interior Design

Eight living spaces with industrial Crittal-style windows

By Zarkon Group,08/04/2023

Industrial-looking living spaces with Crittal-style windows and doors are the focus of this lookbook, which includes an apartment in Israel and a rural Chinese house.

Crittal-style windows and doors are characterised by their gridded metal frames, traditionally made of steel with a bold black finish.

They are modelled on the iconic Crittal windows by ironmonger Francis Henry Crittall, which were developed in the late-19th century and became a feature in many art deco and modernist buildings.

Today they are seeing a resurgence in popularity, with their clean graphic lines bringing an industrial quality to contemporary homes around the world.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring striking accent walls, stylish bookshelves and tranquil sunken baths.

Crittal-style window inside Ghost House by BPN Architects — Photo is by Felix Mooneeram

Ghost House, UK, by BPN Architects

This double-height Crittall-style window doubles as the wall to an open-plan living and dining room in an industrial concrete house in Warwickshire, England.

It is one of several steel-framed windows that enclose the home, which was designed by BPN Architects to have an “ethereal presence” – leading to it being named Ghost House.

Find out more about Ghost House ›

Interior of Tel Aviv apartment by Maayan Zusman and Amir Navon — Photo is by 181

Tel Aviv apartment, Israel, by Maayan Zusman and Amir Navon

Interior designer Maayan Zusman and architect Amir Navon opted for gridded black window frames when renovating this apartment in Tel Aviv.

Complemented by other delicate black furnishings, the windows form part of a wider design strategy that centred on creating an interior that felt “airy yet framed”.

Find out more about the Tel Aviv apartment ›

Crittal-style windows inside the Returning Hut in China — Photo is by Wu Yong-Chang

Returning Hut, China, by Xu Fu-Min

The Returning Hut is a two-storey home just outside the city of Xiamen in China, designed by Xu Fu-Min to offer their client a peaceful retreat where they can connect with nature.

Among its key features is an open living room with a giant wall of glazing. Lined with gridded metal frames, it slides open to create a seamless connection to the garden.

Find out more about Returning Hut ›

Ditton Hill House by Surman Weston in Surbiton — Photo is by Johan Dehlin

Ditton Hill House, UK, by Surman Weston

Surman Weston honoured its “client’s love for all things industrial” when creating the Ditton Hill House, a London residence with an exposed steel frame that nods to mock-Tudor homes nearby.

This steel framework enabled the studio to create spacious, column-free interiors, such as this open-plan living area. Here, Crittal-style windows overlook the garden and are paired with exposed steel floor decks for a warehouse-like aesthetic.

Find out more about Ditton Hill House ›

Crittal-style windows inside Little Peek by Berman Horn Studio — Photo is by Greta Rybus

Little Peak, USA, by Berman Horn Studio

Black gridded windows and doors puncture the facade of Little Peak, a holiday home that the founders of Berman Horn Studio, Maria Berman and Brad Horn, built themselves on an island in Maine.

According to the duo, they were chosen for their industrial look and to help “bring focus onto the textures and colours of the stone, huckleberry, bay and lichen that surround the house”.

Find out more about Little Peak ›

Interior of Burnt House by Will Gamble Architects — Photo is by Ståle Eriksen

Burnt House, UK, by Will Gamble Architects

These Crittal-style windows and doors help to create a minimalist aesthetic for the Burnt House, a residential extension that Will Gamble Architects has modelled on a Japanese tea house.

They are intended to evoke a shoji screen and were complemented by a large window seat finished in blackened wood that sits up against the glazing.

Find out more about Burnt House ›

Interior of Binh Thuan House — Photo is by Trieu Chien

Binh Thuan House, Vietnam, by MIA Design Studio

MIA Design Studio used white gridded frames on the sliding doors at the Binh Thuan House in Vietnam.

The steel frames were complemented by its industrial all-white structure, which is modular and designed for easy modification or expansion in the future.

Find out more about Binh Thuan House ›

Harrison Residence by Jeffrey Dungan — Photo is by William Abranowicz

Harrison Residence, USA, by Jeffrey Dungan Architects

These black Crittal-style windows form the focal point of the living space at the Harrison Residence, a home in Florida designed by Jeffrey Dungan Architects.

Framing the surrounding tall trees, the windows help bring colour into the otherwise monochrome interior, which features black shelving and a coffee table, and white walls and sofas.

Find out more about Harrison Residence ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring striking stylish bookshelves and tranquil sunken baths.

Reference

Architecture

Revolutionizing Urban Living: MicroPolis Offers Affordable Housing Solutions in NYC’s Empty Spaces

By Zarkon Group,26/02/2023

MicroPolis – is a proposal for a new housing typology of micro-homes in metropolitan centers such as New York City. It can be installed in already built, empty urban spaces. The staggering of the units creates a push-and-pull relation, generating balconies for most units. Large public outdoor terraces provide social and co-working spaces and safe places for children to play. Installing these complexes in wealthier neighborhoods and business districts improves living standards for communities of color, immigrant groups, and low- to middle-income families.

Architizer chatted with Esther Sperber, Principal at Studio ST Architects to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Esther Sperber: MicroPolis is a response to a February 2020 court case that revoked the building permit for the top 20 floors of a Manhattan luxury condominium because it used gerrymandering-style tax lot assembly tactics to justify the request for a very tall building. We suggested that we should not waste these already built floors but rather use them for affordable housing. The aim is to present creative, inclusive and positive design solutions to the urban affordable housing crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of unoccupied and unusable space presents an opportunity to rethink affordable housing throughout the city.

This project won in the 10th Annual A+Awards! What do you believe are the standout components that made your project win?

The project is contextual and addresses New York City’s critical issues such as the housing crisis, diversity and inclusion, and lowering the carbon footprint in the construction industry. MicroPolis could help alleviate the affordable housing shortage, which we have a moral obligation to address. The design creates innovative, sustainable and affordable micro-homes within vacant floors of luxury buildings in metropolitan city centers. Cities have always embraced people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds, but the pandemic revealed that the city is more divided than we would like to acknowledge. MicroPolis celebrates NYC’s diversity by increasing equity and valuing the range of people needed to make the city thrive. Adding affordable housing units throughout the city’s higher-end neighborhoods aims to make NYC more integrated, resilient and equitable.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

We realize there will likely be resistance to this proposal. Few privileged communities welcome low- and middle- income developments in their neighborhoods, let alone their own apartment buildings. But if we have learned anything during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that our society is deeply intertwined. The communities that suffered most from the pandemic are those that we depend on most to keep our city running. The same resistance to this project is reason enough to take this typology seriously. It is time to stop averting our gaze from those who are less fortunate economically and invite them to be our neighbors.

How did the context of your project — environmental, social or cultural — influence your design?

NYC’s real estate exposes the city’s socio-economic inequities. Manhattan’s luxury residential market seems to be rebounding. However, at the same time, the Department of Housing & Preservation, which is responsible for maintaining affordable housing, experienced a 40% cut during the pandemic, resulting in the loss of 21,000 affordable housing units. Our unique modular system, which aims to create greater social equity, consists of prefabricated, energy-efficient and cost-effective micro-homes, which can be installed in already built empty urban spaces. The proposal demonstrates how to creatively house key workers and other tenants in need by maximizing space on mid-level floors of currently unoccupied luxury condos, which some developers have designated as mechanical voids in an attempt to increase the height of luxury buildings and gain maximum value for coveted upper floor apartments.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project?

The issue of sustainability was one of the main driving factors of MicroPolis’ design. Reusing built spaces has environmental advantages: it conserves materials and resources, lowers carbon footprint, and brings old, energy-inefficient buildings up to the current code. Carefully selected building materials and cladding ensure thermal insulation to lower energy use and costs for these micro-homes. MicroPolis is also uniquely designed to enable staggered balconies to provide some sun exposure and shade coverage during extreme weather conditions.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

The housing crisis in New York City, or any city for that matter, is a complex issue. With some of the world’s wealthiest residents, New York City is also home to thousands who do not have a clean, warm or dry place to sleep. The city is struggling to address its housing shortage for lower-income individuals and families, and to provide shelter to its 60,000-plus homeless. At the same time, New York City has a record number of empty, unsold, new luxury apartments. Unused space, particularly in tall luxury residential towers, can be reconfigured to accommodate more units dedicated to affordable housing within the existing floor area.

How do you believe this project represents you or your firm as a whole?

My firm, Studio ST Architects, strives to focus on sustainable, innovative and responsible design. Our firm combines unique expertise in architecture and psychology to design inspiring buildings and renovate spaces that transform human experiences, build deep and inclusive community connections, and create a sense of health and well-being. MicroPolis directly addresses these pillars of our practice.

How has being the recipient of an A+Award evoked positive responses from others?

It gave us an opportunity to think and explore issues around the multi-family residential typology, particularly within dense urban centers. This also helped us reach a larger audience to raise an issue we are passionate about, which led to more discussions with our clients and collaborators about responsible, compassionate design that addresses not only people’s basic need for housing, but also human connection.

How do you imagine this project influencing your work in the future?

Studio ST Architects has significant experience in apartment interior renovations and religious buildings, but we are excited to do more work in the multi-family residential sector. Our recently completed Jones Street multi-family apartment building holds a similar spirit of ambition to connect people and address the need for housing within Jersey City. Jones Street creates individual homes and a sense of community for the families and young professionals that live in this growing Jersey City community. It targets the swathe of families and young professionals looking for New York-style buildings just across the Hudson River. We hope to continue tackling the housing crisis by taking on more multi-family housing projects.

For more on MicroPolis, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

MicroPolis Gallery

Reference

Architecture

SoHo’s 49 Greene Street Embraces the Modern Concept of Loft Living

By Zarkon Group,22/02/2023

49 Greene Street – a 6-story building in NYC’s historic SoHo district, is an extant example of the mixed iron-and-masonry construction of the post-Civil War era. The client’s brief was to restore the building’s masonry façade and cast-iron storefront, and to convert the interiors into four high-end residential units. To do this, we drew inspiration from the makers and artist ls that once occupied this previously manufacturing building to create units that embrace modern concept of ‘loft living’, in which open, non-programmed flexible spaces meet highly crafted, millworked moments, adding warmth throughout with the use of woods, marbles, and ironwork.

Architizer chatted with Jordan Rogove, Co-Founder and Principal of DXA studio, to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Jordan Rogove: We wanted to speak to the various movements that helped form SoHo’s unique character and charm. Much like the artists who were attracted to the neighborhood’s empty lofts in the 1960’s, we too were drawn to the building’s high ceilings, abundant light, and expansive floor plates. For this reason, we are committed to leaving the spaces as open, fluid, and customizable as possible.

However, we were acutely aware that we were designing a home, so introducing a residential scale was important to make the otherwise large space comfortable and inviting. To achieve this, we lowered the ceiling in select rooms and introduced a high level of craft and tactility – our way of communicating with the by-gone manufacturing era of SoHo.

Throughout these rooms, we created a material theme of oak wood paneling, blackened steel, fluted glazing and various marbles. These materials are not only visually exquisite, but very in their tactile qualities, which we believe to be crucial adding warmth and comfort to a home.

This project won in the 10th Annual A+Awards! What do you believe are the standout components that made your project win?

The kitchen and den–the hearth of the home–are the showpieces of each unit, as they are not only beautiful and practical, but speak to each other in their materiality and detailing.

In the kitchen, the appliances, storage, and secondary scullery kitchen are all seamlessly hidden behind white oak paneling with beautifully crafted integrated pulls. This paneling wraps onto the ceiling to cleverly integrate recessed lighting and HVAC diffusers. The island is crafted out of a single slab of Fior di Pesco marble, known for its ability to add calm and serenity to a space, while the upper cabinetry is clad in blackened steel and fluted glass.

This millwork detailing continues into the den, where white oak paneling and a built-in desktop can be closed off from the main living spaces by large blackened steel and fluted glass doors. Alternatively, these doors can perfectly tuck away into the oak millwork to allow flexible space programming.

Many of these materials can be found throughout the unit, creating an overarching theme. For instance, the blackened steel of the den’s custom doors is mirrored in the steel frames of the bathroom vanities, the plumbing fixtures, and even the column cladding.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

Renovating a manufacturing building from the 1800’s was an exciting challenge, both in terms of design and coordination. On the design side, we believe that as architects, it is our duty to celebrate the area’s rich history in an authentic yet contemporary manner. This is why we wanted to keep the open nature of these spaces as much as possible. It is also why we used wood and iron in a way that is reminiscent of previous eras, while using contemporary detailing to bring these materials to the present day.

On the coordination side, working with existing buildings in NYC is always a challenge. As precisely as we survey all historic projects, we often encounter surprises during construction that require us to tweak our design on the fly–and 49 Greene was no exception. Furthermore, we had to design an entirely new roof structure, as the existing roof was significantly sloped, which meant giving the 200-year old structure upgrades to account for modern building technologies.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

Although it is one of the smallest rooms in each unit, we think the powder room really packs a punch. The vanity and sink are entirely made out of Fior di Bosco marble, which marries well with the ebony black wood veneer panels to create a dark yet calming atmosphere.

In what ways did you collaborate with others, and were there any team members or skills that were essential in bringing this Award winning project to life?

The nature of this project required us to closely collaborate with millworkers, iron workers, and various craftspeople to get the detailing down. We worked with Canova on all of the millwork, Manhattan Steel Door Co. on the large den doors, and with Sage Construction on the stonework and other general detailing. We had many pencil sessions and back-and-forth shop drawing reviews to better understand how to achieve the level of craftsmanship that we envisioned–and we really refined our knowledge of interior detailing along the way.

For more on 49 Greene Street, SoHo, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

49 Greene Street, SoHo Gallery

Reference

Interior Design

Ten cosy cabins with living spaces that frame views of nature

By Zarkon Group,28/01/2023

From Norway to New Zealand, this lookbook explores rural cabins with cosy living areas that are animated by natural materials and views out over wild landscapes.

Cabins are a popular building typology with architects all around the world. Typically built from wood, the little shelters are ideally suited as peaceful retreats in remote locations.

Their small size and the use of organic materials such as wood helps these structures to blend in with natural surroundings, while also creating warm and calming living spaces for inhabitants.

As demonstrated by this roundup, little else is needed to make a cabin cosy, and keeping their interiors pared-back retains focus on the main event – the views out to nature.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with statement carpets, earthy bedrooms with natural colours and hotel interiors enriched by jewel tones.

Living space of Enough House by Brian MacKay-Lyons — Photo is by James Brittain

Enough House, Canada, by Brian MacKay-Lyons

Dark-stained floorboards complement the light and exposed timber beams and columns of this cabin on a farmstead in Nova Scotia.

Its living room has large windows for looking out over the rustic landscape but retains a sheltered feel with low ceilings, a soft rug and comfy leather furniture such as the 2 Fauteuil Grand Confort armchair by Le Corbusier.

Find out more about Enough House ›

L-shaped sofa and armchair inside cabin living space — Photo is by Tom Bird

Looking Glass Lodge, UK, by Michael Kendrick Architects

A black fireplace is suspended from the ceiling of this sitting area, located in the Looking Glass Lodge in East Sussex.

The room has a pared-back design filled with woven furnishings and wooden surfaces, helping to ensure the focus stays on the floor-to-ceiling glazing.

According to its designer Michael Kendrick Architects, the studio’s aim was to give the cabin “a sense of transparency and belonging within its setting”.

Find out more about Looking Glass Lodge ›

Sitting and dining area of The Hat House in Sweden — Photo is by Jim Stephenson

The Hat House, Sweden, by Tina Bergman

Despite its tall ceilings, The Hat House’s living-dining space has been made to feel snug with its warm material palette dominated by different woods.

These include spruce panels on the walls and end-grain spruce blocks for the floor. A cushioned window seat allows the owner to immerse themself in the view.

Find out more about The Hat House ›

Living room of Bruny Island Cabin by Maguire + Devin — Photo is by Rob Maver

Bruny Island Cabin, Australia, by Maguire + Devin

Baltic pine lines almost every surface of this off-grid cabin in Tasmania, designed by Maguire + Devin with references to traditional Japanese houses.

Nearly every piece of furniture forms a part of the building’s frame, creating a minimalist and uncluttered interior. This includes a raised seating area, positioned beside a pane of glass and finished with a low-lying table and rugs for sitting.

Find out more about Bruny Island Cabin ›

Living space of Biv Punakaiki cabin — Photo is by Stephen Goodenough

Biv Punakaiki, New Zealand, by Fabric Architecture

Hidden within the rainforest in the coastal village of Punakaiki, this holiday cabin has large spans of glazing that aim to immerse occupants in the landscape.

Furnishings are few and far between to prevent distracting from the view, but a homely feel is created through the warm and exposed timber structure and mid-20th-century furnishings including a leather butterfly chair.

Find out more about Biv Punakaiki ›

Mobile forest cabin at Het bos roept campsite by The Way We Build — Photo is by Jordi Huisman

Forest Cabin, Netherlands, by The Way We Build

Arches made of poplar give a chapel-like character to this tiny mobile cabin, located on a campsite in the Robbenoordbos forest in the Netherlands.

Its compact living area is deliberately simple, furnished with just a writing desk and a wood burner for warmth and offering visitors a meditative space to “rejuvenate close to nature”.

Find out more about Forest Cabin ›

Living room of Iragüen Viñuela Arquitectos ski cabin — Photo is by Marcos Zegers

House by the Cautín River, Chile, by Iragüen Viñuela Arquitecto

Iragüen Viñuela Arquitectos opted for dark-stained wood for the interior lining of this ski cabin in Chile, creating a moody yet cosy living area where the outside views take centre stage.

“The interior of the house, completely covered in black wood, allows a great contrast with the white winter and green summer landscape, and offers an atmosphere of introspection and calm according to the vocation of shelter,” said the studio.

Find out more about House by the Cautín River ›

Living space in Cabin Nordmarka by Rever & Drage Architects — Photo is by Tom Auger

Cabin Nordmarka, Norway, Rever & Drage

An angular corner window animates the unadorned living room of Cabin Nordmarka that Rever & Drage recently completed in Norway.

The green and blue tones of the forested surroundings form a colourful backdrop to the elevated space, which is characterised by light timber planks and matching furniture.

Find out more about Cabin Nordmarka ›

Interior of The Author's House in Denmark by Sleth — Photo is by Rasmus Hjortshøj, Coast

The Author’s House, Denmark, by Sleth

Landscape studio Sleth designed this writer’s cabin to blend in with its natural setting on the outskirts of Aarhus.

Douglas fir planks line the living room, creating a cosy retreat for the owner while echoing the surrounding trees. Bookshelves at the base of its gabled profile help reduce the height of the room, making it feel even more snug.

Find out more about The Author’s House ›

Bergaliv Landscape Hotel, Sweden, by Hanna Michelson

This compact wooden cabin nestled in the treetops of a Swedish mountain is one of four designed for the Bergaliv Landscape Hotel.

Like many other cabins on the list, the interior is simply finished. This draws attention to a wooden L-shaped bench and window seat, designed for visitors to get lost in the views out over the landscape.

Find out more about Bergaliv Landscape Hotel ›

Reference

Architecture

wasp’s 3D printed itaca ensures off-grid living & ecological balance

By Zarkon Group,17/11/2022

Itaca: the self-sufficient and eco-sustainable 3D printed house

Italian 3D printing company WASP introduces Itaca, a self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable 3D printed housing model. The project is based on the thesis that on Earth, a space of 33 meters in diameter can provide sufficient living environment for up to four people, if specific knowledge and technology are applied. The endeavor aims to make a core of four people (two adults and two children) independent and enable them to live off-grid, without electricity, water, gas, and sewer connections. The inventors hope that Itaca will also lead to innovations in the colonization of the Moon.

‘Getting a place as harsh as the moon to be inhabited is hard to imagine, but science says it can be done. Why don’t we apply the same technologies here on Earth, to get even the most extreme environments to be hospitable?’, says
Massimo Moretti, CEO of WASP.

Itaca is a self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable 3D printed housing model | all images courtesy of WASP

food, water, energy, and economic self-sufficiency

The Itaca model is 3D printed by Crane WASP using natural zero-kilometer materials. The concept is to apply the knowledge and digital fabrication necessary to create a space that improves the quality of life in areas where water, food and industrial facilities are scarce. The applied technological solutions lead to an optimized circular microeconomy that allows independent, off-grid living while maintaining ecological balance. The team at WASP has already acquired a plot of land near Bologna where the first Itaca will be built over the next year. Itaca is an educational project, an open-source laboratory in which anyone can participate.

‘For us at WASP, Itaca represents a path towards food, water, energy, and economic self-sufficiency. A proposal for a solution to the social, energy, climate, and mass migration crisis. For us, digitization and 3D printing are a response to the needs of humanity.’ Massimo Moretti mentions.

Itaca proves that a 33-meters diameter space can provide a sufficient living environment for up to four people

the Itaca model is made of natural zero-kilometer materials

the applied technological solutions lead to a circular microeconomy maintaining the ecological balance

the Itaca model will be 3D printed by Crane WASP

project info:

name: Itaca
designers: WASP

myrto katsikopoulou I designboom

nov 17, 2022

Reference

Interior Design

Ten living rooms that use warm neutrals to create a cosy ambience

By Zarkon Group,06/11/2022

As the days get darker in the northern hemisphere, our latest lookbook spotlights 10 living rooms rendered in warm yet discrete colour palettes, proving that neutrals don’t have to feel clinical.

Mixing tactile natural materials with toasty shades of chocolate brown, creamy beige and blush pink can help to create a sense of homeliness in a room without being overbearing.

From a São Paulo apartment filled with Brazilian modernist design to a converted biscuit factory in Los Angeles, here are 10 American homes that show how it’s done.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with statement sinks, homes with Eames chairs and contemporary living rooms in Victorian and Georgian houses.

Formal lounge in Twentieth house by Woods and Dangaran — Photo is by Joe Fletcher

Twentieth, USA, by Woods +Dangaran

This Santa Monica home features two separate living areas – a family room (top image) and a formal living room (above) – which flank a central courtyard housing a decades-old olive tree.

Despite being framed by glazing, the rooms maintain a homely atmosphere with the help of an earthy material palette ranging from the travertine fireplace to a rose-gold cashmere rug and club chairs finished in tactile chocolate-brown corduroy.

Find out more about Twentieth ›

A living room inside Amity Street Residence with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Sean Davidson

Amity Street Residence, USA, by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas

Architectural designers Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas used warm oak floors and cream-hued walls, contrasted against dark stone and stained-wood bookshelves, to enliven this “neglected” apartment in a 20th-century building in Brooklyn.

“A dialogue of opposites was the main theme behind the creation; minimal but warm, understated yet rich,” Muqaddas told Dezeen.

Find out more about Amity Street Residence ›

Hygge Studio by Melina Romano — Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA Estúdio

Hygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano

A black fireplace is suspended from the ceiling in this living room to contrast with the otherwise soft colour scheme of the interior, reflected in everything from the cream sofa and woven rug to the cobogó block screen that acts as a room divider.

Walls and floor throughout the São Paulo apartment are covered in terracotta tiles, chosen by local designer Melina Romano to strike a balance between “modern and bucolic”.

Find out more about Hygge Studio ›

Living room with full storage wall with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Nicole Franzen

East Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects

New York-based GRT Architects used warm tones and materials to modernise this renovated East Village apartment – set in a Beaux-Arts building on Second Avenue – while “preserving its turn-of-the-century disposition”.

In the lounge, this was achieved by adding a storage wall backed with sienna-coloured panels and complementing it with a geometric, art deco-style rug rendered in muted shades of sage green and dusty rose.

Find out more about this East Village Apartment ›

Kelly Wearstler's interiors for Santa Monica Proper Hotel — Photo is by The Ingalls and Matthieu Salvaing

Santa Monica Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

Although not technically a living room, the lounge of the Santa Monica Proper hotel features all the trappings of a cosy den – timber bookshelves, creamy-white Soriana lounge chairs and a Coulmier limestone coffee table with three orbs for legs.

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler used natural materials and neutral colours throughout the hotel to reference its seaside setting.

“Organic materials, neutral colour stories, everything has a texture,” Wearstler told Dezeen. “There’s a patina, there’s a hand, there’s something that feels very warm.”

Find out more about Santa Monica Proper ›

Olivier Garcé apartment with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Sean Davidson

West Village apartment, USA, by Olivier Garcé

American interior designer Olivier Garcé found a creative outlet during last year’s coronavirus lockdown by working remotely with friends and colleagues to transform his West Village home into a show space for contemporary art and design.

His lounge now houses a vintage Axel Einar Hjorth rocking chair, paired with a lava-stone coffee table and side chair upholstered in alpaca wool by New York designer Ian Felton, complementing the terracotta-coloured tiling on the building’s original fireplace surround.

Find out more about this West Village apartment ›

Living room of 20 Bond apartment by Home Studios — Photo is by Brian Ferry

20 Bond apartment, USA, by Home Studios

Curves feature liberally throughout this family apartment in New York’s NoHo neighbourhood, from its copper-edged skirting to the rounded oak-and-brass shelving unit in the living room, which was made bespoke by interior practice Home Studios.

The muted tones of the timber are complemented by a set of antique Danish armchairs with woven leather seats and a blush-coloured version of designer Sabine Marcelis’s Candy Cube side tables.

Find out more about 20 Bond apartment ›

Gale Apartment living room with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Fran Parente

Gale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio

Furnishings are coloured in grounding, earthy hues inside this lounge flanked by two double-height statement walls – one housing the owners’ art collection and the other clad in a broken-edge stone mosaic.

“Furniture has been reupholstered to match the new colour palette, inspired by the autumn and the sunset colours found in the horizon,” said design practice Memola Estudio, which was responsible for renovating the São Paulo apartment.

Find out more about Gale Apartment ›

Biscuit Loft, USA, by OWIU Studio

Japanese design informed this apartment in a converted 1920s biscuit factory in Downtown Los Angeles, with a guest room modelled on a traditional Ryokan inn that also functions as a space for hosting gatherings and tea ceremonies.

Local practice OWIU Studio added Noguchi pendant lights to bathe the room in a warm glow, while a convertible platform made from pale wood conceals extra storage and functions as a base for a futon when guests are staying over.

Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›

Sao Paolo apartment by BC Arquitetos with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Denilson Machado

DN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos

Walnut wood panelling and soft furnishings upholstered in caramel-coloured leather help to temper the chunky concrete columns of this apartment, housed in a 1970s building in São Paulo’s traditional Jardins neighbourhood.

Local practice BC Arquitetos describes the home as a “gallery apartment” as it houses an extensive collection of mid-20th century Brazilian art and design, ranging from the net-backed Janguada armchair by Jean Gillon to Jader Almeida’s Verde Corvo sofa, which is finished in a faded olive green.

Find out more about DN Apartment ›

Reference

Sustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Interior Design Ideas for Living Big in Small Spaces

By Zarkon Group,13/10/2022

While some large-scale builders still cling to huge home floor plans and many upscale buyers still demand them, there is a rapidly growing interest in smaller homes. Small homes use less energy, require a lower carbon input, and cost less to maintain than the typical suburban estate. If you’re building a new home, you have many options for reducing size and living very comfortably (link to Part I). If you’re buying or living in an existing small home, you also have opportunities to make it live bigger without ripping into walls or raising the roof. It’s amazing how creative interior design can expand the visual space and increase the comfort and utility of a small home. Here are some tips.

Interior Design

Keep it light. Paint the walls a light color. Various shades of white or beige are classic choices. If you’re more adventurous, consider light yellow or pastels. Accent walls of brighter hues can add interest. To make a room seem brighter, select an eggshell finish that is slightly more reflective than flat wall paint. Use semi-gloss paint in bathrooms to reflect light and reduce vapor diffusion into walls.

Choose flooring material. Using the same flooring material for connected spaces will tie the spaces together visually and make them look larger. For example, a kitchen and dining area could have the same tile flooring. Using different materials, distinguishes spaces without actually interrupting the view. A living room next to the dining area can be defined with a hardwood floor, but not blocked off.

Install mirrors. Reflecting light and extending interior views can be accomplished with strategically placed mirrors.

Occupy window sills. Most zero energy homes have thick walls, which brings the added benefit of wide window sills. Consider enhancing their interest with bold sill material, such as stone, tile, or another unique finish. Make the most of these built-in shelves to grow houseplants or display decorative items.

Enhance trim and detail. High-quality trim and detail can be a key focus of a small house. For example, high-quality hardware and moulding, and other aesthetic touches, can draw attention to the details creating more visual interest with less need to clutter the room with knick-knacks.

Add a focal point. Each room should have one attractive attention-getting feature. This can be a building element, such as built-in furniture, a work of art, or an intriguing light fixture.

Furnishings

Choose quality. Too much clutter makes homes seem small. Small homes should have small comfortable furniture or a smaller amount of carefully selected larger furniture.

Open up. Select chairs and sofas with open legs instead of those with enclosed bases. These pieces seem lighter and offer a bit more visual space in the room because you can see below them.

Include storage. Some furniture pieces come with storage, such as an ottoman or footstool, that opens up and contains storage. Some bed frames come with storage below the mattress, either in drawers or the mattress itself may lift.

Make it tall. Well-designed small homes have high ceilings. Much like clothes with vertical stripes make people look taller, tall furniture pieces will accentuate tall ceilings and draw the eye upward. Similarly, a tall plant will reach into the higher spaces and create visual interest.

Fold it. Find furniture that transforms to different uses. A coffee table can become a dining table. Tables that hinge down from the wall will allow them to be deployed without moving objects sitting on the floor. The classic space-saving transformer is the Murphy bed. This allows the bedroom to have a day job, too.

Hidden offices. There are many “hidden” desk ideas that allow for a home office to be discreetly hidden or camouflaged in a living area or bedroom.

Seek niche storage. Look for the small empty spaces that can hold your stuff and reduce clutter. Cabinets can hide less attractive household items, while open shelves can display your treasures. Examine the back side of the closet and pantry doors. Is there space for wall-mounted storage baskets or hooks that will be out of site, but easily accessible?

Few small homes will use all these ideas, but each one has its merits. Apply the ones that make sense for your situation to make your small home look and live bigger. Be proud that your small home reduces your carbon footprint, has less upkeep, and saves you money without sacrificing comfort.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten living spaces that don’t relegate tiles to the bathroom

By Zarkon Group,09/10/202211/10/2022

Our latest lookbook rounds up 10 living spaces that take tiling from practical to decorative, applying it to everything from bars and fireplaces to entire statement walls.

Tiles in the modern home are often consigned to the bathroom or kitchen, where their durable finish can protect walls from water damage.

But a growing cohort of designers are using the surfacing much like they would rugs or wallpapers, as a means of bringing colours and patterns into living spaces.

Whether made from ceramic, stone or concrete, this can help to imbue an otherwise cosy interior with a much-needed sense of depth and dimension.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, kitchens with polished granite surfaces and brutalist interiors with a surprisingly welcoming feel.

Bar area of Dream Weaver penthouse designed by YSG — Photo is by Prue Ruscoe

Dream Weaver penthouse, Australia, by YSG

Spanish tapas bars informed the design of this penthouse in Sydney, which belongs to a couple of empty nesters.

In the open-plan living space, this reference was translated into an entire wall of glossy off-white tiles, providing the backdrop for a custom bar trolley made from white ash and blue granite.

Find out more about Dream Weaver penthouse ›

Conde Duque apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera — Photo is by German Sáiz

Conde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera

Vibrantly glazed tiles help to define the different zones in this apartment in Madrid, with green used in the kitchen, red and blue in the bathrooms and yellow in the living areas.

The traditional Moroccan zellige tiles are characterised by their tonal and textural variations, with imperfect surfaces that are moulded by hand.

Find out more about Conde Duque ›

Puro Hotel Stare Miasto Kraków by Studio Paradowski — Photo is by Pion Studio

Puro Hotel Kraków, Poland, by Paradowski Studio

Polish practice Paradowski Studio mixed and matched different kinds of tiling throughout this lounge, covering everything from the floor to the columns to an entire wall, designed by artist Tomasz Opaliński based on the modernist mosaics of the 1970s.

To soften up these hard, glossy surfaces and add a sense of warmth, the studio added plenty of textiles plus a stained oak bas-relief, which a couple of doors.

Find out more about Puro Hotel Kraków ›

Green-tiled bar — Photo is by Joana França

São Paulo apartment, Brazil, by Casulo

A bar clad in glossy green tiles forms the centrepiece of this living room, contrasted against the matt black slate on the floor.

Brazilian studio Casulo repeated this same material palette in the bathroom and kitchen of the São Paulo apartment, which the owners bought at a closed-door auction without seeing its interior.

Find out more about São Paulo apartment ›

Yurikago House by Mas-aqui — Photo is by José Hevia

Yurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui

Hydraulic tiling helps to create a sense of continuity across the various different floors and half-levels of this apartment, designed by architecture studio Mas-aqui.

The natural tonal variations of the reddish-brown ceramics help to create a sense of depth and texture despite using only one material.

Find out more about Yurikago House ›

Interiors of Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris — Photo is by Benoit Linero

Hotel Les Deux Gares, France, by Luke Edward Hall

Chevron marble floors, striped pink-satin armchairs and chintzy duck-egg blue wallpaper create a riotous clash of patterns and colours in this lounge by British designer Luke Edward Hall.

“I really wanted this space to feel above all joyful and welcoming and alive, classic but a little bonkers at the same time,” he explained.

House in Girona, Barcelona by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

Fireplace in Passeig de Grácia apartment by Jeanne Schultz — Photo is by José Hevia

Reference

Interior Design

Ten colourful living rooms that make a statement with bold hues

By Zarkon Group,25/09/2022

Flamingo pink walls in a Greek seaside apartment and a living space in Italy defined by primary colours feature in our latest lookbook, which collects colourful living rooms that are designed to stand out.

From the pastel colour palette used in a Tokyo dwelling to the clash of reds and greens seen in an Athens apartment, these 10 living rooms from across the world are defined by their colourful interiors.

While using strong colours in a living room can seem like an intimidating prospect, these examples show how even just a few splashes of colour can create a warmer atmosphere and work as a contrast against traditional white walls.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing brutalist interiors, terrazzo eateries and residential atriums.

Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith

Pops of colour feature in every room of Polychrome House, a 1960s property in Sydney that was renovated by architecture studio Amber Road and colour consultants Lymesmith.

“Bright primary colours, which were layered throughout the interior, became the heartbeat of the joyful experience we were all committed to creating,” Amber Road co-director Yasmine Ghoniem told Dezeen.

Find out more about Polychrome House ›

Waterfront Nikis Apartment by Stamatios Giannikis — Photo is by Kim Powell

Waterfront Nikis Apartment, Greece, by Stamatios Giannikis

Flamingo pink walls and accents take centre stage in the living room of Waterfront Nikis Apartment, a Greek seaside dwelling set within a 1937 listed art deco building.

Architect Stamatios Giannikis paired a neon-pink hammock with a soft fluffy rug and rosy plant pots in the living room that overlooks the sea.

Find out more about Waterfront Nikis Apartment ›

Nagatachō Apartment by Adam Nathaniel Furman — Photo is by Jan Vranovsky

Nagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman

Designer Adam Nathaniel Furman used a sugar-sweet colour palette to liven up a Tokyo apartment he renovated for a retired expat couple.

Located opposite the open-plan kitchen, the combined living space and dining area features a plush lilac carpet that was chosen to contrast a bold green and blue chair and footrest, which Furman said “has the feel of sponge cake and looks like icing”.

Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›

Levine by Hendricks Churchill — Photo is by Tim Lenz

Connecticut house, USA, by Hendricks Churchill

American firm Hendricks Churchill sought to combine the aesthetic of a traditional farmhouse with more contemporary details at this Connecticut house.

Dusty blue cabinetry meets reddy orange furniture in the home’s living room while a textured blue rug was placed on neutral wooden floorboards.

Find out more about this Connecticut house ›

Trevi House apartment in Rome designed by Studio Venturoni — Photo is by Michele Bonechi

Trevi House, Italy, by Studio Venturoni

Thick bands of terracotta and sand-coloured paint wrap around the walls of Trevi House, a one-bedroom apartment in Rome that is defined by warm, earthy hues.

The living room includes a contrasting rectilinear blue and cream rug, which is positioned underneath a statement oversized sculpture, reminiscent of traditional marble statues.

Find out more about Trevi House ›

The Karine Vilas Boas Apartment, Brazil, by Studio Julliana Camargo

A large rug with a bright geometric pattern by Portuguese brand Punto e Filo features in the living space of this large apartment in downtown São Paulo.

Studio Julliana Camargo placed a crescent-shaped pink sofa and vivid green armchairs around the rug, emphasising its bold, technicolour appearance.

Find out more about the Karine Vilas Boas Apartment ›

Trikoupi apartment by Point Supreme — Photo is by Yannis Drakoulidis

Trikoui apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme Architects

Local firm Point Supreme Architects designed this vibrant Athens apartment to include a single open-plan space combining the living, dining and kitchen areas.

To make up for the absence of partition walls, the apartment includes colourful built-in custom furniture to help delineate spaces, including a stained-green plywood storage wall and a table with a bright red top.

Find out more about this Trikoui apartment ›

House for Booklovers and Cats by BFDO Architects — Photo is by Francis Dzikowski

House for Booklovers and Cats, USA, by BFDO Architects

American studio BFDO Architects added splashes of pink, orange and blue to the living room of House for Booklovers and Cats, a Brooklyn home designed to include various nooks for a pair of shy cats to retreat to.

A higgledypiggledy bookshelf featuring brightly painted alcoves was built into one of the room’s walls, which was designed to house the owners’ extensive reading collection.

Find out more about House for Booklovers and Cats ›

Retroscena apartment renovation by La Macchina Studio — Photo is by Paolo Fusco

Retroscena, Italy, by La Macchina Studio

Retroscena is a distinctive 1950s apartment renovation in Rome, completed by Italian architecture office La Macchina Studio to reveal the home’s original terrazzo floors.

Primary colours were celebrated in the interior design, where the living room can be screened off by a yellow curtain and is decorated with a circular red wall hanging and a squidgy blue sofa.

Find out more about Retroscena ›

Husos Arquitectos Madrid apartment — Photo is by José Hevia

Madrid apartment, Spain, by Husos Arquitectos

Playful lime green deck chairs and bold yellow and orange accents feature in the large living room of this Madrid apartment by Spanish studio Husos Arquitectos.

While its plywood-board cabinetry and pinewood floors mean that natural hues dominate in the room, the studio painted some of the shelves in vibrant colours to brighten up the wood.

Find out more about this Madrid apartment ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing green bedrooms, gardens with swimming pools and homes with glass extensions.

Reference

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