tops Archives

A private roof terrace enclosed by greenery features in Hidden Garden House, a Sydney home reconfigured by Australian studio Sam Crawford Architects.

Situated within a conservation zone, the home has been updated by Sam Crawford Architects to brighten its dark interior and transform it into an urban “sanctuary”.

Alterations to the 198-square-metre home’s interior are first seen in its entrance, where a stair with open treads and a white-steel balustrade replaces a solid timber structure that previously restricted light from a skylight above.

Down from the entry hall is a spacious ground-floor kitchen and dining area, which is illuminated by 4.5-metre-high glass openings that lead out to a landscaped patio. The patio is paved with limestone tiles that extend out from the interior.

Renovated kitchen and dining area in Sydney home by Sam Crawford Architects — A curved concrete roof features in the kitchen

“By extending the ground floor finishes through the full-width doors into the rear yard, the garden and high-level green trellises at the rear of the site form the fourth wall to the rear wing,” studio director Sam Crawford told Dezeen.

“They create a sense of enclosure that draws the occupant’s eye up to the expanse of the sky rather than surrounding suburbia.”

Bathroom interior at Hidden Garden House in Australia — Angled timber screens and greenery ensure privacy for the bathroom

A concrete ceiling in Hidden Garden House’s kitchen curves upwards to help draw in the winter sun and provide summer shading, while operable clerestory windows allow natural ventilation.

Above, this curved ceiling forms a sloped roof terrace filled with plants, which is situated off the main bedroom on the upper floor.

An ensuite bathroom, also lined with limestone floor tiles, has expansive openings offering a scenic yet private bathing experience enabled by angled timber screens and the terrace’s greenery.

“The rolling green roof serves as a visual barrier to the surrounding suburb, whilst allowing the occupants to occupy their private garden oasis,” added Crawford.

Living space interior of Hidden Garden House in Sydney — White walls and wooden furniture feature throughout the interior

Hidden Garden House’s consistent material palette of bright white walls and wooden furniture ties its living spaces together, while decorative square tiles line both the kitchen and bathrooms.

Curved details, such as the patio’s shape and the kitchen island and splashback, also feature throughout.

Terrace of Hidden Garden House in Sydney designed by Sam Crawford Architects — The home aims to be an urban “sanctuary”

Other alterations that were made to improve Hidden Garden House’s layout include the relocation of entrances to the ground floor laundry room and bathroom.

Elsewhere, Sam Crawford Architects has also created a restaurant topped with an oversized steel roof and a bridge modelled on the curving shape of eels.

The photography is by Tom Ferguson.

Project credits:

Architect: Sam Crawford Architects
Builder: Toki
Structural engineer: Cantilever Engineers
Civil & hydraulic engineer: Partridge
Acoustic engineer: Acoustic Logic
Heritage consultant: Damian O’Toole Town Planning
Quantity Surveyor: QS Plus
Landscape design: Gabrielle Pelletier, SCA
Roof garden supplier: Fytogreen Australia

Reference

Carpark interior in Germany by Mono Architekten

Architecture

Mono Architekten tops perforated concrete car park with public plaza

By Zarkon Group,31/12/2023

Berlin studio Mono Architekten has combined a perforated concrete viewing tower with a car park topped by a public park to create a new entrance to the town of Neuenburg am Rhein, Germany.

Located close to the border with France and Switzerland, the project is situated between the town itself and the recently redeveloped green spaces a Stadtpark am Wuhrloch, a meeting point which was previously difficult to traverse due to a nine-metre height difference.

Bridging these two conditions, Mono Architekten sought to complement the functional need for a 231-space car park with more public facilities, including a new public plaza and a 36-metre-high viewing tower.

“The aim was to develop independent typologies from the functional requirements of parking and barrier-free access to the city park,” Mono co-founder André Schmidt told Dezeen.

“Together they create an identity-forming urban ensemble,” he continued.

“The parking garage roof was thus designed as a public square – Münsterplatz – and the vertical access structure to the city park was designed as a tower – Bertholdturm – with a publicly accessible viewing platform.”

Interior view of carpark with public park in Germany — Spiralling ramps provide vehicle access to the carpark

Using the site’s level change as an advantage, the new car park meets the level of the town to allow it to connect seamlessly to the new public square, which is finished with planting and paved seating areas.

Two spiralling ramps at either end of the carpark provide access for vehicles, while the perimeter of the structure curves to meet the existing road with its perforated concrete facade.

In the nearby viewing tower, an elevator core links the ground floor entrance with the rooftop, where 360-degree views of the landscape are accompanied by corten steel panels on the parapet that detail landmarks and their distances.

A bridge of corten steel links the car park roof with an upper entrance to the tower, and in future there is a plan to extend this bridge to create a ramp down to the adjacent parkland, creating a step-free, accessible route between it and the town.

Mono Architekten top carpark with public park in Germany — Both structures were made using blocks of tamped concrete

The two structures were united by their matching exterior finish, with blocks of tamped concrete arranged to create square perforations that allow air to flow freely.

“The sedimentary tamped concrete layers at the entrance to the city are inspired by the city’s former location on the banks of the Rhine,” explained Schmidt.

“The reddish pigmentation harmonizes with the sandstone traditionally used in this area,” he continued. “The monolithic construction emphasizes the archaic character of the buildings.”

Exterior view of perforated tower and bridge by Mono Architekten — A corten steel bridge provides expansive views of the landscape

Mono Architekten took a similar approach to blending infrastructure with public facilities in their design for a service station in Thuringia, which also includes an exhibition space about the site’s nearby bronze-age burial mound.

The photography is by Gregor Schmidt.

Reference

Architecture

Proctor & Shaw tops London home extension with serrated zinc roof

By Zarkon Group,10/12/2023

Architecture studio Proctor & Shaw has topped a home extension with a steeply-angled roof clad with red pigmented zinc in East Dulwich, London.

Home to a family of seven, Proctor & Shaw designed the project as an extension to an existing Edwardian house, extending the ground-floor kitchen and dining room.

In order to restrict potential onlooking from neighbours, the studio crafted a unique serrated-edged roof with exposed rafter tails to run alongside the extension – enhancing both privacy and daylight access.

“From the side, the serrated edge blocks oblique views from the principal first-floor neighbouring windows,” Proctor & Shaw director John Proctor told Dezeen. “It is designed to be pulled back (with the shortest overhang) at the mid-window point to allow the maximum amount of light directly from above.”

Serrated roof edge designed for Edwardian house extension — The unique roof design features exposed rafter tails lined with Douglas fir

A newly built porcelain-tiled living space sits adjacent to the kitchen and dining room and is also sheltered by the roof’s large overhangs.

Deep skylights punctured into the roof draw daylight into the space below, while sliding doors seamlessly connect the interior with an outdoor patio.

View from newly built living space in London home extension — Deep skylights draw daylight into the newly built living space

The interior space is defined by kitchen units and seating lined with warm-toned Douglas fir, which are contrasted by cool-toned concrete flooring and countertops.

A centralised services unit nestled behind the kitchen provides a bathroom and utility space defined by bold, pink-hued walls and matching floor tiles.

Built into a sloping site, level changes pose as thresholds – dividing the open-plan interior and exterior spaces.

Externally, metal steps lead down to the landscaped garden, which comprises a paved outdoor kitchen, seating area and outbuilding, designed in collaboration with Barbara Samitier Garden Design.

London home extension with Douglas fir interior — The kitchen and dining room have a largely concrete and wooden interior

According to the studio, drainage from the gutter-less zinc roof, as well as the home’s existing pitched roof, is provided at ground level to allow for a finely detailed roof edge.

“[The gutter-less roof] required careful navigation of regulatory requirements for rainwater drainage, which was ultimately achieved with the side roofs being kept small,” Proctor said.

Services unit within Proctor & Shaw's home extension — The services unit is defined by bold-coloured walls

Other London home extensions completed by Proctor & Shaw include a glazed extension added to Sky Lantern House and a micro-apartment with a translucent “sleeping cocoon”.

The photography is by Nick Deardon.

Project credits:

Architect and interior designer: Proctor & Shaw
Structural engineer: Constant Structural Design
Landscape designer: Barbara Samitier Landscape and Garden Design
Contractor: R & D Nunes (trading as Yorkland Stone)
Building control: Cook Brown Buildings Control Ltd

Reference

traditional wooden hanok roof frame tops nomal's renovated restaurant in korea

Architecture

wooden hanok roof frame tops nomal’s restaurant in korea

By Zarkon Group,04/12/2023

NOMAL’s Joomak revitalizes abandoned house in Palbok-dong

NOMAL studio’s project, Joomak, revitalizes the landscape of Palbok-dong in Jeonju, Korea, addressing the challenges of neglected industrial zones and structures. The once-thriving industrial area faced a decline during the 1990s, resulting in abandoned factories and neglected spaces. The project is part of the ‘MBC Empty House 3’ initiative that aims to regenerate four old disused houses in Palbok-dong. The design transforms one of the old structures into a modern restaurant, incorporating elements of traditional hanok architecture and a spatial layout resembling a Joomak, a term for a traditional Korean tavern.

all images by © Roh Kyung

renovation project preserves existing structural elements

The design team at NOMAL prioritizes the preservation of the building’s historical integrity, emphasizing existing structural elements and traces integral to the town’s long-standing village landscape. For the hanok, a meticulous process involves the removal of the roof to prevent structural collapse. The deteriorated wood structure undergoes reinforcement by enveloping the lower section with metal and infilling it with concrete. To meet contemporary load requirements and enhance roof performance, modern materials are employed in place of traditional roof tiles.

the project transforms an old structure into a modern restaurant, integrating traditional hanok elements

open layout blurs the boundaries between inside and outside

The project is centered around the concept of openness. Various design elements intentionally blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a symbolic representation of an external environment within the interior. Utilizing metal for exterior walls and extending it to the kitchen and main hall, along with an opening directly connecting the roof frame with the interior ceiling, conveys the internal hall as a symbolic external space akin to a traditional joomak. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling windows facing the landscape further dissolve the delineation between the inside and outside, ensuring a visually open atmosphere within the relatively narrow space. The conversion of the adjacent vacant lot into a green patio enhances the ‘Joomak’s’ front yard prominence. This project initiates the process of revitalizing Palbok-dong through urban regeneration.

NOMAL preserves the building’s historical integrity and existing structural elements

deteriorated wood structure is reinforced, enveloping the lower part with metal and infilling it with concrete

the project’s core concept revolves around openness, blurring lines between indoor and outdoor spaces

Reference

Architecture

TAEP/AAP tops BBT Hilltop restaurant in Kuwait with stepped roof

By Zarkon Group,13/11/2023

An oversized stepped roof that doubles as an “amphitheatre for the city” tops BBT Hilltop, a burger restaurant in Kuwait City designed by architecture studio TAEP/AAP.

Named after its client, Best Burger in Town (BBT), the restaurant in the Sharq district is elevated on a bright red plinth that doubles as an outdoor seating area for customers.

Above, the overhanging roof provides additional seating as well as a flexible events space that TAEP/AAP designed to be used for outdoor cinemas, parties and concerts.

According to the studio, the aim is to “create opportunity for certain activities to take place, that otherwise would be less likely to happen in the business centre”.

“A building such as this does not merely occupy its plot, it gives something back,” TAEP/AAP told Dezeen.

“It can host all sorts of parties and concerts, artistic-related events, expositions and so forth. The possibilities are limitless.”

Drive-through restaurant with stepped roof — BBT Hilltop is topped by a stepped rooftop

On the ground floor, an indoor seating area sits alongside the kitchens and logistical spaces. Glass hatches for ordering and picking up food are sheltered by the roof, the underside of which has also been finished in a bold shade of red.

An opening on the southern side of BBT Hilltop leads customers directly to a red spiral staircase that winds up onto the roof terrace.

Tower and neighbouring restaurant in Kuwait City — The roof features seating and a slide

On the roof, a group of red shipping containers contain a pop-up store selling the restaurant’s merchandise. There is also a series of wide steps leading to seating areas sheltered beneath umbrellas and a yellow slide on the eastern edge.

The roof has been designed to be able to support additional pop-up structures in the future depending on its use.

“On top, a ludic contemplation area was developed to enjoy the views while eating, or simply resting,” explained TAEP/AAP.

“A stand was created to be used as a sitting area and playground, with the addition of a slide that interacts with the inclination of the canopy,” it added.

Red staircase to roof of BBT Hilltop restaurant in Kuwait City by TAEP/AAP — The use of red is informed by the restaurant company’s branding

The use of red throughout BBT Hilltop is informed by BBT’s branding and has been incorporated throughout the interiors in fixtures and fittings, as well as in the barriers for the drive-through area.

Other burger restaurants featured on Dezeen include an interior by Sapid Studio in Geneva informed by a Japanese patchwork technique and a restaurant in Turin by Masquespacio with brightly coloured tiles.

The photography is by Fernando Guerra.

Reference

Lanserhof Sylt Medical Health Resort by Inhenhoven Architects

Sustainable News

Ingenhoven Architects tops resort with Europe’s largest thatched roof

By Zarkon Group,16/10/2023

Architecture studio Ingenhoven Architects has created a series of buildings topped with large, overhanging thatched roofs for the Lanserhof Sylt health resort on the Germany island of Sylt.

Ingenhoven Architects was informed by the surrounding dunes and the thatched roof of a previous building on the site for the resort, which was built in an area formerly used by the military on the island of Sylt in northern Germany.

Lanserhof Sylt includes traditional spa services, such as a saltwater swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, yoga studio, sauna and steam rooms, library and indoor-outdoor lounges. The resort’s focus on health means there are also CT and ultrasound scanners, ECG monitors as well as IV lounges and colonic hydrotherapy suites.

Its building is topped with a thatch roof that measures 7,100 square metres – making it the largest in Europe. It was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the surrounding dune landscape.

“Our projects are always to be understood as a contemporary reaction to what previous generations have created,” Ingenhoven Architects founder Christoph Ingenhoven told Dezeen. “At the same time, building on Sylt means being part of a dune in motion.”

“For the Lanserhof we designed buildings in harmony with nature, reduced to the essentials, which is our definition of luxury today,” he continued.

The studio chose a colour palette that echoes the surrounding landscape: beige, white, grey, wooden floors, large windows and transparent glass.

“Everything is geared towards simplicity and transforming restraints to achieve a positive spatial experience,” the studio explained.

Natural materials without synthetic finishes, such as reed, were used for the project, which Ingenhoven described as “not only a traditional choice but also an eco-friendly building element”.

Local craftsmen built the roof framework from wood, which “eased logistical challenges posed by the island’s location”.

“The softly undulating form of the roof harmonises beautifully with the dynamic dune landscape,” Ingenhoven explained.

“In terms of architectural heritage, we sought to pay homage to the cultural tradition of the island’s historical houses.”

Inside, an imposing staircase made of steel and oak connects all levels, leading guests from the reception to the garage to the medical area to their rooms, which each have their own sheltered outdoor area.

“The architecture operates in analogy to the medical concept, which, in terms of the healing process, translates to a design that simplifies itself to the essentials,” added Ingenhoven,

Other projects by Ingenhoven Associates recently featured on Dezeen include plant-covered skyscrapers in Tokyo and an office covered in five miles of hedges in Dusseldorf.

The photography is courtesy of Ingenhoven Architects/HGEsch.

Reference

Architecture

yoshichika takagi tops hokkaido house with ‘greenhouse’ kitchen

By Zarkon Group,21/07/2023

hokkaido dwelling opened with loft spaces

A typical 1975-built row house in Hokkaido has been renovated by Yoshichika Takagi + Associates to introduce a pair of modern, sunlit student dwellings and studio spaces. With its contemporary intervention, the architects sought to open up the existing structure, which long stood with dark interiors, low ceilings, and a light layout which included four cramped living units. The team notes that the structure had even been extended against local building code, which needed to be corrected. Thus, a section of the house was cut back while a rooftop ‘shed’ was added to houses a stairwell and spacious bedroom loft.

yoshichika takagi makes the most of a compact site

One of the primary goals of Yoshichika Takagi’s renovation in Hokkaido was to reduce the number of households from four to two while updating the entire house to provide a modern lifestyle despite its compact size. The team considered the site’s proximity to a streetcar line and aimed to create a structure that could be adaptable for future conversions. Although the building was situated in a densely populated residential area, the east side offered an open garden across the street.

The architects decided to capitalize on this borrowed landscape by incorporating glass walls to actively connect the interior with the garden. On the west side, the building boasted views of Mt. Moiwa, a prominent symbol of Sapporo, inspiring the architects to design spaces that could make the most of the strong western sunlight that left a lasting impression.

Balancing Privacy and Connectivity in Design

Considering the potential conversion of the first floor into a SOHO (Small Office/Home Office), the architects at Yoshichika Takagai + Associates designed the front portion of the ground floor to be open and connected to the street while ensuring privacy in the further back areas. To maintain a balance between openness and privacy, the large windows were positioned higher up, offering a connection to the city while also considering external lines of sight.

Embracing Hokkaido’s traditional approach to creating a warm and stable environment for harsh winters, the first floor followed these practices. In contrast, the second floor featured three rooms with different environmental characteristics arranged in series, providing a flexible and nomadic living space that can be adapted according to the climate.

Design Elements Inspired by Scandinavian Winter Living

Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian winter living rooms, which offer comfort and safety even during severe cold waves, this renovated house also incorporated a ‘winter living room’ on its west side. With high insulation performance and limited openings, this space ensured a stable indoor environment. Adjacent to the winter living room was the ‘summer living room,’ a private space enclosed by walls. While not insulated, it was protected from the wind and rain by a tarp, primarily used during mild seasons and even in winter, when people gathered for events and barbecues, donning appropriate clothing.

Another unique feature was the ‘greenhouse kitchen,’ which faced the city through a glass wall, creating a living-on-the-street feel. This space, however, experienced significant temperature fluctuations due to sunlight, making it challenging to control the indoor climate. Nevertheless, the evergreen appearance throughout winter and the ability to witness the beauty of a blizzard from within the space provided a joyful living experience that transcended minor inconveniences.

Reference

Exterior of the brick Casa de Musica school by Colectivo C733 with cantilevered timber roofs

Architecture

Colectivo C733 tops brick music school with soaring timber roof in Mexico

By Zarkon Group,06/06/2023

Mexican studio Colectivo C733 has created a brick music school in Nacajuca, Mexico that includes two structures and a lofty, cantilevered roof made of coconut wood.

The Mexico City-based collective completed the 1,325-square metre (120-square metre) Casa de Música in 2021.

The facility is part of the state’s urban development program and “provides a space for social gatherings with warm materials and natural ventilation, while musicians benefit from spacious, isolated classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment,” C733 told Dezeen.

Casa de Música is composed of two volumes connected by a public boulevard.

Exterior of the brick Casa de Musica school by Colectivo C733 with large windows and a cantilevered timber roof — The school is located in the Mexican city of Nacajuca

The larger volume – an open-plan community centre built on the foundations of a previous structure – boasts a large offset gable roof with one roof plane extending past the ridge line and cantilevering over a skylight and the opposite roof plane.

The north and south sides are supported by a series of double brick walls that hold the 24-metre trusses. The west end is transparent with rectangular glass panels shielded from the street by a porous brick screen, while the east end holds a service core.

Exterior of the Casa de Musica school with extended brick walls and cantilevered timber roofs — Double brick walls support the roof structure

The social space also holds a mezzanine stage for workshops and local musicians.

The smaller volume is the music school — consisting of eight classrooms, a cafeteria, restrooms and management offices — that reflects the rhythm of the community centre’s structure through compact spaces arranged in a line.

“The sloping roof of the building creates a double-height space in each of these areas, with an upper terrace offering views of the treetops,” the team said.

Both buildings feature local coconut wood, brick partitions, and clay tiles that provide warmth, natural freshness, and acoustic control. Wooden doors open between each structural bay, creating a loggia-like complex that opens the facility to the public.

An expansive interior space with a large pitched timber roof and glazed gable end — The larger of the two structures is a community centre

“The project draws inspiration from the traditional Mesoamerican pocho dance and contemporary expressions, incorporating warm materials, natural ventilation, and a focus on local resources to create a space that pays tribute to its location and enhances existing elements,” the team said.

The team looked beyond the site to prioritize the land on which the centre sits.

A covered exterior walkway with a brick floor and timber walls next to a glazed gable-ended building — Brick, wood and clay materials were chosen to add warmth

“It is essential that projects pay tribute to their location, particularly when they have the potential to highlight what already exists,” the team said.

The project faces a polluted creek; but the roof directs and collects rainwater, filtering it for use in restrooms, passing it through biodigesters and biofilters in a wetland-type treatment and discharging clean water into the local river as a water management alternative.

Two external brick walls topped with pitched timber roofs — A boulevard connects the school’s two structures

The locally sourced coconut wood captures carbon dioxide, generates a smaller carbon footprint than other materials and promotes both craftsmanship and employment for the local workforce.

C733 includes designers Gabriela Carrillo, Carlos Facio, Eric Valdez, Israel Espín and José Amozurrutia

In Matamoros just off the Texas-Mexico border, C733 created a brick shopping centre with inverted trapezoidal roof forms. Other projects with timber roofs in Mexico include a holiday home in Avándaro by Estudio MMX.

The photography is by Yoshihiro Koitani.

Project credits:
Colectivo C733: Gabriela Carrillo, Eric Valdez, Israel Espín, José Amozurrutia, Carlos Facio (TO)
Design team: Álvaro Martínez, Fernando Venado, Eduardo Palomino
Executive architect: Leticia Sánchez, Victor Arriata
Structures: LABG (Eric Valdez), GIEE, GECCO Ingeniería
Electrical and mechanical engineering: Enrique Zenón
Landscape architects: Taller de Paisaje Hugo Sánchez
Other consultants: Carlos Hano, Laurent Herbiet
Contractor: Francisco Tripp – Grupo Plarciac
Client: SEDATU, Municipio de Nacajuca

Reference

tops

Sam Crawford Architects tops Sydney home renovation with “garden oasis”

Mono Architekten tops perforated concrete car park with public plaza

Proctor & Shaw tops London home extension with serrated zinc roof

wooden hanok roof frame tops nomal’s restaurant in korea

NOMAL’s Joomak revitalizes abandoned house in Palbok-dong

renovation project preserves existing structural elements

open layout blurs the boundaries between inside and outside

TAEP/AAP tops BBT Hilltop restaurant in Kuwait with stepped roof

Ingenhoven Architects tops resort with Europe’s largest thatched roof

yoshichika takagi tops hokkaido house with ‘greenhouse’ kitchen

hokkaido dwelling opened with loft spaces

yoshichika takagi makes the most of a compact site

Balancing Privacy and Connectivity in Design

Design Elements Inspired by Scandinavian Winter Living

Colectivo C733 tops brick music school with soaring timber roof in Mexico

Get in touch

about us

Company info

Useful Links

Newsletter