House101

house101PACE

Adrian Streich Architekten AGagps architectureAlan Jones ArchitectsAleksandar Design GroupAPdS ArchitectsAR43 Architects Pte LtdBertrand Counsonbgp arquitecturaBusby Perkins+WillCUBE design + researchDaigo Ishii + Future-scape ArchitectsDale Jones-Evans Pty Ltd ArchitectureDavide Volpe Dean-Wolf ArchitectsDrexler Guinand Jauslin AgEgide Meertens Architect bvbaEllen Woolley ArchitectElmslie Osler ArchitectEnric Ruiz-Geli / Cloud9

Facet StudioFormwerkz ArchitectsGarduno ArquitectosGordon Architectgpy arquitectosGriffen Enright ArchitectsHrault Arnod ArchitectsHerman HertzbergerIppolito Fleitz Group - Identity ArchitectsJarmund / Vigsns AS Architects MNALJorge Hernandez de la Garza Junya Toda Architect & AssociatesKatsuyuki Fujimoto Architect & Associates office Kochi Architects StudioLim Chang Rohling ArchitectsLOOK ArchitectsMark Dziewulski ArchitectMaryann Thompson ArchitectsMinistry Of Design

Miyahara Architect OfficePascal ArquitectosResolution: 4 ArchitectureRobert Hidey ArchitectsRojkind ArquitectosS2 designSCDA Architects Pte LtdSPG ArchitectsSteven Lombardi ArchitectStudio Daniel LibeskindStudio GrandaSwatt | Miers ArchitectsTeeple ArchitectsTGP, IncTonkin Zulaikha Greer ArchitectsUdAWilliam Tozer Architecture & Design

52 Growth HomesAcorn - Studio HouseAcorn II - Studio HouseAggregate HouseAlexander ResidenceAllersAlleyway HouseAnnex to Old Family House AV HouseBalmain House Calderon de la BarcaCamp SmullCasa LevisCaulfield HouseChangi HouseCoastal SpeculationColorsComposite HouseContracted DwellingCottage in TsumariCountry Heights DamansaraDa VinciDenver Art Museum ResidencesDetached VillaDwell HomeF65 Center Transit VillageFaFairfield County HouseFloating Water VillaFolded HouseGalileo Apartment BuildingGDL 1 HouseGoldsmith Apartment BuildingGood-Class Bungalow

Gradman HouseGreenCity LoftsHaarlem PaswerkHDX Guest RoomHeathdale HouseHollywood Hills ResidenceHouse FHouse in AiharaHouse in MondosohHouse in NigataHouse on a RanchHouse TNHouse TTNHouse UcInterpolation HouseJetty HouseKatana ResidenceKuok HouseLa Loma II HouseLakeside HouseLeunessenLien ResidenceLilyfield HouseM CentralM HouseMasuzawa HouseMetalika ApartmentsMountain RetreatNew dwellingNewtown Silos Apartment BuildingNicolaOak Knoll ResidenceOntario ResidenceOrr Residence

OyPachter StudioPalazzo GiobertiParque Via HousePavilions on the BayPOB 62Point Dume ResidencePorticoPr34 HousePutney HouseRanch HouseRiver HouseSanta Monica Canyon ResidenceSchreiber ResidenceSecret Guest HouseSetiamurni HouseSkrudas ResidenceSpiral HouseSpring RoadSuntro HouseTan ResidenceThe VentoThe Water HouseThijs-KempeneersTriangle HouseTwenty TownhousesVanoppenVilla BioVilla SWeili ResidenceWerdwies Residential ComplexWestport Meadow HouseWhite House

house101

isbn 978-962-7723-51-6

house101

PACE

ha2 33

P r e f a c e

House and Housing 101 is replete with

many inspiring projects. Some capture our

imagination and hearts for being the dream

house we wish we could live in. Point Dume

Residence is one such house. This nestles in a

wooded lot where generous rooms are laid out

in an S-shaped plan to maximize views. The

River House is located in equally spectacular

surroundings. The designers describe their

concept as a journey from the man-made..to

nature. Look out from the full-height windows

and this is true indeed. Villa S too enjoys

spectacular views over the Grenoble valley,

a site characterised by very steep land. The

designers came up with a house on three levels

where each level responds independently to

the site. In Cincinnati, The Ascent at Roeblings

Bridge is a dramatic addition to the skyline.

The buildings crescent form and sloping roof

enables residents in all units to have great

views.

The Tans from Singapore are not alone in

desiring to build a house housing three

generations under one roof. Increasingly, a

number of families are opting to build homes

for adult children near their own residence,

or siblings may follow this path. This unique

arrangement enables entire families to be

close at arms length while ensuring their own

privacy. This very Eastern lifestyle is catching

on in the west and its easy to see why because

of its many practical benefits.

Designers always capitalize on the benefits of

the site or respond creatively to the challenges

posed by it. Sometimes, as in the case of Lien

residence, an unusual circumstance results

in the unexpected. The site was home to a

mature tree so a zigzag house was designed

around the tree. Its not a bad idea to live in

a twisted building form: you can enjoy shade

from inclement weather, cross-ventilation and

filtered light. The building was slightly raised

above ground imbuing it a sculptural look

which is all the better because of the planted

roofscape.

In another unusual project, the designers of

Folded House were required to edit and create

space between two distinct architectures

on a large hillside site. They came up with

an origami-like architecture that ties in two

spaces. It is interesting how the spaces merge

and flow into each other to become a coherent

whole. Walls wrap and curve, and the ceiling

occasionally dips to form a most unusual space.

The Newtown Silos Apartment Building gives a

new lease of life to a historic structure that is a

legacy of the flour milling days in Sydney. In its

heyday, concrete silos and tall timber storage

bins were commonplace along railway lines

and were used to store grain. Today, however,

this is being used as a residential complex. The

circular plan continues to be used but this time,

as rooms in an apartment. The original wall

surfaces were kept as a reminder of its past

usage. Its history with a new twist.

This book is not about inspiration alone. There

are also some very practical ideas classic in

its simplicity but designed to bring comfort

to residents. Work on the Da Vinci project in

Huixquilucan, Mexico, must have been a real

challenge as the site is characterised by a

variation in levels from the front to the rear. On

top of this, a river ran through the rear of the site.

Some nifty design devices were incorporated in

this project. For example, all the faade coating

elements are removable so that, whenever

required, the affected portion can be changed

or repaired. Also, bathrooms are oriented to the

faade with rear discharge toilets so that repairs

can be undertaken externally rather than from

within a neighbours apartment.

Not matter how simple, there is a wow!

element to good design that takes our breath

away and we wonder why we hadnt thought of

it before. I hope you enjoy this book as much

as I did.

Raka Dewan

ha4 5

SCDA Architects Pte Ltd


Formwerkz Architects

bgp arquitectura

bgp arquitectura

Maryann Thompson Architects

Swatt | Miers Architects

Teeple Architects

Drexler Guinand Jauslin Ag

Ministry Of Design

Gordon Architect


Griffen Enright Architects

Mark Dziewulski Architect

Pascal Arquitectos

Ministry Of Design

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects

LOOK Architects

Garduno Arquitectos

APdS Architects

Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

Elmslie Osler Architect

AR43 Architects Pte Ltd

Resolution: 4 Architecture

150House in Aihara

154Alexander Residence

108La Loma II House

114Good-Class Bungalow

62Tan Residence

68Mountain Retreat

c O N T e N T S . . .

sin g l e u n i t

cONTeNTS

120Orr Residence

126Pachter Studio

132Spiral House

138Lien Residence

142Weili Residence

146Kuok House

74Masuzawa House

80Setiamurni House

86Changi House

92GDL 1 House

98AV House

104Westport Meadow House

14Point Dume Residence

24River House

32Secret Guest House

40Ontario Residence

48Balmain House

56Country Heights Damansara

ha76


Dean-Wolf Architects


Dale Jones-Evans Pty Ltd Architecture

CUBE design + research


UdA with Davide Volpe

Jarmund / Vigsns AS Architects MNAL

Jarmund / Vigsns AS Architects MNAL


Rojkind Arquitectos

Ippolito Fleitz Group - Identity Architects

Herman Hertzberger

Herman Hertzberger

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects with Ellen Woolley Architect

S2 design

agps architecture

Alan Jones Architects


Bertrand Counson

Enric Ruiz-Geli / Cloud9


Garduno Arquitectos


296Villa Bio

300Camp Smull

248Lilyfield House

254POB 62

192Parque Via House

200House in Nigata

cONTeNTS

260Casa Levis

266Triangle House

272White House

278The Water House

284Pr34 House

290House F

208Hollywood Hills Residence

218Contracted Dwelling

224Dwell Home

230Folded House

236Jetty House

242Lakeside House

158Detached Villa

162Floating Water Villa

166Putney House

170Caulfield House

174House on a Ranch

184New dwelling

ha98


Elmslie Osler Architect

Studio Granda

Jorge Hernandez de la Garza

Egide Meertens Architect bvba

gpy arquitectos

Facet Studio

Formwerkz Architects


Steven Lombardi Architect

Kochi Architects Studio

William Tozer Architecture & Design

Teeple Architects




Miyahara Architect Office

bgp arquitectura

gpy arquitectos



Katsuyuki Fujimoto Architect & Associates office

Hrault Arnod Architects

SPG Architects

392Composite House

398Fa

360Acorn II - Studio House

364Leunessen

328Villa S

332Fairfield County House

cONTeNTS

366M House

370Alleyway House

376Annex to Old Family House

380Coastal Speculation

384Colors

388Aggregate House

336Cottage in Tsumari

340Schreiber Residence

344Skrudas Residence

348Suntro House

352Allers

356Acorn - Studio House

304Heathdale House

312Nicola

316Interpolation House

320House TN

324HDX Guest Room

308Gradman House

ha1110

Mark Dziewulski Architect

Busby Perkins+Will

Aleksandar Design Group

Herman Hertzberger


Herman Hertzberger



Pascal Arquitectos

Adrian Streich Architekten AG


Junya Toda Architect & Associates



Katsuyuki Fujimoto Architect & Associates office


Robert Hidey Architects


Lim Chang Rohling Architects with TGP, Inc (Landscape Architects)

S2 design

490Metalika Apartments

438Oak Knoll Residence

452Spring Road


m i x e d u s e & m u l t i u n i t s

cONTeNTS

494GreenCity Lofts

500Katana Residence

504Galileo Apartment Building

506Werdwies Residential Complex

512Pavilions on the Bay

458F65 Center Transit Village

466The Vento

472Twenty Townhouses

476Haarlem Paswerk

482Vanoppen

48852 Growth Homes

404House in Mondosoh

408House TTN

414House Uc

418Oy

426Santa Monica Canyon Residence

432Ranch House

448Thijs-Kempeneers

ha1312

ha



Pascal Arquitectos

526Da Vinci

Studio Daniel Libeskind


544Newtown Silos Apartment Building

Pascal Arquitectos

548Denver Art Museum Residences

554Index by architect

542Goldsmith Apartment Building

UdA

bgp arquitectura

522Calderon de la Barca

516Palazzo Gioberti

558Index by location

SiNgle uNiT

13

532Portico

536M Central


Point Dume Residence

First floor plan

Second floor plan

Entrance

Section1514

This house takes the typical paths of domestic movement and manipulates them to weave the exterior

landscape and site into the house, while enhancing natural airflows and views. An interest in the

continuity of landscape, circulation, and the bodys sequential movement through space has led to an

exploration of continuous spatial relationships in this residence. Smooth, sinuous surfaces delineate

spatial zones while maximizing the sites topography, views, and circulation. Volumes are differentiated

through a slicing of surfaces and materials; emphasizing the horizontal while allowing a multiplicity of

spatial conditions to develop through the interaction of these forms, surfaces, and volumes. These spatial

intersections accumulate the more static elements of the house while breaking down edges between

inside and outside, allowing a more open and engaging relationship between the land and internal logic

of the house. On the top of Point Dume in Malibu, the residence is accessed from below through a

driveway. An existing retaining wall bisects the site and moves along the geometry of an existing knoll.

Panoramic views of the ocean are availed by the geometric morphologies of the residence. Major views

delineate the shifts in geometry apparent in the angled S shape of the plan and created the sinuous

sequence from the entry to the landscape and view which echoes the shoreline below, creating a

vacillation among differing distant views. Movement in the house bends from the entry to the living area

and bends again towards an outdoor room and the lap pool.

Location Malibu, California, USA

Site area 630m2

Structural engineers John Labib

Photography Benny Chan

View diagram

Relationship of project geometry and coastline.

18 19

24 Mark Dziewulski ArchitectRiver House

The owners wanted to take full advantage of a spectacular site on the banks of the American River. Heavily wooded

and facing a state park across the river, the site provides a natural setting, rich in wildlife that would allow for bird

watching year round. The house is located to maintain as many mature trees as possible, which provide sun-

screening and further enhance the concept of living in nature.

The house has two main components: a service area including the garages, maids quarters and laundry rooms; and

the living quarters, including the bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and dining room. It is a single story residence to

facilitate accessibility. As the clients entertain often, flexibility was important and the ability to open the entire house

into a large, continuous room was paramount.

The concept for the design is best described as a journey: from the man-made of the street to the nature of the

river, from the public space to the private of the living quarters, from the screened and enclosed to the transparent

and open. The house is arranged in a series of layers through which the occupants pass. From the public road, one

enters a courtyard whose fragmented curve echoes a gesture of greeting, as it wraps around the visitor. The exterior

walls facing the entry court are solid for privacy and to heighten the sense of nature once you pass beyond them.

The journey follows a curved path along the exterior wall, under a protective trellis, to the main entry. Entrance is

over a bridge spanning a koi pond which introduces water as a theme. The sight and sound of the bubbling water

signify the transition from the public to private, from the man-made to nature.

The entry doors allow passage through the main ordering element of the entire plan: a curved wall that continues

through the whole house. The wall marks a separation from the private inner world. Beyond this are all the main

areas, aligned to overlook the river setting through a wall of glass. All doors can be slid open along the curve making

the form visible from one end to the other and opening up the entire space, revealing the full extent of the house.

The wall is naturally lit by a ring of skylights and provides a gallery for the owners extensive art collection. The

sculptural nature of the curve allows it to be recognized in all parts of the house and it provides a framework and

order for all the main spaces. The glass facade is protected with extended cantilevered roofs that shield the sun and

create a framed view that allows the house to be open yet sheltering.

The boundary between the inside and outside is blurred by the use of continuous glass walls and finish materials

that extend beyond them. The main rooms flow out into the landscape. The master bathroom extends into onto a

hidden Japanese garden also a reference to the many years the owners lived in Japan.

The continuous expanse of glass wall was achieved without the use of bracing or heavy moment frames, by

creating two large masonry shear walls, pulled outside the footprint so that they read as screens slid open to reveal

the view. These also allow the use of oversized soffits that are needed to shade the glass in this hot central valley

climate.

Location California, USA

GFA 370 m2

Photography Keith Cronin

25

32 Pascal ArquitectosSecret Guest House

This is a contemporary architectural family house in a residential, classified historic colonial zone of

Chimalistac in Mexico City. This is a house made to order for a client which is often more complex than

developing a large building. The result depends on two factors: a good architect, but rather more of a

good client.

The context in which the house is inserted has an historic colonial character untouched by the unorganized

sprawl that has occurred elsewhere. Intervening in a historic area raised the dilemma whether to adapt

or blend in the context but ideology cannot integrate the present and future using the language of the

past.

After discussion with the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History), the vision was to

recreate the past and where an interaction occurs between the inside and outside, the goal was to

achieve a neutrality that would make a transition from the historic to a modern interior.

The fashionable and politically correct slogan now is that everything must be sustainable yet, despite

good wishes and intentions and, after several runs to determine the relationships financial cost benefit,

the architects could only manage to use energy-saving light bulbs and intelligent control systems and

sensors linked to a timer, and more efficient irrigation systems.

Most important was the use of intelligent design to make the house better in comfort and climate, and

the building design process in which no processing or transformation of materials such as stone, wood

etc. was done, a system based on Just-In-Time logistics and a change in how the job site is managed

with prefabrication and the inclusion of pre-finished items

As part of the architectonic discourse and for reasons of durability and maintenance, very few finishings

were used. Concrete was a notable use in the house for its ability to withstand age and decay, and the

fact it acquires more dignity and history with time.

One of the main objectives was to maximize natural light and views to the garden, and not to create a

series of closed rooms but a series of spaces where events happen and articulate with one another. The

entire house was designed in modules and multiples of feet, generating different size of overlapping

rectangles, that became the generating pattern of the geometric theme of the house.

Location Chimalistac, Mexico City, Mexico

Site area 1,249.90m2

GFA 624.42m2

Photography Victor Benitez

33

40 Ministry Of DesignOntario Residence

Inspired by a series of challenging situations, the Ontario Residence by the Ministry of Design seeks

relevant and authentic solutions that challenge prevailing conventions of local luxury bungalow design.

The first challenge is rooted in the context of site - how to give a sense of privacy to a house that has

little visual privacy from its neighbours in spite of sitting on its own piece of land? The second is the

awkwardness of the car porch which typically manifests itself as a standalone or disjointed object: how

to incorporate it seamlessly into the language of the overall building?

The primary part of the building is built on an assemblage of simple geometries: a vertical tower block

juxtaposed with a horizontal block, capped by an overhanging hood the car porch. The main public

spaces are turned inwards towards a double-story courtyard and lap pool. Organised around this central

space, residents enjoy activities in a sense of calm privacy bathed in captured natural light from above.

The tower houses the master wing, which is constantly cooled by the prevailing cross-breezes. The

Ontario Residence is characterized by graceful proportions and pure geometries.

Client/owner Lien Ying Chow (Pte) Ltd

Location Singapore

GFA 420m2

Project Architect Park + Associates

Contractor Entron Construction

Photography Edward Hendricks, CI&A Photography

01 CAR PORCH

02 POWDER ROOM

03 ENTRANCE

04 LIVING

05 BATHROOM

06 PLANTER BOX

07 MASTER BEDROOM

08 MASTER BATH

09 ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

10 BASEMENT COURTYARD

11 INFORMAL DINING

12 HOUSEHOLD SHELTER

13 MAIDS ROOM

01 WALK-IN WARDROBE

02 MASTER BATH

03 OUTDOOR SHOWER

04 MASTER BEDROOM

01 CAR PORCH

02 WATER FEATURE

03 POOL

04 ENTRANCE

05 ENTRY COURT

06 POWDER ROOM

07 BEDROOM 01

08 BATHROOM

09 LIVING

10 DINING

11 BREAKFAST COUNTER

12 PLANTER

13 BEDROOM 02

14 BATHROOM

15 PLANTER

16 BEDROOM 03

17 POOL DECK

18 VOID TO BASEMENT COURTYARD

19 BACKYARD / DRYING AREA

01 WET KITCHEN

02 DRY KITCHEN

03 UTILITY AREA

04 BATHROOM

05 MAIDS ROOM

06 HOUSEHOLD SHELTER

07 INFORMAL DINING

08 SUNKEN LANDSCAPED COURTYARD

09 STUDY

10 POWDER

11 BAR

12 ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

13 POOL TABLE

Basement plan

First floor plan

Second floor plan

41

Southern faade.


Balmain House

Southern Elevation

Entrance. Vertical hardwood batten screen and sliding win-dows.

4948

This project was carried out in association with Drew Heath Architect. The site is very exposed, facing

south onto Sydney Harbour. The challenge was to create a comfortable dwelling which would be liveable

in all weather conditions, transforming the mundane architecture of the existing dwelling house, but

informed by the robust quality of the 1918 gunpowder store on which it had been built.

The aim was to create a close connection with the outdoors and view at all times. The detailing was

driven by this connectivity. As far as possible, all windows and doors slide out of view. The interior uses

various timbers expressively to reveal the structure which, when perceived from the exterior, reveal the

skeleton. The interior and exterior are equal in accentuating this connectivity.

Client/owner Brian Zulaikha and Janet Laurence

Location Balmain, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Design Odile Decq Benot Cornette Architects and Urban Planners

Consultants Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects in Collabora-tion with Drew Heath Architect (architect ) /Simpson Design (structural engineers)

Photography Michael Nicholson

View over entrance to off-kitchen sunroom.

Sections

Ground floor.

50 51

Steel framed stair with hardwood treads and custom built timber shelving.

Steel framed stair and daybed.

Kitchen featuring custom built timber workbench.

52 53

Lower Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan First Floor Plan

Open plan first floor.

First floor living area and sunroom.

Bedroom featuring custom built plywood sliding cupboard and bedroom suite.

First floor bedroom and sunroom.

54 55

56 LOOK Architects Pte LtdCountry Heights Damansara

Luxuriant scenery can transcend the role of a static vista, as the single-family home Country Heights

Damansara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by LOOK Architects can attest to. A land parcel located on a

gentle hillock within one of the several select residential districts in Damansara inspired the designers

to conceive of an integrative architectural approach where the house is virtually an offshoot of the

natural setting it nestles in.

The existing gradient of the sloping landform is construed to underpin an elevated cascading pool that

announces a sense of arrival from the main entrance. The lip of the cascading pool, clad in the indigenous

Sukabumi stone, sits on a stilt-supported platform to create a delicate interface with the surrounding

foliage, impressing upon the viewer that the house is nimbly reclining in the fold of the landscape. A

spiral staircase connects the pool deck to a lower tier of relaxation space, a snug corner brushing the

feathery tips of greenery that offers the most candid contact with nature. A lavishly cantilevered glass

canopy denotes a transparent transitional space uniting the expansive outdoors with a sonorous gallery

comprising the interlocking living/dining room and semi-open kitchen.

The upper half of the building volume is swathed in a continuous aluminum envelop, whose lustrous

champagne-colored sheen contrasts with the surrounding sprawl of nature. However, the rationale

behind this prominently shaped roof is steeped in the homegrown know-how of construction in the

tropics, albeit given a contemporary interpretation the curvature of the aerodynamic roof profile

effectively collects and channels prevailing south-west breezes through the main mass of the house.

This environmental control mechanism is significantly enhanced by evaporative cooling occurring over

the surface of a reflective pool that is strategically situated underneath the interior circulation staircase,

resulting in a sustainable solution that can serve as a prototypical substitution for mechanical means of

cooling.

The passage through the interior staircase is devised to first undergo a spatial compression generated

by the enclosure of an exterior appendage prudently wedged on the north-eastern faade, and tension

is quickly resolved as this reverberating vestibule opens out to an airy hallway giving access to four

bedrooms on the second story. The supple grain of merbau timber screen materializes at either end of

this aisle, complementing the sleek unembellished aplomb of the roof above. Not only articulating the

flanks of the bent aluminum roof profile, the introduction of the timber screens further furnishes the

residents with a sumptuous sense of tactility in their daily experience of the habitat.

Client/owner Dr. Leow Chee Wah

Location Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Site area 890m2

GFA 407m2

PhotographyAmir Sultan

Cradled in copious greenery, the dwelling rises lithely from the natural contours of the landscape.

57

The main approach from the porous southwestern faade reveals the interlocking living and dining areas on the first storey and the circulation hallway on the upper storey.

Elevations and section.

Elevations and section.Air flow through building.

A cascading pool hovers above the magnificent extent of native vegetation stretching across the ends of the horizon.

A spiral staircase at the edge of the pool deck leads to a loweredtier of private relaxation space.

Orchestrated spatial sequences and a sensitively selected combination ofmaterials form a sensuous palette that enriches the residents daily experienceof their habitat.

58 59

(Left and above) Evaporative cooling over the reflective pool under the interior staircase enhances the natural air movement across the main mass of the house. This circulation vestibule, enclosed by an exterior appendage wedged on the north-eastern faade, has the effect of accruing a spatial cadence in the routine of vertical movement.

The supple texture of merbau timber screen materializes at either end of theaisle, harmonizing with the smooth profile of the encompassing roof.

60 61

62 AR43 ArchitectsTan Residence

The clients vision was the guiding force in the design of this house which is located in eastern Singapore.

The Confucian notion of strong family ties was a definite influence when the client put forward a brief

that specifically required the residence to house three generations the client, his wife and their child,

as well as his parents. Elements of traditional Chinese architecture were borrowed and reinterpreted in

order to create a home which brought the occupants together while offering freedom to enjoy individual

activities.

Akin to the traditional Chinese courtyard house, the hierarchy of spaces is intended to be apparent.

Instead of creating a direct means of entering the house, the designer chose to adopt the traditional

method of employing a series of views prolonging the journey into the living and the dining areas. A

sense of arrival is thus created as anticipation is built up as one travels through these spaces. This serves

to amplify the importance of these two areas as gathering spaces for the family, a notion repeated in the

manner in which they are arranged around the Koi pond.

Instead of being merely a landscape element, the koi pond is central to the architecture of the house.

In addition to providing an attractive backdrop for the views within the house, it allows for a visual

connection between the major gathering spaces of the rooms. The pond, together with the living room,

therefore performs a similar function to the Chinese courtyard by being a common open area that unifies

different spaces in the house.

This function is especially important with regard to the second and third levels. For privacy, the house

is divided into two blocks allowing for a degree of autonomy in the spaces occupied by the three

generations. However, the arrangement of rooms around the central courtyard ensures that the family

members are not secluded from each other and that a shared atmosphere is achieved.

In addition to views within, the house was designed to create views towards the sea. A park separates

the house from the beach and so the designer chose to have a rooftop garden to enable the occupants

to freely look over the treetops. In addition to creating a garden feel, it provides a quiet retreat which

also functions as an informal gathering area.

The notion of a Chinese garden is also important in the design of this house. Elements of wood, water

and stone were combined to enhance the greenery which is punctuated by the sounds of birds kept by

the occupants of the house. In fact, it is difficult to create a distinction between architecture and garden

as the transition between inside and outside is made seamless by a series of openings that open up to

patios.

Client/owner Gary Tan

Location Singapore

Site area 782m2

GFA 801m2

Engineering and Management Consultants Edward E Woo ConsultantsRJ Consultants

Photography Albert Lim

Floating Gardens The lighting emphasizes the floating planes of the two blocks against the greenery of the rooftop garden and the landscaping.

Nighttime View The lighting reiterates the importance of the vegetation to the overall design of the residence.

63

Entrance Gateway A clear threshold is created by the feature wall beckoning towards the viewer.

Car Porch The materials were carefully selected and detailed to highlight the elegance of the lines

and to unite the house with the garden.

Car Porch Wood detailing was used to soften up the sleek lines of the design.

Rear Garden Quaint, yet elegant elements were used in composing the garden hearkening

to a bygone era.

64 65

Master Bathroom Spaces on the third storey were designed for views that would skim above

the nearby treetops.

Entry Porch One in a series of views that pays homage to the concept of a traditional Chinese

garden.

View of the living room from the rear garden Sliding doors can be drawn open to extend the living room into the garden, emphasizing the continuity between exterior and interior.

66 67

68

100 20 40


Mountain RetreatLocated on a five-acre rocky outcrop, the Mountain Retreat trades in overwhelming city skyscrapers

and the scuttle of yellow cabs for sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains and hawks gliding over the

thermals below. The client, who loves mountain biking and rock climbing, had camped out on a hilltop

during the siting of the house to determine the best spot, angle and orientation for his new escape. The

resulting artifact is a retreat carefully crafted into its unique surroundings. The Mountain Retreat amiably

provides an efficient 1,800 square foot indoor and outdoor living and entertaining experience.

The finished house, sitting partially on concrete stilts, gives way to a striking display. Its angular lines,

soaring height, and unique blend of warm cedar siding with cool gray concrete panels and glass are

displayed to great advantage in the context of its rough mountaintop setting. The stilts act as supports

for the great room above and, below, define the parking spaces for an uncluttered entry and carport.

An enclosed staircase runs along the north side of the house. Sheathed inside and out in grey Cebonit,

it leads from the ground floor entrance to the main living spaces, which exist peacefully as if situated

upon the treetops. Requiring the insertion of pylons, a well, and a septic tank, the rocky terrain of the

immediate site had to be blasted away. Rather than discarding the remnants, the rocks were scattered

about in masses around the site. Used for outdoor seating and the entry pathway, the initiative further

emphasizes the relation and integration of the house into the natural backdrop.

The homes butterfly roof channels rainwater to two stainless-steel scuppers, from which it cascades off

into in a waterfall effect upon thoughtfully placed boulders. The butterfly roofs on both ends also give

the master bedroom a tall, sloped ceiling enabling the entry of an abundance of light from above, while

a suite of ground-room floors fit cozily below. An elevated cedar deck wraps around three sides of the

great room, offering a full day of sunshine for deck lounging and for the entire room to be opened to the

outdoors with ease. Plain white duck-cotton curtains on exposed stainless-steel tracks were designed

along the three walls to enable the client to maintain any level of personal privacy and protection from

the sun as desired.

Throughout the house, sustainable, engineered bamboo floors were employed. Preserved with

whitewash, they add a durable, yet softening touch to an already airy, open space. The predominantly

light-hued interior is dramatically interrupted by dark countertops, and the dark cement panels proceed

as an accent to both the inside and out.

Location Kerhonkson, New York, USA

Manufacturer Apex Homes

Contractor JH Construction

Photography Floto+Warner

69


Masuzawa HouseThe house consists of three wings on a rectangular site organized around a courtyard with views out to

the oceanfront. The three wings consist of the main living areas on the eastern side, the master suite

and entry patio on the south and the single story entertainment area to the west.

Entry to the house is choreographed through a series of spaces. A stone feature wall affronts the entry

court where one is greeted by the dramatic pitched roof form of the two wings floating above the wall.

Formed by aluminum sections, the roof appears to wrap around the sides of the second story providing

a strong feature datum that leads the visitor through the feature wall. Beyond the bridge, the entry

pavilion is surrounded by water and opens out to the swimming pool and lawn area. The oceanfront

view beyond the pool is further stretched with the large expanse of glassed areas on the ground floor

of the east and west wings.

Having arrived at the center, one turns to the right and encounters the largest wing, containing the

principal living and dining areas, and the secondary bedrooms above. This is entered across a stone

platform under the bridge that links the east wing to the south. The experience of the interior is delayed

and anticipation is heightened. To the west is the more public wing where the meeting room, office

and entertainment room is located. This is a one story structure with a timber deck viewing gallery

above; accessed via a steel spiral stair, the deck is partially covered by a glassed roof. The second roof,

together with deep trellised projections over the fully glazed ground floor, provides much shade from

the sun and rain.

The bedrooms on the second floor are placed on the east-facing wall while the corridor on the west

has a horizontal slit window which offers a dramatic view as one approaches the bedroom. The master

bedroom suite has an open plan with an internal courtyard open to sky. This brings in natural ventilation

and light into the large master bath and walk-in wardrobe areas.

Client/owner Toru Mazuzawa

Location Sentosa Cove, Singapore

Civil and Structure MSE engineering

M&E Chee Choon & associates

QS 1MH & associates

Main contractor Huat Builders

Photography Aaron Pocock , Albert Lim

74 75


Setiamurni HouseLocated in Jalan Setiamurni in Kuala Lumpur, the site slopes down from front to rear which creates the

opportunity to build a sub-basement that is not immediately apparent from the entrance.

The form of the house is a minimal rectangular box clad in horizontal grey anodized aluminum louvers.

The public faade is almost opaque while the private rear elevation is substantially open in order to avail

itself of the extensive views of the valley. A flat metal roof, which is supported on a series of U-shaped

steel structures appears to float above the house.

A gymnasium is housed in a smaller box adjacent to the main house. This box, which is clad with

a chengal timber screen, complements the form and strong horizontal lines of the main block, yet

highlights their difference in terms of materials and texture.

The entry court is defined by three stone-clad feature walls and a reflective pool where a bridge lies

across. Past the double height stone wall, the bridge spans a void that opens up to the basement guest

suites. This dramatic approach ends at the door where one faces breathtaking views of the valley from

the open plan living and dining space. Minimal service space was planned at the ground floor with the

remaining in the basement; this allows an expanse of free space with unobstructed views. The service

box on plan is balanced with the library box beyond the pool.

At the second story, the double skin screened faade provides much relief from the sun due to the

east west orientation of the site. The outer layer mounted on the U-shaped steel structure, creates

a phenomelogical experience at the access corridor. The second layer of movable screens offers

an additional layer for privacy purposes. The resultant design is a composition of precise lines and

interlocking volumes that blends harmoniously and creates a distinctly contemporary residence.

Client/owner Ms Lee Jim Leng

Location Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia

Site area 1,800m2

GFA 850m2

Civil and Structure Web Structures Pte Ltd

M&E Perundung ERA

QS Perundung SL Chartered Quantity

Main contractor PC Construction Sdn Bhd


Luxuriant planting softens the high concrete retaining walls that provide security from Setiamurni road.

Multi layered facade provides sunshading and controlled cross-ventilation.

80 81

The entrance is via a glass-sided bridge over a void that brings light to the guest suites.

Meticulous detailing in steel, glass, concrete and stone is evident throughout the house.

The access to the bedrooms on the Eastern flank of the house.

82 83

Open plan living room enjoys a wooded valley.

The overhanging roof is supported on compos-ite steel columns. Horizontal aluminium louvres placed along east and west elevations to coun-teract the early morning and late evening sun.

Striated stone cladding reinforces the horizontal

emphasis of the elevations.

Ensuite bathrooms looking towards wooded valey.

84 85

86 Formwerkz ArchitectsChangi House

The architects aimed at designing a space sufficient to house the clients multi-generation family of

11 people within a fairly small built-up area of 370sq.m. The amount of built-up area allowable for the

particular site is largely pre-determined by the local authorities zoning act. In addition, the client had

certain feng shui requirements. Two of the key requirements that to some extent shaped the massing

and layout of the design was that no hole be bored into the ground and that the house to be under one

roof. The first requirement ruled out the possibility of a basement and the need for the swimming pool

to be raised.

A key objective was to create open and permeable living spaces with direct relationships to the

surrounding nature, while at the same time, designing for privacy. This concurrent need for privacy and

openness is especially crucial for the large family living within. The floor plates were staggered to pack

in more rooms while at the same time free up more area for communal spaces.

The house is organized around the simple parti of a linear block with different functional zones layered

from the manicured front garden which is the main landscape zone. The extroverted spaces of living,

dining, family room, swimming pool area, master bedroom, and master study are organized along the

landscape zone while the introverted spaces of other bedrooms and service areas looks to a series of

smaller enclosed landscape spaces at the rear. The strategically placed circulation spine defines the

threshold between the extroverted communal spaces and introverted spaces.

The curvilinear plane of timber fins, glass and titanium-zinc which envelopes the family room, balcony,

master bedroom and attic spaces expand and unites the layered functional spaces at the same time,

creating a sense of spaciousness in an otherwise compact layout. The 250mm wide by 25mm thick

balau timber fins form a seamless enclosure to the long balcony that buffers both the family room and

the master bedroom from the main traffic. Spaced at intervals of 150mm and following the shape of

the curvilinear envelope, the broad and profiled horizontal timber slates function as railing and screen,

juggling the need for privacy without overcompromising the view out.

Location Singapore

Design Team Alan Tay, Gwen Tan, Seetoh Kum Loon, Ekachai

Landscape Salad Dressing

Civil & Structure SB Ng & Associates

Quantity Surveyor CCL Chartered Surveyors Pte Ltd

Site area 600m2

GFA 490m2


Facade detail

87

Master bedroom looking out into family area.

Street elevation.

Entrance foyer.

Garden at entrance foyer.

88 89

Stairs to attic & pool deck. Study at attic.

Living area. Pool deck on roof.

90 91

92 bgp arquitectura 93GDL 1 House

The project is located on a sloped site in the suburbs of the city of Guadalajara, with a fantastic view

towards a beautiful green area and the city.

The house is composed by two rectangular prisms one over the other and placed in a perpendicular

orientation between them. The bottom prism contains the private areas and the vestibule. At the same

time, this parallelogram cuts the lot creating a private courtyard of white gravel in the highest part of the

site, and a garden, terrace and pool in the lowest, towards the view.

The second volume, running parallel to the street, houses the public activities and floats over the place

in one of its sides in a 12 meter (36 ft) cantilever. The street elevation is clad in stone as a massive wall,

while the south and west facades are glazed allowing views to the park.

In the intersection of both volumes is a double-height vestibule area with a skylight and a reflective

pond. The lack of walls in the second floor, the use of glass for handrails and a dining room that is

hanging in a glazed mezzanine, lets the space flow into the living room. The dining room expands toward

the roof of the bedrooms as a deck that becomes a wood volume defining the entrance.

Location Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Site area 780m2

GFA 750m2

Project team Daniela Legorreta, Hector Barroso, JN Morones Esquivel, Carlos Coronel

Structure Colinas de Buen Ingenieros

Photography Jaime Navarro

98 bgp arquitectura

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99AV House

The project is a redesign of a house from the 70s of no significant architectural value located in

front of one of the most important avenues of the city. The original structure of the house was kept

intact for cost reasons. The intervention consists in a transformation of the exterior of the building and

redefinition of the interior functions according to the new requirements of the owner.

The lack of views led to a total redesign of the exterior to create different gardens and courtyards that

function as a continuation of the interior. The sound of moving water helps neutralize the noise from

traffic.

The ground floor is transparent, with a couple of stone walls running and crossing it, parallel to each

other, and flats over the pond. The second level is totally solid covered with white stucco with some

small openings.

Client/owner Alejandro Vigil

Location Mexico City, Mexico

Site area 650m2

GFA 641m2

Project team Edson Castillo, Santiago de la Mora, Mayte Espinosa, Samael Barrios

Contractor Grupo V y G.

Photography Rafael Gamo, unless stated

Northwest faade Southeast faade

Back yard of the house View from the living room

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Longitudinal section Transversal section

1. Lobby2. Study3. Reflecting pool4. Living room5. Dinning room6. Terrace7. Garden8. Kitchen9. Family room10. Master bedroom11. Bedroom12. Service room

Ground floor

First floor

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7 8

1 2

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102 103

104 Maryann Thompson ArchitectsWestport Meadow House

This one story house nestles in a forty-acre meadow on the Westport River. The house was conceived

as an indoor/outdoor space which is firmly rooted to its site. A space of 1800 sq ft of deck stretches

along the western elevation and perforates the plan at the entry, creating a modified dogtrot. Enclosed

by the living room and master bedroom, this dogtrot space becomes an interiorized outdoor room

and a threshold between public and private spaces. Large sliding doors at the living room and master

bedroom corners open onto the deck, inviting light and cross-ventilation into the body of the scheme,

and allowing for a dual reading of these rooms as both interior and exterior spaces. When the doors are

fully open, these spaces read as screened porches rather than traditionally enclosed rooms. Floor

and ceiling planes in the living room and bedrooms continue onto the decks, furthering the ambiguity

between inside and outside space. Light passes through the four-sided clerestory in the living room,

illuminating the volume with changing patterns throughout the day and across the seasons.

A wood-clad organizing wall skewers the scheme, around which the program spaces wrap. Storage,

HVAC, kitchen appliances and laundry areas are concealed within to preserve unobstructed connection

to the landscape. The organizing wall serves as a deep threshold, heightening and reinforcing ones

layered passage from the meadow to the river. Program elements are distributed across the threshold

depending upon their peak occupancy. The kitchen, breakfast area and office face east to take in

morning light, while the combined living/dining room, bedrooms and decks face west and south for

afternoon sunsets. Deep overhangs on the western elevation shade the expansive glass creating a

shady exterior place to sit and accentuating the overall horizontality of the house, connecting it to the

horizon by way of the meadow and river beyond. By utilizing a subtle and simple palette, the design

echoes its setting while adhering to a fixed budget.

Client/owner Douglas Reed and William Makris

Location Westport, Massachusetts, USA

Landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand Associates, Inc.

Structural engineer Richmond So Engineers, Inc.

Contractor Kendrick Snyder Builders

furniture Thad Hayes, Inc.

Photography Chuck Choi Architectural Photography

A wood-clad organizing wall skewers the scheme, defining the transition between meadow and river.

The private, outdoor shower on the houses north side is an extension of the master bedroom suite.

Selective openings in the faade reveal and conceal views of the river to build mystery and suspense.

Approaching along the wooded entry drive, the house appears from behind a layer of stone walls and the gentle slope of the meadow.

Sliding doors open at the corners of the master bed-room and living room allowing for a dual reading of these rooms as both interor and exterior spaces.

105

1. Garage2. Guest room3. Master bedroom4. Master bath5. Study6. Utility closet7. Living room8. Breakfast room9. Kitchen10. Laundry room11. Deck

Steps down and transitioning materials between the entry hall and the living room empha-size the sloping grade and movement from meadow to river.

Sliding partitions at the guest bedroom allow for privacy while preserving unobstructed sightlines through the living room to the landscape

A linear clerestory wraps the living room, lift-ing the roof volume and flooding the space with natural light.

A modified dogtrot perforates the plan at the entry, creating an interiorized outdoor room, while bringing light and cross-ventilation into the interior.

106 107

108 Garduno ArquitectosLa Loma II House

La Loma II is a project that uses natural elements like water and wood.

Water is used as an ornamental element in cylindrical form contained by steel walls, and tropical wood

lattice windows which act like a protective skin isolating the house from the outside.

The great majority of service areas are located in the cellar, under the street level, giving the feeling of

a two-level house leaving 260 sq m of green area.

The complementary areas of the house were developed in an L shape 705 sq m that integrates with

the garden.

To separate the two volumes that uproot the construction in different angles, a lobby of double-height

forms and a tunnel of crystal floating in the center unites both bodies of construction.

The composition of areas, volumes, forms and textures in the facades is obtained through different

compound and interconnected elements. The use of the continuous crystal towards the garden speaks

of the transparency without sacrificing privacy. That is why in the north wing, the dining room is only

contained by glass and its slab maintained by columns exposed in a V shape, thus fusing it with the

garden and water.

Location La Loma Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico

GFA 670m2

General contractor Alen Construcciones, Enrique Alvarez

Structural engineer Aguilar Engineer, Salvador Aguilar

Electrical engineer RCL, Architect Roberto Campoy

Photography Paul Czitrom

109

110 111

112 113

114 APds ArchitectsGood-Class Bungalow

The site is located on a deep hill sloping from the front to the back with a drop in height of 10 metres.

The plot faces a busy main road.

The architects created two side and front walls that play a transitional or controlling role. The front wall

is visible in the approach to the house enhancing its privacy and calm. Views of the house are shielded

by layers of solid wall and a marble feature wall in slip-face finish. These perimeter walls are low enough

to reveal the top of mature trees. Upon arrival, one can see the warm-grey planted box which is the

Prayer Room and the golden champagne coloured light-reflective aluminium roof of the wings.

A pair of solid granite slabs in the reflective pool visually link to the entrance foyer and straight to

the endless swimming pool. Vertical aluminium louvers forms a second view-obscuring threshold,

intentionally denying the visitor immediate discovery of the swimming pool.

The swimming pool is in the middle of the courtyard. It has three skylights at the bottom of the swimming

slab which act as lenses, reflecting light inside the basement corridors and outdoor terrace in flickering,

aqueous patterns. As light filters through the pools water and glass panels, a swimmer can see who

is directly below and vice versa. The view through the water is surprisingly transparent and it appears

only 100mm deep.

In the 1000 sq m house are three relatively large bedroom suites. The entry level features a generously

scaled living which has a double-height void at the heart of the house. Enclosed by sheets of clear glass,

rather like a museum display case, this modern version of a patio courtyard with its pool and stone

sculpture constitutes the focus of the composition. The dining room and kitchen are clustered to the

east wing, overlooking the swimming pool and opening out to a large garden. These are loosely arranged

around the central void which is bisected by a elegantly detailed steel and glass bridge.

The west wing has two bedroom suites and a prayer room and at the lowest level, a games room,

entertainment room, guestroom and maids room.

The house takes the swimming pools water line as its horizontal datum, with the basement below

following the sites sloping topography while high above it, a giant fluid clerestory window faces west.

Throughout the house, enclosure and openness play against one another, altering the quality of light,

balancing and enlivening its interiors.

Client/owner Mrs Vincent De Silva

Location Holland Road, Singapore

C&S Engineer JS Tan & Associates

M&E Engineer Bescon Consultants Engineers

Quantity Surveyors PCS Consultants PTE Ltd

Photography David Phan

115

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118 119

120 Swatt | Miers ArchitectsOrr Residence

This house is located on a 3.3 acre steep west-facing, down-slope lot in semi-rural Saratoga, California.

Surrounded by mature oak trees and groves of maple and redwood trees, the site enjoys spectacular

valley views to the north, west and south.

This project is an addition and remodel of a 1970s stucco-clad two story home. Although the original

home was built well, it had major deficiencies: a long and narrow living room not conducive to

entertaining, a formal dining room that did not fit the owners casual lifestyle, inadequate parking, a

severe and uninviting exterior entry, and tired and outdated interiors throughout. The design program

was to address all of the deficiencies in a creative modern way. Additionally, the owner requested that

the project be sensitive to sustainability, with major portions of the existing framing and skin of the

building either retained or recycled into the new design.

Because of the almost square proportions of the existing building, affectionately called a wide body

by the architects, the first strategy was to cut an atrium into the center of the building to maximize

natural daylight. Bathed in light from a skylight above, the new atrium brings natural light to the entry,

the living room, a lower level tatami room and home office, and dramatically illuminates the stairs to the

lower level as well as a beautiful mahogany bridge that spans the two story space.

The kitchen has been planned as a large multi-purpose space which includes an informal dining

space. The kitchen/dining area and the living area share a beautiful new stone terrace, bordered by

a cantilevered reflecting pool that extends vistas to the south horizon while minimizing views of the

expanded driveway below.

Formally, the new design introduces a series of overlapping horizontal cedar clad planes, which protect

the glazing and visually extend interior space to the exterior. Two of the four pre-existing sloped roofs

were retained in the new design. One of these roofs is used to support new photovoltaic panels, while

the other serves to reduce the scale of the north side of the building, adjacent to a beautiful Japanese

inspired garden. One of the most successful aspects of this project is the sensitive combination of new

and old elements to create a new design that is fresh, unique, and beautiful to look at and live in.

This house is constructed of wood frame over concrete pier and grade beam foundations. Steel girders

are utilized at long spans and to support wide overhangs and cantilevers.

Client/owner Dominic Orr

Location Saratoga, California, USA

Photography Cesar Rubio

New carport under new reflecting pool and kitchen.

121

West elevation South elevation

View of terrace and reflecting pool from dining area. New terrace with reflecting pool.

Entrance courtyard looking towards east. East terrace and reflecting pool. Overlapping roofs at new kitchen.

122 123

Living area

Entrance to tatami room. View of bridge toeards entry. View of atrium from bridge. Master bath

New kitchen / dining space.

124 125

126 Teeple Architects Inc.Pachter Studio

This new three story residential project is linked to an existing artists studio in a vibrant downtown area

between Chinatown and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Located within a narrow site widened at the existing artists studio toward the rear lane, a series of 100

sq.m. stacked and staggered metal clad tubes draw light and sky into otherwise long horizontal floors.

Revealed by aluminum frames glazed with clear glass, the tube ends reveal a translucent glazed vertical

interior tube containing private stair access joining the artists library, archives, and new living areas.

Amidst courtyards and terraces located along the tubes, framed views of neighbourhood trees and

Victorian context become the backdrop to a quiet interior of cherry wood storage cabinets, wardrobes

and kitchen cabinets in an otherwise austere contemplative residence.

Client/owner Charles Pachter, Artist

Location Toronto, Canada

Structural R Villa Associates

Contractor Golden Hammer Construction

PhotographyTom Arban

127

Ground floor - studio1. front garden2. entrance walkway3. studio workroom4. pool / courtyard

Middle floor - gallery1. gallery2. courtyard3. back studio

Upper floor - residence1. living2. kitchen3. bedroom

128 129

130 131

132 Drexler Guinand Jauslin ArchitectsSpiral House

The village Pigniu/Panix is situated 1,300 meters above sea in the Surselva Region of Graubnden,

above Ilanz. The house is situated in the village center and blends into the streetscape.

A band surrounds the whole volume on both levels. There is a change of materials from concrete in the

socle to wooden shingles in the upper living floor. Even if the house is freestanding, an articulation of

subdivided volumes is reached by shifting the two levels to each other this dynamic structure reduces

the massiveness of the house and connects it to the Alpine panorama. Due to safety concerns about

wooden walls and to meet fire regulations, the upper wooden part is shifted away from the socle.

Materials used in the house were chosen in relation to the surrounding houses and barns. Its constructive

language connects traditional elements with modern techniques. The lower part is in concrete with a

flat modular formwork the upper part is of prefabricated wooden elements, covered with hand-cut

larch shingles. The larch windows and shutters are the same for both parts, accentuating the continuity

of the band.

While the house is integrated with the surroundings, the inner spaces are completely different. The

open spaces are divided only by levels and sliding walls. The continuity of the spiral is reflected in the

spatial structure and thereby in the daily movements of the inhabitants. The soapstone fireplace is the

centerpiece of the movement continuing over two levels from oven to chaise trs longue and ending

in the kitchen.

Location Pigniu/Panix, Surselva Region of Graubnden, Switzerland

Civil engineer Walter Bieler AG Ingenieurbro Spezialitt Holzbau, Bonaduz

Physics of Building Ferdinand Stadlin Bautechnologie, Buchs

Electrical engineer A. Hegger, Chur

Plumbing engineer CS Claudio Secomandi, Chur

Oven planner Spiess Ofentechnik AG, Albin Khne jun., Illnau

Carpenters planner Fro-Innenarchitektur, Roman Frhlich, Trin

Special-Details Sloom en Slordig, Serge Leummens, Schiedam NL

Photography Ralph Feinner, Malans

Northeast view Southeast view Southwest view

133

134 135

136 137

138 Ministry Of DesignLien Residence

Returning to the romance of the single story bungalow house, this zig-zag house acquires its unique

form via a series of formal maneuvers around a mature tree located on its long and triangulated sliver

of land.

Tropically acclimatized to the region, the buildings twisting form creates in-between spaces which

provide shelter from natures harsh elements and simultaneously allow for cross ventilation and filtered

light. Courtyards, captured by the turning of the twisted building form, bring light into the basement

service areas. Internal corridors serve as breezeways between air-conditioned and naturally cooled areas.

Slightly lofted over the ground, each of the buildings three Miesian inspired wings house an entertainment

zone, a family zone and a private master zone. Seen as a seamless singular form, the building reads as

both sheltering building as well as abstracted sculpture. Viewed from the vicinitys taller structures, the

buildings roofscape provides the final design touch where diagonally arranged planting strips echo the

unique twisted form of the House Around a Tree.

Client/owner Lien Ying Chow (Pte) Ltd

Location Singapore

Site area 1,500m2

GFA 600m2

Submission Architect Park + Associates

Contractor Domain Trading & Construction

Civil & Structural Engineer JS Tan & Associates

M&E Engineer LAC Engineers & Associates

Quantity Surveyor Ian Chng Cost Consultants

Masterplanner K2LD Architects

Landscape Architect Tierra Design

Photography Edward Hendricks, Patrick Bingham-Hall

139

140 141

142 Gordon ArchitectWeili Residence

It seems quite some time ago when a family of four generations would live under one roof. This house

of 8000 sq ft on an acre of land in a well developed housing estate was designed to house the children,

their parents, grandparents and their great grandparents in a 21st century setting.

The architects approach to fulfill the customers demand and to meet the many lifestyles was to start

simple. Strong vertical lines were balanced by bold horizontal lines by using sun shades to result in

a house that has both a formal and bold look. The roof is pitched for that end. The pitched roof also

pleased the folks who thought that no other roof form was acceptable. Around the house are spaces of

tranquility, spaces of fun and casual activities. Overall, this home was aimed to be formal with dashes

of modern elements, orderly but with spaces for casual activities.

The same orderly and formal design was led into the house is evident in the entrance foyer. Straight and

clean vertical and horizontal elements continue in the interior design. This makes the house clean and

orderly while its grandeur satisfies the elderly and modernity pleases the young.

The bright interiors are lit by controlling natural sun light during the day. Carefully placed lightings light

the house by night.

The living room was designed to emulate a pavilion built on top of a lake. Water features which end at

the edge of the living room could be viewed in full from the inside.

The games room, dining room, kitchen and wet kitchen were arranged to suit the diverse lifestyle and

activities of this family. These living spaces are divided by sliding doors hidden into the walls when

opened, but they all connect naturally and extend to the courtyard which has an edgeless swimming

pool, pergolas, wooden decked terrace and clean landscaping.

The courtyard was designed for family activities. The sparing use of wood and stones together with cacti

plants further enhances the formal and clean look overall. These resort-like spaces are perfect for the

whole family to enjoy festive seasons together.

The courtyard garden is also quiet and serene during the day, a perfect place to retreat into.

This is a house for a family with strong generational ties. The architecture tried to accommodate their

many needs, taste and lifestyles. The architecture also tried to create a home of activities, communion

and rest, and essentially to create a home that bridges the generation gap.

Client/owner Pua Weili

Location Sarawak, Malaysia

Site area 4,897m2

GFA 744m2

C & S engineer PCS Konsultant Sdn BHD

Photography Leong Choon Min

Ground floor plan First floor plan

Front elevation

143

Transitional space. Living rooms terrace surrounded by sculptural lake.

Living space on floating landscape.

Sculptural landscape within the house backdrop. Shaded pergolas at pool.

Enclosing space between house and pool terrace.

144 145


Kuok HouseOrganized around a central courtyard, the living areas form two wings anchored at the center by the

main stair core and service areas. The L-shaped configuration affords all rooms with uninterrupted views

to the ocean. The form is a balanced composition of planes and volumes. Timber and white washed

walls form the main living volumes in contrast with the stone clad walls that define the threshold

between inside and outside.

The cantilevered entrance canopy leads the visitor past a pair of stone clad walls with vertical slits

providing little hints of the views beyond. The entrance door opens to a foyer with full-height glazing

offering a breathtaking view of the courtyard and the ocean beyond. The stone-clad wall forms a strong

visual datum towards the ocean, guiding the visitor to the living room area with vertical slits capturing

framed views back to the landscaped areas. An open corridor behind the wall creates a threshold

between the glazed interior from the outside. Reminiscent of the vernacular tropical verandahs, this

modern interpretation invites users out into the lawn area. The roof over this verandah forms balconies

that serve the bedrooms above.

The second story consists of two wings defined by the pitched timber-clad roof. Linking the volumes

together is the hallway where the bedrooms are accessed by screened corridors that face the entrance

road; the master suite also has horizontal screens at west facing facade. An open courtyard behind the

master suite serves the master bath area, providing a serene natural setting for this naturally vented

space.

Client/owner Toru Mazuzawa

Location Sentosa Cove, Singapore

Site area 1,900m2

GFA 900m2

Civil and Structure Leng Consultants

M&E Chee Choon & associates

QS 1MH & associates

Main contractor Daiya Engineering & construction

Photography Aaron Pocock

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148 149

150 Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects House in Aihara

The total floor area 1,180 sq.m. is small for a family of parents and three children although it is not

exceptional in Tokyo. The aim was to bring comfort given the limited area and cost.

The site has two levels: the road level and the ground level of the site is 1.3m higher than the road.

The gap of the level was used as a skip floor with 7 levels. Each level connects one after another. So,

compared with the usual houses, this house is continuous. Because of the skip floor, inhabitants can

look at two levels at one time, the upper and lower, so they feel the space is bigger than usual flat

house. Besides, the sky is visible through the upper floor window which gives a visual and mental

spread to the house.

The vertical continuity of space makes communication more complicated. While in a flat house, the

direction of communication is horizontal, in this house, it is not only horizontal but above and below. So,

it is usual that the younger daughter speaks to the parents from the upper floor.

The materials of the exterior appearance such as autoclaved lightweight concrete board or galvanizing

wire fence are very cheap materials and often used in this area where there are many reasonably priced

houses. But the difference is in how these materials are used and the simplicity of the house.

The wind passes from the south to north, and from below to above. Therefore, on the south side, louver

windows with double glass are used which can be opened entirely. In winter, it is possible to close each

space using folding doors in order to retain heat.

Location Machida, Tokyo, Japan

Structural engineers Oga Structural Design Office

Mechanical engineers Akeno Mechanical Laboratory

Site area 349.93m2

Building coverage 122.27m2

GFA 195.13m2

Photography Future-scape Architecture

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154 Elmslie Osler Architect Alexander Residence

An existing cedar shingled ranch house from the 60s, set on a hill overlooking Shinnecock Bay, was

completely renovated to extend and connect the residence to the site. The exterior has been transformed

by sheathing the house in cement board panels and integrating a lap pool into the master plan. The

plan, section, elevations and material applications all serve the houses relationship with its dramatic

surroundings. The interior is linked to the landscape with new window openings that frame views and

natural elements. The fusion of inside and outside is emphasized through continuity of materials; the

chimney that runs through the entire house is encased in the same cement board used on the exterior

facade; horizontally the connection is made by continuing tile from the kitchen floor onto the exterior

terrace. Transparency is expressed through a view encased by the front bay window and its reflection, a

window beyond. Exposed trusses slip over structure, tying the front to the back and vertically expanding

the interior space. The house embraces the landscape by dematerializing the line between the inside

and outside, and enriching the experience of the site.

Client/owner Jack Alexander

Location Southampton, New York, USA

Photography Eric Laignel / Oliver Link

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158 Herman HertzbergerDetached Villa

This villa is located in a leafy suburb of Bergen. It comprises three layers and is organised as a continuous

space around a number of supporting cores, with stairways, storage spaces and toilets. The circulation

spaces between the cores offer an overview and views in all directions.

The hallway, varyingly positioned stairways and landing act as a catalyst between the rooms. Positioned

in the corners, the rooms are in direct connection with each other and open on to the central hallway,

from which they can be separated by sliding doors. Every space has a visual relationship with two or

three other spaces on the same floor or an upper or lower floor.

Thanks to the villas transparency, the wooded exterior space is drawn into the house with greater

intensity. The way this view is directed, the open corners and one huge cupboard per space like a sort

of inside pocket in the outer skin allow for flexible and, in the future, interchangeable use.

The outer skin may be seen as an anti-construction, referring to the precepts of Van Doesburg and Van

Eesteren. The exterior space permeates the heart of the house, and the inner space extends into the

exterior space defined within the building lines.

Client/owner Family Postmus

Location Bergen, the Netherlands

Design team Patrick Fransen (architect), Laurens Jan ten Kate, Jeroen Baijens, Jos Halfweeg

GFA 360m2

Photography Courtesy of Herman Hertzberger

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162 Herman HertzbergerFloating Water Villa

If living on the water makes sense anywhere, then it is more so in the Netherlands. Houseboats have a

vibrant image of individual expression and inventiveness but these houseboats are too little house and

too much boat and not the most comfortable places to live in.

The first design for a watervilla dates to 1986 and the prototype now built in Middelburg, derived from

the original virtually cylindrical type, has three levels and complete freedom of choice in fitting it out.

You could have the living room on the ground floor or upstairs. All three levels boast generous terraces.

Living on the water brings freedom and independence. You can move your home whenever you feel like

it. And being able to turn it around means you can change the view, depending on which direction the

sun shines, to get the best energy consumption/saving ratio.

The flotation system consists of six interconnected steel offshore pipes with a diameter of some two

metres. Ten millimetres thick, the pipes are built to last and need little in the way of maintenance. The

advantage of hollow pipes as against the customary concrete caisson floats, is that they can be simply

trimmed using ballast until the requisite draught and stability are achieved. The tubes can also double

as a huge extra storage space.

Watervillas float on waterlots. Amenities such as parking, refuse collection and other public functions

are provided for on the quaypark as a pier. The supply and discharge of services and sewerage are done

collectively, as they would be on land.

Client/owner Woongoed Middelburg, Middelburg + Walcherse Bouw Unie bv, Grijpskerke

Location Middelburg, the Netherlands

Design team Herman Hertzberger, Patrick Fransen, Folkert Stropsma, Jeroen Baijens, Henk de Weijer, Cor Kruter

Structural engineer ABT, VelpSweegers en de Bruijn bv, s-Hertogenbosch

Mechanical engineer Installatiebedrijf Middelburg bv, Middelburg

Electrical engineer Roelse Electrotechniek bv, Westkapelle

Contractor Walcherse Bouw Unie bv, GrijpskerkeMeijers Staalbouw bv, Serooskerke

GFA 160m2

Photography Courtesy of Herman Hertzberger

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Ground floor

First floor

Second floor

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Putney HouseOn the northern bank of the Parramatta River, the site is set between large, new architecturally

undistinguished houses. The view is to the south, and the plan was designed to take the form of an

enclosed and private north-facing courtyard with living rooms extending through the depth of the house.

The main living space is double-height. The expressive form of its folded plywood roof reaches through

the wall to form a sunshade for its exposed glazing. On the upper floor, the main bedrooms and study

are reached from a gallery bridge across this space.

Externally, the house has a dual character to the north and facing the courtyard, the forms are playful

and expressive, while the southern riverfront elevation recalls a pure ideal of the classical villa, with

three pavilions raised on a blank base. The external walls are grey-stained ply, jointed with aluminium

tee sections. Windows and solid shutters slide across the face of the walls, to leave the openings free

of framing.

Location Putney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Builder Golden Builders (Peter Schwarz)

Photography Patrick Bingham Hall

Living rooms open to the northern court and to the river to the south.

The south facade, which looks out over the Parramatta river.

167166

Putney House, Putney1: 200

East Elevation

East elevation

CHADWICK STREET

N Ground Floor PlanPutney House, Putney1: 200

N Level 1 Floor PlanPutney House, Putney1: 200

The south facade, which looks out over the Parramatta river. The northern courtyard.

The northern courtyard.

The folded ceiling of the living room extends through the glass as a sunshade.

Ground floor plan Level 1 floor plan Level 2 floor plan

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170 S2 designCaulfield House

David Saunders, an architect in his thirties who heads up Melbourne firm S2 Design, owns 30 coffee machines. Display

cabinets at the S2 office are full of curiosities: one contains a collection of teeth, and on the shelf above is a deers foot

and antlers. Once, Saunders placed a lump of ancient Roman concrete dating back 2,000 years in a visitors palm. Hes an

engaging bloke and has been designing some equally intriguing projects in this city.

One of these is the Caulfield House, a stunning renovation and classic Modernist style extension to a seventy-year-old

Californian bungalow in suburban Melbourne. The extension, an open-planned space with a taller-than-usual ceiling, is

filled with light - two out of the three new walls are entirely glass. Its open, relaxed feel minimizes the division between

inside and outside. Walking through the entry to the extension is a transition from closed to open, dark to light. The front

door opens onto a view down the corridor straight to the garden through large sliding glass doors which provide excellent

natural ventilation. The old timber floor and the new concrete floor are continuous: the new floor runs smoothly all the

way outside to a lawn. Saunders envisioned the clients children riding their tricycles from the living room to the backyard

without obstruction.

Because the existing Californian bungalow style involves elaborating structure and the contemporary new extension

involves minimising visible detail, there is an intriguing contrast and transition between the two. From the street you see

nothing of the extension. Likewise, standing in the backyard, there is no vestige of the original house, although the glass

walls allow a view of the interior, which reveals one oddly angled wall - part of the idiosyncratic site geometry. There is no

real boundary to the addition, as the predominantly glass walls do not limit the view. Yet there is one definite edge defined

by a double brick wall that provides protection from the cold south side, its thermal mass, along with the pale polished

concrete floor, helping to stabilise internal temperatures.

Warm timber joinery details soften brick surfaces, as do glowing pendant light fittings and the square island of crimson

coloured carpet set into the polished concrete floor of the living area. Other materials reflect details of the existing house.

Weatherboards, which in the old house occur as decorative infill under the gable ends, are used as an internal lining to

the kitchen bench, as well as an external cladding; unconventionally fixed vertically using a traditional lapped method.

The rear facade presents a powerful and memorable image. Its ingredients: a large cantilever, a single column and a

slightly off-balance composition. The eave of the new roof extends over the northern wall, providing summer shading,

while allowing low-angled winter sunshine to enter. It also provides rain protection to the rear barbecue patio, which is

a simple extension of the floor. The wide roof facia has expressed fixings, an unexpected detail on the surface of this

otherwise minimalist element. But then, David Saunders is not an architect who adheres to conventions.

Rather than being an object for public display, the Caulfield House is more an object for private consumption. The rear

yard has become the new front yard a realm where a Modernist glass pavilion evokes Mies van der Rohes Farnsworth

House or Philip Johnsons Glass House, but on a modest, affordable scale. Monumentality is in the backyard.

Client/owner Debbie + Jason Arnheim

Location Caulfield South, Victoria, Australia

Site area 551m2

BuilderSamra Builders Pty. Ltd. - Aric Drabkin

Geotechnical engineer Hardrock Geotechnical Pty. Ltd.

Structural engineerAlex Bursztyn & Partners Pty. Ltd.

Lighting S2 design

Landscaping S2 design

Photography Michael Downes: Urban Angles

Text by Toby Horrocks

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174 agps architecture

Located in the hot and dry landscape of Southern Californias coastal canyons, the project investigates

alternative approaches of living in relation to the land. The 10-acre site had been formerly occupied

by an historic adobe house and various out-buildings that burned in a 1992 wildfire. Significant civil

engineering was required to restore slopes and the access road to current legal standards.

Out of the sites hillside topography, a series of narrow contours are articulated as the generating lines

for the project, defining wider occupiable plateaus. The narrow lines become the access road, retaining

walls, paths, and fence lines, which frame the orchards, paddock, gardens, and building sites. One

continuous contour line locates the residence, caretakers house, and barn, which are to be constructed

in successive phases. This slope begins with the houses entry step ramp, continuing upslope in forming

the edge of a garden, slipping beneath the caretakers house, and wrapping to shelter the barn.

The houses lower zone, constructed of concrete, is of the earth. Garage, storage, and technical rooms

are located here. In contrast to the earth level, the residence sits lightly above the land, conceived

as a device for viewing and engaging the landscape. Three distinct volumes cantilever beyond the

lower level toward multi-directional dramatic canyon views. Like a typical ranch house, a single floor

level encompasses the central functions of eating, living, and sleeping. These three main functions are

programmed into the three volumes of the house.

House101

Design

Transcript of House101