When I read about this built-in cabinetry piece that creates 4 unique 'rooms' in a studio apartment, I assumed that I would dislike the space. As a humble traditionalist, I tend to lean towards more overt solutions with space management. Many modern space-conscious designs, in my opinion, look cheap, rickety (for more on this, see my thoughts on Convertible Furniture), and extremely tacky.
But, this built-in unit works so well that the functionality of it makes it chic. As if, through an ingenious mixture of geeky engineering and wild creativity, this guy's apartment became the James Bond of apartments.
It's a long video, but totally worth watching if you're interested in Small Space Living and brilliant space planning.
via NY Daily News
Maybe, it would be better nicknamed the Inspector Gadget of apartments. "Go, Go, Gadget Bed!"
Cheers,
Whitney
Showing posts with label wacky homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wacky homes. Show all posts
Nov 2, 2011
Beep Beep
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| The Voglreiter Auto Residence |
This wacky little home was designed by the German architect Markus Voglreiter for an Austrian family living in a suburb of Salzburg. The home was impeccably designed to adhere to strict eco-sustainable restrictions and codes, using energy efficient heating and insulation technology that reduces energy consumption.
This cool compact house was a remodel of a typical 1970s suburban home of the neighborhood located in Gnigl just near Salzburg, Austria. The modern styling and the obvious nod to the Volkswagen Bug doesn't seem to bother the neighbors, and attracts quite a crowd when night falls and the 'headlights' are turned on. How fun!
Cheers,
Whitney
Oct 26, 2011
Mwa-Ha-Ha-Ha House
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| That pretty flowering vine doesn't make this house any less scary looking. |
The base of the guesthouse was built to resemble a giant tree, but I think it looks more like a scary horror multi-faced ghoul tree than a friendly treehouse. Unexpected twists and turns rule the home's layout, with tiny rooms in some areas and huge rooms in others where organically-shaped windows, and stone-carved animals statues litter the house.
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| Don't know about you, but I'm getting a strong inside-of-a-human-lung vibe in from the interior. Yikes. |
Built in 1990 by Dang Viet Nga, the daughter of a former President of Vietnam, The Crazy House attracted much public attention upon its completion. She willingly opened the house to the public for tours of the randomly-scaled rooms, weird statues and odd staircases. I'd bet it would be an awesome place to film one of those absurd ghost chasing shows. Zoikes!
Enjoy the rest of this SPOOKY week!
Cheers,
Whitney
Sep 22, 2011
The Miller House
During my stay in Lexington last week, I was floored to see the Miller House in person on a sunny morning.
This amazing modern residential structure was designed and built by Le Corbusier protégé José Oubrerie, who was was dean of the University of Kentucky School of Architecture when he designed the Miller House in 1988 for his clients Robert and Penny Miller. After Mr. Miller passed away, Penny sold the house and its surrounding 20 acres in 2006.
The facades of the Miller House are composed of a thin, cast-in-place concrete screen that wraps around several painted-wood inner structures: One surface is a simple grid of interlocking slabs; another has small vertical and horizontal slits. Inside, the house features an irregular composition of three two-floor living spaces—each with its own bedroom, bath, office, and independent entrance. Built-in cabinetry echoes the facades’ interlocking forms. The Miller has been described as one of the finest residences of the 20th century.
Cheers,
Whitney
This amazing modern residential structure was designed and built by Le Corbusier protégé José Oubrerie, who was was dean of the University of Kentucky School of Architecture when he designed the Miller House in 1988 for his clients Robert and Penny Miller. After Mr. Miller passed away, Penny sold the house and its surrounding 20 acres in 2006.
The facades of the Miller House are composed of a thin, cast-in-place concrete screen that wraps around several painted-wood inner structures: One surface is a simple grid of interlocking slabs; another has small vertical and horizontal slits. Inside, the house features an irregular composition of three two-floor living spaces—each with its own bedroom, bath, office, and independent entrance. Built-in cabinetry echoes the facades’ interlocking forms. The Miller has been described as one of the finest residences of the 20th century.
In 2007, after sitting empty and dormant, intruders entered the vacant property several times painting graffiti, breaking windows, and knocking in much of the interior plaster work. Oubrerie was heartbroken to visit the home and see the $300,000+ in damages. What in the hell is wrong with people???
Thankfully, later that year, the Miller House was purchased by the Foundation for Advanced Architecture, whose first mission was the restoration of the Miller House and create an educational laboratory for students of architecture.
But it appears as thought the Foundation lost their way, as the house is currently for sale again. When I visited last week, the property was in pristine 'showing' condition, with brochures and maps seen in the front hall. I would have called for a viewing to see the interior and explore more of this unique space, but why waste anyone's time, I'm not buying it. And, besides, we can just watch Neon Indian's video to get a groovy perspective on this modern behemoth.
Cheers,
Whitney
Sep 7, 2011
PreFabulous
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| Hemeroscopium House. Built in only 7 days by Architect Antón García- Abril. That cantilevered section is a elevated swimming pool! See details here on this behemoth prefabricated home. |
Whitney
Aug 31, 2011
Aug 24, 2011
Aug 17, 2011
Aug 10, 2011
Simple Living: Minuscule in Manhattan
This architect DEFINES minimal living. I applaud his dedication to a tidy, organized and well-edited home. His resourcefulness and handy construction work are commendable. He says he loves the Midtown location of this closet home. He's willing to live with very little privacy and comfort in the name of efficiency. But is his willingness worth it?
It's no lie that Manhattan apartments are typically overpriced, but I find this to be a disgusting example of thievery in urban real estate. Just look at the work he had to do to make this place livable.
When I first moved to NYC in 2002, I lived in a basement studio apartment on the Upper Westside. It was small and perfect for a single girl with little money and few belongings. I was paying 60% more than this fella pays with 449% more space. I had my own bathroom. I had counter space in a tiny kitchen. There was a stove. I had room for a full-size bed AND a chair. I lived 30 blocks north of where this guy lives. The fact that he's paying so much to live in a space so little seems inflated even to me, a jaded Manhattanite.
What do you think? Is the desire to live in a prime location worth sacrificing one's sense of personal space & comfort?
Cheers,
Whitney
It's no lie that Manhattan apartments are typically overpriced, but I find this to be a disgusting example of thievery in urban real estate. Just look at the work he had to do to make this place livable.
When I first moved to NYC in 2002, I lived in a basement studio apartment on the Upper Westside. It was small and perfect for a single girl with little money and few belongings. I was paying 60% more than this fella pays with 449% more space. I had my own bathroom. I had counter space in a tiny kitchen. There was a stove. I had room for a full-size bed AND a chair. I lived 30 blocks north of where this guy lives. The fact that he's paying so much to live in a space so little seems inflated even to me, a jaded Manhattanite.
What do you think? Is the desire to live in a prime location worth sacrificing one's sense of personal space & comfort?
Cheers,
Whitney
Aug 3, 2011
Jul 27, 2011
Jul 20, 2011
The 72-room Bank House
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| image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
The 1898 Gilded Age structure is measures 35,000 square feet over six floors. As a residence, the space exudes an artist-commune vibe with creatively-used rooms and unique decor. Maisel, his wife and daughter, share the space. That's roughly 11,600 square feet per person. "I need some space" is unlikely an uttered phrase in the Maisel home.
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| The dining room with original pressed-tin wallcoverings. image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
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| The original oak door frames separate former bank offices, now gallery space. image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
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| The kitchen is on the site of the bank’s original kitchen, where staff cooked for the bankers. image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
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| Long corridors are filled with the family's collected treasures. Plastic sheeting acts as a makeshift ventilation system. image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
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| The bank's original vault is used for the photographer's files and stored pieces. image by Leigh Davis for New York Magazine |
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| image via Fireplace Chats |
Upon purchase, this New York City neighborhood had been sinking into a deep sub-depression and the Bowery became an urban wasteland. In an interview with New York magazine, Maisel described the area as having been “more disgusting than dangerous.”
But, as urban gentrification took over the Lower East Side, and slowly crept to the borders of the Bowery, Maisel found his property value increase exponentially. John Varvatos opened a boutique nearby. A Whole Foods megastore went up. Luxury apartments are taking over derelict buildings. And now Maisel's Beaux Arts structure and its property are worth between 30 and 70 million dollars, as the corner lot sits in the heart of NYC's latest desirable “new neighborhood” to live, work and play.
Cheers,
Whitney
Jul 6, 2011
Jun 29, 2011
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