Case Inlet Retreat by mw|works architecture+design

Nestled into a forested slope along the eastern edge of the Case Inlet, this small retreat opens to a western view of the Olympic Mountains and the Puget Sound. Anchored by a weathered cedar clad bedroom wing, a bold concrete cantilever projects the living and dining into the dense forest and toward the view. An ipe deck slips from inside the kitchen into an open meadow to the south, separated only by large sliding glass doors extending the sense of interior directly to the outdoors. A broad flat roof hovers high above the living spaces creating the feeling that one is sitting outdoors amidst the trees. Smaller, thoughtfully placed apertures define the exterior of the bedroom volume, along with a single large opening belonging to the master bath to give the users a ritual of bathing within the forest. A balance of clean lines and natural materials, this modest retreat is a welcome sanctuary for just two or the full family.

Case Inlet Retreat, Case Inlet, Washington, USA, by mw|works architecture+design, Photography by Jeremy Bittermann

Lounge Collection by Architecture & Associés for Knoll International

Lounge Collection, by Pierre Beucler and Jean-Christophe Poggioli, Architecture & Associés

Haus G12 by (se)arch

The property has direct access to the lake and offers a spectacular view of Lake Constance and the Swiss Alps. The house with its two levels, the garden level and the upper level adapts to the seasons, then a summer and a winter home. In the summer the garden is level with associated pool and guest rooms in the foreground. The upper floor is the master retreat area residents staged and the panoramic view. The upper floor is arranged around the atrium area and also allows for a variable space concept. All the walls are flexible and allow for different room situations. This gives the user the possibility of a classic floor plan up to the single-room.

Haus G12, Überlingen, Germany, by (se)arch, photography by Zooey Braun

Exhibition: Playboy Architecture 1953-1979

Exhibition in collaboration with Princeton University about the way Playboy magazine used architecture and design as important tools to shape a new identity for the American male. Playboy Architecture, 1953-1979 explores the crucial role of modern architecture–buildings, interiors, furniture, cities and product design–in constructing the Playboy imaginary. The exhibition shows how architecture was mobilized to shape a new sexual and consumer identity for the American male and how architectural taste became critical to success in the art of seduction. Through an extraordinary quantity of architecture and architects featured in Playboy, the magazine played an important role in informing the public, particularly American men, about design and architecture in relation to literature, politics, art, lifestyle and fashion. Looking at the changing nature of Playboy architecture not only provides a way of understanding how Playboy’s project changed from the mid 1950s to the late 1970s; it also reveals how Playboy’s idealized world became a reality that was ingrained into America’s national identity and had a massive global impact.

Playboy Architecture 1953-1979, September 29 – February 10, at NAiM/Bureau Europa, Maastricht, Netherlands

Villa Solaire by Jérémie Kœmpgen Architecture

Located in the historic district of Pied de La Plagne, in the village of Morzine (French Alps), this ancient farmhouse was singled out by the municipality as a landmark for traditional 19th century local architecture. Preserving the house overall appearance was of one of the project’s key challenges. Revisiting traditional techniques, architecture firm Jérémie Kœmpgen Architecture has converted it into a luxurious and elegant rental villa.

The idea is to move through this house between four “blocks” steady as rocks, located at each corner of the building. Each independent unit forms a suite with sleeping area and amenities. Between these four blocks, the remaining space is occupied by a succession of stacked floors at different levels in the framework. This continuum of generous space welcomes the activities shared by the inhabitants: cooking, dining, watching a film, conversing in the living room, warming up around the fire.

A uniform cladding wraps the whole farm. One of the challenges of the project was to preserve its appearance, while filtering light into the heart of the building. The traditional technique of decorative cut-outs within the wood strips was used to perform specific perforations within the planks. The design of this simple and contemporary pattern is consistent with the equipment and techniques used by the local carpenter for cutting spruce slats. These cut-outs recall the disjointed battens of the traditional barn, used for drying hay.

Villa Solaire, Morzine, Haute-Savoie, France, by Jérémie Kœmpgen Architecture, via: Flodeau

w126 Lamp by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Wästberg

Historic industrial design icons such as the Starship Enterprise or the Citroën’s steering wheel were inspirational when designing the w126 uplighter. Admittedly two quite technical examples, but this is a lamp that demanded both highly advanced engineering and a bit of iconicity. Two powerful and separate LED light sources, one up and one down, with separate dimming allows you to set the light to any desired ambience. No need for a manual. Two simple touch buttons makes operating instinctive. However, this lamp does not fly through outer space, nor does it roam the highway, but stands in an architectural context. Significant in expression, yes. But reduced in form and shape to feel at home in your room.

w126 Lamp, by Claesson Koivisto Rune, for Wästberg

Cup Table by Ichiro Iwasaki for Discipline

“It’s a small table with a moderate design, small dimensions and precious look. The 8mm thickness and the rounded edges give it a particular strength. A simple and creative solution to furnish every corner of the home with a touch of colour chosen among lilac, transparent, amber and red.”

Cup Table, by Ichiro Iwasaki, for Discipline

XTable Height Adjustable Desk by KiBiSi for Holmris

XTable is a manually height adjustable desk. A piece of office machinery that accommodates multiple working positions and daily reshuffling. XTable uses manual kinetic power instead of electricity for height adjustments — saves energy and keeps users active. All technical features are constructively integrated in the table top. It uses a century old principle known from carjacks, ironing boards and other iconic tools. The principle coupled with a desk is a radical redesign of the traditional office desk. XTable is designed with an optional storage solution for office supplies and other belongings.

XTable, by KiBiSi, for Holmris

Photography: Google Data Centers

For the first time Google unveils its data centers, including those located in Belgium, Finland and the United Dtates.

Photography: Google Data Centers

Artek Stool 60: Alvar Aalto: Rings by Nao Tamura

Contained within a single tree is its unabridged chronicle
Year by year, never skipping a beat, it records its history slowly.
Some lines speak of seasons of plenty, while others cry of famine.
The size of the rings are never the same.
Each engraving bears witness to battles waged in the name of survival.
To observe such is to humble ourselves to nature’s love of life.

“This celebration was created by layering upon the chair’s beautiful geometric shape, a complex and organic graphic of life. My hope is that the Artek “Stool 60″ will evoke the bounty of nature as seen by the passage of 80 years of time.”
- Nao Tamura

Artek Stool 60: Alvar Aalto: Rings, by Nao Tamura, for Artek America, The Design Trust for Public Spaces Auction