Townhouse Oberwall by apool

The found structure of an unfinished townhouse within the context of the urban development of central Berlin Friedrichswerder is based on the guidelines “planwerk innenstadt” was radical reconsidered and dismantled. The material of the facade, glossy white aluminium panels, highlights the significance of the abstraction and the vertical aspect of the project. You don’t need any outdoor advertising to highlight the flagship store – the facade is the advertising. The fully glazed entrance door to the shop is 6.5 meters high as the building is wide. Within the tight restrictions of a deep and narrow lot, the house achieves generosity through ceiling height. the qualities of natural light and space are more important than the optimisation of surface area and flexibility. The house will be used as a flagship store for the owners fashion label and their second home, the radical simplicity connects the different
aspects of use and creates a clear unit in a diversified neighbourhood.

Townhouse Oberwall, Oberwallstrasse, Berlin, Germany, by apool

Books: Rock the Shack: The Architecture of Cabins, Cocoons and Hide-Outs

Rock the Shack takes us to the places we long for. For the first time in the history of humankind, more people live in cities than in the country. Yet, at the same time, more and more city dwellers are yearning for rural farms, mountain cabins, or seaside homes. These kinds of refuges offer modern men and women a promise of what urban centers usually cannot provide: quiet, relaxation, being out of reach, getting back to basics, feeling human again.

Rock the Shack is a survey of such contemporary refuges from around the world–from basic to luxury. The book features a compelling range of sparingly to intricately furnished cabins, cottages, second homes, tree houses, transformations, shelters, and cocoons. The look of the included structures from the outside is just as important as the view from inside. What these diverse projects have in common is an exceptional spirit that melds the uniqueness of a geographic location with the individual character of the building’s owner and architect.

Rock the Shack: The Architecture of Cabins, Cocoons and Hide-Outs, Editors: S. Ehmann, S. Borges, 24 x 30 cm, 240 pages, full color, hardcover, English, ISBN: 978-3-89955-466-3, Published by gestalten
Buy it here: Amazon

Icon: 606 Universal Shelving System by Dieter Rams for DePadova

In 1960 Dieter Rams conceived of a shelving system “…that could be expanded, rearranged and moved when necessary. The system initially went by the name RZ 60, and in 1970 was renamed the 606 Universal Shelving System, which continues to be a success today. Its popularity derives from the fact that lt offers restrained simplicity while the individual components offer great flexibility for the ever-changing lives of the owner. Over the years the wall-mounted shelving evolved to allow it to be compressed between the floor and ceiling (from 1970). A series of drawers, cabinets and integrated tables permits it to accommodate almost all requirements.” (Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams)

606 Universal Shelving System by Dieter Rams, Available in annodized aluminium or white powder coated aluminium, for DePadova

City House by Architex

This inner city home is designed for a single client as a retreat from a busy professional life. The 400 m2 site was purchased with an approved Resource Consent for a family home – and so a revised brief was developed to fit into the approved envelope. The site is developed to its maximum both visually and physically, with a play on transparency and the flow of spaces from in to out. A variety of outdoor rooms complement the bold pavilion forms. They are linked by a circulation gallery – which also creates an axial focus for the full length of the site on entry. The street pavilion has the potential to become two guest rooms which share a bathroom and lounge area. The rear pavilion is private and contains an indulgent main bedroom suite. Sliding glass panels disappear into pockets to create open balconies for living and sleeping, and focus on the central courtyard as their oasis. The street facade is particularly private with only a hint of the sophistication that lies beyond in the selection of colour and materials.

City House, Auckland, New Zealand, by Architex, Photography © Simon Devitt

Exhibition: Friso Kramer: Revolt at Galerie Catherine Houard

Catherine Houard presents the first exhibition in Paris dedicated to Friso Kramer, the Dutch Master of Design. Born in 1922, Friso Kramer was the son of the architect Piet Kramer. He played a significant role in developing the national Dutch style, from 1940 until now. His ideas have constantly helped expand the modern aesthetics of the Netherlands. Kramer began his career as a designer in the industrial field in 1948 at De Cirkel’s, a manufacturer of steel furniture. In the 1950’s he joined the group ‘Goed Wonen’ (‘Good Living’) that was created to reinstall or recreate a good quality of life that disappeared during the war.

In 1953, he created the ‘Revolt Chair’, a popular icon of the Dutch style, at Ahrend’s and was featured at the Triennale of Milan in 1954. At the dawn of his 90th birthday, Friso Kramer is in the spotlight in the Netherlands. At the end of November, he was honored with a tribute at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and in the book written by Yvonne Brentjens ‘De Stoel van Friso Kramer / Friso Kramer Chair’ which has been just re-published in English and Dutch.

Friso Kramer, January 18 – March 2, 2013, at Galerie Catherine Houard, Paris
via: Design Art News Catherine Houard

Fluid Lamp by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance for Forestier

“The Fluid lamps were designed to evoke a specific material by the use of light. They become supple and malleable, like fused glass contained inside a metal sheath.”
- Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance

Fluid Floor and Pendant Lamp, by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, for Forestier

Netframe by Cate & Nelson for OFFECCT

Cate & Nelson’s idea behind Netframe was to create a piece of furniture that consumes as little material as possible while maintaining a high comfort. “In order to succeed with this challenge we had to turn everything upside down in the development process. We wanted it to be easy to produce with minimal time and material usage”, says Nelson Ruiz-Acal, one half of Cate & Nelson.

Netframe was developed into a very comfortable piece of furniture with extremely low impact on the environment. Cate & Nelson believe it is important to see the wholeness in their design, that the product is responsible at all stages; from production to usage, which is very apparent in their design of Netframe.

Netframe, by Cate & Nelson, for OFFECCT

Southern House by Fergus Scott Architecture

The ‘brow of the hill’ is hard exposed rust brown essexite and the house follows the contour here and sweeps through 270 degrees of coastal landscape. A sunlit courtyard and terrace are contained within the outline of the building. They combine with thick walls and alcoves to offer protection from the south for year round outside living.

Southern House, by Fergus Scott Architecture

Casa Cubo by StudioMK27

Casa Cubo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, by StudioMK27, Photography © Fernando Guerra

Stripe Chair by Oliver Schick for Skandiform

Stripe is an upholstered lounge chair in a slim and lightweight appearing design. A special and simple linkage between the plywood seat shell and the base frame made of steel, makes the chair smoothly rocking without any mechanical suspension.

Stripe, by Oliver Schick, for Skandiform