Random

    Unusual Designs

    Home Homes Unusual Designs

    Disgusting Old Cave Turned Into A Seriously Luxurious Home

    23-year-old Alexis Lamoureux’s story is a familiar one. The French national from a picturesque French village on the banks of the Loire River was left scrambling after losing his bartending job at a struggling local bar. He and his girlfriend faced few options pitted against soaring housing prices that plagued many European nations.

    1_cheap-cave-tiny-house

    Where Alexis’ story goes from there? Not so common. An opportunity presented itself in the form of what some would describe as a troglodyte home that was once owned by his great aunt. Call it what you will, it’s basically a decrepit old network of hallways and rooms carved into the side of a mountain. In other words, it’s a cave. Add in 25 years of neglect and a heaping pile of garbage and you’ve got yourself the situation Alexis found himself in after purchasing the home from auction for the towering sum of 1 euro.

    The transformation that took place next is nothing short of astonishing as you can see.

    A Wartime Bunker Is A Good Place For A Home, Right? Right!

    Netherlands based architecture firm B-ILD have transformed this decrepit, ancient war-time bunker into a cool, rustic-chic getaway. I’d be the first to keep my arm down in a show of hands of people who thought a dank old bomb shelter would make a good place to reside, but seeing this project might have just changed my mind. It’s an unorthodox adaptive re-use project that, at first glance, doesn’t have a lot going for it. Upon closer look, that’s exactly what the architect used to craft a majestic underground dwelling.

    The ironic thing is that B-UILD’s additions are minimal and strategic, allowing the weathered board-formed concrete walls to define the aesthetic of the space. It’s a move that pays off in the end, turning the very thing that made the space desolate into what makes it shine. The bunker is small, occupying only 118 square feet of floor area. As a space saver, the sleeping area deploys barracks-style bunk beds; an appropriate nod to a common war-time building type.

    war-bunker-house-1 war-bunker-house-2 war-bunker-house-3 war-bunker-house-4 war-bunker-house-5 war-bunker-house-6 war-bunker-house-7 war-bunker-house-8 war-bunker-house-9 war-bunker-house-10

    Incredible Hobbit Home Sculpted By A 1960’s Hurricane

    If Bilbo Baggins lived in the 21st century and had an architectural inclination for clean lines and subdued interiors, he would be right at home in this modern subterranean dwelling. The unique duplex was built upon a foundation that was caused by high off-shore hurricane winds back in the 1960’s. Rather than build up upon the dune, the property owner (who happened to also be architect William Morgan) decided the best course of action was to carve into the mound, exploiting the space below the earth.

    Large circular openings bring in natural light and expose spectacular ocean views. The organic forms and curvilinear nature of the structure is consciously juxtaposed to the strict, rigid treatment of the interior build-out. It’s an interesting and obvious statement about man vs. nature, and how we symbiotically shape each others environments.

    Incredible Sunken Rooftop Garden Brings Life Into A Former Caviar Warehouse

    An unassuming warehouse in the heart of Manhattan conceals a very special secret. A portion of the rooftop deck in this loft apartment is dropped into the middle of the living room, providing the interiors with an abundance of natural light and lush garden views. Architect Andrew Franz converted the top floor of the once dank caviar warehouse, converting salvaged materials such as using existing walnut roof joists as new stair treads.

    all images © albert vecerka, ESTO / courtesy of andrew franz architect PLLC

     

    He Built His Family A Hobbit House From Scraps For $4500

    Simon Dale isn’t your ordinary father and this is no ordinary home. After he decided paying a mortgage and incurring debt wasn’t the greatest thing, he moved his family to the Wales countryside. Armed with a hammer, chainsaw, and a chisel, and with no prior building experience, he set to work constructing a home for his family that Bilbo Baggins himself would envy.

    He began with some rough sketches to flesh out the idea…

    9672ddaeca993765050db269f51642bc_image

     

    While his wife and two children camped out nearby, he began framing the exterior using felled timber from the forest. The process took him four months.

    ce2c4f68aea53d2ac9ad2b07f5793d74_image

    If you can believe it, he had zero prior experience in carpentry and architecture! Regardless, he learned how to timber frame and use strawbale techniques just fine.

    76041ce2e9ab9bb52c2dd5a17819af49_image

    Giving his son a lesson on structural safety…

    65dba5f59337fe96ed9ee88b4435a838_image

    “Being your own have-a-go architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit and the convenience of the construction industry.”

    5312502c1629c285d8f8ccba17e1cba5_imageHe used lime plaster on the walls as an alternative to cement and other potentially carcinogenic materials.

    aed9781d980b5ae2a936dd3ea1479c12_image

    The interior is simply stunning, with a magical aura penetrating every corner.

    bd427a1c689ac52d9affe9b9c16fbefc_image

    eb9d2121880c94e3d914b2387d8cd3d5_image

    A living roof of grass and moss covers the roof.

    9bcbba4e105328ab1a12aefb3a148271_image

    The home blends right into the hillside, becoming a natural part of its surroundings.

    29b88da78996e6e580d87c9edb0d0a27_image

    51c6a0231ed82f0cd4fbd03db803047c_image

    Unfortunately the local government pushed the family out of this home, citing a lack of proper permits as the reason. However, since building the home in 2003 the family has since moved into a new home, but Simon continues to work on other similar projects, both for his family and others. This hobbit house remains intact and serves as inspiration for others, along with a place for You can see more of his work on his website, http://simondale.net

    This Unique “Ultra Green” Building Is Covered In A Green-Wall Exoskeleton

    Brazilian architecture firm Triptyque have designed an office building in Sao Paolo that not only collects rain water, but utilizes a sophisticated filtration and delivery system to irrigate naturally insulating green walls. A maze-like network of water pipes snake up and down the building’s facades, fitted with misters that provide the living walls with freshly recycled rain water.

    The project is an ecological experiment aimed at challenging how society deals with water – how it can be collected, recycled, and redistributed with little need for waste or run-off. In addition to the green wall system, a series of planted roofs further mitigate the structures environmental footprint. When the misting nozzles are on full tilt, the building is enveloped in what appears to be a stationary cloud, reinforcing the issue of water conservation in both function and aesthetic.

    In 2010, the unique green features won this office building the ‘Built Environment’ award from the Zumtobel Group.

    She Built This “Prairie Castle” From A Recycled Grain Bin

    For a long time Kate Morris held close a dream inspired by the undulating hills and vast expanse of the Montana prairie. She had always been awe-struck by the serene countryside and the structures that rose from it out of nowhere. Specifically, she had a fondness for massive, cylindrical grain storage bins. Her dream was to one day to build a house out of one of them.

    grain3

    Her dream took flight when she purchased an old grain bin and assembled it on the 250 acre lot that she inherited from her father. Shortly after, she realized that building a house was quite a bit more work than she thought, especially when involving such an unorthodox starting point.

    grain2

    That’s when she enlisted Nick Pancheau, an architect who she had taught in grade school many years before. The two were off to the races, adding boxy punched openings for windows and designing solutions that would transform the cold steel bin into a 900-square-foot home with a cozy and efficient layout.

    grain7

    grain8

    grain1

     

    She came up with creative solutions, like using a mechanic tool bin for a kitchen island, and fashioning a kitchen table with two sawhorses and a piece of plywood.

    grain4

     

    Using OSB boards with a polyurethane finish helps keep the costs down, and keeps in line with the utilitarian nature of the space.

    grain5

     

    While many windows afford her that precious view of the prairie, a line of windows in the kitchen faces the interior wall of the bin.

    grain6

    Given the extensive customization needed, the total cost for this project wasn’t too bad, coming in at just over $200k (not including the land). Kate Morris’ couldn’t be happier with her prairie castle, and enjoys the creative approach involved with making it a comfortable place to spend her days.

    9 Most Amazing Green Roofs In The World

    Green roofs have plenty to offer. Not only are they architecturally interesting, they have a drastic effect on reducing a building’s carbon footprint. Covering any roof in a thick layer of properly drained vegetation naturally insulates the interior, but also absorbs heat that would typically be reflected back into the sky, preventing all kinds of ecological problems on a large enough scale.

    Architects have taken notice, and are beginning to embrace green roofs as a focal point of their designs. Here are 9 green roofs that will knock your socks off (which is good, because no one wants to walk on grass with socks on).

    1 | 8 House | Bjark Ingles Group (BIG)

    8 house_1 8 house_2

    BIG is known for going…well…big! This green roof is no different. The symmetrical shed roofs provide the perfect opportunity for the dual cascading green carpets that meet at an exterior courtyard at the base of the structure. (source)

    2 | CR Land Guanganmen Green Tech Showroom | Vector Architects

    green tech_1 green tech_2

    When a green roof isn’t enough, why no couple it with some green walls? Vector Architects have left no exterior sufrace naked, creating an extruded square shell that naturally protects the interiors from swings in temperature. (source)

    3 | California Academy Of Sciences | Renzo Piano

    Academy_1 Academy_2

    If I didn’t use ‘undulating’ and ‘elegant’ in the same sentence to describe this one I’d have an angry gathering of former architecture professors burning me at the stake (not literally). Mr. Piano is a master of his craft, and this is one of the truly iconic contemporary buildings in the Western Hemisphere. (source)

    4 | Marcel Sembat High School | archi5

    high school_1 high school_2

    High school has changed a lot since my day. This beautiful structure is highlighted by the (don’t say undulating…don’t say undulating) faceted curvilinear roof structure (nailed it). (source)

    5 | Beijing Capital International Airport | Foster + Partners

    beijing 2 beijing_1

    In a stroke of perfect irony, visitors to the world’s most industrial, pollutant contributing city are greeted with one of the world’s most sprawling green roof. China is no stranger to environmental paradox, as they are a leader in sustainable development, yet continue to degrade the planet through their bustling industry. (source)

    6 | School of Art, Media, and Design | CPG

    Singapore_1 singapore_2

    Two interlocking sloped green roofs wrap around a central public space in this project by Singapore based firm CPG. The roofs are accessilble to visitors, providing a lush carpet to make a picinic and take in a view of the surrounding Nanyang. (source)

    7 | Villa Bio | Enric Ruiz-Geli

    villa bio_1 villa bio_2

    Spanish architect Enric Ruiz-Geli designed this home intented to reflect the landscape of the area. Even though it’s surrounded by homes that are less-than-camouflage, the green roof acts as a bridge between natural and man-made.(source)

    8 | Chicago City Hall | City of Chicago

    chicago_1 Chicago_2

    In 2001, the City of Chicago tasked a team of architects, landscape architects and engineers to design and build a 38,800 square feet of green space. It is an initiative that makes great strides towards covering our cities in  well-manicured lawns. (source)

    9 | Vancouver Convention Center | LMN + DA with MCM

    vancouver_1 vancouver_2

    A lush carpet of green velvet covers this convention center, which sits in a prestigious waterfront site in the heart of downtown Vancouver, BC. The architectural team created a man-made peninsula that mirrors the surrounding landscape. (source)

    A Good Home Is Made Great With An Up-Cycled Spartan Trailer

    A well-designed home with large open spaces, contemporary materials, and plenty of natural light can be a very good thing. But sometimes, there needs to be something truly unique as a focus for the home to be considered great. This is the notion architect Andrew Hinman took to heart when he designed this Texas home around a re-used Spartan Trailer.

    The shimmering silvery cladding of the now immobile recreational tube is presented prominently in the composition of the home. Functionally, it operates in much of the same way it always has, only now it acts as a focal appendage to the sleek glass and steel enclosure that engulfs it. The architect wanted to celebrate the use of a recycled component in the context of a well-crafted modern structure.

    spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-1 A massive shed roof towers over the trailer and the interior space adjacent to it. A large sun room occupies this space, acting as an extension of the living quarters of the trailer.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-2 An exterior soaking tub ties the home in with it’s desert surroundings, emulating the feel of camping that the trailer once embraced.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-3 spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-4 The space adjacent to the trailer opens up to the sunny desert vista.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-5 Looking back at the trailer from the interior, it maintains its original aluminum sheen.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-6 As you can see, stepping inside the trailer is like stepping through a portal into the past.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-7 The rest of the home feels quite new and contemporary, sitting in contrast to the retro presence the trailer provides.spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-8 spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-9 spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-10 spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-11 spartan-house-by-andrew-hinman-architecture-12

    Photos by Paul Bardigjy.

    5 Incredible Buildings That Can’t Seem To Sit Still

    1Sliding House by DRMM

    Photos © Alex de Rijke / GIF by Gasoline Station

    In a stroke of architectural imagination and mechanical ingenuity, this seemingly ordinary home pulls itself apart revealing a secondary structure and creating a covered indoor/outdoor space. The 20-ton outer wood shell moves along two tracks via electric motors and can be stopped at different locations to configure varying degrees of opacity.

    2Shapeshifting Sharifi-Ha House by Nextoffice

    Each of the three floors of this home in Tehran, Iran have rotating volumes that open the spaces to views and light. With the simple push of a button, the spaces swing out and cantilever over the street below. The concept balances the desire for natural light and the regional necessity of protection and privacy.

    3M-Velope Transformer House

    This tiny temporary structure made of hinged wood-slatted walls has the ability to completely open itself up creating a much larger covered footprint. While not technically a home, the structure presents a conceptual prototype that can be applied to adaptive facades in larger scale applications.

    4Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis by Urbana Architecture

    Las Angeles based firm Urbana Architecture has designed an adaptive facade that transforms user experience based on proximity, position and pace of movement, pointing to a much larger shift in urban transformation. The facade is fixed with thousands of tiny bi-chromatic metal fins that rotate on vertical rods, resulting in a dynamic skin that is constantly changing

    5Cafe-Restaurant OPEN, by de Architekten Cie

    Each of the glazed vertical sections of this sea-side restaurant in Amsterdam hinges in accordion-like fashion, creating an undulating facade that appears to be flowing with the ocean breeze.

    Images © Rob Hoekstra

    1234Page 3 of 4
    © 2018 Archfly