AQUALINA HOLIDAY VILLA BY GFAB ARCHITECTS

On the coast of Koh Samui in Thailand sits an oasis of a villa, a mirage that appears too good to be true. The getaway, a project from GFAB Architects, is futuristic in design and the strong forms in the building are a striking contrast to the verdant surroundings. The angles of the villa walls are made ever more evident by the reflection of those geometries in the infinity-edge pool, and the roofs form little peaks that compete with the mountains in the background. Within the triangular building, an atrium creates an airy common living space in addition to greater window area for a fantastic view of the tropical landscape. The windows boast lattices of framework, like a white version of the black lines crossing a Mondrian. Tri-blade ceiling fans hang overhead, looking down upon thick white couches accented by aqua pillows. The simple palette of colors makes the interior float in heavenly bliss, while a stony pier and a wooden wall on one side anchor the building to reality. Slanted walls and pitched ceilings hide as well as reveal neighboring rooms, providing a balance of public and private space within the villa. Stairs leading to the second floor are encased in a glass box, negotiating the transition into a series of three bedrooms furnished in light woods and white. The villa is home not only to visitors but also to the environment, as rows of greenery populate the sloped rooftop garden.

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Villa Frenay / 70F architecture

Villa Frenay / 70F architecture

© Luuk Kramer

Architects: 70F architecture
Location: Lelystad, The Netherlands
Project Team: Carina Nilsson
Project Year: 2010
Client: Fam Frenay
Photographs: Luuk Kramer





The commission (March 2008) consisted of a detached house with outbuildings on a plot in villa park ‘de Noordzoom’ in Lelystad, at the foot of the Enkhuizen – Lelystad dike. The family wanted, like many others, light, air and space. © Luuk Kramer

The house is a one-story bungalow, while the site asked for a response to “living at the water.” The latter is accomplished by making a veranda along the entire length of the building (south), at the most important rooms of the house; from bedroom, to wardrobe, to the master bathroom, to hobby room to the kitchen and finally to the dining- and around the corner the living room. Along this line, there is a transition from water to veranda, to completely glass facade, with doors behind which all mentioned areas are. © Luuk Kramer

To break the flat polder landscape, the roof of the living / dining room is slightly sloping. At the non-waterfront (north) of the house there are the children’s rooms with their bathroom, a utility room and the living room. The existing artificial ‘hills’ on the premises we accentuated, and the carport with storage room is half buried in one of them. The sauna with garden shed is placed on another hill, and is the highest of the three buildings. From the sauna is a view over a Cor-Ten steel waterfall that runs along the open-air terrace at the gable of the house, sloping towards the water feature that runs along the plot. © Luuk Kramer

With the spread of the buildings, a residential area is created, more than a house with outbuildings. The transparency and direction can be seen in the interior, providing the ultimate inside – outside experience, emphasized by the slopes on the plot. The structural challenge of the T-shaped gable wall with glass corners, results in a phenomenal experience of the indoor and outdoor space in the living and dining room. The structural and architectural tension of the solution in this wall is experienced almost everywhere in and around the house. Plan







Plan

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Seidenberg House / Metcalfe Architecture & Design

© Barry Halkin Photography

Architects: Metcalfe Architecture & Design
Location: Lafayette Hill, PA, USA
Design Team: Alan Metcalfe, AIA Aaron Goldblatt Jason Manning Matthew Pickering Teresa Maida, Interiors
Completion: 2009
Area: 3,775 square feet
Photographs: Barry Halkin Photography















© Barry Halkin Photography

Metcalfe Architecture & Design recently completed the renovation of the Seidenberg House in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, USA. This previously restored mid-century modern kit house (fig. 1) takes full advantage of its pristine location in the lush woodlands of Southeastern Pennsylvania (fig. 2). We pushed the upper level of this structure into the treetops, transforming it into a house in the sky, with an expanded second-floor living space and entry (fig. 3), and renovated kitchen, living areas and bathrooms.




© Barry Halkin Photography

We reconfigured the small, existing entrance into a skylittwo story entry hall, crossed by a glass footbridge on the second story (fig. 4). This hall now leads into progressively more open kitchen (fig. 5), dining and living spaces (fig. 6). New windows in the kitchen (fig. 5) and dining area provide panoramic views of the outdoors.


© Barry Halkin Photography

The second story master bedroom (fig. 7, 7A) and bath addition (fig. 8) became a spacious, light- filled oasis in the treetops. With stunning views of the surrounding landscape, we created the appearance of a floating roof in the bedroom, using clerestory windows (fig. 9) and eight foot tall glass doors that open onto the suite’s cantilevered balcony (fig. 7). The steel and tempered glass (fig. 10) footbridge, fabricated by a local artisan, links the master bedroom and bath to the rest of the house.


© Barry Halkin Photography

As our clients shared, “Everyone who sees the house thinks it’s wonderful and says it is so…Thank you for helping us create a very special place that we enjoy every day.”

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Tropical Hideaway Near Bali”s Valley of the Kings: Viceroy Resort

Nestled on a hill near Bali’s Valley of the Kings, Viceroy Bali Resort&Spa offers accommodation units that combine comfort and privacy. The 25 villas of the resort are integrated within this scenic landscape, allowing each of the guests here to enjoy exquisite views from the comfort of their cottage-like dwelling. Despite their partially-rustic appearance, the villas come with the latest electronic amenities, as well as a pool and private outdoor spaces for relaxation. Some of the features of the resort include a bar with a famous collection of scotches and cognacs, a restaurant serving a contemporary French menu influenced by exotic Asian flavors, a Spa offering sublime views of the Petanu River valley, a conference room, a gymnasium and a helicopter pad. Even though the uniqueness and charm of this resort derives from its secluded nature, for visitors wanting to experience local culture, the village of Ubud lies just minutes away. Looking forward to read your comments and opinions regarding this tropical hideaway.

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