Bistrica House by I / O architects

Bistrica House by I /O architects - exterior clad in branches

Detail of exterior mesh made of natural branches

Bulgarian based I/O Architects have designed this phenomenal example of native building style embedded into a modern concept. Located in a small mountain village, now a quarter of Sofia, this house is a simple volume floating over the steep triangular plot. The open space below is intended as a martial arts training hall hidden in the slope. The plan is organized between the two solid walls, the veranda, the intermediate space of the stair and the small courtyard/opening in the centre. A suspended hand-woven wooden sticks wattle unifies the external and the internal spaces, serving both as cladding on the blind walls and shading in front of the glazing. The elevated position of the house reveals unexpected view over the surroundings.
More about I/O architects here.

Modern Spa project in Belgrade City by Indigo Architects

Belgrade spa - pool view, by Indigo Architects

Belgrade spa - lower level entry view, by Indigo Architects

Belgrade spa - pool view No2 - by Indigo Architects

Belgrade spa view from stairs - by Indigo Architects

Indigo Architects have been called in to design a modern and luxurious spa and wellness centre in Belgrade City. Both Architecture and interior design solutions are done by Indigo Architects. The project is in execution stage.

Project data:

Approx area: 650 sqm Project duration: 1 year Activities at lower floor level: pool, massage, Cleopatra bath, thematic showers – steam shower and water bucket, aromatherapy, chromotherapy, turkish bath, swedish sauna, rest area, mist shower, solarium, ice fountain, tepidarium, water jet massage. Activities at entry floor level: social area, changing rooms, fitness area with training equipment, enery bar with snacks, offices.

See more at Indigo Architects page

Winners of d3 Natural Systems Competition 2009 Announced

Winner: Kinugasa-Tsui and Lorene Faure “Urban Agriculture: Hybridized Farm Bridge as City Garden”

New York-based d3 just announced the winners of the Natural Systems competition for 2009. The program, developed by co-directors Gregory Marinic and Mary-Jo Schlachter, promotes investigation of natural systems from microscopic to universal toward determining new architectonic strategies. The competition invited architects, designers, engineers, and students to collectively explore the potential for analyzing, documenting, and deploying nature-based, sustainable influences in urbanism, architecture, interiors, and designed objects.
More on Bustler

Where modern kids grow – charming, modern kindergartens

Kindergarten Sighartstein by kada wittfeld architektur

Kindergarten Sighartstein - “kindergarten-in-motion”

by german kada wittfeld architektur

The kindergarten Lotte in Estonia by Kavakava

Kindergarten in Lotte - exterior view, by Kavakava

by estonian Kavakava

A Folded Mat - Kindergarten MB by njiric+ arhitekti

Kindergarten Medo Brundo in Zagreb, Croatia by njiric+ arhitekti

by croatian njiric+ arhitekti

Kindergarten Taka-Tuka-Land by Susanne Hofmann Architects

Kindergarten Taka-Tuka-Land - interior

by german Susanne Hofmann Architects

via urbarama and mies arch

Modern goes spiritual – Villa 1 by Powerhouse Company

Villa1 amongst the trees, in the mist - modern goes spiritual

It is this group of French, Norwegian, Dutch and USA architects who call themselves “The Powerhouse Company” that was nominated for The Mies Van der Rohe design award for their work Villa1.
Some of the photographs of the Villa 1 are truly inspiring, especially the one showing how the building correlates to the surroundings by way of pure contrast – as is so characteristic of Mies`s works.

cetral core of the building - villa 1

outside view of the "veranda"

Klein Dytham architecture

Narita Airport, Terminal 1 Klein Dytham architecture

Just discovered this prolific design/architecture studio made of Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, both “internationalists”.

On the Klein Dytham site you can find some intruiging tag-lines:

“Design is often like playing jazz. Lay down a structuring rhythm, find a snappy theme, and then improvise.”

Moku Moku Yu - communal bathing

House at Jingumae - living space and hair salon

Brininstool + Lynch Coffou cottage

exterior showing wood trellis

interior view of coffou cottage

“To gain a sense of rural privacy, the owners were looking to experience pastoral views of nature and foliage, more than lake views, in searching for their vacation property. They were fortunate to find the land that fit their aesthetic aspirations and wanted a home that would similarly match their concepts for living.
The cottage was designed with a simple structure, a horizontal wood rain screen of cedar to privatize the entry sequence on the North, and a wall of operable glass on the South. The open plan of the kitchen, dining, living area and porch as one room intensifies the views to meadow and woods to the South and maximizes the solar gain in the winter. Radiant heat in the ground concrete floors is enhanced by passive solar gain, and runs throughout the three-bedroom cottage. The arrangement of the rooms and glass are to maximize views of the outdoor environment, while providing the most energy efficient operation.”
via daily icon

front view - the wood side

coffou house garden view

see more at Brininstool + Lynch site

Finne Architects – nature`s elegance

House in Semiahmoo, Washington

The architecture studio Finne Architects has an established style, all their own, deeply rooted in the craftsmanship of carpentry and largely influenced by the great modernist, Frank Lloyd Wright. Strangely enough, their buildings bear witness to how a specific architectural signature evolves by following one`s own style and attitudes.

Finne architects` houses are highly specific, beautiful works of art and each is unique. Their uniqueness is derived from an interactive relationship with the natural surroundings. A perfect example of really good architecture should be placed in the nature.

House in North Cascade - side view

House in North Cascade - side view No 2

House in North Cascade - front porch