PORCHES & PATIOS: design inspiration for outdoor living

Outdoor weather is officially upon us here in the northeast United States and I thought I would help bring in the season with a little ode to the old American pastime of lounging on porch swings, drinking ice tea, catching up with neighbors and just kicking back and taking it a little easy for a moment as the lazy days of summer roll in. Enjoy! Shown above – a veranda added on to a historic Hudson Valley Estate boasts an Egyptian chandelier, a dining table by Tucker Robins, and aluminum chairs by Knoll. Designed by Architect Alison Spear, photo by Joshua McHugh, featured in Architectural Digest.

Porch perfection = a gorgeous swing built by D & A Studio, a charred iron lantern from Farrey’s, and a red Adirondack Chair from DWR. Featured in Luxe magazine, summer 2012.

This tiny porch features an antique French daybed upholstered in white denim, with outdoor curtains and a woven side table by West Elm. Designed by Lloyd Ralphs Design. Featured in House & Home, April 2007.

Designed by architect Bill Ryall, this sunny Long Island porch is screened in with simple wood framing and features a 1950s butterfly chair, a plywood-top table with industrial folding legs, a simple white fabric runner and folding wood chairs. Photo by John M. Hall. Featured in Elle Decor.

A deep built in bench, topped with plump cushions, allows for comfortable seating or napping. Photo by Jean-Philippe Piter. Featured in Coastal Living.

Welcome to the outdoor lounge of designer Monica Penaguião in Palmela, Portugal (You didn’t think I would be able to confine the design goodness to just the U.S. did you?). The built in ledges serve as a resting place for mattresses and cushions made from Turkish fabrics, an antique kilim rug defines the floor area and additional seating is provided by Tolix stools and chairs. Photo via Nuevo Estilo.

Designed by Marià Castelló and Daniel Redolat, this clean lined outdoor area provides ample seating for guests and is just plain gorgeous set against the rustic walls and woven overhang. Location – the Spanish island of Formentera. Photo by Estudi Es Pujol de s’Era.

Back in the states – this charming porch was part of Southern Living’s Idea House 2012. The swing is by The Original Charleston Bed Swing, the fabrics are from Sunbrella, the Chevron Stripe rug is from Ballard Designs, and the Garden Seats are from Ballard Designs.

These graphic cushions, found on an Ibiza shopping trip, give big style to a small porch in photographer Mario Testino’s 1930s Spanish style Hollywood Hills home. Photos by Mario Testino for Vogue, March 2012.

And we close on a quiet note, on the front porch of interior designer, Jessica Helgerson. The red metal chair is by Fermob and available through French Bistro Furniture.com. Location - Sauvie Island, Oregon. Photo by Lincoln Barbour.

THE THERME VALS: Celebrating Peter Zumthor’s 70th birthday

Last week (April 26, 2013) renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor celebrated his 70th birthday. Winner of numerous prestigious awards, including the 2007 Pritzker Prize and most recently the 2013 RIBA Royal Gold Medal, Zumthor is regarded as one of the most influential and revered contemporary architects of our time. With a new five volume book, Peter Zumthor: Buildings and Projects 1986-2013, due out this September 2013, the architect’s star has never been brighter and his careful approach to his career – maintaining a small studio and only taking on a select few projects at a time – never more a model to emulate. For while in comparison to his peers, he may have produced fewer structures, what he has produced consistently falls into the ranks of the most stunning and acclaimed architecture around. Today, in celebration of our beloved Zumthor’s 70th year, D is visiting an old personal favorite from his portfolio, the Therme Vals in Switzerland.

Completed in 1996 and built over the only thermal springs in the Graubunden Canton region, The Therme Vals are situated on, and attached to, the site of a pre-existing 1970s hotel complex. Limited by his client’s request that he not build up, Zumthor approached the project as if it were a cave or quarry – as something that might have been there as long as the ancient thermal springs themselves. The result is a half buried structure built into the hillside – its grass covered roof serving as a visual continuation of the existing hotel’s yard.

Furthering the concept of a structure that is one with the land, Zumthor envisioned monolithic walls which he achieved by layering locally quarried Valser Quarzite slabs in thin panels measuring 31, 47, and 63 mm high. This specific formula of ‘stratification’ was carried though the whole of the baths, without exception, to stunning visual effect.

Nestled among stone walls and 15 massive supporting rectangular columns lie a series of indoor and outdoor pools just waiting to be explored. That said, it would be a mistake to think that a visitor’s experience of the Vals is not carefully choreographed with Zumthor wielding his materials of stone and air, water and steam, light and shade to masterful effect. It is said that at each turn the space allows then denies, reveals then hides – creating what must be a sensory filled mix of anticipation, surprise, and delight.

When asked to describe his highly lauded creation Zumthor replied, “Mountain, stone, water – building in stone, building with stone, building into the mountain, building out of the mountain, being in the mountain – how can all the associations and all the sensuousness which these words evoke be translated into a building, that is to say, interpreted in architectural terms? As we worked on the design of this building and saw it take shape, we gradually found answers to these questions.” – Peter Zumthor

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 13 via DimScale, 4, 5, 15, 16 via Graubuenden, 6, 7, 17 via ArchDaily, 8, 9 via Velux Stiftung, 12, 14 via Hotels Design

ROGER ANGER: building a modern home from a 12th c. ruin

Set within a tiny village in Provençe France, lies what appears, upon first glance, to be the ruins of a medieval structure. However, appearances can be deceiving and upon closer inspection one will find nestled seamlessly within the confines of what was once a 12th century monastery the former home of Le Corbusier disciple and well known French architect, Roger Anger (1923-2008).

Accessible solely through a small drawbridge which traverses a dried up mote (an architectural vestige from when the monastery served as a fortress) the home is located on high ground, offering stunning views of the surrounding town and countryside.

Upon purchase of the property in 1985, Anger began a tireless restoration of the old brickwork, arches and columns, all the while enhancing and infusing the gaps with his modern architecture and design.

As for the interior decor, Anger’s approach was a sparing one – mixing select mid century classics from the likes of Saarinen and Eames with 18th and 19th century antiques.

Today, years after his death, the Château du Crestet maintains Anger’s clear sense of style and appears much as it did during his life. For those in the market for something truly spectacular, the Château is currently for sale through William Montgomery.

Photos via Architectural Digest – Russia, and Châteaux en Languedoc

ELENBER FRASER: a sci fi inspired office

D doesn’t often cover office spaces but this new studio for Slattery Australia definitely deserved a share. Designed by the Australia and Vietnam based architecture and design firm Elenberg Fraser – inspiration for the new studio came from a rather unexpected source – focusing tightly on the themes in the Walt Disney sci fi film, Tron.

Key features of this cool yet sophisticated office space begin with a lushly tufted upholstered reception desk set against blond timber floors which flow up onto the walls where they expand and contract, creating illusions of space and depth.

In addition to the wood detailing, textural walls are also employed in the elevator entry and works of art by the young artists Joseph Kosuth, Emily Floyd, and Daniel Crooks are installed thought the space.

With the intent of bringing a little New York style into this 13th floor Australian studio, the designers fitted all meeting rooms with glass steel framed doors.

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And the pièce de résistance? In keeping with their Tron inspired theme, word on the street is that Elenberg Fraser even designed and specified latex reception wear. Maybe not so comfortable but the detail oriented among us will be glad to know that this rumor has been, in fact, confirmed. So, what do you think?

Photography by Peter Clarke. Courtesy of Elenberg Fraser.

PLAYFUL & REFINED: zga’s reno of an East Melbourne home

Founded in 2009 by architect Zoë Geyer, zga describes their architecture and design aesthetic as “a refined simplicity with careful consideration to the sculpting of space, use of natural light, texture, materiality, and playfulness.” An apt description, as their most recent project (shown here) involving the restoration and renovation of a historic 1886 East Melbourne home, is the embodiment of all of the above.

A fantastic and fun combination of new and old. I’m especially loving the historic dark wood stair banister set in a sea of white and topped with that beautiful skylight. And apparently I’m not the only one smitten, because this home was just shortlisted for the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards in the category of Residential Design. Winners will be announced on May 31st in Melbourne. Good luck zga!

Photography by Dianna Snape.

KITCHEN CANTILEVER: Oooox’s Stunning Floating Table

The Prague based architecture and design studio oooox is the talent and brains behind this stunner of a kitchen. Complete with one gorgeously chunky wood cantilevered table, the rest of the kitchen needs only serve as backdrop. Ahh how I love a good cantilever. Enjoy!

To experience the full space, view the video above. For more cantilever fun you may like to check out the Swiss Army Knife Kitchen.

Photos by Martin Zeman via oooox.

AIRES MATEUS: Gorgeous Residential Architecture in Leiria

This beauty of a home by Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus has become quite famous since its completion in 2010 and rightly so. Located on the outskirts of Leiria, Portugal and situated high overlooking the city – the home’s pristine archetypal facade betrays not a single visible window. The main living areas receive light from a central courtyard void that in effect hollows out the three levels of the home from roof to subterranean level. The private quarters, situated beneath the ground, open onto individual sunken patios which provide additional light. Such a stunner. Enjoy!

If you loved this, I highly recommend a visit to see another Portuguese beauty here.

Photos by FG+SG – Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra