Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Newsletter

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Mechanics Garage Turned Into Bright Family Residence Posted: 06 Mar 2012 11:57 PM PST Located in the Belsize Park area of north-west London, this 4 level family residence was designed for a musician and his designer wife. Through the use of the existing structure and careful planning of the living zones, new generation architectural practice Andy Martin Architects (AMA) transformed the former mechanics garage into a stunning family home named Mews 02 Residence. Both the interior and exterior were designed to display a playful light/dark architectural language, creating a powerful contrast that insinuates the need for elegant, modern spaces. The entertaining areas act as the focal points, flooded with natural light reaching deep inside through the sunken courtyard. This is how AMA describe the project:  “On first impression, as one passes through the entry gates, the sunken courtyard resembles a slate quarry with its charcoal blocks running externally and reaching internally to the rear of the residence. Immediately is possible to feel the playful use of dark and light, of black and white. The seamless flooring is flowing horizontally through each level and the contrasting charcoal construction blocks are rising vertically. This spine wall creates the circulation hub and AMA set out to isolate each floor using this device“. By using simple natural vegetation walls and glazed walls, AMA created an effective way of combining natural and man-made elements that shape a reborn residential space. You're reading Mechanics Garage Turned Into Bright Family Residence originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Weekend House In The Main Residence’s Back Garden Posted: 06 Mar 2012 01:13 PM PST The first thing you need to know about this weekend house is that is has an interesting location – right behind the client’s main residence. The owner lives in a small village called Nosice, but works in Bratislava, so a weekend commute to a remote retreat would imply more fuss than relaxation for him and the family. After taking into account all options, the architects of Bratislava-based studio Pokorny Architekti came to an agreement with their client to build the structure in this beautiful location overlooking the Javorniky Mountains. Basing the design on the owner’s vague request for a "Slovak traditional wooden house somewhere in the mountains of Central Slovakia", the architects finished constructing the two story weekend retreat last year, in 2011, and the result is fabulous. Spreading over 1,400 square feet, the warm wooden interiors compliment the surroundings. A central double height living zone featuring a stove with a tile backsplash acts as the core of the house, allowing the client to see the gathered family from the main bedroom and the staircase. Right next to this social space, an open floor plan allowed the dining space to be part of the downstairs entertaining area. The structure’s asymmetric shape looks amazing adorned with a roofed atrium and the use of layered and insulated wood panels -  pine on the outside and larch slabs on the inside – makes the weekend house very much part of the surroundings. And, as no retreats should be without, a sauna and hot tub keeps the owners happy and relaxed, while the outdoor grill emphasizes the entertaining and cooking activities. You're reading Weekend House In The Main Residence’s Back Garden originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

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