Interior Design, Design News and Architecture Trends

Author: designer

Colorful Hand Strap Case for iPhone 4S

Smartphones are very resistant to different shocks, but nobody likes to have scratched or cracked phones, right? A protective case is the best thing we can have to enjoy their features and in the same time to extend their lives to a longer period. Whether you want to highlight even better the phone’s design, to personalize it, to protect it or all in the same time, there is a huge variaty of models on the market to choose from, according to smartphone size and shape.

For those of you who own an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, we found a really interesting and eye-catching design which allows you to play games, watch videos and take pictures with ease without worring too much for your smartphone’s safety. Unlike other similar products, “Hand Strap Case” ensures greater comfort in use and prevents accidental drops thanks to an integrated elastic strap system created especially to fit nicely the user’s fingers.

This idea came to designer Haijun Feng when he thought how to improve our everyday experience with iPhone by helping us to use one hand for handling it. In other words, using the “Hand Strap Case” the user will be able to perform multiple tasks on his mobile device with only one hand while he is carrying a bag, walking or waiting the bus or the subway. In this way, the iPhone will be very easy to be held steady on the palm of the hand and you can browse internet, email to your friends and other stuff without any stress. It comes in four trendy colours (rose, blue, orange black).

Photos © Senre Design

June 3, 2013
Unique Multifunctional Seating Design by TILT

In a world where everything happens fast, human tendency is to do as many things at the same time, therefore, even when it comes to interior design and decoration of the house we are looking for those pieces of furniture that shouldn’t only look fabulous, but also be useful for many purposes. Thus, adaptability and multifunctionality are two popular and highly appreciated features nowadays in terms of furniture design. You’ve probably seen a lot of multi-purpose furniture combinations, but certainly you haven’t seen another genuine armchair like this one we’re showing you in this post.

Its suggestive name, “OpenBook”, reveals an innovative seating design celebrating the printed form of the books in an era when cutting-edge technology made almost everything digital. Imagined by the award winning design and architecture practice based in London TILT, the “OpenBook” is a modern take of the traditional armchair and boasts a built-in shelving unit very useful to store books and magazines. Whether you want a quieter moment, to relax and read a good book or your favourite magazine, or you want to work on a project and drink your morning coffee, this original-looking furniture item could be the perfect choice whatever space you want to place it.

A fully upholstered interior promises comfort and leisure, while its multifunctional arms ensure a great interactive experience. The “OpenBook” chair incorporates on the right side a mini-library with three different-sized spaces to store and showcase books, spaces that acts as well as a lovely support for your water glass or cup of coffee; the left side creates a more intimate space due to the upholstered side panel which has two benefits: sound insulation and a series of slots for as extra library space to hold magazines of any size and shape. An evolution of TILT’s original Library Chair, its minimalist design combined with a modern white and grey colour palette make “OpenBook” a stylish addition to contemporary settings.

Photos © TILT

June 2, 2013
Dynamism and Modern Simplicity – Gallery House on a Budget

The collaborative design firm Next Phase Studios develop projects well managed, with innovative and creative design, and Gallery House is evidence of that. Especially designed to fit the needs of a family of four, the exquisite two storey residence located in Chestnut Hill, Massachussetts, showcases a strong visual identity inspiring comfort and warmth due to a clever use of materials. Modern and original at the same time, the Gallery House stands out thanks to its striking wood exterior and jagged geometric roof. No matter what the standpoint, the visual approach is different, this dynamism being expressed also internally through layers of internal and external glazing.

Despite its graphic contemporary exterior design and modest size, the house is in harmony with the more traditional neighborhood. The extensive use of wood for the facade reflects a sense of warmth and immediacy with nature, while the black and white roof’s angular shape creates a beautiful contrast and help the facade to stand out and fits very well with the black framed windows. This dialogue between the exterior finishes is also found in the interior design of this natural light flooded private residence.

Large commercial aluminum frame gallery windows and uncovered corner windows establish a connection between the indoors and the outdoor landscape and let the sunlight penetrates through all rooms from front to back, while maintaining privacy and controlling energy gain through an enormous roof and dramatic overhangs. Despite its limited space, the Gallery House reveals a good space distribution. A custom steel staircase leads to the private room which are compact and constituted around the luminous central living room and the kitchen area. Multiple layers of steel columns, glossy flooring, clean lines and white walls give the space a neat and modern overall look. Here are some inspirational pictures!

Photos © Next Phase Studios Architects

June 1, 2013
Historical Farmhouse Transformed into a Modern Holiday Villa

Jérémie Koempgen Architecture teamed up with FUGA to redesign an old farm house located in Morzine, in the historic district of Pied de la Plagne. Built in 1840 and considered a symbol of traditional local architecture, it was converted into a charming luxurious holiday villa, which can be rented for longer periods. Offering modern design with a hint of traditional architecture, all mixed up in visual harmony, Villa Solaire is a very inviting and welcoming retreat especially designed to fit the needs of 16 people. Surrounded by magnificent mountain scenery, the rental villa inspires peacefulness and is a great escape from our everyday agitated and stressful life.

The project’s aim was create a series of up-to-date facilities and functions favorable current living, whilst preserve the architectual identity of the farm. The whole design, both exterior and interior, is imagined as being part of its surroundings regarding history, landscape and geography. The framework was restored by replacing the wood structure of the first level with concrete structure, while the original looking wooden cladding that covers the whole building is the result of brushing and making perforations within the wood strips through a traditional technique of decorative cutouts, which besides the contemporary and simple motifs it creates, this method has for this project also a functional role of carrying extra light into the heart of the building.

What is interesting is the fact that the cut-out patterns aren’t randomly designed, they meet the course of the shadows that cast onto the villa throughout the year. Inside, the two-story Villa Solaire gets a modern and highly functional layout, perfectly fit for 16 people.

A ground floor wading pool surrounded with recycled slate tiles (from the roof) sets the tone for a relaxing environment. The interior concept takes inspiration from the topography of the of the Rhône-Alpes region (with mountains and valleys), and on the first floor it features a cross-shaped living room with different levels in the structure, where inhabitants shares various activities like cooking, watching a movie, warming up around the fire, and four autonomous “blocks” such as rocks, situated at each corner of the villa. Envisioned like a built-in furniture architecture, these nested spaces are suites with their sleeping areas and easements.

This logic complexity of the concept is accompanied by a reflection on treatment of details and materials. The interiors are contemporary and minimalist, as if everything that truly counts here is the tranquility of the wonderful natural setting. The extensive use of wood gives a feeling of warmth, contrasting nicely with the grey palette. The fireplace surrounded by sofa and couches creates the perfect spot for indoor entertaining and relaxation. Large windows provide the right quantity of light during the day. Enjoy the design details and the contemplative state it inspires!

Photos © Julien Lanoo

Project details:

Program: Retructuration from a farm into a rental villa
Location: Morzine, Haute-Savoie, France
Area: 620 sqm
Client: Private
Design: JKA (Jeremiah Koempgen Architecture) + FUGA (J.Aich & M.Recordon)
Economy Project: IMC ECO
Construction Companies: SARL Laperrousaz (Frame) / SARL Company Fourcade Herve (interior design) / Yves Gourvest SARL (masonry) / SAS Guy PERRACINO (millwork)
Timing: Early studies 10/2009, completion 01/2012

May 30, 2013
Environmentally Sustainable Building for George W. Bush Presidential Center

If you want to explore the history of the George W. Bush Presidency, now you have a great place that will provide you a deep insight of his career and life, its Presidency, but also of American history and many other important issues of public policy through official records, artefacts, donated collections and innovative exhibits- the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Founded by former George W. Bush president and his wife and built with private donations, the Presidential Center located in Dallas, Texas, had its special ceremony dedication on April 25 2013 where participated all living Presidents, dignitaries and supporters, and opened to the general public on May 1st 2013.

Covering 226,000-square-foot for its beautiful building and 15-acre of urban park on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU), it houses the Bush Institute and the offices, the George W. Bush Foundation and the fantastic Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which occupies the 13th place in the National Archives and Records Administration system and becomes the second-largest presidential library after Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The project is environmentally sustainable both in terms of building and landscape design. They complement somehow each other resulting in an amazing destination for researchers, historians, students and all kind of visitors.

The building’s brick and limestone design is envisioned by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and fit in perfectly with the American Georgian character of the wonderful SMU campus. Attested with LEED Platinum, the highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, the George W. Bush Presidential Center building uses on large scale local materials recycled ones (pecan paneling, millwork Texas Cordova Cream limestone) and features green and highly-reflective roofs, rooftop solar hot water panels, brises-soleils on the west and south façades, shaded balconies,etc. Freedom Hall, a 67-foot high tower stands out, being the signature architectural feature of the building.

Photo © BROOKS KRAFT / CORBIS FOR TIME

Photo © BROOKS KRAFT / CORBIS FOR TIME

This section with a unique 360-degree high-definition LED media wall brings plenty of natural daylight into the heart of the building and, at night, glows softly distinguishing the The Bush Center in SMU campus. It provides access to The Museum and Presidential Archives where visitors can explore the interactive museum galleries, sit in the recreated White House Oval Office, examine Bush’s baseball collection, enjoy the Texas Rose Garden, eat lunch in the restaurant or café, or shop in the Museum store. The Institute section of the building is “an exciting place, a results-oriented institute” as former president said, where all the programms undertaken here have the purpose to change the country and the world.

For that, it includes a 360-seat auditorium, seminar rooms, a fully-equipped broadcast and recording studio, reception rooms, as well as offices for staff. After visiting the Center, visitors can stroll through the scenic and sustainable landscape of the 15-acre park filled with native Blackland Prairie grasses and seasonal wildflowers, creation of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

Photos © Peter Aaron

May 28, 2013
Cool Cafeteria Design Showcasing Modern Art Inspiration

We’re sure that all of you have entered in a cafeteria at least once in life and could remember how uninspired and unattractive design display most of them, so today we’re showing you a totally unique and in the same time surprising cafeteria design for which the internationally acclaimed artist Tobias Rehberger received the Golden Lion as best artist at the 53^rd International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia.

We have to recognize that this cafeteria concept have nothing in common with those we know and it’s really a very inspiring place that reinvented the past ways of exhibition and turned its work of art into a trendy cafeteria. The modern art cafeteria called “Was du liebst, bringt dicht auch zum weinen” (“What do you love also makes you cry” in German) showcases geometric shapes and bright constrasting colors which intersects and interrupts each other forming complex patterns, a decorative style inspired by dazzle camouflage or dazzle painting used very much in World War I as a form of visual military deception.

The result was an amazingly cool environment that indeed created visually desorientation for the viewers and impressed through the ingenious use of customized furniture from Finnish furniture company Artek that complement and complete the whole design. This retro-inspired modern art cafeteria (if that makes any sense) pointed also the idea that catering halls deserve a more creative and artistic attention than they have in this moment. How do you comment this approach?

Photos © Katja Hagelstam and Wolfgang Guenzel

May 27, 2013
Iceberg-Inspired Dwellings Overlooking The Waterfront of Aarhus, Denmark

Scheduled for completion in 2013, these unique architectural buildings inspired by floating icebergs will have a considerable contribution to the development of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, transforming the old façade of it into a living city with many cultural and social activities, large amount of workplaces and various array of housing types.

Amsterdam based architecture and urban design bureau SeARCH in collaboration with JDS, Louis Paillard and CEBRA envisioned this ambitious project, very suggestive entitled “Iceberg”, which is located on a splendid site on the waterfront of Aarhus and encompasses four L-shaped wings spread over 21,500 m2 that houses a series of different apartment types range greatly in size. This residential dwellings rang high in originality, its strengh consisting both in appearance and functionality: amazing “peaks” and “canyons” forms featuring balconies with glass that changes its color from deep blue to transparent to suit the color of the iceberg. The building’s orientation ensures plenty of natural lighting for those over 200 apartments and stunning water and city views.

Photos © Mikkel Frost

Project details:

Client: Pension Denmark, Braband Boligforening
Collaborators: CEBRA, JDS, Louis Paillard
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Project: Residential; Urban planning, housing
Year: 2008-present
Budget: 32.600.000 EUR
Size: 21.600 m2
Status: Ongoing

May 26, 2013
Heat Up Your Magical Evenings With Style -Astrofire Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor fireplaces are a very popular decoration item in exterior design nowadays and is an essential piece for romantic evenings or for party gatherings, creating a fantastic visual setting to any pool area, backyard, patio or garden. There are a huge variety of models on the market these days that come in brilliant colors, designs, styles and materials in order to fit different tastes, allowing for a perfect match to your already existing outdoor space furniture and décor. Sometimes is difficult to choose which is the most suitable for your outdoor room, but with a little of professional help, everything should be very easy.

These days we came across Modfire brand’s collection of amazing outdoor fireplaces and couldn’t help sharing with you the newest addition to their modern fireplaces family, which is called Astrofire. Blending clean lines and organic shapes, Modfire products showcases simplicity and beauty in their designs and the Astrofire doesn’t make an exception to the rule. In fact, Astrofire reinvents the modern outdoor fireplace through its fashionable circular design and striking colors that enhance your home’s visual appeal right away. The care for details and high quality of the brand result in a unique functional piece with its own personality, that become a stunning focal point where friends and family will gather to spend great evenings and weekends.

Skilful artisans hand-crafted it in Modfire’s Arizona studio from 14 gauge steel, hand-rolled into a wide conical shape and attached to a plate steel base with sleek tapered legs. Measuring 34” in diameter and 17” tall, it features a large 22” firebox for burning full size logs, three fuel burning options (wood, propane and natural gas) and is available in no more than six attractive colors (Tangerine, Maraschino, Azure Avocado, Ultra-Lounge White, Charcoal, Aqualuxe) which anchor your outdoor space beautifully. The Astrofire’s original looking design allow you enjoy its warmth in the evenings and its bold design elements during the day.

Check out FARO design if you’re looking for portable fireplaces.

Photos © Modfire

May 25, 2013