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Clever Cooling in Queen Astrid Park House in Singapore

The child growing up in this great hall of a house in a gorgeous climate has it good.

Like Ong & Ong and Guz architects before them, the architectural firm Aamer Architect embraces open air design and a sleek and sophisticated glamour.

Two key facts about Singapore account for its extraordinary architectural gems.

One. It’s only 85 miles from the equator.

And two. Wealth. With the world’s fourth-leading financial center globally, its five million residents have the third highest per capita income in the world.

Singapore’s financial wellbeing makes this kind of soaring architecture possible – and it’s proximity to the equator ensures open air design. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ong & Ong Practice a Little Contemporary Feng Shui

The JKC 1 House in the Bukit Timah neighborhood of Singapore from Ong &Ong is as sleek and sophisticated as you expect from the firm.

A wide open living space invites Singapore’s evening breezes in to the living area, with no boundaries.

Its interiors are polished and gleaming white, contrasted with the chocolaty richness of tropical woods.

A glossy black staircase connects a zen-like interior courtyard to the roof terrace.

This grey pebbled courtyard brings lavish daylight into the central part of the house.

This is open to the sky, and glassed in to make an outdoor area in the heart of the house.

On each side of the courtyard, entering or leaving the bedrooms, one would confront this central peaceful place.

At the end of the hallway, a light-filled and generous master bedroom combines contemporary refinement and Asian healing elements.

A very generous amount of space is used in traversing this large staircase-cum-courtyard with the bedrooms and playroom arrayed around it, but it is a key to the serene enjoyment of the spaciousness. Read the rest of this entry »

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Artist’s Space in a Lovely Building in Milan

A collaboration between a Japanese artist and the Italian design studio Modourbano has produced a sumptuous cultural blend in this renovation of an artists studio in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood of Milan.

The Italian firm and the artist Takane Ezoe worked together in creating the T House project, a sensitive restoration and adaptation of a landmark building.

Sited close to Sant’Ambrogio Basilica, they wanted to retain the traditions of the building’s beautiful proportions and grace.

The artist wanted no separation between public and private spaces, between work and cooking for friends – open spaces, without boundaries between public and private – where he could work until late at night. Read the rest of this entry »

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Design Dilemma: Exchanging Your Tub for a Shower

Do you have a tub that you rarely use? Do you covet the huge walk-in showers that you see in design magazines and home shows? If so, you shouldn’t feel stuck with your lot. It is perfectly possible to convert your tub into a walk-in shower.

Here’s what your bathroom could look like:

But before you grab that sledgehammer, let’s consider a few salient points. How many bathrooms do you have? How long do you expect to be in your home? If your home has only one bathroom, and if you expect to live in your home only a few years, it may be wise to hold off on a tub removal. Many homebuyers may prefer a home with a tub. And if you’ve only got one bathroom, it is riskier to remove a tub that might also be used to wash the dog, soak dirty clothes, or give the kids a bath. On the other hand, if you’ve got several bathrooms in your home, what the heck, why not rid yourself of a tub so you can finally have what you’ve always cherished — that huge walk-in shower.

Once you’ve considered this point, it’s time to start doing some measuring.

Here’s what the experts say you should measure for:

• Since tubs are usually 60 inches long, there is usually enough length for a shower. The width of a tub, however, varies. Aim for at least 32 to 34 inches from the finished tile wall to the future glass shower door.
• Your finished ceiling height should reach a minimum of 80 inches. Your shower should measure at least 30 by 30 inches to comply with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s guidelines for bathrooms. If you decide to plan for a bench, make sure it doesn’t crowd this space of 30 by 30 inches
• Aim for at least 15 inches from the center of the toilet to the new shower glass.

Okay, so what happens if you measure and it turns out you don’t quite have the space? There are some solutions!

Not enough space for a shower-door swing? Consider not having a shower door at all. You might opt for a curtain, or just a simple glass divider. Something like this:

Or, you might opt for a glass block barrier that allows for privacy and light, but that doesn’t take up a lot of space:

Replacing a tub for a shower can be an inspired idea, especially for older individuals who may have trouble getting into a tub, or for those looking to do a snazzy renovation of an old bathroom. Be sure to keep in mind lighting that you may need in your shower, as well as any structures, such as benches and soap dishes that you want to install. Be sure to carefully plan your tile layout and you’ll find yourself loving your tub-to-shower switch every time you bathe!

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Imaginative Library in Rural China is Made of Twigs

A humble village library in rural China represents a completely original approach to creating a shelter with wood.

Simple wooden sticks temper the bright light and spread it evenly throughout the space to provide for a perfect reading ambience.

Jiaojiehe village near Beijing commissioned an innovative architect to design the new library, Li Xiaodong.

HomeDesignFind covered his Bridge School Project – which won the Aga Khan Awards.

Internally, the library is supported by an exposed modular chunky timber frame that is both strong and interesting aesthetically.

Outside the thick frames, a glazed glass shell encases and weatherproofs the structure.

On the outside of the glass, locally sourced twigs are inserted into a modest wooden frame to hold short lengths in an organized fashion. Read the rest of this entry »