architecture Archives - Page 4 of 18

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INNER CITY WAREHOUSE

22nd August 2016

Usually, when I’m looking at houses online, I’m drawn to an interior by one photo. There’s usually that one image that will catch my eye, just as the photo above did. I have a major soft spot for warehouse conversions and this one in Sydney is also a great example of indoor-outdoor flow of space – just look at that external terrace – and feels authentic with its exposed brick and chunky timber trusses. And even that one photo suggests that this home is owned by someone with a confident aesthetic and an eye for eclectic styling.

But then, this warehouse has a surprise waiting – namely, a giant sculptural white pod that’s been inserted into the main volume of the first floor living space. Architects Allen Jack+Cottier refer to this design as a ‘Mancave‘ and it was created as a private suite for the owner.

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SUMMER VILLA

16th August 2016

I remember when I first started Copperline – when the blog was only on Tumblr – I featured quite a few black timber houses. After the first couple of posts, I realised that this aesthetic was a bit of a ‘dream house’ moment for me, and it still is. Back in March I shared this timber house in Norfolk, and it remains one of my favourites so far of 2016.

Which explains why this house, Summer Villa VI by Haroma & Partners, caught my eye. There are seven summer villas listed on Haroma & Partners’ site, and number VI is located in Kustavi in southwest Finland.

Copperline

DRYLAW HOUSE

12th August 2016

When I first heard about Drylaw House, I’ll admit I wondered about the location. Looking at the exterior photo of this handsome Grade A listed house, I didn’t expect it to be located just 2 miles from Edinburgh’s city centre. It’s a house you might expect to be surrounded by open countryside. So when I went to visit a few weeks ago, I wondered whether I’d be conscious of the surrounding city. Could you live at Drylaw and have all the benefits of urban living, but yet forget about the city when you wanted to?

And yes, I discovered, as soon as you approach up the long tree-lined driveway, you forget that this is Edinburgh. You forget that Drylaw House sits within a residential area. You forget the traffic passing by outside the three acres of grounds that enclose the house. By the time you pull up in the driveway, you could be anywhere. And this is just the first of many surprises.

Spaces

HOUSE FOR A PAINTER

28th July 2016

Years ago, I visited an incredible property called Sea Loft in the Fife coastal town of Kinghorn. Sea Loft was the home and studio of artists Robert Callender and Elizabeth Ogilvie, who created the space by converting a previously derelict cinema. The volume and the natural light thundering into the all-white studio was incredible, and no less so in the couple’s living area with its sea views. It was a wonderful example of a living space and studio that worked together, cohesive in design and approach, to create an unforgettable home.

And this London house, House for a Painter, although very different in location, shares that same unique quality and the wonderful sense of light and volume. Whereas Sea Loft was about views outside to the landscape, this house offers long views between the studio and living zones, an “internal landscape,” as architect Dingle Price refers to it, where one area flows into the next.

Spaces

HAWKHURST

18th July 2016

It isn’t every day that you come across a property that has been converted from a 19th century greenhouse, but then this house in the Kent village of Hawkhurst is far from your everyday property. As I was looking through the listings with The Modern House, this image above caught my eye. This photo reminded of the Victorian greenhouses that I’ve long admired within the walled garden of Cambo Estate in Fife – greenhouses that had become so decrepit in time that they were replaced this year with Alitex greenhouses that look very, very like the originals.

But even when decrepit, the originals had such character, particularly when viewed against the old brickwork of the walled garden, and – stating the obvious really – the light once inside was just beautiful. So imagine having a greenhouse like this as part of your home.

Spaces

DOUBLE LIFE HOUSE

16th June 2016

Last week I wrote about an amazing warehouse conversion in Melbourne, Richmond Residence, which was shortlisted in the residential decoration category of the Australian Interior Design Awards. The winners were announced on June 10 – the Richmond Residence picked up a commendation in its category – and I wanted to share another project, this time from the residential design category.

Like Richmond Residence, Double Life House is located in Melbourne, and this project also picked up a commendation. I was intrigued by its description on AIDA: “A house for two introverts living in a world of extroverts. Double Life House is an attempt to keep them sane, to protect their true identities from the outside world. It’s their hideout, their fortress of solitude. A mild mannered exterior, but an interior made of steel and strength.”

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