Modern Comfort and Subtle Luxury: Cresta Residence in San Diego

This massive 5,300 square foot contemporary residence in San Diego, California, USA was envisioned by architect Jonathan Segal as a solid concrete building with plenty of openings maximizing communication with the outdoors: “Due to the unusually small property in an area with typical properties three to four times the size, every square foot was important. The exterior room was a key element in creating a home that otherwise would have felt small, to feel larger and more private than it is. While this space creates a void, the overall form of the building is kept intact”.



Different from every standpoint, the Cresta Residence by Jonathan Segal offers an original living experience to say the least. Its clean lines and minimalist interior design approach go hand in hand with modern comfort and subtle opulence. Sustainability was a key factor in the development process, with the roof solar panels and other ingenious systems supplying nearly 100% of the overall needed power.

































fonte:
http://freshome.com/2013/12/18/modern-comfort-subtle-luxury-cresta-residence-san-diego/

naturehumaine have designed a new live/work residence located in Montreal, Canada.

The client’s priority was to maximize the natural light in their new live/work house in Montreal’s Mile-Ex district. This was made challenging by the east-west orientation of the infill lot. However, our design fills even the core of the house with light through the implementation of a 2 storey light-well which runs the length of the southern side of the house. Additional light is reflected into this light-well by the client’s office space – a white volume that sits atop the northern edge light-well. Spaces on the second storey also benefit from the light well’s luminosity; the walls adjacent to it are fully glazed and a floor to ceiling piece of frosted glass brings a very soft light into the bathroom.
The expressive back facade of the house is defined by the angular geometry of the floating steel box. The front facade, however, is composed primarily of bricks to conform with the heritage character of the neighbourhood. Two disjuncted apertures break up the brick façade and are lined in aluminum. As only one side of the brick was glazed, a random mix of forward and backward facing bricks were laid to create a more dynamic façade.

fonte:
http://www.contemporist.com/2013/12/12/alexandra-residence-by-naturehumaine/

Alexander Lotersztain of Derlot has designed the interior of the Chester Street Apartment located in Brisbane, Australia.

Alexander Lotersztain’s Chester Street refurbishment has transformed the Brisbane penthouse apartment into a vibrant and expressive space, connecting the inside with the outdoors. The interior was designed to fully exploit the Brisbane weather and aspect. The refurbishment included custom design of the kitchen, amenities and joinery. Both sides of the penthouse open completely to allow light and air through the length of the apartment.
The most efficient design consideration is the integration of the main amenities: kitchen, bathrooms and laundry, into the open spaces for both practical and aesthetic ideals. Concealed innovatively within sliding joinery, they are fully functional but can also be seamlessly hidden to maintain visual comfort and intimacy. Complementary to the daring reverse monochromatic base colour scheme to enhance the feeling of space, warmth was provided through the timber wall panelling and loud bursts of colour on the floor. The selection of materials, sourced from local manufacturers, focuses strongly on practical and elegant design solutions within careful consideration of maintenance and sustainability. The interior was designed to fully exploit the Brisbane weather and aspect. The main dining room is alfresco, and both sides of the penthouse open completely to allow light and air through the entire length of the apartment.

fonte:
http://www.contemporist.com/2013/12/17/chester-street-apartment-by-alexander-lotersztain/