The post Space-Saving Spa: Small Indoor/Outdoor Living Room Pool first appeared on Dornob.

Permanent or Portable?

Image via Pottery Barn

If you own your home and you’re ready to invest some cash into an outdoor entertaining area, you have a lot of options for installing permanent features, including a patio or deck surface, overhead protection, counters, and utilities. If you’re renting (or otherwise need your outdoor kitchen setup to be temporary), don’t despair. A gas or charcoal grill, a few weatherproof portable carts, an outdoor dining set, and an umbrella or two can serve you well, and most of the tips on this list will still apply.

Pick the Best Spot

Consider where you’d like people to gather in your yard, perhaps in a spot pointed toward the nicest view. You’ll also want to make sure you’ll have plenty of space for every outdoor kitchen element you desire. Choose a location that’s not too windy or fully exposed to the sun (unless you plan to cover it). It should also be close to the house, both for convenience while carrying food and other items back and forth, and for ease of running utility lines for electricity, water, and gas, if applicable.

Build Your Kitchen Around Your Grill

Image via Aquaterra

The grill is the center of attention, whether you go with a simple and inexpensive charcoal grill or an all-in-one outdoor kitchen setup complete with extra burners, a smoker, and a pizza oven. Just make sure its location is at least ten feet from combustible materials like wood siding, deck rails, and trees.

Set Up Four Main Zones: Cooking, Prep, Serving, and Entertainment

Your cooking zone, of course, is the area around your grill and other cooking appliances. The prep zone should include plenty of counter space for chopping and other tasks. The serving area is the spot where you’ll have plates, serving dishes, and other tableware waiting to be filled. Finally, your entertainment zone is where guests hang out while you cook. You can arrange these zones as an island with a separate dining table, an L-shape with a bar for guest seating, or a U-shape. However it’s laid out, make sure it’s clear where guests should sit or stand and where the cook can have a space free of obstacles to move around and handle hot objects.

Make It Weatherproof

Image via Mom’s Design Build

Choose tough materials that can withstand changes in temperatures and exposure to sun, rain, and wind. If you’re designing a built-in outdoor kitchen, you’ll start with either a metal, wood, or cement block frame, cover it in cement board backing, and add a cladding material like stucco, tile, stone, or brick.

Make Sure It’s Easy to Clean

You want your work surface to be smooth and non-porous so it doesn’t stain easily; experts recommend natural stone, cultured granite with UV stabilizers, or durable composite materials. Tile is cheap, but it can crack in climates with harsh winter weather, and cleaning the grout can get annoying. Quartz looks nice, but can yellow in the sun, and stainless steel gets very hot. If you choose concrete, it should be polished smooth on top and/or sealed.

Light It for Tasks and Ambiance

Image via Artistic Landscapes

Choose bright overhead lighting for work areas like above the grill and countertops, and softer, warmer lighting in gathering spaces. String lights, path lights, and perhaps even a chandelier can add a nice touch.

Design Your Outdoor Kitchen for Comfort

Cover cooking and seating areas to protect them from the rain and sun. A pavilion-style roof or lean-to roof off the side of your house offer the best coverage along with the ability to add gutters so you can enjoy the space in virtually all weather. Awnings and umbrellas are lightweight, affordable, and easy to move out of the way if you prefer to enjoy the sun. A pergola can also be a nice decorative choice, especially if it’s made of wood and serves as a sturdy structure for climbing greenery like grapevines, wisteria, or clematis. And of course, an outdoor fireplace or portable patio heater will give people something to gravitate toward in cooler temperatures.

Make It Fun

Image via Azuro Concepts

Before you finalize your design, think about whether you want to work a television or a sound system into the mix. You may also want to include custom niches or shelving to support them.

Don’t Forget Storage

Cabinets under your work surfaces are a great place to stash items like grilling tools, pots, pans, and outdoor tableware. You can also use storage benches, carts, or other detached, temporary storage furniture. Make sure there’s a pest-proof spot for your trash and recycling, too.

The post Design Your Own Customized Outdoor Kitchen with These 10 Tips first appeared on Dornob.

Standing head and shoulders above the rest, these eight retailers have thousands of discounted offerings between them, and many offer free shipping, to boot:

Article

They may be best known for their high-quality midcentury sofas, but Article is also an undercooked source of fabulous patio furniture. Some of these pieces are the kind of truly unique conversation starters guaranteed to make your guests a little jealous, like the spacious Lubek outdoor sectional with a solid acacia wood base ($1899) and the rattan Sol daybed ($799).

AllModern

Find over a hundred patio furniture deals at AllModern this month, some up to 50 percent off. Their sleek and stylish contemporary selections include the Brittney Dining Table ($745), the Abbate Metal 5-Person Seating Set ($2,400), and colorful stacking patio armchairs ($268 for a pair).

Wayfair

Wayfair is offering up to 60 percent off outdoor furniture and accessories in (no exaggeration) thousands of styles. You could literally spend hours browsing the discounts here for just the right set, but a few standouts include the adorable Oconto Rocking Chair duo with a side table for $336.99, the Drayton 5-Piece Bistro Set in refreshing turquoise for $379.99, and the Daysan 7-Piece Bar Dining Set for $1,599.

Industry West

Save 20 percent off Industry West patio furniture (and everything else on the site) with the code SPRING20, or get free shipping with the code APRILSHIP. And don’t sleep on their gorgeous selection of outdoor chairs, benches, and lounges, like the on-trend rattan Compass Outdoor Armchair ($495), the Malena Armchair in cheerful yellow ($305), and the Planter Bench ($1,099).

CB2

CB2 is always a great place to look for stylish modern furniture at affordable prices, and that goes double when they’re having a sale. Get up to 15 percent off select outdoor furniture right now, including this gorgeous Terrazzo Black Coffee Table ($499), the Sunset Teak Lounge Chair ($719), and the patterned black-and-white Brava Wicker Loveseat ($529).

Ballard Designs

If your tastes are more classic and sophisticated, Ballard Designs is a great place to look for outdoor furniture deals this spring. The Amalfi Chaise is ready to transport you to Italy for $764.15, along with the rest of the Amalfi range, and you can also snag a Parisian-style cafe table set for $449.

Perigold

Dreaming of al fresco luxury? You can save as much as 44 percent on high-end outdoor items at Perigold right now, like the Nexus 2 Piece Sofa Seating Group ($8,300), the sculptural Deco Dining Table by Selamat Designs ($1,200), and a set of two elegant Bolonia Chaise Lounge chairs for $1,030.

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn is offering 15 percent off its Fermob line of outdoor furniture for a limited time, which features stacking armchairs, a metal bistro table, side table, bistro chairs, and this Guinguette Side Table ($260), all in easy-to-clean steel with an anti-UV powder coating.

The post The Best Deals on Patio Furniture This Month first appeared on Dornob.

Buckets of Annuals

Image via Organized Clutter

First and foremost, spring means flowers. The best and simplest spring decor for your porch is just some affordable annuals tucked into your favorite pots or some galvanized buckets, which add a touch of rustic charm. You can find galvanized buckets and basins at your local hardware store, but check vintage markets, thrift stores, and flea markets, too. Some nice choices for annuals include phlox, sweet alyssum, coleus, polka dot plant, red nemesia, and edible nasturtiums.

Colorful Thrift Store Chairs

Image via Milan Vintage on Etsy

Speaking of thrift stores, make sure you browse their chair selections when you’re there. Whether you find a matching set or an eclectic mix, you can simply spray paint them all the same color (or a palette of spring shades) to bring them together. This is a fun way to add an accent hue to your decor scheme.

Early Bloom Wreaths

Image via Annabelle Eve Designs on Etsy

Prune a few branches of your early blooming forsythia, cherry tree, or whatever else looks pretty in your yard and shape them into a wreath with some floral wire for a quick and easy update to your front door. If you’re feeling less than crafty, you can always just buy one, too. Etsy seller Annabelle Eve Designs creates these lovely seasonal wreaths with silk flowers, burlap, and a moss-covered monogram, and you can use it year after year.

Mini Solar Barrel Fountain

Image via Flower Patch Farmhouse

Creating a DIY solar fountain is easier than it sounds, and it brings so much to outdoor spaces of all sizes: sparkly reflections, the sound of flowing water, and curious creatures seeking a drink or a bath. All you need is a floating solar fountain, which you can find on Amazon for under $12, and a watertight container like a galvanized bucket, an old wine barrel, or a planter pot without a drain hole.

Freshened Up Throw Pillows

Image via West Elm

Switch out the throw pillows on your outdoor furniture with something sweet for spring. If you find just the right fabric, sewing a throw pillow is a fairly easy project for a beginner to complete – check out The Spruce Crafts for a tutorial. Alternately, stores like Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, and West Elm, where we found this pretty “embellished blooms” throw, are good places to look.

DIY Dried Bloom Bouquet

Image via Crate and Barrel

Dried floral bouquets are a leading decor trend in 2021, and you never have to worry about them wilting. It used to be that you had to hunt down the best elements to create one in the wild, in your yard, or in flower markets, but now you can find gorgeous preserved blooms and greenery on the internet and in local shops. Crate and Barrel has a particularly great selection, including these pink paper palms, which make for the perfect dramatic backdrop to pair with lush shades of green.

The post 6 DIY Spring Porch Decor Ideas for Any Budget first appeared on Dornob.

Building an above-ground pool is not the most intuitive choice when designing a home – after all, you can save space rather than displace it by burying the pool underground. In this case, though, the exception turns out to be much cooler than the rule.

This backyard pool-plus-patio combination manages to define the space next to it, while also creating an elevated deck platform aside from the sunken green garden to which it is adjacent. Moreover, for a family with small children it provides multiple views down to the pool level and into the deep end for the sake of safety.

A set of wooden benches in the lower garden area reprise the dark-stained wood decking of the pool area, while an overhung part of the house hovers over and connects the main structure with the pool (while also providing shade).

All in all, this house by Andres Remy Architects is conventionally modern, but the creative swimming pool does a lot to set it apart from its stylistic peers. Now, if only you could also see into it from inside like in the Slice House (indoor view of the outdoor pool).

“This project was a great challenge for the Studio, considering that it was going to take part of the urban structure. The lot of 18 x 24 meters is located in Devoto. It is between two existing buildings that threatens the project when the problem of isolation and view.”

“For this reason this project is leaning towards its neighbor, creating an introspective posture that creates the views from the inside rather than from the outside. An architecture that generated its own views. In this manner the Project was able to solve the basis of isolation and views from the garden. This was a constant worry from the clients since the beginning of the Project.”

“The living, kitchen and dining rooms expose the garden that penetrates all the volumes in the house. The spaces distort the conventional plans of an urban house. The stone wall guides the inhabitant within the house, therefore, the rough texture of the streets are soften by the water that flows down the stone wall, a walk that is colored by the different qualities the water gives the space.”

The post Above-Ground Swimming Pool with Glass Walls first appeared on Dornob.

Modern sea baths build on these early ideas either by creating “sea pools” on beaches or building floating platforms, which themselves might offer diving boards, stadium seating, saunas, bathrooms, changing rooms, boat launches, and other amenities. A new example of the latter has popped up on the island of Bornholm in Denmark, and it looks like a gorgeous way to spend a sunny afternoon.

The Hasle Harbour Bath by White Architects is a sculptural space that’s bringing a little vitality back to a town hit hard by the decline of its fishing industry. Once a hub for shipping, fishing, and ferry service, the local port has grown quiet in recent years. But the things that are truly unique about Hasle Harbour are its numerous breakwaters, which protect it from the surge of the Baltic Sea but also make it feel distant and disconnected from life on land. The architects wanted to revitalize the area and make use of its isolated waters by creating a fun public area with views of the horizon.

Made of two timber stair formations protruding from a floating concrete platform, the Harbour Bath design takes inspiration from “flying carpets” to create a viewing platform and outdoor lounge, offering swimming pools of various depths along its inner edge and diving boards for swimmers who want to interact with the open water.

“The intention was for people to walk, sit, and lie on the new structure, which gave rise to the design concept of outdoor ‘carpeting’ that folded over the breakwaters,” White Architects explain. “The largest of these, the ‘flygande mattan’ or ‘flying carpet,’ forms the main structure. Welcoming all ages and abilities, the open design allows visitors to intuitively interact with the structure.”

“The unusual name refers to the tip of the Z-shaped structure, [which] shoots seven meters above the water’s surface, evoking the dynamism of the mythological carpet. At this westerly point, visitors are rewarded with views of the Hasle harbour, the sea, and the formidable sunsets.”

Hasle Harbour Bath adds to a collection of similar destinations throughout Denmark and elsewhere in Europe and the U.K. In addition to the old Ribersborgs Kallbadhus in Sweden, established in 1898, and Copenhagen’s Kastrup Søbad, built in 2004, bathers can also enjoy The Harbor Bath by world-renowned Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in Aarhus.

If the Hasle Harbour Bath’s piqued your interest, you’ll definitely want to check out a few more unusual swimming spots, including the Kastrup sea bath and Berlin’s Badeschiff.

The post Harbour Bath: Swimming Pool Platform Set Into the Danish Seas first appeared on Dornob.

Made of food contact grade 430 stainless steel, the Nomad weighs just 10 pounds and folds up into a 20” x 24” machine washable travel bag. Its design is similar to that of a flat pack camp stove, like the Hexagon Wood Stove by Vargo, but stretched out to larger dimensions for more versatility. According to its designers, the unique geometric shape of the grill helps radiate heat over the entire grilling surface using less fuel than average.

To assemble it, you just pop the stand into place, open the octagonal vessel, set it inside, and add in the charcoal/wood rack and the food rack. You end up with 370 square inches (2,400 square cm) of cooking area, which is more than enough space to cook up some hot dogs for the whole family.

The grill sits on top of a large ash tray to contain the mess, so the whole thing is easy to dump and clean almost as soon as you’re done. When it’s all packed up, it’s small enough to carry on your shoulder for picnics, tailgating, camping, and  beach days. As long as you’re in a place that allows grilling (and has plenty of ventilation), you’ll have a quick and easy way to get the party started.

Since the grill can use either wood or charcoal as fuel, it’s able to double as a portable fire pit, so you can go from cooking burgers and steaks to roasting marshmallows in a matter of minutes. That functionality is pretty priceless when you’re camping or hanging out in a spot that lacks a designated grill or fire pit.

“It took multiple design trials in order to come up with a lightweight, but extremely durable grill that could provide a large grilling surface area, but would also be able to collapse and fold into a small travel bag, which would allow you to easily carry it with you anywhere,” say the designers.

The Nomad Grill set out to raise a humble $5,000 on Kickstarter and was met with unexpected enthusiasm, ultimately racking up nearly $50,000 from over 400 backers. They got a head start on production, manufacturing the grill before starting their fundraising campaign, so lucky backers will be receiving their rewards just in time for the summer barbecue season. While early bird backers snagged a Nomad for just $89, it will be available to the public in the coming months for $119.

The post The Portable Nomad Grill Folds Down to Practically Nothing first appeared on Dornob.

This unique structure is the brainchild of Czech designers Jerry Koza and Adam Jirkaand, engineer Tomáš Kalhous, architect Martin Kalhous of Atelier SAD, and mmcité, a noted Czech street furniture designer.

Specs and Materials

The portable gazebo has a 4320-millimeter (14.2 feet) base and a height of 3400 millimeters (11.2 ft), and it even boasts  a covered fireplace and a skylight dome that can easily be opened and closed. The pinecone-like exterior is made from 109 plywood scales, each one of which has been weatherized by a water-resistant glaze that combats the negative effects of the sun, wind, and rain. These scales are securely attached to the frame by galvanized joints, resulting in a sturdy standalone structure with good airflow and pristine acoustics. A comfortable seating bench encircles the structure’s interior border.

David Karasek, an award-winning designer from mmcité, recently shed a little more light on the gazebo’s development: “All over the design procedure, we had been aiming to wreck limitations and transfer ahead. The Pinecone challenge used to be a large problem for us, as it used to be greater than only a one-dimensional product. Above all, this can be a flexible construction, which matches in parks and faculties alike. It’s at the reducing fringe of structure and design, and may also function as a meditation area.”

Limited Only By Imagination

In addition to being easy to transport and set up, the pinecone gazebo is also equally fun for children and adults. For starters, its walls can be used as blackboards, allowing budding artists to truly express themselves. There’s enough room inside to play board games, tell stories, and let imaginations run wild. And since the gazebo can be set up multiple times in one day, kids can enjoy it for daytime activities in the park and then sit around an indoor campfire back at the house.

Adults can also enjoy the seclusion and privacy of the pinecone dome for meditation and yoga — either alone or in small groups. The gazebo’s peaceful, comfortable atmosphere is also ideal for small business meetings. Alternatively, you could set up a few tables and chairs inside and host a wine party for your friends.

Other Pinecone-Inspired Projects

This pinecone-shaped gazebo is the first of its kind, but the pinecone itself has inspired many architectural works in the past. In 2017, architect Claudio Beltrame designed and constructed a pinecone-shaped treehouse in the Italian Alps. He added some drama to the structure by hanging it 10 meters above the ground and providing only a bridge for access. In 2016, Christofer Ödmark designed a curved-wall trail center in Sweden, the shingles of which also resembled pinecones.

The post This Mobile Pinecone Gazebo is the Ideal Play Space for Both Kids and Adults first appeared on Dornob.

“MeMo House” by BAM!

This verdant home in Buenos Aires, Argentina was created by BAM! Arquitectura and gives its residents a whopping three stories of space in the span of an average-sized housing plot. The exterior of the “MeMo House” is essentially a three-tiered garden that can be accessed from every floor. Plant-filled ramps connect the building’s ground floor to its mid-level terrace and landscaped roof. The architects have also equipped the Memo House with several eco-friendly features like wastewater filtering technology, a rainwater harvesting system, and solar panels. The entire design has been oriented with respect to the sun’s path across the sky to absorb the maximum amount of renewable energy.
“We conceived the sustainability of the project as a path, not a goal,” BAM! explains. “Hence, we based our plan on the LEED standards and incorporated the concepts of durability and economy which are fundamental in our architectural works. We approached the path of sustainability by choosing a sustainable lot where the owner can perform most of her activities on foot or on a bicycle, and she can also use native vegetation in her gardens. This restored the natural landscape and reduced rainwater effluent.”

“OUTrial House” by KWK Promes

Anyone who’s ever lived in a large house with no yard is likely to feel a pang of envy when looking at the clever design of the “OUTrial House” by KWK Promes. This home, located in the forests of Poland, has had its entire rooftop transformed into a grassy field: the perfect spot for picnics, sunbathing, and playing with dogs. Just be careful not to throw the ball over the side of the roof!
“A green clearing surrounded by forest was the only context for the proposed small house,” say the architects. “Hence the idea to ‘carve out’ a piece of the grass-covered site, move it up and treat it as the roofing to arrange all the required functions underneath. When the whole was ready, the client came up with another request, to create some space for a small recording studio and a conservatory. The latter was obtained by linking the ground floor with the grassy roof through an ‘incision’ in the green plane and ‘bending’ the incised fragment down, inside the building.”

“Stair House” by y+M

If greenery isn’t exactly one of your priorities, but you’d still like to enjoy some gorgeous views while preserving the privacy of your home, you’ll be able to gain some inspiration from this unusual house by Japanese firm y+M. The roof of this house is one big staircase, leading from the ground all the way up to the building’s highest point, and the interior reflects that design to a tee. While the structure may look dark and closed-off from the outside, the architects have strategically placed transparent risers between some of the steps to allow daylight inside.

“Steps 15” by Belatchew Arkitekter

Designed by the Swedish firm Belatchew Arkitekter for the outdoor gear company JABO, “Steps 15” is a tiny house with a twist. While the majority of this home’s layout is pretty standard for an ultra-compact portable home, it’s exterior staircase, which leads up to a quaint rooftop terrace, sets it apart. Plus, these stairs conceal a handy built-in storage space and are covered in planters. This way, the inhabitants don’t have to choose between gardening and recreation in their minimal outdoor area.

The post Elevated Design: 4 Houses with Walk-Up Roofs first appeared on Dornob.

The post WholeStory: Comfortable, Sustainable Hammocks For a Cause first appeared on Dornob.

Crystal clear, dotted with floating lily pads and free of chlorine and lurking creepy creatures, natural swimming pools have the feel of a tropical swimming hole right in your own backyard. You can build decks right up to the edge and add waterfalls, stepping stones and rocky beaches to create your own private paradise resembling a natural environment, whether your preferred look is that of a crystalline aquamarine spring or a lake full of boulders and swaying cattails. A company called BIOTOP works with customers to build custom designs full of whatever features your heart desires, and they can convert existing chlorine pools, too.

Instead of using chemicals to keep the water clean and bright, a biological system of plants keeps good bacteria and microorganisms in balance, while a secondary filter keeps sediments from building up in the swimming area. A ‘regeneration area’ full of these plants sits adjacent to the main swimming area to create a system that finds and maintains its own balance, just like a natural self-cleansing body of water. Supporting equipment like additional filters, skimmers and pumps are hidden away to maintain the illusion that you were lucky enough to build your house on the edge of a swimming hole.

Are there going to be some frogs, salamanders, dragonflies and other critters hopping and flying around? Sure – with a natural swimming pool, you’re creating a backyard habitat that supports all sorts of wildlife, and that’s part of what keeps it healthy. But at least you’ll never have to worry about brushing your leg against a monstrous fish. Chances are, frogs will lay their eggs in the regeneration area, hidden among the plants, so you’ll hear them – and get their mosquito-eating benefits – more than you’ll see them.

Like the idea of going chemical-free, but prefer a more conventional swimming pool experience? A ‘living pool’ gives you the appearance of a traditional pool while actually being a full-fledged biological swimming pond, using a special phosphate filter instead of plants and microorganisms to keep the water clean. BIOTOP and similar companies can easily convert chlorine pools into living pools with the addition of a converter chamber containing the biological filter.

They might seem like a luxury, but surprisingly, natural swimming pools cost about the same as traditional swimming pools at about $50 per square foot, and yearly maintenance costs are far lower. Natural pools don’t have to be covered in the winter, and the most you’ll have to do to take care of them is skimming leaves and thinning plants. In fact, because they’re so shallow, they might just freeze all the way over depending on where you live, creating a private ice skating rink!

It’s pretty cool the way these pools create brand new aquatic settings that encourage plants and wildlife to flourish while also eliminating the itchy skin and red eyes that can come with swimming in chlorine. Between the low maintenance factor and these gorgeous photos, it’s not hard to see why natural swimming pools are becoming so popular. Don’t be surprised if your brain continually revisits these images throughout the upcoming long, hot summer.

The post Your Own Private Paradise: Natural Swimming Pools by Biotop first appeared on Dornob.

Human habitations know no limits. These days it’s perfectly normal to find a yurt in your neighbor’s backyard or a teepee in your friend’s living room. An igloo? That would require polar temperatures. Well, not so fast!

The Garden Igloo by the eponymous Berlin-based company thrives in any kind of weather, especially balmy breezes. The multi-purpose, pop-up geodesic dome can function as greenhouse, lounge space for reading and relaxing, winter garden, kids’ play room or as a Jacuzzi cover. We love the way it looks all lit up at night, almost like a landed UFO. It’s the perfect chill out space. All you need is some good tunes.

The lightweight igloo comes with easy, step-by-step instructions and is up in a cinch, without any tools necessary. The base is 10 square meters with a height of 2.2 meters. Extras include a mosquito net and canopy cover. It has excellent ventilation and air flow, and its geodesic shape allows for temperatures inside to stay even and not heat up or drop too much, so one need not worry about steaming or freezing inside this fancy little tent.

Bonus: All materials of this eco-friendly, storm- and waterproof marvel are 100 percent recyclable. They are also rust- and rot-resistant. The igloo will cost you 900 euros with the canopy cover an extra 350 euros.

“With its new improved entrance, Gardenigloo is both weather-proof and rust resistant, 100% recyclable, can be used all year round and is set up without tools in two hours. You will have everything needed to fully assemble a Gardenigloo with the Gardenigloo V2 kit. This included the structural pieces, the transparent cover and the anchorage kit.”

“With its two optional covers, it provides shade when it’s too hot and keeps out the cold while you’re waiting for summer to arrive – as a conservatory, play area for children, storage area, garden shelter, greenhouse, jacuzzi cover or pavilion.”

There’s also a commercial version of the Gardenigloo available, and you might have already seen it around your city in the form of pandemic-safe outdoor dining pods.

For more information on “comfortable environments for all year round outdoor living,” visit gardenigloo.com

The post Garden Igloo: Instant Backyard Dome Shelter first appeared on Dornob.

This French apartment building is equipped with wavy balconies that extend the living space and create a fascinating visual effect from outside. Each balcony alternates wavy parts with the balcony below it, providing residents a surprising amount of vertical space and creating a fun look for the facade.

The idea behind the project was to call to mind stacked villas which are wide open to the environment. By adding the wrap-around balconies to the inexpensive housing units, the architects – ECDM Architectes – effectively doubled the living space of each unit.

Each level of the building features a slightly different floor plan so that no residence overlooks another. This careful planning gives the housing development’s residents a high level of privacy – something that most apartment balconies just can’t offer.

The terraces are outfitted in perforated metal balustrades which let in plenty of light. Thin green garden equipment cupboards separate one balcony from the next. From the street, these cupboards create vertical green lines that run up the height of the buildings.

As the residents have begun to plant vegetation on their balconies, the plants have created the appearance of the entire building being a huge vertical terraced garden.

More from the architects

“The idea was to extend the surface of the apartments by balconies representing a minima 50% of the living area with a drastic construction cost : 1350 € / sqm. The project implements objective values where all the constructive and architectural aspects are drafted for their practical value and their economic performance. The façade serve as an expression of a living place whose alternate sinusoids movements are realized in order to allow an optimal amount of sunlight despite cantilevers up to 3.20 meters of depth. Therefore, in front of each living room, the amplitude of the balcony is maximum and refines in front of the rooms or secondary rooms.”

“Dwellings are alternated floor by floor in order to never superimpose living rooms. Then despite very generous dimensions of balconies, there is no mask effect between apartments. The unique qualities of the location provide an opportunity to re-think the creation of a link between a landscape and settlements patterns.”

The post French Apartment Building Looks Like a Giant White Layer Cake first appeared on Dornob.

Even before stepping into this home in the Jardins neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil, it is clear that there is something special about it. A glowing red neon sign by the front door announces “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” A wooden screen known as a muxarabie – a trademark of the architect responsible for the home’s renovation – covers the entrance, softening the harsh rays of the sun. It’s a small space, but architect Guilherme Torres has made the most of it, particularly in terms of natural light.

The home was originally built in the 1940s and was once occupied by celebrated artist Victor Brecheret. Following the artist’s death, the residence was used to house part of Brecheret’s art collection but was never occupied again until Guilherme Torres renovated it for his own personal use.

While keeping the structure of the home largely the same, Torres transformed the interior into an open and airy space that is flooded with natural light. The kitchen spills out into the courtyard, allowing the residents to transition effortlessly between the indoors and outdoors while enjoying the shelter of the home’s walls and retractable glass roof.

Despite the natural light which makes it look rather large, this diminutive home is only 1400 square feet. The home’s prime location in one of Sao Paulo’s most desirable neighborhoods only adds to its charm. But its best quality might be the artistic soul that still runs through every room.

More from the architect

“The main concept was to update the building, reflecting the contemporary language of the newcomer. The floorplan has not suffered many changes.The only things that has been changed over were the gaps, openings and coatings. All the walls were covered with drywalls and received in some parts white paint and in others, a coating that resembles cement texture.”

“The architect chose this property to live and work. With just over 30 years and works in broad expansion, Guilherme Torres is considered one of the great names of Brazilian architecture. Coming from the interior of Paraná state, Brazil, where he established his first office serving many cities of Brazil for 10 years. Guilherme wanted to translate in his own new space, the best way of a cosmopolitan life with a hint of pop.”

The post Artist’s Home Offers Light-Filled Luxury in a Small Space first appeared on Dornob.

Anyone who has lived (or does) in Europe will appreciate the multi-functional possibilities of typical windows, able to fold out like doors or flip down for ventilation while maintaining security.

This design by Fakro takes the concept concept to the next level – specifically, on your angled rooftop – creating more space and the feel of an exterior deck.

The top flips up to form an overhang, while the bottom folds out to let you walk right up to the edge and essentially stand outside. Particularly considering how much space a sloped ceiling can take up, it could be a marvelous addition to many second-story bedrooms and living rooms.

The post Skylight Deck: Innovative Windows Create Juliet Balconies first appeared on Dornob.

When faced with a nearly impossible backyard, one British homeowner refused to give up on his dream of having a vegetable garden. The yard featured a few feet of level ground followed by a sheer 50 foot chalk cliff, on top of which was the only usable plot of land. For a while, owner David Spearman climbed the cliff and rappelled down whenever he needed to reach the top of the yard. Eventually, he dreamed up this elegant DIY solution.

The homeowner is a fan of home improvement shows on television, and he turned that inspiration into the idea to build a huge wooden tower in his back yard. The tower boasts six flights of stairs that take Spearman and his wife all the way to the top of the gigantic cliff, allowing them to tend their garden without risking life and limb.

The top of the tower contains a wooden patio with a stunning view of the nearby river over the rooftops of neighboring houses. The homeowners are able to have their vegetable garden and enjoy the part of their yard that was previously almost unreachable. The tower took several months to build, and permission was only granted after several refusals by the local council. Now that it is done, however, neighbors with similar backyards are planning to copy the brilliant idea.

“‘I thought, all that land up there is being wasted,’ he said. ‘I could grow my vegetables up there and have a fantastic view while doing it.’ But to get up, he had to use ropes and ladders, and had to abseil down.”

“He got a local architect to draw up plans for the softwood tower, and planning permission was finally granted after several refusals. Because he was unemployed over the summer, he was able to help in the construction himself. “

“His next plan is to build a greenhouse on the land next to the platform and finally create his vegetable patch. Mr Spearman said his neighbours are all friends and don’t mind the tower, while one is even likely to copy it.”

“‘When we tell people we’ve built a staircase in the garden they say, “Oh, whatever”,’ he said. “‘But when they see the photos it blows them away.'”

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