Observation points take on all sorts of forms: mirrored cabins that blend into their landscapes, treetop towers with incredible vistas, and floating platforms for the contemplation of watery scenes are just a few of them. But rarely do they lurk above the caldera of a volcano while mimicking the form of flowing lava like the stunning Nemrut Caldera Observation Route by architect Keremcan Kirilmaz and product designer Erdem Batirbek of Turkey. Created for the Bee Breeders Nemrut Volcano Eyes Architecture Competition, the concept taps into the site’s history as an ever-changing mountain shaped by unseen forces.
Addressing the competition brief to create a dynamic visitor observation platform on top of the dormant Nemrut Volcano in eastern Turkey, the winding overlook provides unobstructed views of the landscape as intended, but the symbolism within its form goes much deeper than that, both physically and metaphorically. It creates a bridge made of vivid red corten steel and perforated stairs between a ski station on the site and the lookout point itself.

“Now dormant and peaceful, Nemrut Volcano was once a giant boiling engine of destruction,” say the designers. “After many millennia of quakes, eruptions, tectonic crashes, and tears, this ancient inferno calmed down and became a colossal monument of nature, movement, and time, that now contains a small serene piece of eden inside. This means that Nemrut’s journey is not complete yet; its story is still being written, while it is being constantly sculpted by movements from within and below.”

“Nemrut Caldera Observation Route was designed as an embodiment of Nemrut Caldera’s continuous movement and ongoing journey. It is not a single platform with a single viewpoint, but it is an observation path that offers a journey with a variety of viewpoints. The visitor is not limited to a constant point on a single platform, [but] is an active observer who moves freely and is able to have unrestricted panoramic points of view.”

The Nemrut Caldera Observation Route won second prize in the competition. The jurors praised the design for its sinuous form in keeping with Nemrut’s history, noting that the detailed renderings were particularly effective in outlining the design and how it could potentially be constructed. The proposal’s one downfall, as far as they’re concerned, is the feasibility of physically supporting the platform.

But winning the top prize was beside the point, say Kirilmaz and Batirbek in a post-competition interview with Bee Breeders. The chance to design something out of the ordinary was a “refreshing exercise,” and a rewarding opportunity to face a challenge and develop creative new perspectives that directly addressed it.

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The house was initially two stories tall and built using brick masonry that had begun to leak and crumble in the twenty years since its construction. High winds, salt water, and sand erosion are no joke! To make the home more structurally sound and protect it from further exposure to the harsh coastal elements, the architects surrounded the original brick in a five-inch layer of concrete.

The design team also noticed that the captain’s house was relatively squat compared to the surrounding buildings and that its bathrooms occupied most of the interior space closest to the ocean—an arrangement that they felt was wasting some gorgeous vistas. To make the most of the home’s seaside location, the architects rearranged its layout so that common areas like the living and dining rooms could overlook the sea and have more access to fresh air and natural daylight. They also equipped the house with a rounded, lookout-like third floor.

The third story is undoubtedly one of the renovation’s most spectacular additions. The textured concrete of the room’s vaulted ceiling beautifully contrasts with its wooden floors. Up a small ladder, this new area houses a loft that the family can use to gaze out over the land or sea, unobstructed by the roofs of neighboring houses. Vector explains that the balconies on the each end of the vault tie the home to two drastically different worlds: “one being the serene sea [and] the other one being the noisy port.” The roof’s rounded shape encourages rainwater to run off the sides of the house, reducing the potential for leaks. More symbolically, the arched ceiling simulates the feel of a temple, in which the captain’s religious family will be able to meditate and pray. Of course, the space has been left relatively open to accommodate changing needs and is also ideal for working out, playing games, and entertaining guests.

Downstairs, new concrete window frames that protrude from the house have been installed as part of a “window-furniture” system. Aside from being windows, these extended areas can also be used as couches or lounge chairs and contain several cabinets for storage. Plus, the overhang of their concrete envelopes will help prevent water and unwanted wind from entering the house. In the living room, family members can climb into one of these padded window seats to read, draw, or daydream. The master bedroom even hosts an extra-deep windowsill that doubles as a desk!

“At dusk, the gentle light comes out from the[se] translucent glass blocks,” read the architects’ project notes. “We hope the house gradually becomes the carrier of emotion for the captain’s family, and gives deserved dignity and decency to the daily life of ordinary people, which is particularly meaningful under the current circumstance of China.”

The post Renovation of a Captain’s House: Unusual Seaside Home Design first appeared on Dornob.

A three-story modern vacation home butts right up to the edge of a glassy pond like a lookout tower, a small dock offering access to canoes for exploration. The Pond House at Ten Oaks Farm in Hammond, Louisiana takes full advantage of a serene natural setting with a glassed-in space overlooking the water, and an open-air terrace on the third floor.

Holly & Smith Architects created the net-zero retreat on a remote 15.5-acre property, collaborating with the clients for a tranquil getaway that honors the nearly-untouched nature of the land. A single-sloping roof directs rainwater into the pond and gives a set of solar panels optimal exposure to the sun. Spray foam insulation, high efficiency heating and cooling, energy star equipment and LED lighting help maintain a small footprint.

All of that glass lets in lots of natural light during daylight hours, and large operable windows enable cross-ventilation, opening the home to the outdoors. The overhanging roof juts out over the lower floors, shading them during the sunniest hours and providing privacy to the master suite.

A gravel path leads to a gazebo built out over the water, with porch swings and a hammock. Nearly everything is lined with warm wood, including the indoor/outdoor spaces. And at the rear of the home, translucent panels filter light and enable the entire structure to glow like a lantern at night.

“Since its completion, The Pond House has been generating instead of consuming energy,” say the architects. “Within the mission of creating a sustainable design, this residence is an example that proves energy efficient houses can be comfortable, luxurious places to live. The Pond House is a place where family and friends can come together. From swinging out by the lake, to hanging out on the terrace, or having an acoustic jam session by the fire, The Pond House offers many avenues of engaging in culture, adventure, relaxation, and observation inside and out.”

The post Paddle Right Up to This Serene Modern Pond House first appeared on Dornob.

If location, location and location are what drive your visions of a dream tree house design or luxury hillside wood home then look no further: fire towers that once served vital protective services to natural forests are becoming increasingly used for new purposes including mountaintop homes with incredible views.

If you think about it, fire lookout towers occupy some of the most enviable real estate in the world – they are normally quite remote and isolated but also positioned to have the best vistas available for up to hundreds of miles around in all directions. Like used shipping containers, these structures are already built to withstand the elements and are thus easy to remodel for use as a part-time cabin home or full-time, year-round house. That is, if you aren’t afraid of heights.

In some cases, people are taking the typology of the fire tower into account when building entirely new structures like the tower-inspired wood, stone and metal elevated home shown above – built from recycled materials and likewise capturing amazing views of the surrounding mountainside and distant hilltops from the 360-degree deck that surrounds the lofted house. This is a smart way to make use of a tried-and-true structure design when building your elevated dream house. Why reinvent the wheel when engineers have already done all the hard work?

Almost like modern castles, architectural antiques like decommissioned fire towers that can be converted into homes are few and far between, built for ever-more-outdated purposes in an era of modern weather satellites and worldwide global communications. While they may never enjoy quite the same nostalgic associations as ancient forts they will certainly be of continued fascination for generations to come. It is highly unfortunate that so many have been abandoned, vandalized or destroyed – but many others have been turned into homes, museums, vacation properties and nature centers.

The post Look Out! Old Fire Towers Become Modern Mountain Homes first appeared on Dornob.