Riverdale Loft Interior Design by Beauparlant Design

Beauparlant Design have completed the remodel of a loft in a former printing press factory in Toronto, Canada.

Originally a printing press factory, this Toronto building was converted into lofts many years ago. Since then, the units are in dire need of an update, and require a reconsideration for the interaction between original features with comfortable living. The project was an exploration of increasing efficiency and flexibility within an already open-space, as well as introducing elements that will offer a sense of spatial division. The design intent was to accentuate original features, and give attention to the quality of living in a loft.


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Photography by John Heineman

Spill Chair Modification Design by Matthias Pliessnig

Matthias Pliessnig has sent us some new work he has recently completed. The Spill bench seating was created for the lobby of the Alexandria Center, a new building in New York City.

He has also made a video that shows the making of the piece.

The title of the piece(s) is ‘Spill’ and each pair measure 27’x8’ made of steam bent White Oak. The pieces have an area for seating with upright support and wide expanse area for bench seating. They sit in the lobby (between the entrance of the building and the entrance of the Riverpark restaurant) of the Alexandria Center, a new building on the New York City east side. The structures were inspired by the human form, geometric flow, furniture functionality, and the interior space itself.

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Innovative Design : My Campus is my Home by Marc O’Polo

This is used deliberately in the new campus stores and campaigns. The developed store concept and campaign convinced up to the smallest details, so that each is immediately put in a relaxing world of student life. How does it work? Materials, colors and furnishings are reminiscent of the early 70s. High quality natural stone floors, tarnished brass elements and dark wood surfaces in stained bog oak harbor the ancient charm. Combined with authentic style elements, sometimes classical, sometimes humorous are. So social like in a real genuine shared flat plate collections of sports trophies, flags and pictures of friends. In addition there are original vintage furniture or Flauschteppich for a stylish interior.

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Haines House Design by Christopher Polly Architect

Australian architect Christopher Polly has completed the Haines House in Sydney, Australia.

Haines House is located in the inner city Sydney suburb of Newtown, in an area that is steadily displaying evidence of gentrification in the general upgrade of the surrounding urban fabric. The immediate context is comprised of predominantly single storey attached and semi-detached residences with intermittent 2 storey dwellings and 3 to 4 storey apartment blocks.

The proposal involved the complete refurbishment of an existing single storey semi-detached dwelling with the addition of an open plan volume beyond the original rear existing roof plane, to improve the physical and visual relationships to the new rear garden, while harnessing improved access to sunlight, natural ventilation and views to borrowed landscapes and sky beyond.

The generation of the design entailed two formal strategies:

1. A clear response to place in three acts involved extrapolating the line of the rear roof pitch of the immediate adjoined dwelling to generate the form of the singular roof and ceiling plane, extruding this to the extent of the rear setback alignment of this adjoined dwelling in plan, followed by the extension of an existing low roof level along the unadjoined eastern edge to the new rear footprint – under which a long ‘working wall’ spine accommodates a kitchen, storage and varying configurations of joinery, extending outside to accommodate a second toilet with basin.

2. The retention of the original front dwelling and centrally located bathroom enabled old and new fabric to stitch and enmesh an alternating sequence of compression and expansion, enfolding a series of expressed rooms from the narrow hall and front cellular 3-room layout, to open release in a newly accommodated Living room, followed by a compressed scale shift and downward change in level via an almost secreted passage into the new heightened rear openness of a Dining, Kitchen, second Living space.

The height of the low roof served to establish a datum that scribed the alignment of all elements wrapped around the interior of the rear volume, setting the heights of the rear steel door head and sliding doors, timber board wall linings, timber board lined laundry units and new wall heights of the retained bathroom.

Fixed highlight glazing finely connects these newly established bathroom wall heights with the singular ceiling plane, enclosing it from surrounding spaces while borrowing light from three directions. An arrangement of fine steel plate supports and banks of highlight louvred and fixed windows march along and above the entire eastern low roofed working wall, bridging the high and low roofs and wrapping to the rear southern orientation, while a series of pocket concealed timber framed sliding doors extend the living spaces onto a roofed terrace that directly connects to the enclosed private garden and surrounding borrowed landscape beyond.

Architects: Christopher Polly Architect
Location: Newtown, Sydney, Australia
Project Team: Christopher Polly
Structural Engineer: Simpson Design Associates
Builder: Paul King Pty Ltd
Project Area: 115 sqm
Landscaped Area: 58 sqm
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Brett Boardman

Branson School Student Commons Design by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

The Branson School is an independent high school occupying seventeen acres of hilly terrain in the residential community of Ross, California, just north of San Francisco. The new 7,550 s.f. Student Commons building is located in a narrow glen in the center of the campus, along the pedestrian path between the upper and lower campuses. The central gable and large window wall front onto an inviting terrace and lawn while the flanking support wings, sheltered under green roofs, connect to the adjacent hillsides with board-form concrete walls. Sited to take advantage of the sunny southern exposure, the new building features large overhead doors that open onto a generous plaza for dining, meeting and outdoor learning. By providing spaces for gathering and socializing throughout the day, the Student Commons serves as the heart of campus activity. The building is LEED Platinum certified and features many sustainable strategies, including a living roof, radiant heating, natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels, and pervious paving.

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Photography by David Wakely

The Silk Chair Furniture Design by Alvi Design

Swedish designer Åsa Kärner of Alvi Design has created the Silk Chair.

Environmental friendly seating furniture with silk thread tightened around a bearing oak frame. The transparent expression is in focus, which creates new forms and brings forth a perception of weightlessness, while the light produces new shadow plays from the thread works of the alvisilkchair.
 

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