Photos: Erieta Attali.
Recently, strange stories have emanated from the media of people in Athens covering-over their swimming pools to avoid the gaze of satellites. I do not know if such stories are true, but I do know that it would take more than a tarpaulin to cover the elegant features of this Athenian house designed by Divercity Architects.
The house is based on a mysterious core that contains a chthonic temple to art and the gas-guzzling deities of the automobile world. Many of these creatures have long-since receded to the underworld to be admired only by the high priests of curation and business. The core of this temple, or gallery as it is also known, is clad in stone and is inspired by the imagery of the quarries and landscape of the Attica.
The second element sits on the core and is “amphitheatrical” in form. It was conceived as a pair of binoculars affording views of the city beyond. Here are housed the private areas of the residence. A third element is a transparent living area that sits between the them. These strong sculptural forms sit within a landscape of water, terraces and lush verdure. Read more
Photos: Alexandre Parent
With an enthusiastic owner, keen to commission a healthy house that would help her to reduce her ecological footprint, things previously out of reach become possible. This is the first house in Quebec aiming for a Platinum LEED Certificate, but to get there, the design team have not had to sacrifice the quality of the spaces they have created.
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This amazing house in São Paulo, Brazil was designed by Studio MK 27(), a Modernist Brazilian Practice. The truly amazing thing about the house is the expanse of vanishing glazing that turns the property into an outdoor space with a sun shade roof. Read more
Photos and drawings: DCPP Arquitectos
On a plot of 10 x 20m, half was built upon to create a long thin house of 5 x 20m, the remainder became an outdoor space that is surrounded by a high wall. The house feels private and mysterious, a “black box” located in the southern quarter of Mexico City known as San Angel.
The idea of half the site void and half the site built upon suggests a play with positive and negative space. DCPP Arquitectos also conceived this game would continues at a smaller level into what are seen as the “public areas” of the living accommodation until all that remains are the truly private spaces associated with ablution and cooking. Read more
