Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Newsletter

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• Fun and Versatile: Shape-shifting Sofa by Alexander Rehn [Video]
• Contemporary Floating Staircase Breaking the Norm
• Family Residence Surrounded by Scenic Landscapes in California
• “YES” and “NO” in One Typographical Sculpture by Markus Raetz
• Four-Storey Summer House Showcasing an Original Architecture In Lithuania

Fun and Versatile: Shape-shifting Sofa by Alexander Rehn [Video] Posted: 19 Sep 2011 07:13 AM PDT Swiss designer Alexander Rehn designed the intriguing Cay Sofa concept, a furniture item that is said to anticipate the user’s movements. According to Gizmodo, the shape-shifting sofa is made up by using ingeniously placed hinges that make it adapt to the various positions of the person sitting on it. This means each time the user moves, the sofa changes its appearance also, following the natural curves of the human body. Some people resembled this piece with a giant origami, which is not far away from the truth. After all, the sofa twists, turns and unfolds according to the user’s “commands” . We’ve also added the official presentation film below. Be sure to have a look at the product in action and tell us how you appreciate the design of this revolutionary shape-shifting sofa. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Contemporary Floating Staircase Breaking the Norm Posted: 19 Sep 2011 05:28 AM PDT Some residences display a wonderful collection of spaces, especially designed to capture modern lines, patterns and colors. Others fascinate with the choice of materials, but most homes have interesting details that come together to create a cleverly designed living space. Today we showcase a wonderful floating staircase idea that turns a simple corner of the house into an interesting focal point. Constructed from birch ply with a hard wearing black velour laminate finish, the staircase features black rubber treads. “The structure is supported off the wall and appears to float thanks to the halo lighting.” The collaboration between bespoke furniture manufacturer Re Form The Norm and multi-disciplinary practice DO-Architecture, both based in Glasgow, gave the residents of a modern home the choice of enjoying a fascinating staircase design, one that seems to be floating while featuring inbuilt LED lights. Would you like something similar in your home? Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Family Residence Surrounded by Scenic Landscapes in California Posted: 19 Sep 2011 03:37 AM PDT The Mill Valley Hillside residence was designed by McGlashan Architecture and is located in Marin County, California, north of San Francisco. The home was especially built in order to accommodate three generations, in two separate dwellings, under one green roof. According to the architects, the project “brings the grandparents closer to their children and grandchildren, yet carves out spaces tailored to each generation. Upstairs is formal, quiet and dramatic. Downstairs is warm and casual, from cozy window seats to a generous play areas for the boys, their pet rat, and their drum set. As family arrangements evolve, so can the house. The middle level can be shared variously between the two dwellings. Planning conditions allowed for a single new home with a small 2nd unit on the large hillside parcel. In order for the 2nd unit to expand beyond the allowed 500sf and share space with the upper unit, the architect conceived an attached 3-level structure. Each level is topped with a semi-intensive green roof, planted with native and drought tolerant species. Super-insulated, passively conditioned, with many energy- and water-efficiency features, the home is an ecological exemplar." [Photography by: David Fenton, Scott McGlashan, CJ Chapman] Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

“YES” and “NO” in One Typographical Sculpture by Markus Raetz Posted: 19 Sep 2011 02:12 AM PDT When you come to really read people, it will not seem odd that “no” sometimes means “yes” and vice-versa. Seen on Colossal, this typographical sculpture was created by sculptor and conceptual artist Markus Raetz and pays tribute to illusion and relativity. In this particular work, the word "YES”,  from a different angle reads as "NO." We find this concept quite appealing and believe it would be a great addition in an office building or even in a smaller work space. It is ingenious, fun and motivational. Markus Raetz has a series of “yes”/”no” sculptures achieved in different languages. The concept was taken further and the artist also thought of transforming "TODO" (all) into "NADA" (nothing). Or the other way around, depending on how you see things. Would you consider embedding such a modern sculpture in your home? Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Four-Storey Summer House Showcasing an Original Architecture In Lithuania Posted: 19 Sep 2011 12:48 AM PDT G.Natkevicius & Partners, an architecture studio from Lithuania, completed a the modern 3,078 square foot Summer House located in Birštonas.  Here is an excerpt from the official project description the architects provided: the residence “is a 4 storey summer-house, 3 space garage plus storage and boiler-room, situated in the basement. Ground floor has a lobby, living-room, kitchen and sitting room. First-floor locates all the sleeping areas as for the second-floor one already steps into a terrace which overlooks the forest, river and a little chapel. The house is constructed to get all the advantages of the wonderful nature that Birstonas has to offer. Whilst being on the 2nd floor terrace, one gets a total privacy ( not to forget that the house has no fence ) and a full view of the city at the same time having the opportunity to enjoy the sun and the sough of the forest for the entire day. The facade of the house is covered with polished travertine panels. The details of Aluminum on the vitrines represent/expose different perspectives of each environment at the same time making the architectural structure interesting for the eye." We appreciate the original appearance of this Lithuanian summer house and are looking forward to your comments and impressions. Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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