Tsai Residence is a peculiar weekend house designed by HHF Architects in collaboration with Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, in Ancram, New York. Home of two art collectors, the venue reflects their taste for simple abstractionism. House is defined by four identical box-shaped volumes made of wood and covered with corrugated metal panels. All four volumes comprising rooms with different functions are connected to each other via small passageways. The sequence of living spaces reminds of a private gallery. Light comes in through cut outs and openings, creating an interesting effect.
Interior feels bright, airy and modern, neatly decorated in natural colours. “The floor plan contradicts the austere outer form, dissolving the four volumes into living and exhibition spaces that exceed the individual boxes and whose structure serves only as a rhythm for the lighting design. The rooms of differing heights are arranged on a line that passes through the house via two small staircases in the form of a loop.” The house is surrounded by large expanses of green, allowing residents to enjoy the soothing tranquility of the countryside.
Located in LA’s up-and-coming neighborhood Koreatown, The Line Hotel reinvents the idea of comfortable lodging with its raw design scheme. The 388-room unit is housed in the former Wilshire Plaza Hotel, a mid century building situated just three miles from Downtown, and six miles from Beverly Hills. The Line Hotel will accommodate three Roy Choi restaurants, a night club and a boutique.
Designer Sean Knibb explains the concept that stood at the basis of the overall decorating scheme: “Each guest room is made up of three boxes. We used wood in the entry, porcelain in the bathroom and concrete room for a simple, clean palate. The ash in the guest rooms compliments the stained plywood that we used in the lobby. We also designed the bed to face out for the best views and to maximize space, with a large desk that serves as the headboard.” How would you comment on the overall design of this hotel? Would you book a room with concrete walls?
Designer Stanley Tham of KNQ Associates completed the development of a minimalist apartment in Singapore. The home owner wanted a light, contemporary interior which would also incorporate quirky finds he collected over the years. Since the apartment is situated on a high floor overlooking the cityscape, the designers selected a palette of grey-blue, white and browns to play off the marvelous views. The living and dining areas may look conventional at a first glance, but the design introduces ‘unrefined’ materials like cement screed and stone tiles and adopts a more ‘casual’ approach to the way things are arranged or fixed. In its purest sense, a contemporary style is usually very polished, so by leaving parts of the house in a raw state and by further introducing modern materials and furnishings, the look is far from clinical, a stereotypical view many people have of minimalist spaces. Natural materials are a must, so timber in its purest form is featured extensively as well.Infusing each space with an individual personality, while maintaining a co-ordinated look has been achieved through a series of subtle references. The light in the study room hangs freely (with hanging cables and all) and the high-gloss white finish has been brought into this room from the living spaces to tie up the entire look. Even the same blue wall paint has been reduced several shades down here to cover the walls. In the master suite, the original open layout has been reconfigured to include a partition to better segregate the space, avoiding the usual walk-in-and-see-everything setting in new condominium units. Concealed space is an important consideration for every home, and this design here takes care of this requirement, adding additional cabinetry for everything from clothing to entertainment set-ups. Linen-like wall covering in a deep color add a touch of warmth to the resting space. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by KNQ Associates]
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How it works
First, you have to download the Villeroy & Boch AR App from the App Store or Google Play Store in your mobile device (phone of tablet). Guys, the good news is that the app is available for free for both, iOS and Android users. After you've downloaded the app, access the company's webpage and download the AR-Marker. Print it out. Place the AR-Marker on a flat surface and scan it using the app. For scanning you need to point your device's camera on the AR-Marker. You should be able now to see Villeroy & Boch products projected in 3D in the room.
The best thing about the app is that it allows you to visualise products in their original size, from all angles. Unlike going in a store and seeing only a limited range of choices and colours, the V&B AR App brings your selected products in all shapes and sizes, in all colour variants. As an add-on, the app includes an innovative consultation tool to help you decide what suits you best. Have fun exploring!
