Confined Argentinian Home Arranged Around a Small Courtyard Illuminating Modern Spaces

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Posted: 22 Aug 2014 02:03 AM PDT

Within the confinement of a small plot, a modern home offering an open layout for enjoying both the inside and outdoors might seem close to impossible. But then again, architects have a way to visualize the given space in its completed stage and walk around construction sites like they’d walk across the finished home. This compact plot measuring 10 meters wide by 14 meters deep stands 20 meters from the property line. In the middle of such a tight space, the modern home was supposed to be basked in natural light and extend living outdoors. Spreading over just 120 square meters, the modern Argentinian house was imagined by Rosana Sdrigotti and Julio Cavallo as having a central courtyard opened to the sky.

Space efficiency was the framework used for stacking up modern design lines. Two opposing volumes generate a void shaped as a relaxing space where BBQs and lounging in the sun can become habitual activities. A minimalist budget and space confinement led to the creation of a highly functional minimalist home with flexible environments. Photographs by Federico Cairoli extend our knowledge about the home’s layout: main living space on the lower floor and private spaces above oriented north for light opposing the volume of the study space that has independent access from the east. This small courtyard allows a full transparency within the home and privacy from neighboring homes. Adorned with an existing palm tree, the compact courtyard allows for a smooth transition between outdoors and indoors.

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Hillside Dream Home Embedding Dramatic Panoramas Into Casual Californian Lifestyle

Posted: 21 Aug 2014 11:11 AM PDT

Beautifully isolated to shape a luxurious environment, the Holmby Hills Residence rests on a 57,250 square feet site in Holmby Hills, Bel Air, Los Angeles, so you can see where it gets its name from. The location inspired not only its name, but its openness towards panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills beyond. Designed by London-based Quinn Architects, the luxury Californian home itself spreads over 15,250 square feet of perfectly manicured spaces. The luxurious villa built for for international property developer Estate Four as a speculative residential development can be easily seen as a hillside dream home.

The design and architecture team worked from the ground up to create a masterfully elegant home design: “A detailed soil survey was commissioned to understand the below ground condition of the hillside, which then became a catalyst for both the architectural, civil and structural design. “The Holmby Hills Residence is surrounded by luscious vegetation and showcases a basement and first floor terrace emerging from the landscape. “The entrance sequence from the street to the house itself was designed to be dramatic, with a significant motor court and powerful 20 ft high canopy above the main entrance. A descending staircase followed by an over-sized entrance door heightens the sense of arrival to the residence.The expansive first floor level gives 7,000 sq ft of living accommodation that is set around 6,500 sq ft of terrace space, that in turn hugs the edge of the 60 ft long infinity-edged pool and Jacuzzi. The terrace gives access to over 30,000 sq ft of landscaped gardens and tennis court, via a sunken gym that is surrounded by rich vegetation. A 75 ft long gallery links the primary living spaces with a private guest suite and is designed to exhibit a significant art collection.”

Designed for an art-lover, the elegantly proportioned luxury villa has plenty of display places and natural light coming from a collection of skylights, clerestory windows and full height sliding panels. Secluded and private, the beautiful residence blends the inside with the outdoors in a successful attempt to wash away any worries.

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