House on the River Leie

Astene,  Belgium – Perneel Osten Architecten Project Year : 2016 Developed Area : 683.0 m2 ( 7376.4 ft2 ) Photographs : Arnout Fonck, Thomas De Ridder, Corneel Cannaerts Fresh foliage, a river and a home! This house was made from old and new structures that complement the surroundings. It provides a modern take of a barn that […]

The Hill House

Melbourne Australia  www.maynardarchitects.com This is an extension to an inner Melbourne home. Faced with multiple challenges from shading to integration, Andrew Maynard absolutely stepped outside of ‘the square’. You’ll find a lot more detail including videos, at http://www.maynardarchitects.com/Site/houses/Pages/Hill_House.html  (Architects comments are below the gallery) It’s a fascinating project that definitely ticks most boxes, but do […]

The Trojan House

Melbourne, Australia – Jackson Clements Burrows Pty. Ltd. Year built: 2009 Photography: Emma Cross The challenge: A great location but a small 90m2 (1,000sq ft) 1930’s house and the need to retain a playing yard for three young children. The solution: An innovative, 155m2 (1,700sq ft) addition called ‘The Trojan House’  (See below for the architect’s notes.) […]

A Victorian Cottage Gets a New Body

Chatworth Street Prahan East – Architect/Designer Unknown We’re going to be controversial here… Based on the affordability index, Australian residential property ranks amongst the most expensive globally. The home shown here is located about 6 klms (4 miles) from the centre of Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city.  It sold earlier this year at auction for somewhere […]

Black and White in Melbourne

A classic timber cottage – Victoria Australia  Architect unknown Gardens by Paul Bangay There is something very appealing about timber and lace.  This home, built in 1890, has been extensively renovated and enlarged while still retaining all the charm of the original home. Click on any image to start lightbox display.  Use your Esc key […]

An Italian Summer House

Travertine  Italy  – Massimo Fiorido Associati and Sundaymorning Studio Built:     1960 Renovated:     2012 Photography  –  Fabio Candido The original home was of average build standard from the start.  Fifty years later it was very tired.  The location and surrounding properties allowed for a recapitalization of the property.  At first glance, you could […]

Lucky Shophouse – a bookstore turns a new leaf

Singapore  –  CHANG Architects Photographs: Invy & Eric Ng and Albert Lim K.S. Looking at modern Singapore, it’s almost impossible to believe that it has a 1,000 year history.  It is street after street on pristine modernity.  The Singapore as we know it started in 1819 when the British established a port on the island.  World War II […]

Bal Residence – A 1960’s transformation

Menlo Park  California  USA  –  Terry and Terry Architecture Built area:    185 m2 (2,000 sq. ft.) Original home:     90 m2 Additions:     85 m2 As a general rule, it has now become – at surface level – both easier and less expensive to demolish and rebuild than to renovate and extend. […]

San Marcos Sleeping House – when colour meets panache

San Marcos Texas  –  A Gruppo Architects Area (addition):     88 m2  (950 sq ft) Completed:    2011 Photography by: Craig Kuhner Architectural Photography The challenge:  Two bedrooms, two bathroom home and a growing family. The solution:  A three bedroom addition and the conversion of the existing master suite into a home office and mud-room.  From the architect, […]

Wolzak – Farmhouse Reclaimation

Zutphen  Netherlands  –  SeARCH Architecture and Urban Planning Built area:     500 m2  (5,400 sq. ft.) Year built:     2004 Awards:     Achterhoek Architecture Prize 2005 Photography:    SeARCH and Christian Richters The Challenge: To retain the historical and spatial qualities of an old farmyard – complete with the outbuildings – while redeveloping into […]