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Awash with a kaleidoscope of materials and finishes, this formerly cramped apartment bears all the familiar – not to mention cheeky – hallmarks of Greek studio Point Supreme Architects.

Located in Athens, this narrow two-bedroom apartment works within a modest footprint of 77 sqm. Taking this in their stride, the architects looked at designing a dynamic and open space by demolishing all the interior walls and replacing them with partitions and room dividers.

Upon entering the threshold you are immediately met with Point Supreme’s passion for colour. Underfoot a glossy sky blue floor acts as a welcome mat, pairing with the pale blue walls. Flooring plays a crucial part in delineating areas, with a red and white warning stripe leading into the living rooms parquetry floors. On the other side, a corridor connecting front and back with a stone-built floor leads to an interior garden with greenery spilling out and dappled sunlight coming in from a large window.

The interior is articulated around arguably the most important room in the house – the kitchen. Directly facing the entrance it’s placed in the middle of the area overlooking the entire apartment. Like a small greenhouse, it takes the form of a glass box with a deep burgundy frame. Teal and turquoise grace the cupboards and tiles with a quintessentially Greek green marble counter to match.

Neighbouring the kitchen, a small nook settee sits. Painted in a libidinal red with coordinating walls, tiles and a striking renaissance painting to boot this charged corner leads into the bathroom. The blood-red walls and shimmering mosaic tiles follow through into the bathroom, bright and open with a large side window the designers paired fluted glass with cubic fixtures.

Related: From Lacklustre to Lush: Ilioupoli Apartment Athens by Point Supreme Architects.

The use of various partitions and dividers, although unique to each room, create a feeling of continuity throughout the space while allowing for deep views through the whole depth of the apartment. At the same time, they allow the separation of the interior into smaller areas when needed and add significant storage and display areas.

Materials, colour palettes and atmosphere between the different programmatic areas of the house vary greatly, adding to the otherwise small apartment an unexpected feeling of variety and richness. Point Supreme never disappoints with their never-ending remixes of classic homely Greek architecture for modern living.

Related: Trikoupi Apartment in Athens by Point Supreme Architects. 

| The article Verena Apartment in Athens by Point Supreme. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/point-supreme-verena-apartment-athens-interior-design/

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Samarkand is the second most populous city in Uzbekistan and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. It is home to upwards of 500,000 people and has shown evidence of human activity since the late Paleolithic Era. This Overview shows the southeastern side of the city, with its traditional mud-brick Uzbek houses built around central courtyards and gardens.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3n0xqAL

39.628146°, 66.971960°

Source imagery: Maxar

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/661320920739250176

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Mariana de Delás surprises and delights in a new case study that renews a traditional stone shelter, turning it into a luxurious bijoux dwelling in rural Mallorca. Situated throughout the island’s agricultural fields, these traditional shelters were built to act as refuges and storage units for hunters and shepherds. Dispersed across idyllic locations around the island, they range from 5-20 sqm with their simple mares stone construction walls and light ceramic roofs cutting a familiar figure for locals and visitors alike.

With many of these huts currently unused, the designer looked at recuperating this particular hideout’s existing structure while optimising the interior volume. Delás maximised the area through the introduction of light, views and made-to-measure furniture with multiple uses.

A bright red bow window acts as the main architectural intervention. Opening out into the old quarry, this window serves as a seating element for the inside while generating cross ventilation when open. The new opening frames the landscape from both inside and outside, creating a connection between the interior and the exterior. Working in collaboration with local studio 2monos, they devised the thinnest metal profile possible to generate an opening mechanism that was easy, elegant and functional.

Related: Camouflaged in Nature: Gjemmested Fishing Hideout in Telemark, Norway.

All of the interventions and furniture pieces have been self-built to explore, learn and perfect the use of different materials and options. Benches, tables and stools are made by assembling the traditional mares pieces, bringing the characteristically traditional facade into the inside.

Following the self-building and exploration philosophy, facilities within the retreat are conceived in a way that work independently to the space they serve with the intent to be carried out by the individual. These MEP devices are envisioned to work on 12 volts to ensure fire hazard safety is adhered to, as the surroundings are very dry, and to promote a less energy consumption lifestyle. It also allowed for battery portability and electronic exploration to be explored.

Standing in the middle of a pine yard, the refuge is not rich in sunlight, so Delás devised – wait for it – a solar wheelbarrow! Acting as a morning ritual the wheelbarrow optimises the position of the sun to charge the inside power banks and batteries. All inside electrical components are made with small batteries so that they are portable and can be charged from the power banks that are charged at the solar wheelbarrow.

Lights and fans are made with 9-volt rechargeable batteries that can easily be charged by using the sun. A bigger power bank and some electrical scooter 12-volt batteries are also in use for charging laptops, the water pump and other heavier load components.

The solar wheelbarrow serves as a prototype and emblem of the beginning of tomorrow’s mobile charging stations that epitomize the future of mobile living. Once high capacity batteries become lighter, the power grid and installations can travel with the user and not be fixed into the architecture, making and creating a new revolution of nomad living, where energy is portable and disassociated from the space its serves.

In what can only be a good thing for mankind, these updated temporary dwellings act as a refuge (excuse the play on words) from the bustling and fast pace of urban life.

Related: Grooming Retreat by Gartnerfuglen + Mariana de Delás on Balearic Islands, Spain.

| The article Solar Powered 12 Volt Retreat in Rural Mallorca by Mariana de Delás. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/mariana-de-delas-12-volt-retreat-palma-de-mallorca/

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Elliðaey is the most northeastern island of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands), located off the southern coast of Iceland. The island’s permanent population is zero and its only building is a hunting lodge built by the Elliðaey Hunting Association, which can be seen in this Overview on the northern end of the island. Due to its unique off-the-grid location, the lodge has earned Internet fame as “the loneliest house in the world.”

See more here: https://bit.ly/3yFFGIv

63.465278°, -20.175000°

Source imagery: Maxar

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/661242944068681728

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YSG Studio has transformed a late 19th-century Victorian Georgian corner shop in Sydney’s Rozelle into a family-friendly home for four. Preserving the historical character of the existing framework, this three-storey sandstone family abode was revived with an adroit telescoping of eras and artistic influences. Within, bold hues and textures harmoniously mingle with whisper-soft sensuality.

Intent on colonising open space, YSG removed all original joinery and furniture to create a combined kitchen, dining and living area in the original shopfront. Furnishings and fixtures subtly reference Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s delicate Art Nouveau flourishes and the quiet restraint of timber framing devices take heed from traditional Japanese interiors. In totality, the project took three years to complete, due to council approvals and meticulous structural alterations to maintain original features.

Related: Budge Over Dover by YSG Studio is Not Your Regular Home.

Just as all monumental stars need a great support act, tactile finishes and textures play to the splendour of the stone walls. They softly intervene to avoid strong contrasts between old and new, enhancing original features instead. Wooden frames are the reassuring embrace, taking inspiration from shōji. A deep threshold of ebony-stained American Oak highlights the theatre of the dining room like a proscenium arch – subtly acknowledging the outlines of the removed wall. Two gloss-finished solid timber orbs secure the armature on either side, concealing exposed fixings to the surround. This angled arc concept is gently echoed in a bedroom, aesthetically framing walk-in-robe joinery whilst serving as hanging apparatus. Within the master suite, timber frames the wardrobe and bed like tatami matting. Emanating a pearlescent glow granted by textured vintage seagrass wallpaper, a mood of luxe seclusion is enhanced. Similarly, the kitchen’s under bench joinery hovers within a framing device of latticed timber while the island bench is offset by lithe vertical supports under the heft of leathered quartzite.

Exploring the ethereal application of timber further, a rectangular halo of Australian Red Cedar with blunted corners hovers from the void above the dining table LED’s of this custom-designed piece articulates its underside. The carved Poplar Burl cups, inspired by Venetian Barovier & Toso chandeliers, ignite interest towards the upper level. A myriad of fabrics in nubby wool textures and silky finishes complement the matte and sheen characteristics of the pitted walls as sun and shadow play upon them. They range from the soft bark-like texture of the framed antique batik fabric of the shōji in the lounge to the shimmer of the frayed oyster grey silk bedhead in the master suite.

Spaces swell and expand through pattern integration. The square macro outlines of the floor pavers sync in miniature scale with the master ensuite’s mosaic tiles and the salon’s lilac open weave linen curtains, enhancing flow.

Within the main bathroom, the horizontal bands of rose-tinted limestone tiles grant the illusion of sunlight streaming within. Tactical mirror placements visually amplify dimensions and bounce natural light throughout.

Hard angles are softened via the inclusion of rounded tables, upholstered furnishings, undulating surfaces and carved nooks including the live edge timber shelving in the lounge and display ledge running the length of the room above the seating perch. The gentle bulge of the hemp-rendered wall supporting the ledge adds cossetting comfort, as minimalist adaptations of wainscotting boost the Victorian appeal in the sleeping quarters.

Through an elegantly radical palette and flowing interior, YSG’s clever transformation of the late 19th-century corner shop has created a comfortable and indulgent family home. Retaining the buildings historical essence, the seemingly odd pairing of Art Nouveau elements and Japanese traditions bridge the divide between heritage and contemporary styling, resulting in an entirely new kind of aesthetic. Kudos.

See more projects by YSG Studio on Yellowtrace.

| The article Soft Serve: YSG Studio Transforms a Rozelle Corner-shop into a Family Home. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/ysg-studio-soft-serve-rozelle-sydney-property-adaptive-reuse/

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Floodwaters brought on by Hurricane Ida are sweeping through coastal Louisiana, devastating towns around New Orleans and leaving many stranded waiting for aid and evacuation. Much of the region is still without electricity as rescue crews have come in to provide help and assess the damage. These Overviews show:

• Flooding at a junkyard in Lafitte, LA
• Before & after of damage to bridge just upriver in Lafitte, LA
• Significant damage to a home in Marrero, LA just outside of New Orleans
• Water rescue at homes in Barataria, LA

Source imagery: Nearmap

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/661144651132272640

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A hybrid exhibition and research space has come into full bloom in the southernmost city of Hainan Island, China. Sanya Farm Lab, designed by Beijing-based CLOU architects, is a multipurpose infrastructure interlocked with ties between traditional and modern—as well as society’s shifting attitude and support for a better connection to nature.

Sanya Farm Lab is based in Nanfan High Tech District of Sanya—a district known for its seed development. The client brief for the new hub was developed to accommodate the government’s interest in creating a building to foster research on tropical plants, in addition an investigative space specifically for the research of “environmental change, land/water scarcity and food production issues”. Added with the growing interest in the desire to connect with rural life (I mean, have you seen Li Ziqi’s videos?!), as well as in increased popularity in rural tourism.

The architects designed an impressive 4,000-square-metre four-storey building that blurs the principles between research and social; and indoor-outdoor relationships. The overarching scale was achieved through three stages—stage one involved establishing the perimeter of the outdoor spaces within the building, followed by creating interconnections with accessways before completing the third with a breathtaking timber façade to enclose the facility.

Related: Timber Community Food Hub by University of Berkeley + Kengo Kuma.

Across each level are different activities that allow effortless interaction between visitors and agricultural display. The ground floor is filled with vertical farming and other rural showcases, with kitchen and bar allowing visitors to enjoy farm-to-table cuisine. Travelling upwards, connected by a statement spiral staircase, is a cantilevering first floor serving as a multipurpose theatre and discussion space that offers terrace views towards the north. The second and third is a playground terrace for children to enjoy and appreciate the framework of the impressive structure. Across the ground to third floors, office and back of house spaces station themselves in the northeast end of the floor.

To further the relationship between nature and people within the science building, micro landscapes dot themselves as implied boundaries for programs and wayfinding across each level. Ambitious vertical gardens—though planted on the ground floor—manage to stretch themselves into the discussion space on the first floor. Similarly, a void is punctured through the very same level allows for a tree to grow while being managed by agricultural robots.

Additional ties to nature and heritage are subtly made through the exterior façade. The gridded tectonic framework of 800mm thick laminated timber veneers infilled with grid-patterned frosted glazing is inspired by the architecture of local Hainan Li people. Such ties are also a conscious design to maintain the climate inside—for it reduces the solar intake while leaving the aesthetic refreshing and innovative.

As someone with a fascination for indoor plants, I’d be keen to take lessons from this building. There’s an impressive architecture to admire, and open spaces to socialise and learn from. Added the opportunity to take a break from the city life in a contemporary context, it makes this contemporary greenhouse an attraction plant enthusiasts wouldn’t want to miss.

Related: 100% Wood House in Amboise, France by Local & Suphasidh.

| The article Technology Meets Agriculture at Sanya Farm Lab by CLOU architects. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/clou-architects-sanya-farm-lab-co-life-greenhouse-timber-pavilion-hainan-china/

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The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York City, has been the home of the US Open Tennis Championships since 1978. The 2021 tournament kicked off yesterday on the complex’s 22 courts, including three of the largest tennis stadiums in the world – Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, and the Grandstand.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3gQvIOB

40.749550°, -73.845643°

Source imagery: Nearmap

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/661058243769024512

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New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding region experienced major damage and a city-wide power outage this morning after it was struck by Hurricane Ida last night. Ida’s 150-mph (230-kph) winds ripped roofs from structures and even reversed the flow of the Mississippi River, which is seen on the left of this Overview. Roughly half of New Orleans is at or below sea level, making it particularly vulnerable to flooding between the banks of the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3zIPPpr

29.950000°, -90.080000°

Source imagery: Maxar

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/660967891067355136

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Designed by Naoto Fukasawa for Artemide, Demetra Table Lamp is inspired by the Greek goddess of the harvest. Its ingenious combination of flexibility and seamlessly sleek design make Demetra an ideal choice for productive environments like business or home offices.

 

Tolomeo, Tizio, Shogun, Demetra — sound familiar? No lighting brand looms quite as large as Artemide. Since being founded in Milan by Ernesto Gismondi in 1960, the brand has been responsible for some of the most iconic pieces of contemporary design.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Artemide lights are specified on most architecture projects I work on. That’s because their collection of world-class pieces are suitable for every room and every need, striking a balance between form, function, innovation and efficiency.

The brand’s design philosophy ‘The Human Light’ places the human experience at the forefront and creates an ‘illuminated companion’ that makes a tangible contribution to daily life. With a laser focus on design and innovation, Artemide products originate from research and high-quality manufacturing.

This Yellowtrace Promotion is supported by Stylecraft. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain the utmost relevance to our audience. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Yellowtrace.

Welcoming Artemide to Stylecraft, the Sydney showroom windows were transformed by Susan Standring and Matt Sheargold of STUDIOX3 with a series of artists vignettes. Photographed by Rowland Reyes Martinez / Edited by ar-chive studio.

Artemide’s Yanzi collection detail at Stylecrafy Sydney. Photographed by Rowland Reyes Martinez / Edited by ar-chive studio.

Stylecraft Melbourne windows were also transformed by Susan Standring and Matt Sheargold of STUDIOX3 to welcome Artemide. Photography by Haydn Cattach.

 

Artemide Design Collections are now available in Australia and Singapore exclusively through Stylecraft. Building on their growing collection of design pieces — Artemide’s expansive range of wall, table, floor and pendant lights now provides the opportunity for designers to source complementary pieces to Stylecraft’s furniture collections.

In welcoming Artemide to our shores, Stylecraft showrooms in Melbourne and Sydney had their window displays designed by Susan Standring and Matt Sheargold of STUDIOX3.

“Inspired by the theatrical staging of a diorama, the windows are playful and whimsical, providing fresh narratives for both new and classic Artemide fittings,” explains Susan Standring. The aim of the windows was to engage onlookers both internally and externally, with a touch of Milanese flair.

The Dalù Table Lamp, designed by Vico Magistretti in the 1960s for Artemide, is a re-creation of the unmistakable original, translating the ethos of the swinging sixties and psychedelia into the current day.

 

For more than 60 years, Artemide has focused on understanding how people interact with light, resulting in an offering that combines beauty and functionality.

The following designs chart their journey from iconic ranges such as Tolomeo, Tizio and Shogun, to Artemide’s new collections including Laguna, Yanzi, nh and Gople.

Let’s dive in.

The Tolomeo series, designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina for Artemide in 1986, is recognised by designers and architects around the world as a perfect marriage of engineering and design. Perhaps one of the most iconic lighting collections ever made, the Tolomeo remains as relevant to various settings today as it was over 30 years ago. The Tolomeo Floor Lamp is also available in various wall, floor and suspension options.

Tolomeo is also available in vibrant pops of colour in the Bicolour version with blue, coral and white options added to accent the black base.

 

Oh, Tolomeo! Perhaps one of the most iconic lighting collections in the world, the Tolomeo is as relevant today as it was over 30 years ago. A magnificent combination of balance and movement, engineering and design, the collection of table, floor, pendant and wall lamps was designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1986.

The Tolomeo table functions as a task lamp and a sleek design object with a fully adjustable arm to direct light. To further control the quality of light, options include a dimmer switch incorporated in the head as well as a motion sensor for energy consumption and tunable white LED technology to adjust the colour temperature. The Tolomeo Floor Lamp combines the body of the Tolomeo table lamp with a floor standing support. Tolomeo pendant also features the same arm balancing system as the table lamp but with an adapted mounting system that’s available in double suspension with or without a shade. The Tolomeo Wall Lamp has a surface or j-box wall support and comes in various sizes including classic, micro, mini and mega, with options of parchment or fabric shades.

As an icon of Italian design, the Tizio Table Lamp graces the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York amongst the most celebrated icons of modern lighting. Designed for Artemide by industrial designer Richard Sapper in 1972, the sophisticated principle of fully adjustable balanced counterweights, lack of wires, and electrical conductor arms have made Tizio an illustrious award-winning design of the 20th century.

Another icon of Italian design is the Tizio. Designed by industrial designer Richard Sapper in 1972, Tizio is a sophisticated display of aesthetic and functional balance. “The lamp is built with two counterweights allowing the user to direct the light at will. The lamp adjusts with a pull or push of the hand and stays in place as set. Eliminating the need for extraneous wires and enhancing a clean aesthetic. A small reflector works with the light source to provide highly concentrated light,” explains the designer. Tizio is available in a table and floor version.

This notable, award-winning lamp is in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. “It stands proud amongst the most celebrated icons of modern lighting, effortlessly blending function with style.”

 

Also forming part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection is Shogun. Designed in 1986 by Swiss architect Mario Botta, the lamp uses simplified geometric forms reminiscent of Bauhaus and Modernist traditions.

“The structure of perforated steel creates beautiful plays of light and shadows that position themselves at will by moving the reflectors.”

With its pure elegance and its harmonious curves, Laguna was originally designed by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez for Artemide for hotel and residential interiors.

 

Moving forward in time to 2013, Laguna by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez is one of Artemide’s more recent collections. These table lamps were designed with hotels and residential interiors in mind, but their application is universal. Laguna consists of spherical glass lamps in different hues combined with cylindrical bases in lacquered metal, chrome and brass.

“The lagoon of Venice was the main inspiration: its fascinating atmosphere, its light and its mist,” explain the designers. This collection brings together traditional hand-blown glass techniques with the latest LED technology to ensure sustainability, durability and ethereal beauty.

In a blend of tradition and innovation, the Yanzi Suspension lamp, designed by Shanghai-based design office Neri&Hu for Artemide, is a lightweight composition of balanced structures, with handblown glass spheres and brass elements, inspired by the image of birds perching on scaffolding.

The Yanzi collection of table, floor and pendant lamps was inspired by birds perching on a branch. Designed by Shanghai-based multidisciplinary office Neri&Hu, “Yanzi is a lightweight composition of balanced structures, with hand-blown glass spheres and brass elements that perch on aluminium branches.”

The table lamp is a singular bird while the floor and pendant lamps are a sculptural flock of them. Yanzi’s clean lines and elegant materials add contemporary design, with a playful edge, to any space.

The nh Floor Lamp, designed by Neri&Hu for Artemide, is a simple blend of timeless traditions and fresh innovations. Featuring a white glass sphere, a black stand and a curved brass ring, the lamp’s structure is unique and surprisingly versatile: the position of the sphere can be adjusted by moving the brass ring along the steel stand, allowing you to change its appearance as desired. The nh Suspension Lamp is also available in table, floor and wall versions.

Neri&Hu also collaborated with Artemide Design on the nh collection. The design centres on a white blown glass sphere on a brass ring that can be hung on the wall, suspended from the ceiling or adapted to a table and floor lamp.

A spin on the traditional lantern, the nh family is a contemporary take on lighting and is a refreshing blend of tradition and innovation.

Always at the forefront of research, technology and sustainability, Artemide Design has an ongoing collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) on the Gople collection. The pill-shaped blown glass lamp uses Artemide’s patented RWB lighting system in the suspended version. This system allows light to be set at different temperatures to achieve white, blue or red tones to play with the ambience of a room. It also helps plants with photosynthesis, making it a welcome addition to spaces with foliage.

“Combining next-generation technology with ancient techniques, Gople is a perfect expression of sustainable design,” explain the designers. “The end result is a product that delivers both visual comfort and aesthetic value while contributing to the wellness of both man and the environment.”

For more information on Artemide Design Collections available in Australia exclusively at Stylecraft, visit stylecraft.com.au/artemide.

Designed by Enzo Mari & Giancarlo Fassina for Artemide, the Aggregato Suspension Lamp combines contemporary innovation with timeless style. A striking, geometric hanging feature and light source, Aggregato has a lightweight profile with a refined expression. Expertly crafted, the design can effortlessly integrate into an array of styled spaces, with its contrasting counterweight and alluring globe of light producing an eye-catching, balancing illusion. 

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[Images courtesy of Stylecraft and Artemide. Photography credits as noted.]

| The article Lighting the Way: A True Icon of Italian Lighting, Artemide, Arrives at Stylecraft. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/italian-lighting-icon-artemide-arrives-at-stylecraft-design-classics/