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Natural light flows through this 1930’s converted hardware garage in the centre of Amsterdam thanks to a system of skylights and glass partitions walls. Self-described as Californian ease mixed with Japanese tranquillity, Barde + vanVoltt have transformed a 100sqm ground floor industrial space into a very comfortable home for a family of four.

Conquering the hardest client of all, themselves, to design their own home sees a shift in the studios’ clientele to more intimate private projects that demand careful and considered thought at every turn. Wide and open, the space is unique to Amsterdam that finds most apartments divided over multiple narrow levels.

Conscious of balancing the integrity of the building with their needs as a young family, Barde + vanVoltt looked to the building’s industrial past for materiality choice and refined the selection with sustainability and durability in mind.

The building’s original concrete floor, imperfections included, sets the foundation of the design. Warmth is integrated throughout by natural clay walls and custom-designed wooden Meranti wood-framed doors, an art deco flourish that references the arching detail of the period the property was built.

With a minimalist interior that utilises natural materials, it’s the Industrial style statements that really stand out. The ensuite has a free-standing tin bath and sink by Patricia Urquiola for Agape, brushed and burnished copper tapware are used in the wet areas, untreated wooden frames can be seen throughout, and a kitchen island made from rolled steel with a quartzite benchtop dominate the central space.

Architecturally the duo converted the solid front doors to glass and raised the roof at the rear of the building, converting the ceiling into skylights. Three bedrooms, a master and two children’s rooms are divided by wooden frames filled with glass to share the natural light.

Outside the building retains its charm with the original hardware store signage left in place. The glass doors can be opened up and used as a terrace in the summer, a natural extension of the airy open floor plan. With minimal intervention, this garage conversion is now a contemporary family home where life can be lived in all its magnificence – and its mess.

| The article Old Amsterdam Garage Becomes an Impressive Family Home for Barde + vanVoltt. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/bardevanvoltt-garage-transformation-amsterdam-adaptive-reuse/

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The post Don’t Fall for This Excuse Trap: Why “That Won’t Work for Me” is Self-Sabotaging appeared first on Nir and Far.

https://www.nirandfar.com/mental-blocks-to-productivity-techniques/

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Earth Day is this Thursday so this week I’ll be sharing posts related to places & ideas that mitigate the perils we face with a warming planet. After looking down at the planet for the last 7 years and learning more about how we impact it, I think the complex crisis that we face all comes back to the fact that we have released, and continue to release, too much carbon into the Earth’s atmosphere. Almost everything that we do produces some form of carbon emission in its processing, transportation, or consumption. This excess carbon warms the planet, both in the oceans’ waters and on land, leading to more volatility in our weather, which can disrupt and devastate our civilization that’s been constructed with predictable temperatures, precipitation, and water-levels in mind.

If we’re simplifying the problem of a warming planet, we can also think about solutions in a similarly simplified manner. First, if our activity produces too much carbon, we need to employ smarter, more sustainable technologies to generate and produce the things we need - like electricity, food, transport, etc. Second, we can implement technologies that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The best ones we have at the moment are trees - which have been photosynthetically feeding on carbon for millions of years. Brilliant people are trying to develop others.

So to start off the week, here’s the Westmont Rooftop Solar Project in San Pedro, California. 2 million square feet of solar panels now cover what was previously unused area on the roof of a distribution center. The panels have a bifacial design, meaning they collect reflected light from the surface of the roof in addition to direct sunlight. This enables the panels to generate up to 45% more power than traditional rooftop solar panels and power 5,000 nearby homes. I love this example because it shows that we can not only be more thoughtful about how we generate our energy, but also the land we use to do so.

I have a few posts lined up for the coming days. Here’s to a better future for our one and only home!

Benjamin Grant, Founder
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33.765342°, -118.286512°

Source imagery: Nearmap

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/648841834586570752

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Astra Walker Brisbane showroom’s side that faces the street has a warmly lit grid-style display, like little apartment windows where mixers from the Icon range are the residents.

The showroom’s galley-style layout presents as a series of bays with the product on one side, where private moments with individual pieces of each range can be enjoyed.

The interior palette is deliberately restrained in ecru tones, putting the focus on the tapware, with an island bench the centrepiece to draw visitors inside.

Of all the rooms in our homes to draw attention during the confinement that defined last year, the bathroom led the charge. Part cleansing space and part sanctuary, it became both a place of solace and necessary sanitation. It’s in this environment that Australian tapware manufacturer Astra Walker opened its first Queensland showroom in Brisbane. After more than 20 years of designing and creating some of the most beautifully resolved tapware on the market, Astra Walker is now a presence in the vibrant James Street precinct in Fortitude Valley.

Designed by local architects Richards & Spence, the 55sqm interior is the second of Astra Walker’s standalone showrooms, following the success of the Sydney Paddington store, completed in 2018. This space marks the coming of age for this quietly sophisticated brand, which has built its name on the ability to respond to the growing desire from local designers and architects for high functioning, luxury tapware.

If ever there was reason to refer to tapware as the jewellery of the bathroom, these contemporary pieces are it. Lines are clean and classic while being completely en pointe with current design directions, which is at the heart of the Astra Walker philosophy.

Related: Assemble Dial Collection by Astra Walker.

The central unit’s considered simplicity creates an uncluttered blank canvas where tapware, tiles, and benchtop materials become their own mood board. “You are not feeling overwhelmed by the interior, but the interior needs to hold its own at the same time,” says Ingrid Richards.

Architect Ingrid Richards from Richards & Spence said the bijou showroom‘s concept was to envelop the entire space, including the utility room at the rear, for visitors to see and experience the products for themselves.

The interior palette is deliberately restrained in ecru tones, putting the focus on the tapware, with an island bench the centrepiece to draw visitors inside. This is the main hub where everything comes together, where decisions are made, where dreams of the sanctuary are formed. The central unit’s considered simplicity creates an uncluttered blank canvas where tapware, tiles, and benchtop materials become their own mood board. Visitors are encouraged to play with the materiality and immerse themselves in creating a well-being environment that will replenish and recharge.

The showroom’s galley-style layout presents as a series of bays with the product on one side, where private moments with individual pieces from every range can be enjoyed. The side facing the street has a warmly lit grid-style display, like little apartment windows where mixers from the Icon collection are the residents.

Every aspect of the monastic interior has been deliberately designed to give the strongest voice to the Australian-made collection, including several new ranges, allowing clients to clearly delineate between even the smallest details.

Adjustable spotlights from Iguzzini set into the ceiling to provide directional light that can be enjoyed day or night, while low-key landscaping outside the side window is a gentle reminder of the biophilic qualities of the products within.

The bijou showroom’s concept was to envelop the entire space, including the utility room at the rear, for visitors to see and experience the products for themselves.

Brand director and co-founder at Astra Walker, Andrew Shirtliff, said the concept showrooms provide a space where clients can immerse themselves in their brand. “With a passion for timeless design, quality, and reliability, clients need to be able to touch and feel our product,” said Andrew.

“Local architect Ingrid Richards, whose work reflects the language of the city of Brisbane, was critical in bringing our vision for the James Street showroom to life,” he said.

According to Richards, every material choice adds a layer to the story – from the concrete render of the central island unit to the smoother finish of the two-pack cabinets, creating an experience that is both indulgent and cleansing.

“You are not feeling overwhelmed by the interior, but the interior needs to hold its own at the same time. You can bring a client in, and it’s easier to understand that process,” explained the architect.

“It is easy to get distracted if there is too much going on. Anything that is not Astra Walker really sits back.”

Related: The Calile Hotel Brisbane by Richards & Spence.

| The article Astra Walker Unveils New Brisbane Showroom by Richards & Spence. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/astra-walker-brisbane-showroom-richards-spence-retail-interior-design/

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Here’s a final reminder that our SPRING PRINTSHOP SALE ends tomorrow. Use code “SPRING20” for 20% off your entire order, including our new framed prints! Visit over-view.com/shop/prints to check out our entire collection.

Prints seen here include:

1. Boca Raton, Florida
2. Antarctica Sea Ice
3. Golden Gate Park
4. Chicago Polar Vortex

Source imagery: Maxar

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/648754382582808576

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Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, USA. It is surrounded by a major metropolitan area comprised of three main cities — Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater — and upwards of 3.1 million residents. The bay is also Florida’s largest open-water estuary, providing over 400 square miles (1,000 square km) of habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3sujiP7

27.762500°, -82.545833°

Source imagery: Airbus Space
© CNES 2020, Distribution Airbus DS

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/648646882032287744

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In Sarah Wigglesworth’s first private residence for 21 years, since designing her very own home, comes an exciting sustainable model for future living and wellbeing. Embracing multi-generational living, this environmentally conscious, three-bedroom, single level family home in North West London was designed to accommodate the ever-evolving living patterns of three generations living in one house.

Known for designing some of the most innovative buildings in the UK and specialising in sustainable communities, 2019 marked Sarah Wigglesworth Architects 25th-anniversary creating people-centred places that are joyful, inventive and resourceful. This landmark was celebrated with a project that can adapt and change as a family develops over the next year, five years and beyond.

By investing in the future now, the design considers pressing timely concerns and the long-term requirements of the occupants – mutual support, accessibility, comfort, energy use and adaptability were all given priority.

Housed on an infill site in Kensal Green that was occupied by a dairy farm until the early 20th century, the L-shaped building’s form references the outbuildings common in traditional agricultural buildings. A greenhouse – the only remaining structure left standing from that time now forms the centrepiece of the garden. Reincarnated as a light-filled lobby, the structure was refurbished and acts as a welcome space for relaxation amongst the warm enveloping backyard.

An open plan kitchen, dining and living area creates a naturalistic space for family life to play out, while visual connections between different parts of the home are encouraged by the L-shaped plan. While individual space is defined by window seats, a reading nook and the private bedroom wing that punctuate the space.

Green principles were considered during material selection. A sedum roof fills the entrance with natural light reflecting the terrazzo flooring below. The open plan areas utilise a poured natural resin floor made from plants while the sleeping areas have engineered, brushed and band sawn oak creating a feeling of restful warmth. The pure white walls are set off by a colour palette that ranges from muted grey and green to yolk yellow. Cedar cladding is used externally in timber shingles and boarding that will weather to a silvery grey with highlights of corrugated metal that alludes to the buildings past connection to its agricultural heritage.

Sarah and the SWA team worked in tandem with the values of the family, they expressed a commitment to healthy living and materials and are very keen gardeners.

Homeowner Ben Magid discussed: “We also wanted a place to provide a natural habitat for wildlife where the house felt part of the landscape. The rear garden was designed for low maintenance with a small lawn area, lots of planting and a large brick terrace area on the same level as the open plan kitchen/living wing. The front garden serves as both a winding path and an edible garden, planted with apples, pears, berries, figs and perennial vegetables.”

The house was designed and constructed according to Passivhaus principles ensuring it will have a very low energy footprint. Heating is provided by an air source pump and MHVR provides controlled ventilation.

The result is a long-lasting, energy-efficient building that forms the basis for a nurturing age-embracing family home.

| The article Haycroft Gardens: Sustainable Multi-generational House by Sarah Wigglesworth. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/sarah-wigglesworth-haycroft-gardens-eco-friendly-multi-generational-house-london/

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The Nile River is commonly regarded as the longest river in the world, flowing for 4,258 miles (6,853 km) over 11 countries in northeastern Africa. In this Overview, it is shown flowing north through Egypt, forming a large delta before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Civilizations since ancient times have depended on the waters of the Nile to flood and fertilize the surrounding desert lands.

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

29.336389°, 31.224667°

Source imagery: Airbus Space
© CNES 2020, Distribution Airbus DS

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/648557735812759552

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Early last year during lockdown there was a brief moment of reprieve for the climate crisis – we were gifted the ‘Nature is healing’ meme and saw carbon emissions plummet. While they have already bounced back, this latest global crisis has taught us (beyond better basic hygiene) that change is possible with rapid and radical actions. Unfortunately, this action seems to not extend to the more complex and long term threats plaguing the earth.

Nordic’s largest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat has designed a free font visualising the urgency for climate action and its impact on the environment. Illustrating how the arctic sea is predicted to shrink over time the font’s weight varies according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center’s (NSIDC) data from 1979 to 2019 and continues with IPCC’s projection until 2050. In other words, every headline, comment or article written with the font will exemplify the real impact of climate change on the arctic sea ice extent.

The heaviest font-weight represents the minimum extent of the Arctic sea ice in the year 1979 when satellite measuring began. The lightest weight represents IPCC’s 2050 forecast when the Arctic sea ice minimum is expected to have shrunk to only 30% of the 1979 extent.

As Kaius Niemi, Editor-in-chief from Helsingin Sanomat puts it – “Our mission is to make complex matters more comprehensible for our readers. What the past year has taught us is that humankind is much more adept to act when faced with an abrupt threat such as COVID-19. So when it comes to more complex issues such as climate change we need to find different ways to concretize the urgency”.

“The ongoing pandemic is by no means a reason for us to stop fighting against climate change”, says Niemi.

While scientific data from the NSIDC and IPCC isn’t as riveting as the Pandemic media cycle, these types of visual aids help get the point across with more immediacy, as the Art Director of Helsingin Sanomat, Tuomas Jääskeläinen says – “These kinds of new methods of journalistic storytelling complement our recent investments in data journalism. Yet, we don’t just want to keep it to ourselves, which is why we are giving it out for free and hope to see it in use elsewhere as well.”

Helsingin Sanomat itself recently used the font in a collection of its climate change articles published during 1979–2020. The collection shows how attitudes towards climate change have changed over the years in relation to its progress and the dwindling Arctic sea ice. Read more and download the font from TypeToAct.com.

| The article Climate Crisis Font by Helsingin Sanomat. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/helsingin-sanomat-climate-crisis-font/

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Citrus trees create fingerprint-like patterns on the landscape near Isla Cristina, Spain. The climate in this region is ideal for citrus growth, with an average temperature of 64° F (18°C) and a relative humidity between 60% and 80%.

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

37.241136°, -7.294464°

Source imagery: Maxar

https://dailyoverview.tumblr.com/post/648461708776570880