Simon Baker sold his one-bed flat in London to buy a derelict cow shed in North Wales. He put all his savings into buying the land, which was a huge gamble as the shed didn’t have any planning permissions. Simon said, “When I saw the shed I fell in love with it – it was … Read more
The Xingcheng Exhibition Garden was designed for the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Expo in China. Shaped by Chengdu’s traditional aesthetics, the garden pavilion offers tranquillity amid nature. The pavilion emphasizes sustainable design through its use of low-carbon materials that align with the Expo’s green ethos. Principal architect Youcai Pan says, “We hoped to foster a … Read more
Invisible Studio designed a rammed earth and stone yoga studio for a hotel in Somerset, UK, that features a 36-foot-long skylight made from a single insulated double-glazed unit. The studio is lined entirely in beech slats which provide a “warm and immersive sanctuary-like space.” The external skin uses the same rammed earth and stone as … Read more
Several years ago Kirsten Dirksen’s family embarked on a project where they found a derelict (and affordable) country home located in a tiny, well-maintained castle hamlet 1 hour outside Barcelona, Spain. They began renovation with the help of a young architecture studio. Can a home remodel celebrate the layers of past, present, and future? Do … Read more
Ekarth Studio in India shows us that development and nature can go hand in hand. The Delhi-based studio focuses on bamboo construction to create luxurious spaces. Located in the heart of Assam, their new Firefly House merges innovative design with sustainable building practices. Firefly House is made almost entirely of bamboo that was harvested and … Read more
Daryl and Maria Cleary were living in a four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home when they decided it was time to downsize. “It was too much house for two people,” Maria said. The Clearys knew they wanted their home to be energy-efficient. They found a house plan that they liked and purchased it, increasing the square footage, and … Read more