Open Living Design : The Sebastopol Residence By Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects

Located in Sebastopol California this cozy home was designed for two graphic designers by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects last year. The exterior is constructed from cedar siding with a metal roof and the interior features a Douglas fir ceiling and decking, sheetrock walls and Ipe flooring. The home has an expansive view from the glass facade of the northern wall while the elevation of the south wall gives privacy from the road outside, but still receives light from the clerestory windows. An open floor plan gives the residence a spacious feel although it is a modest size at 1,700 square feet.

World’s First Ever Undersea Restaurant – Ithaa

The world’s first ever undersea restaurant called Ithaa ( which translate as “pearl” in the natives’ language in Maldives, Dhivehi ) brought to you by Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa. This undersea restaurant cost less than $5 million and is part of a project to rebuilt the Rangalifinolhu Island into a tourist attraction. The restaurant sits 5 meters below the sea and is surrounded by vibrant coral reef offering a 270 degrees of panoramic underwater views. This 5 x 9 meter restaurant has a capacity of 14 people and was designed and constructed by M.J. Murphy Ltd which is a design consultancy based in New Zealand. The meals of this restaurant range in cost from USD$120 to USD$250.

Dolce & Gabana Headquarters in Milano

New D&G showroom. With a surface of 5.000 square meters, the imposing D&G building in Milano, Italy is a combination of classic elements and modern influences. Designed by architectural studio Piuarch, the construction is actually a contemporary building juxtaposed over a ‘900 one. Here are some words from the architects that best describe the project’s features: ” The facades of the building housing the showrooms are entirely glazed and feature a series of vertical, closely spaced louvers of opal glass. This membrane, made of glass, acts as a filter, softly diffusing the daylight through the building and serving at the same time as a sunshade.”

Minimalist House H in Tokyo by Sou Fujimoto Architects

It’s a fact that space has become a high priced commodity but when you say Tokyo, it’s even worse. A very good example is the latest project by Sou Fujimoto Architects, the House H. Meant as a way to perfectly balance volumes, spaces and light, the house follows on the Japanese minimalism with white walls and open spaces that give the idea of “large”. With a small pool at the ground floor, staircases that take you to the top terrace (which by the way, it’s not that safe for kids) and a transparent theme flowing everywhere, there is something about House H that gets the eye, even though it puts your privacy in jeopardy.

Qubik Bar

Waltritsch a+u designate the Qubik Bar located in the smallest part, but socially very important, of the Slovenian cultural and educational KBcenter in Gorizia, Italy.

All over the world, cafes are today public spaces for rituals that belong to the urban world. Like having a cup of coffee or meet some friends or dedicating time to the private sphere. Places which stimulates individual curiosity and stages for urban human behavior.

Laid out within only 25 square meter the bar has two entrances: from the city main road, Corso Verdi, and from the courtyard internal to the cultural center, so it almost becomes a passage where passer by and internal user can occasionally meet. The design is therefore based on the idea of ‘dilating’ the limited space.

A long Corian counter becomes an extension that breaks through the physical boundaries of the room: a cube-shaped illuminated showcase on the street side, a suspended smoking corner into the courtyard. The illuminated ‘sugar cube’ projecting onto the street also serves as a marker: this bar has no written sign, as the nature of the business is conveyed through the direct exposition of the product. Temperated glass,silk screened in a solid color clads the two windowless walls to continue the illusion of extension and to accentuate its depth.

Waiuku Church

A project from Jasmax architects developed for the city council of Manukau in New Zealand. The challenge of this “church” makeover consisted in the fact that the city council did not want just a” remake” of a 1960’s ‘A-frame’ Church, but a increase in seating places, a new kitchen, a meeting room and a lounge

Twilight New Moon Film House

The home used in “Twilight: New Moon” film opening today, as the residence for Edward and the rest of the Cullen family is up for sale for $3.3 million . The 5,000 sq ft, five-bedroom property is located on half an acre on a creek-side lot in West Vancouver.The propriety was designed by noted architect Arthur Erickson and totally renovated in 2001. Just after the “New Moon” filming was completed, the owners decided to capitalize on the fame and publicity and the Twilight house is now on the market.