Architecture: Residential Design -Shell House by Kotaro Ide

he 'shell house' by architect kotaro ide, is a sculptural shell-like structure which has been built in the woods
of karuizawa, located in the nagano prefecture of japan. the house is meant to function as a vacation home,

which is able to withstand the humid summers and cold winters of the region. to accomplish this,

ide opted not to use the typical wood structure of villas in the area because of their susceptibility to decay easily.
instead, he used reinforced concrete to construct two elliptical shell forms which are supposed to represent
a conch.

from its profile, 'shell house' takes on a j-shape which is raised above the ground by 1400 mm resulting in the
'floating' masses. ulin wood is used to create terraces around the home with a courtyard into the centre
of the main living areas. the villa's simple aesthetic lends itself well to the traditional japanese landscape,
creating a balance between the futuristic man-made structure and the environment which surrounds it. 

the entire project took more than 18 months to realize and two and a half years to complete.

Architecture: concrete and green roof house

If Wright and Le Corbusier were around today they might just agree that this home is the best of both Modernist worlds – combining the free-flowing Prairie Style interpretations of the former and the hard and linear Bauhaus concrete forms of the latter.

“Comfortable” and “concrete” rarely go together, but the balance out outward-looking, floor-to-ceiling windows, groomed landscape and surrounding forests help to offset the stark contemporary white, black and gray interiors.

The whole structure sitting within a single story helps as well, making it feel more tied to the ground (and effect reinforced by green ramps and roofs). Whether or not A Cero directly borrowed these strategies from early Modernists is hard to say, but it seems to work regardless.

Seasonal colors outside are largely left to speak for themselves, with bedroom, dining room and bathroom interiors dominated by muted tones, sharp lines and the occasional splash of blue or red – though a large-scale projection screen in the media room and some dynamic dining room lighting add interest as well.

So, would you feel at home in this house despite the extensive use of concrete, or is it still too minimalist for your tastes? One final touch that might have helped to offset the heavy architecture and material qualities: a little less landscaping and a bit more wild plant life outside of the structure, but to each his (or her) own, as they say.

Houses & living spaces I love- Beams

Architect Visit: Greene Partners Architecture and Design

Located in the San Juan Islands in Washington State, Greene Partners Architecture and Design describe themselves as "ruralists—collaborative by nature and environmentally aware and responsible." The tradition of vernacular architecture is demonstrated in their island homes' sense of place and focus on sustainability. We like the nod to tradition mixed with a modern approach to living space.

Architecture: terunobu fujimori: beetle's house

	Architecture: terunobu fujimori: beetle's house image: pasi aalto beetle's house is the name for the raised home designed by japanese architect terunobu fujimori which is currently on display as part of ‘1:1 - architects build small spaces’ at the v&a museum in london. the small dwelling sits in the museum’s medieval & renaissance room, high atop its pillared structure. the design is clad in rich black charred pine beams that no doubt reference the colour of the beetle. this type of wood creates a unique texture that preserves the wood and extends the building’s lifespan. the structure, like fujimori’s other works is intended to by-pass all architectural styles that have developed since the bronze age, returning the act of living to a more primitive state. this home is designed to host an english version of the traditional japanese tea ceremony. its is only accessiblethrough a small hatch in the floor which visitors enter from a ladder. image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto image: pasi aalto