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Top 10 Home Fragrance Solutions You Need For A Pleasant + Fresh Smelling Living Space

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Modern homes require modern fragrance solutions. We all like a pleasant and fresh-smelling home, with aromatic fragrances drifting around. But sometimes pesky odors do crawl into our homes, and despite our best efforts we can’t always be vigilant about them, and nip them in the bud. This is where innovative and functional fragrance solutions are needed to do what you are unable to do. These handy little designs range from relaxing aroma diffusers to eco-friendly air purifiers – they ensure that there is always fresh air in your home, and nasty odours are eliminated from a mile away. From a natural air purifier that uses a miniature forest to clean your home environment to a bedside lamp integrated with a scented candle – these are the ingenious home fragrance solutions you need for your precious living space.

1. Briiv Pro

The Briiv Pro is an eco-friendly purifier that harnesses nature and technology to cleanse the air in your home. The Briiv first made a debut in 2020, and the new and improved Briiv Pro is more powerful than ever. It is a ‘mini forest’ that can purify a 16 sq.m room in 21 minutes. This makes the Briiv Pro around 6900% more effective than house plants!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Briiv Pro is 6900% more effective than house plants, which is truly commendable for a purifier of its size. Besides being a boon for the air in your home, it is also quite good-looking, unlike the ugly boxy appliances that are called air purifiers these days.

What we like

  • It is equipped with an AI-based sensor
  • It has a whisper-soft noise level
  • It works using a layered trifecta of coconut fiber, moss, and a silk nanofiber matrix with activated carbon

What we dislike

  • It doesn’t have any air quality indicators
  • Only available in one base color, there aren’t any options to choose from

2. Battery-Free Aroma Diffuser

This battery-free aroma diffuser is another great alternative to have some fresh and fragrant air in your home. It lets you take a deep relaxing breath, without harming the environment in any way. The battery-free diffuser harnesses the power of a single candle through the simple use of physics and science, to spread pleasant-smelling air in your home.

Click Here to Buy Now: $249

Why is it noteworthy?

The diffuser is a battery-free product. It doesn’t need any external power sources to operate, it relies solely on the heat of a single candle to spread relaxing aromatic scents throughout your home. The diffuser is built from sustainable materials and has a minimalist and eco-friendly ethos.

What we like

  • Made using recyclable materials
  • Compatible with different kinds of essential oils

What we dislike

  • It can be difficult to adjust the intensity of the aroma since the diffuser doesn’t have electric controls

3. Japanese Lantern Candle

Another way to spread some aromatic scents through your home, and eliminate bad odors is by using this stunning Japanese lantern candle. Designed to look like a traditional Japanese ‘chouchin’ lantern, the candle has a pillow-inspired shape, and is a fantastic fit for your bedroom or bathroom, allowing you to also indulge in some pampering.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69

Why is it noteworthy?

The quaint Japanese lantern candle gives a contemporary take on an iconic Japanese design. It emits a relaxing glow and spreads a pleasant aroma, which also showcases a minimalist design that merges perfectly with any modern living space. Handcrafted by artisans in Kurashiki, Japan, the candle is a specimen of meticulous Japanese craftsmanship.

What we like

  • Since the wax is non-melting, you get an amazing clarity on the candle

What we dislike

  • The candle is a fire hazard and must be used with caution around children and pets

4. Retro Candle Lamp

This little vintage-inspired lamp is called the Retro Candle Lamp, and it will make a fitting addition to your bedside table. Besides doing the obvious job of lighting up your room with a soft subtle light, the candle lamp is also equipped with an empty platform to hold scented candles. By adding scented candles to the lamp, you can spread a sweet scent around your room.

Why is it noteworthy?

The warmth from the lamp activates the fragrance molecules in the candle, and it emits a pleasant smell, without you even lighting it! This eliminates the risk of having an open flame right near your bed. It is a safe design, that also successfully deals with any odour issues you may have at home.

What we like

  • The light of the lamp can be dimmed at your convenience
  • The lamp features a handle on the top, which lets you rotate, carry, and position the lamp without touching any parts that may have gotten too hot

What we dislike

  • Not a great option for those who like watching an open flame flickering

5. The Miniature Bonfire Wood Diffuser Set

Coined the Miniature Bonfire Wood Diffuser Set, this little relaxation-inducing design recreates the smell and the experience of a mesmerizing outdoor fire. It captures the smells, scent, earth, and joy of a memorable outdoor fire within the comfort of your own home, without any of the dangers of a large outdoor fire.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99

Why is it noteworthy?

The mini hardwood used for the diffuser is collected from branches that were intended to be discarded away. They give off a warm smoky smell when burnt on the stainless steel mini oven, giving off a comforting aroma. You can add a few drops of the essential oils extracted from Mt.Hakusan trees, and an authentic outdoor scent will spread through your home.

What we like

  • The diffuser can be used as a cooking or heating stool as well, by adding a piece of solid wood, making it a multifunctional design

What we dislike

  • Requires small pieces of wood.

6. Olfactive Stéréophonique

Called the Olfactive Stéréophonique, this unique device is a scent diffuser in the shape of a speaker. The device mimics the shape of a horn speaker, but doesn’t emit melodies, instead, it spreads some lovely scents in your home. Inspired by the shape of an antique speaker, it will fill up the room with a fragrance-like sound.

Why is it noteworthy?

The fragrance diffuser emits the smell uniformly and efficiently, unlike the usual front or upward aroma-blasting diffusers that we see on the market. For this concept, the designers borrowed theories from high-efficiency sound wave guides, creating a unique diffuser.

What we like

Equipped with a package of 10 capsules – recreating the aroma of nostalgic incense “used in Hindu and Buddhist temples and the unique smell of ancient wooden structures

What we dislike

  • High price for a diffuser, may not sit right with everyone

7. Stress-Free Aroma Diffuser

Meet the Stress-free Aroma Diffuser, a nifty little design that lets you sit back and relax while breathing in a gaming mix of aromatic blends that have been specifically picked to soothe your mind, and help you unwind. Besides spreading pleasant aromas through your home, it is also designed to help you de-stress.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149

Why is it noteworthy?

The diffuser creates its gentle breeze, allowing the aroma to softly and evenly disperse wherever you’re sitting, with a porcelain filter soaking up the oil to provide a long-lasting experience.

What we like

  • Besides functioning as an aroma diffuser, it also serves as an elegant decoration piece

What we dislike

  • The diffuser seems easily breakable, it must be handled with caution and care

8. Statement Floral Bud Vase

The best way to add some sweet-smelling fragrances to your home is by introducing some flowers. And this pretty little metal flower vase seems like a striking fit to hold your favorite floral arrangement. The Statement Floral Bud Vase will showcase the natural beauty of a flower and its stem while letting the natural fragrance of the flower spread through your home.

Click Here to Buy Now: $35

Why is it noteworthy?

The minimal and stylish flower case is designed to seamlessly merge with all kinds of interior spaces. It is also carefully weight to prevent it from topping over, and it is specially designed to fully display the flower, and all complete focus on it.

What we like

  • The vase is available in silver and pink gold, giving you two elegant options to choose from
  • Highlights and showcases the natural beauty of the flower, without stealing away any attention

What we dislike

  • The size of the vase is quite compact, so it can’t hold too many flowers and isn’t the best fit for larger flowers
  • It can get easily knocked over since it is quite small

9. Aroma Fragrance Pin

Another way to guarantee sweet-smelling surroundings at all times is to carry a little pin on your body! Called the Aroma Fragrance pin – this little pin is a tiny holder that can hold a little cotton dabbed with your favorite essential oil. You now have a strong yet subtle fragrance enveloping you through the day, no matter where you go. It leaves a pleasant smell wherever you are in your home!

Click Here to Buy Now: $49

Why is it noteworthy?

The pin creates an individual fragrance bubble for you, that follows you everywhere. You can easily top it up, once the smell starts to fade away. The pin is a useful option for people with sensitive noises who may get affected by the aerosol particles in typical perfumes.

What we like

  • The pin resembles a fashionable button-style accessory and is available in a variety of colors to choose from

What we dislike

  • The quality of the aromatic oil you use will determine how long the aroma lasts, so you may need to partake in some trial and error till you find the perfect fit

10. Ploud

Ploud is a versatile little hanger that will never let you pull out another crumply or smell shirt from your wardrobe. It allows you to hang your clothes in two different ways – either you hang them traditionally, or you fasten them. Also interestingly, the hanger’s arms clip off in the middle, offering space to stick in a fragrance of your choice, and then close it back up.

Why is it noteworthy?

The hanger comes along with an interchangeable scent stick that you can replace whenever you like. Ploud ensures your clothes smell fresh and clean, without that pesky detergent odor. It will leave your clothes fragrant at all times, and might even leave a pleasant residual fragrance in your cupboard.

What we like

  • Provides versatility, and keeps your clothes nice-smelling

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept, so we are unsure how practical or functional it will be as a tangible product

The post Top 10 Home Fragrance Solutions You Need For A Pleasant + Fresh Smelling Living Space first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Zen House Is A Cozy Tiny Home On Concrete Stilts Designed To Support Slow + Serene Living

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Everyone loves a well-designed and cozy tiny home, but what about a tiny home on stilts? It just builds up and magnifies the beauty and magic of a tiny home by 10x. Designed by Prague-based architecture firm Jan Tyrpekl, the Zen House is their latest tiny home design, a quaint little retreat supported by concrete pillars. The home occupies 30 square meters, and it is placed against the serene landscape of Hainburg an der Donau, Austria. The Zen House is designed to be a peaceful haven for the residents, a space they can unwind in, and get away from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life.

Designer: Jan Tyrpekl

It was built to help residents reconnect with nature, allowing them to immerse in the green surroundings and become one with nature itself. The home is raised four meters above the ground using a series of concrete pillars, this makes space for the lush green landscape to flow below, building a harmonious connection with the natural land. Sustainable materials were used to construct the home, imparting it with a beautiful natural aesthetic, and durability.

The home features a timber frame constructed from glued laminated spruce timbers. The roof was built using solid wooden CLT panels, while the lower structure and terrace were crafted using glued laminated larch timbers. The main living area of the home brings to mind the image of a bird’s nest, it functions as a secure, safe, and intimate space where residents can relax and recuperate. The home is encased by glass walls, offering stunning views of the trees and orchards. The interior space is large and open-plan and accentuated with polished timber floors, an open fireplace, and a comfy master bed with a concealed compact bar/kitchenette. The terrace can be accessed via a timber staircase, which also functions as the main access point of the dwelling.

What is inconvenient is that the home does not feature cooking or bathroom facilities, but there are design plans that include amenities for a sauna, toilet, and shower, which can be constructed below the central hub of the home, nestled amidst the pillars.

The post The Zen House Is A Cozy Tiny Home On Concrete Stilts Designed To Support Slow + Serene Living first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Diamond ADU Is A Cedar-Clad Home Inspired By Farm Buildings

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Designed by American studio Schwartz and Architecture, this appealing cedar-clad ADU is part of a family estate in Sonoma, which is a historic town nestled in Northern California’s winemaking region. The home is intended to function as “a jumping-off point for a modern wine country design”. The entire property includes a main house, as well as multiple other buildings, each of them pulling in the attention of the onlookers. The ADU is designed to be demure from certain angles, and extremely lively from others.

Designer: Schwartz and Architecture

While designing the ADU, the architects were inspired by the farm structures found in Sonoma Valley, quite a few of which have a dilapidated appearance. “Their original, steeply sloped roofs are now drooping into low-slung structures, peeling apart, allowing in unexpected puddles of natural light, and revealing fragments of their interior framing to the outside elements,” said the team.

The inspiration from the farm structure led the architectural team to build a 1200-square-foot dwelling that includes two volumes consisting of a foyer and a sheltered patio. One of the volumes is shaped like a square, and it includes an open-plan communal space. While the other volume accommodates a bed and a bathroom. The exterior walls have been clad in an Alaskan yellow cedar with a unique weathered finish. The entire structure is built using mostly wood, with a couple of steel beams.

As you enter the ADU, you are welcomed by bright rooms, a neutral color palette, and warm earthly materials that make you feel at home. The flooring and kitchen cabinetry are built using European white oak, while the kitchen countertops are quartzite. The island is clad in the same cedar used in the exterior facades. A section of the roof has been sliced apart to create a linear skylight that spans the area between the public space to the bathroom.

“Neither an unconsidered ‘modern farmhouse’ nor the literal ruins of a de-constructing rural barn, we hope this modern country home feels alive – complete but always in process,” said the team.

The post The Diamond ADU Is A Cedar-Clad Home Inspired By Farm Buildings first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Concrete Home In A Canadian Hayfield Is A Modern Architectural Marvel

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Canadian designer Omer Arbel recently unveiled his latest project – a beautiful family home in a lush green hayfield in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. Named 75.9, the home is built using concrete, intricately and interestingly, featuring monumental trumpet-shaped columns. When it comes to creating structures, Arbel prefers to release control and allows the materials to take over, and naturally create the form, resulting in a mesmerizing interplay of materials and contemporary architecture.

Designer: Omer Arbel

“For 15 years, we’ve developed a method of working with materials at the scale of an object,” said Arbel. “This is the first project where we’ve had the opportunity to apply that same methodology at the scale of architecture.”  The home is constructed by pouring concrete inside the columns. The columns are fabric formed with radiating ribs. A structure like this had never been constructed, hence the client only allowed Arbel to complete the entire home around the foundation, once the first column had been successfully installed.

The impressive concrete columns are the major elements of the home and lead to the creation of large and spacious interiors. The living room of the home has been segregated into four double-height volumes that are built using glass and cedar wood. This forms the living room, timber-framed bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen with a dining area, and modern bathrooms. The polished concrete flooring and pillars contrast against the timber furnishings and fixtures, providing a sense of warmth and comfort to the various interior spaces. Pendant lights from Bocci, the lighting company co-founded by Arbel, light up the spaces, illuminating them with subdued elegance.

The interiors are interspersed with large windows that allow natural light to flow in through the entirety of the day. Folding glass windows line one of the walls edging the dining zone, and it can be slid entirely to the side, allowing the space to open up to an adjoining timber outdoor terrace. A landscaped roof tops the home, and it is adorned with Magnolia trees that grow from the hollow tops of columns, allowing the home to effortlessly merge with its natural setting. “The hay field is treated as if it were a carpet, draped over the volumes of the residence in a series of berms, allowing the entire building roof to be traversed from the exterior,” Arbel concludes.

The post This Concrete Home In A Canadian Hayfield Is A Modern Architectural Marvel first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Konga Off-Grid Tiny Home Features A Well-Designed Kitchen Made With Offcuts

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Lithuanian kitchen maker Konga used the hefty supply of offcuts they had to create their own line of prefabricated tiny houses. They used the surplus material to build a good-looking and minimal non-towable home that can run both on or off-grid. The dwelling has a pretty low starting price point of US$59,000. The home isn’t built entirely from offcuts, but they have been used in the construction of the tiny home’s kitchen.

Designer: Konga

The tiny home is designed by the Danish architect Mette Fredskild, and it is finished in charred wood, giving it a rather unique and appealing look, while also providing protection against insects. It also helps to preserve the home, while accentuating its distinctive appearance. Generous glazing has been applied to the home, and most of it is operable. It is a well-insulated home that can deal with the cold weather and snow loads quite efficiently.

The interiors are well-designed and inviting. They measure 28 square meters, which is covered entirely on one floor, and feature a shared open-plan living space. The walls of the home have been clad in wooden oak veneer panels and teamed up with oak flooring. The cabin is filled with natural light, owing to the generous amount of glazing.

The kitchen is amped with a lot of features and amenities. It showcases a fridge, sink, and propane-powered gas stove, with loads of cabinetry and shelving. There is also a living room area with a sofa, a small dining table, as well a wood-burning stove to provide warmth. Two bedrooms have been positioned on either side of the kitchen. One of the bedrooms can be transformed into a home office, with sliding doors being installed to offer some privacy if need be. Both the toilet and the bathroom with shower are located in different rooms. The home also accommodates a small utility room, as well as a couple of storage nooks that have been nestled away throughout the house.

The cabin runs from an RV-style grid hookup, but buyers can opt for an optional rooftop solar panel setup and rainwater collection system. The wood-burning stove can be connected to a hot water system as well. The tiny home features a freezing toilet, instead of a composting toilet, and it basically freezes waste, ensuring the space stays odorless.

The post The Konga Off-Grid Tiny Home Features A Well-Designed Kitchen Made With Offcuts first appeared on Yanko Design.

Snøhetta Designs A Suspended Off-Grid Treetop House With A Serene Connection To Nature In Norway

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Designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta in collaboration with engineer Tor Helge Dokka, this off-grid three-bedroom family home in Kongsberg, Norway is called House Dokka. It occupies 2045 square meters and is inspired by treehouse architecture. The home was created to share a serene connection with nature, allowing both to embrace one another. The house is also called Column House, and it was awarded the Architecture Prize for 2023 by the Kongsberg municipality.

Designer: Snøhetta x Tor Helge Dokka

The quaint House Dokka is deftly suspended over the stunning Norwegian landscape, as it is perched on large wooden columns, that have been firmly grounded into the rock, to minimize any kind of interference or disturbance to the surrounding environment. House Dokka was built using locally produced cross-laminated timber, and glue-laminated timber. Both the timbers ensure that the home can be easily deconstructed with minimal climate costs, whenever the life cycle of the home comes to an end. No nails were used in the construction of the home, which allows the materials to be easily sorted and recycled in the future.

Snøhetta’s goal of sustainability for the home is seen throughout the structure in the form of the large photovoltaic panels on the roof, superior insulation as well as a waterborne heat system that is linked to the ground via a source heart pump. In turn, the home produces more energy than it consumes in less than a decade! Besides generating energy for the house itself, energy is also generated for charging the family’s electric car, almost 75% of it.

The home has an eye-catching and appealing exterior which is accentuated by the black-stained timber paneling that clads it. The interiors of the home feature warm timber paneling and polished concrete flooring, which are paired up with massive black-framed windows that provide access to stunning views. The home contains two levels, with the upper floor housing an open-plan living and dining area, kitchen, master bedroom, hidden bathroom, and a timber outdoor terrace. The lower level accommodates two more bedrooms, as well as a home office, guest suite, lounge, laundry space, and a central shared bathroom.

The post Snøhetta Designs A Suspended Off-Grid Treetop House With A Serene Connection To Nature In Norway first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Adaptable Studio Apartment In Japan Is Designed As “One Big Room” For Living & Working

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Dubbed the Building Frame of the House, this home in Tokyo is a unique adaptable space for both living and working. It features stepped living areas framed by boardmarked concrete walls. It is designed by IGArchitects to function as “one big room”.

“[The clients] have a vague boundary between their private and work life, they were imagining a house where they can work anywhere and where they can sense the presence of each other wherever in the house,” said founder Masato Igarashi. “With such lifestyle, rather than have small spaces for compact living, the house was designed to have a large volume and scale that makes various interactions between inside and outside space,” he added.

Designer: IGArchitects

The home’s central space is designed to be as open as possible, with the studio organizing the home’s floors as irregularly stepped mezzanine layers. The various floors are connected via a black-metal staircase and a ladder. At the rear of the home, there is a ground-floor kitchen and first-floor bathroom. The bedrooms and the living spaces are located at the front. A massive bookcase is nestled against the southern wall.

The side walls of the home have been left quite blank, with sections of full-height glazing located at the front of the home, which offer a generous amount of natural light. “The floors are divided to make it difficult to see the interior from the outside, which is treated like a wall,” said Igarashi. “The way the space is used overlaps, responding to the residents’ lifestyle,” he continued. “The floors can turn into a seat, table, shelf, ceiling, or bed.”

The boardmarked concrete structures within the home are exposed, which are teamed up with wooden floors and shelving, and metal countertops in the kitchen, creating an interesting contrast. “We selected materials that would develop their own flavor as they age, and we wanted to bring out the texture and strength of the materials and their shades in the space,” said Igarashi. “Since the site is too small to create a garden, the interior and exterior are treated equally, and the materials are unified inside and out.”

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The Sakura Tiny House With An Ingenious Transforming Interior Is A Game Changer In The Architecture World

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Dubbed the Sakura Tiny home, and designed by Canada-based Acorn Tiny Homes, this quaint little house is designed to be a game-changer as compared to typical homes. It breaks the norm of traditional tiny homes, and although it doesn’t feature wheels, it is equipped with an innovative space-saving interior consisting of a transforming kitchen and bedroom. In an era, where tiny homes are the most popular housing style out there, the Sakura tiny home takes this genre to a whole new and interesting level.

Designer: Acorn Tiny Homes 

The Sakura tiny home is inspired by popular Japanese design trends. Sakura means cherry blossom in Japanese, showcasing an overall Japanese influence on the structure. The roof is built from metal, and the siding is available in varied finishes such as wood, metal, and faux stone. The home will occupy 21.5 x 10.5 ft, and it isn’t as large as North American tiny homes and is quite similar to European models. The interior has a floorspace of 225 square feet and can accommodate two people, as well as a pair of guests, although it may be a tight fit.

The layout and interior of this home are quite unlike other homes. As you enter the home, you are welcomed by a flexible multipurpose space that occupies a lot of the floor space. This main living space transforms into a bedroom, when you slide out the double bed from underneath the nearby living room floor. The cabinetry conceals a fully functional kitchen, and it consists of an induction stove, microwave, oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and a washer/dryer/. The kitchen also features a pull-out kitchen counter that provides some extra prep space.

This multipurpose kitchen/entrance/bedroom is connected to other rooms in the house. One room is the bathroom, which will hold a wet room, shower, skylight, and a novel toilet with an integrated sink that is supplied by greywater. The other room is the living room, which will be elevated to make space for the sliding bed, and will include a pull-out desk area, sofa bed, and a massive entertainment center.

The post The Sakura Tiny House With An Ingenious Transforming Interior Is A Game Changer In The Architecture World first appeared on Yanko Design.

Casa GE Is A Low-Energy Home In Spain With A Minimum Footprint But Maximum Functionality & Comfort

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Dubbed Casa GE, this newly built low-energy house in the town of Seva, nestled in the middle of Monstseny Natural Park, north of Barcelona was designed by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes. The home is located on a sloping triangular plot, tucked between two streets, and is designed to be a simple and minimal family home that has minimum energy requirements while maintaining a serene and solid connection to the garden. The home is quite modest and perfect for a close-knit family.

Designer: Alventosa Morell Arquitectes

The studio had a unique strategy for designing the home. They created a strategy with two approaches. At first, they surveyed the site and then selected the best spot to construct the home which was the highest and flattest point. This minimized earthworks and protected the pre-existing trees, while also maximizing the views. They also developed a brand-new construction system that can support a complete shift in the organization of the internal space, allowing it to transform from an open plan to a more intimate and conventionally designed space. It is a single-story home with a linear plan. The bedroom is connected to an office, and then a living room, kitchen-diner, and terrace.

The main rooms have a stunning view of the garden. They are amped with sliding glass walls which are teamed up with patterned brickwork. A large terrace opens up to the kitchen which is sheltered with an oversailing pitched roof. A simple porch features a solitary column and flat roof, which perfectly contrasts the terrace. The entire house is designed to be simple and low maintenance. The windows on the southern side offer solar heat in the winter while providing shade during the summer season. Skylights and sliding doors offer cross-ventilation during the hotter parts of the year, while excellent insulation enables the house to be heated via a single pellet-burning stove.

Casa GE is a prime example of excellent low-energy construction which is the specialty of the architects – Marc Alventosa and Xavier Morell. The architects make an effort to ensure that all their projects are “socially, economically and environmentally responsible”, and Casa GE is certainly no exception.

The post Casa GE Is A Low-Energy Home In Spain With A Minimum Footprint But Maximum Functionality & Comfort first appeared on Yanko Design.