Tag Archives: Architecture

This Airport Terminal In Florence Will Produce Wine In Its Rooftop Vineyard

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Dubbed the Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci, this impressive new airport terminal is being planned for Florence, Italy. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the construction is inspired by the local tradition of wine production, and it will be equipped with a green yard amped with a working vineyard! How exciting is that? Sounds like a total heaven for wine lovers on the go – although we doubt they’ll be able to get their hands on it.

Designer: Rafael Viñoly Architects

The airport terminal will measure 538,195 sq ft (50,000 sq m) and will be able to host over 5.9 million international passengers every year. The featuring vineyard will measure 19 acres and will include 38 rows. When it comes to irrigation and cultivation, some certain challenges and issues exist but a leading winemaker will take care of the vineyard, and produce wine, which will be specially aged in cellars located underneath the terminal.

The airport terminal construction will also involve lengthening and reorientating a preexisting runaway, shifting it away from the hills, which causes issues when modern aircraft need to operate. The arrival and departure areas will be spanned across a massive public space located at the center of the new terminal. This will make the airport easy to navigate for tired travelers.

The airport will also receive the LEED Platinum green building standard, and the architects will try to maximize natural light in the space with generous glazing and skylights. The terminal will also have a green roof, and solar panels that will be integrated throughout the building. A rainwater harvesting system and greywater recycling will keep the greenery watered, bringing down the structure’s potable water requirements. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2026, and the second phase in 2035. Adding greenery to airports has become one of the latest architectural trends, as witnessed in the Jewel Changi Airport too. The Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci is another exciting and innovative addition to this growing collection of green, nature-filled, and sustainable airports.

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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.

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This Not-So-Tiny & Spacious Tiny Home Is Blessed With A Motorized Deck, Rooftop Terrace & Spiral Staircase

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What I love about tiny homes these days is that they’re managing to get more and more spacious from within, without occupying too much space on the outside. This lovely little home called the Cascade Mini by TruForm Living is an example of such an ingenious tiny home. The Cascade Mini manages to squeeze in an impressive and generous amount of living space into a compact length of 38 meters. Besides being spacious, the tiny home also features a spiral staircase, that offers entry to a rooftop terrace. The ground floor of the home contains an enclosed porch area and deck as well!

Designer: TruForm Tiny

The Cascade Mini occupies 32.5 square meters, and visitors can enter the home via the main entrance, which leads them into the kitchen. The kitchen is the center of the home, and it includes a fridge, a small drawer-style dishwasher, a three-burner propane-powered stove, an oven, a sink and cabinetry, and a central movable kitchen island.

Next to the kitchen is the cozy living room which accommodates a sofa, small coffee table, and a fireplace. The living room leads to an enclosed porch which brings in a generous amount of light into the home, while also creating a pleasant and comfy place to sit in. The porch is also connected to the outdoor deck which is motorized and can be lowered into the desired position via a switch, or even raised if you need to tow the house somewhere else. The deck also includes a fire pit and some additional seating. Another key feature is the rooftop terrace which can be accessed through a spiral staircase on the outside. The terrace also includes a small fireplace and some seating.

The bedroom and bathroom are located next to each other. The bathroom includes a bathtub and a separate shower, which is rarely seen in tiny homes. It also includes a sink and a composting toilet. The bedroom has quite an unusual configuration for a tiny home, as it is located on the ground floor, and has quite a low ceiling, leaving sufficient space for a double bed and some shelving. The low ceiling also leaves space for a loft-based laundry room on top with a washing machine, a dryer, and some storage area as well.

The post This Not-So-Tiny & Spacious Tiny Home Is Blessed With A Motorized Deck, Rooftop Terrace & Spiral Staircase first appeared on Yanko Design.

Paddock Paradise Is A Spacious & Cozy Tiny Home For Both Cats & Humans Alike

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The beauty, magic, and sheer genuis of tiny homes took us by storm a couple of years ago, and it was a discovery that took the architecture world by storm. Since then, tiny homes have gained immense popularity, and been experimented with to create even better, more beautiful, and functional designs. Tiny homes are space-saving and eco-friendly, and they reduce the load on Mother Earth, while managing to look super cute. And, an excellent tiny home that I recently came across is the Paddock Paradise.

Designer: Acorn Tiny Homes

Designed by Acorn Tiny Homes, the Paddock paradise is a towable dwelling that features a spacious interior layout that’s equipped with storage space, and loads of amazing home comforts, including a couple for the owner’s cat. It is founded on a triple-axle gooseneck trailer, and finished in metal siding and faux stone. The trailer has a length of 38 feet, and it is quite big for a tiny home. It features a width of 10 ft, and it does require a permit to be towed on a public road in North America, but this also makes it a spacious dwelling, with a very house-esque style and layout.

There are two entrances into the Paddock Paradise. Accessing the home through the main entrance, visitors find a well-proportioned living room. This is taken up by an L-shaped sofa, plus a fireplace, TV, and shelving. In a neat touch, the fireplace mantelpiece is actually an operable drawer.

Two entrances lead you to Paddock Paradise. You can enter the home via the main entrance, wherein you are welcomed by a well-sized and designed living room. It holds a L-shaped sofa, TV, shelving, and fireplace. The fireplace mantelpiece is also an operable drawer, making it an innovative multifunctional design. The kitchen also holds the second entrance, which connects to a patio area. It features an oven with a three-burner propane-powered stove, as well as a pull-out pantry and a cat flap that offers easy access to a litter tray neatly concealed in the kitchen unit. The home also includes a series of walkways and tunnels through the upper section of the home, forming a cozy and playful living space for cats.

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This Resto-Bar Nestled On A Cliff’s Edge In Goa, India Has Two Massive Nests Perched On Top Of It

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I’ve spent much time in the beautiful beach town of Goa, India, which truly has a special place in my heart. Coconut trees, salty air, restless waves, and red sandy paths adorn the region. The architecture is a mix of old and new, with traces of the Portuguese influence interwoven with modern Indian-influenced structures. Nestled in the vibrant and lush tropical area of North Goa is a beautiful new restaurant dubbed Como Agua. It provides patrons with stunning views across the Vagator cliffs, allowing them to admire the mesmerizing sea from an impressive elevated location.

Designer: Otherworlds

Designed by the architects at Otherworlds, Como Agua is tucked away on an elevated perch, offering the restaurant a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding landscape and sea. The bar is adorned with two large nests at the top, making it a truly unique and innovative structure. The oversized nests give the restaurant an Amazonian vibe, offering the impression that you’ve walked into the tropics.

It occupies 3750 square meters, and is a vivacious open-air design built from bamboo and Lantana camera – an invasive flowering shrub that torments the local flora and fauna. The founder of Otherworlds, Arko Saha said that the plant “has invaded over 40 percent of the Western Ghats, a total of 13 million hectares of Indian landscape. Arriving in India as an ornamental plant in the early 1800s, lantana has escaped from gardens and taken over entire ecosystems.”

It’s quite interesting to see how they’ve utilized a shrub species that was wreaking havoc on the floral fauna and transformed it into a harmonious and integral element of the building. The architectural team wrapped the Lantana camera around the metal railings, bar, partitions, and canopies to build unique interlaced structures that look as if they’ve been built by weaverbirds!

The team says that –  “The weavers are social birds, usually nesting and feeding in colonies. They collect all sorts of natural materials like twigs, fibers, and leaves to weave a membrane that acts as their nest, usually hanging from the branch of a tree. Materials used for building nests include fine leaf fibers, grass, and twigs. Many species weave very fine nests using thin strands of leaf fiber, though some, like the buffalo-weavers, form massive untidy stick nests in their colonies, which may have spherical woven nests within.”

The post This Resto-Bar Nestled On A Cliff’s Edge In Goa, India Has Two Massive Nests Perched On Top Of It first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Beach House In Denmark Is A Symbol Of Their Local Culture

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Nestled at the northernmost point of Denmark in the picturesque town of Skagen, the Skagen Klitgaard Beach House stands as a testament to architectural homage, familial togetherness, and seamless integration with the natural surroundings. Designed by PAX Architects, this stunning summer retreat draws inspiration from Skagen’s Black Period, incorporating the historical use of burned shipwreck wood into its distinctive exterior and thatched roof.

Designer: PAX Architects

The exterior of the Skagen Klitgaard Beach House pays homage to the historical legacy of Skagen. The black-painted timber exterior and thatched roof evoke the charm of houses built during the Black Period, where charred wood from shipwrecks was a common building material. This architectural choice creates a connection to the town’s history while establishing the house as a visual delight against the coastal landscape.

The architectural concept revolves around the central theme of fostering togetherness, especially among three generations of occupants. The house is designed to accommodate various needs, from communal gatherings in the centrally located kitchen to more secluded areas for moments of solitude. Despite the diverse purposes of each space, a continuous pitched roof unifies the entire house, emphasizing the idea of ‘being under one roof.’

Special attention is given to inclusivity within the Beach House. The architects incorporated an acoustic ceiling to mitigate noise levels, creating an environment conducive to both family life and individual retreats. Fluid zones within the layout allow for visual connectivity between different areas while maintaining a strong sense of connection to the surrounding landscape.

Recognizing the importance of family mealtime, the kitchen is positioned centrally, acting as the heart of the house. Thick oak mullions frame large glass panels, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. This design choice not only blurs the boundaries but also brings the beauty of the landscape indoors, enhancing the overall living experience.

To cater to the diverse needs of its occupants, the ceiling heights vary in different spaces. Lower ceilings in intimate zones, such as the multi-purpose room behind the kitchen, create a contrast with the open and social areas, offering a variety of atmospheres within the house.

The interior design, characterized by muted colors and extensive use of sustainable Douglas fir, seamlessly blends with the natural surroundings. The tactile qualities, scent, and soothing sounds of wood contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere, aligning perfectly with the vision of the house being an integral part of the natural environment.

The collaboration with Danish company Dinesen reflects a commitment to quality and precision. Responsibly sourcing timber from forests in France and Germany, the architects ensured not only a visually stunning but also a sustainable and enduring home.

The post This Beach House In Denmark Is A Symbol Of Their Local Culture first appeared on Yanko Design.

Portable tiny home can expand into a 364 square feet living space

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One of the most tedious things that I experienced more than once is moving houses. Well for one thing, I have so much stuff so packing them all up and then unpacking them at my new place can be such a pain. So sometimes I wonder if I could just have all of my things and furniture in just one box that I can move from one place to another if I need to not stay in one place. Well, there are now tiny houses that can do just that, provided you can fit everything you own in that space.

Designer: PODX Go

There are a lot of tiny houses already available out there but this one is truly portable and high-tech. The Grande S1 is a pre-fabricated tiny home that can be packed up in a huge box and can be transported to where you need to go. And once you’re ready to settle down in that place, it can unpack itself and expand to a 20-foot-wide living space, complete with furniture and all the stuff that you can fit in that place. Once completely expanded, it has a full width of 20 feet and 364 square feet and it’s “street legal” which is an important requirement for those that need to actually live in that house.

To open up the house, you need to fold out the awning and the stairs and lower the stabilizing posts first. After that, you just press the button and it will unfold in all its mechanical glory. Inside, you have a dining space, living room, kitchen, bathroom, home office, and bedroom. All of the furniture can be folded in and out or stowed away into compartments because, of course, you need to put them somewhere when the house will fold into itself. For example, the queen-sized Murphy bed and the office desk can be stowed into the wall while the dining table can be folded on both sides and the chairs inserted into it.

If you’re getting ready to move again, you just need to stow away the desk, bed, and dining table and then put the sofa in the front entry area while the office chair and coffee table can fit into the bathroom. Then you remove the stabilizing posts and then with another press of a button, the house will then fold itself up and you’ll be ready to move in just 10 minutes. Oh and this tiny house can go off grid as it powered by a1,400-watt array solar panels connected to a 5-kilowatt Lycan power box.

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Tallest spokeless ferris wheel to be constructed in Seoul

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Whenever I visit a new international city for the first time, I try to look if they have a giant ferris wheel and if I can, I take a ride on it to get the best view of the city. So far, the best ones I’ve been on are the Singapore Flyer and the Budapest Eye. Of course I have a lot more to go as I haven’t been to places like the London Eye, High Roller, Dubai Eye, etc. It looks like I’ll be adding something new to my list in one of my favorite cities in the world: a landmark giant ferris wheel is coming to Seoul soon.

Designer: UNStudio

The Seoul Twin Eye will start construction sometime in 2025 and when finished, it will be the world’s tallest spokeless one with its planned 180 meters high structure. Aside from its height, it has a pretty unique design as it will have two intersecting rings that will carry pods going around both tracks. It can hold as many as 1,400 tourists at the same time, with 20-25 people fitting in each of the 64 capsules. This is actually double of what the London Eye is able to accommodate and currently it is one of the largest in the world.

The planned ferris wheel will be located on the edge of the Han River as part pf a 40-meter high cultural complex which Seoul is hoping to develop as part of public spaces for residents and tourists. Not only will you be able to ride such a huge ferris wheel but you’ll also get the best panoramic views of the city. The design is actually inspired by the Honcheonsigye, an astronomical clock that represents celestial objects moving through time.

Aside from the Seoul Twin Eye, there’s a proposal to also construct a monorail to have a direct connection from the subway station to the ferris wheel site. There is also a proposed zip line within the complex for those who prefer a much more adventurous experience, although it’s unclear if it will be connected to the ferris wheel directly. One thing’s for sure, once it is launched, it will add to the beauty and charm of Seoul and will become a must-see destination for locals and tourists alike.

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Wall cladding made from corn cob waste brings sustainable construction materials

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Construction is something that we probably cannot do without as we continue to build houses, buildings, and other structures. The quest for coming up with sustainable construction is ongoing as we look for materials that are eco-friendly and the process in creating them to be as sustainable as possible. There are a lot of waste in our world that can actually be used for other purposes instead of just becoming biomass as they are mostly used now. A breakthrough in terms of interior wall cladding is now available and it comes from the most unlikeliest of sources: corn cobs.

Designer: StoneCycling and Studio Nina van Bart

CornWall is an alternative to interior wall cladding that uses organic corn cobs, subjecting them to up to 150 degrees Celsius so as to activate and create “strong bonds”. Aside from using sustainable materials, the heating process is also eco-friendly as it uses sustainable energy. The electric heating process uses the solar panels on their factory’s roof. So from the materials to the process itself, we are seeing something that will lessen or leave no carbon footprints at all.

Mostly corn cobs are left on the fields or fermented or burned as biomass. But with this process, they are able to turn them into wall cladding. It is better than the usual ceramic wall cladding that is used or even composite materials like high pressure laminate (HPL). Another advantage to this is that it is able to store more carbon dioxide because of the absorbed CO2 already in it. It is also 100% reusable as it can be removed from interiors through the demountable anchoring system.

Based on the product photos, it doesn’t look much different from the usual wall cladding. It actually looks like those cork coasters that we’re seeing now. It comes in different colors loke DarkBlue, MustardYellow, TerracottaPink, etc. Hopefully we see even more construction materials that use sustainable materials and processes so we can have an industry that is more eco-friendly.

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