architecture

Can Lis

Wednesday 22 May, 2013 / Living / Comments { 10 }

Can Lis is the Majorcan home of Danish architect Jørn Utzon (who designed a little something called the Sydney Opera House, amongst other things). it was built in 1972 using traditional Majorcan building methods & local materials, and was designed to embrace the day-to-day life of his family. recently renovated and restored, it now serves as a refuge for working architects & artists. so if you’re keen to take some creative time out on the Balearic Islands you might consider applying for  one of their residency programmes.

one thing i love about architecturally designed houses from that era was how often things were permanently built in – you’ll notice the sandstone benches and table in the outdoor entertainment area, as well as the sandstone shelving. not to mention that half-moon “couch” in the living room. no more agonising about what sofa you’re going to get, huh?


















photographs by Torben Eskerod

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Raymond Loewy House, Palm Springs

Wednesday 16 May, 2012 / Living / Comments { 14 }

i was browsing through my brother’s huge collection of architectural inspiration when i came across the Raymond Loewy House designed by Albert Frey. Raymond Loewy was an industrial designer notable for his work on the coca-cola bottle, the shell logo, the lucky strike pack and many other iconic designs. he even appeared on the cover of Time in 1949. so i guess it goes without saying that such a brilliant creative mind would live in an equally brilliant creative home.

Designed by Palm Springs architect Albert Frey, built in 1946-47 as a bachelor retreat, and expanded later when Loewy got married. Loewy’s home is a typical Palm Springs modernist villa with a low-slung pavilion and plenty of glass providing striking views of desert, mountains, and the pool and garden… making the private oasis complete. Loewy despised “bad modern” design, especially furniture, so the size, shape, and rooms of the home and furnishings were kept simple and spare. It is a demure house of small size but generous impact.

quote & images courtesy of  Faustian Urge

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The Hustad Residence

Tuesday 1 November, 2011 / Living, Vintage / Comments { 16 }

The Hustad Residence in Wayzata, Minnesota. Designed by Donald E. Hustad and photographed by Gordon Parks for LIFE magazine in 1958.

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House Wellington 7B & 7C

Wednesday 12 October, 2011 / Living / Comments { 18 }

another thing i have been doing a lot of in anticipation of moving soon, apart from browsing etsy, is actually looking for a new place to stay.* which is a frustrating process, at best. so when i get sick of looking at dingy, overpriced flats i start looking for things that actually inspire me – like these two flats in Cape Town’s CBD designed by architects Wolf & Wolf.

We designed a new penthouse loft apartment in the historic Fruit Growers Building in Cape Town. We explored the concept of re-fabrication, using as much of the existing timber on site and re-working it. The result is our take on what a “Cape Town” style loft apartment is. House Wellington 7C is a compact version of 7B. Here we explore the idea of compact Urban Living. The total area is 50m²

* may as well take this opportunity to appeal to people in the cape town area who are reading this – if you have a flat or know of a flat in cape town that is becoming available next year please email me! that’s the smell of desperation, friends.

House Wellington 7B:

House Wellington 7c:

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Casa Malaparte

Tuesday 11 October, 2011 / Design, Film, Living / Comments { 14 }

Casa Malaparte is a house on the Isle of Capri which sits on a cliff 32 metres above the sea overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. it was designed in 1937 by Adalberto Libera for the italian writer & journalist Curzio Malaparte. in 1963 the house was used in Le Mépris, a film by Jean-Luc Godard starring Brigitte Bardot.

Comments { 14 }