If the illuminated moat winding through this Ontario patio doesn't dazzle you, the 8-foot-wide fireplace will. Crunch the facts on gravel, flagstone, brick, tile and more with our mini guide to outdoor flooring surfaces. As the saying goes, form follows function. So first consider how the surface will be used and what's the most appropriate material to support that use.
Loose materials for more casual spaces. I consider loose materials like crushed rock, gravel and shale (also bark mulch) when I want an informal garden pathway or lounging area. They usually cost less and require less labor than other materials, and you don't have to be a master builder to make them look good.
Hard materials for more formal areas. Visual appeal. Environmental impact. Cost. Glorious terraces, a sumptuous cabana, a panoramic pavilion ... these stunning outdoor rooms offer the ultimate in relaxation and comfort. Currimundi Beach House by Loucas Zahos Architects. This contemporary vacation home is a 2012 project by Loucas Zahos Architects that is located in Currimundi Beach, Australia. It serves as a place to escape everyday stresses and enjoy a carefree beachfront lifestyle.
Currimundi Beach House by Loucas Zahos Architects: “Designed primarily as a holiday house, the Currimundi Beach House captures the essence of being away from routine, inviting relaxation, retreat and enjoyment of the spectacular beachfront location it shares. From the street, the site rises sharply and the deliberate massing of the two level pavilions at the front of the house offers a dignified frontage to the street while maintaining privacy for the internal spaces beyond.
Once inside, the house delights in its scale and detailing. Expressed structural timber posts and operable glass walls create an immediate sense of connection to the landscape without a sense of exposure or loss of privacy. Photos by: Adam Sebastian West. Karrinyup Courtyards by CultivArt Landscape Design. By Magaly • Aug 17, 2013 • Selected Work Karrinyup Courtyards is a landscaping project designed by CultivArt Landscape Design, and it is located in Karrinyup, a suburb of Perth, Australia.
The design consists of lush vegetation veined with boardwalks of rich wood and dotted with smooth stones, creating an atmosphere that feels exotic and encourages one to explore it. Photos by: Peta North. Elm Court by AR Design Studio. Elm Court was designed by AR Design Studio, and is located in Winchester, England. The interior is designed in pale neutrals and large windows with abundant natural light, giving it a relaxed elegance.
Elm Court by AR Design Studio: “Hidden from view, behind the ordinary looking façade of a modestly sized semi-detached house in North London, sits an elegant piece of modern contemporary architecture. The recently retired owners sought to adapt the existing small and cramped property into their perfect home. Despite their North London site, they were eager to work again with the south coast based architects, having experienced an enjoyable and smooth design process on an earlier holiday home. AR Design relished the opportunity to reunite with an old client. The brief was to design a single storey extension at the rear of the existing 3 bedroom property, linking in with the original, whilst making minimal physical changes. Photos by: Martin Gardner.
Bronte House by Rolf Ockert Design. Casas del Rio. Saving Space with a Suspended Bedroom. Contemporary Home Open to Panoramic Views. This eco-friendly home settled over the weald of Kent has stunning, panoramic views from almost every room. Floor to ceiling windows and doors show a priceless view of the town below and over 3,400 square feet of living space make this home exceptionally grand. The design of the home is monochromatic featuring just white and black with some chrome touches throughout. The only slight splashes of color are in the accent pillows and fresh flowers.
The color scheme makes for a lavish design without going over the top with color. The outside of the home is again white with linear architecture. It almost looks like an office building with the flat roof and thin glass paneled windows in the front. The tarmac also provides a large amount of parking space and yet there is also underground parking available. Lakeside Home in Balatonboglár by Tóth Project. This stunning lakeside home, located in Balatonboglár, Hungary, was designed by Tóth Project.
The home’s elegant interior is spotted with nautical elements, referencing the lake by which it sits. Photos by: Zsolt Batár Click any photo to see a larger image - Use buttons or j/k/arrow keys to navigate through the articles. Casa Gómez by SO Studio. Casa Gómez, located in Cancún, México, was designed by SO Studio. The home’s exterior is modern almost to the point of futurism, and its interior is a wind-whirl of color and light, making this a very unique space. Casa Gómez by SO Studio: “The project “Casa Gòmez” was developed and built between 2011 and 2012 in the residential area at the Puerto Cancun development.
By an approach to the deconstructive architecture, the design is organized by combining interior and exterior areas as a single space through big hidable windows, thus favouring the main views to the canal and the hotel zone of Cancun. The choosing of materials and textures was key to create unusual environments of marked avant-garde tendency, combining the balance among the apparent concrete walls, granite and wood floors, big windows and the glass and alluminum covers, besides specific Bisazza mosaic accents. The result shows an intense team work and the freedom given by the clients to seek an innovative expression.” Nhabeo House by Trinhvieta-Architects. Nhabeo House was designed by Trinhvieta-Architects, and is located in Hochiminh City, Vietnam.
The home’s courtyard has a tall tree growing at the center of it, linking both storeys and allowing for light to enter the interior. Nhabeo House by Trinhvieta-Architects: “The house is 4m (13ft) wide by 20m (66ft) long including 1 semi-basement, 1 mezzanine floor and 3 stories above constructed by RC frame and brick walls with a total of 238sqm (2562sqft) floor area. The concept is to create an “intermediate space” connecting all other functional spaces, this open space is either courtyard, internal void or common space semi-opened to the outside while semi-closed in other to protect the necessary privacy of the residence.
Louver Façade and Sliding Glass roofs area designed to maximize the connection with outside environment overcoming the limitation of getting in touch with the outside for such long and narrow townhouse. Photos by: Hiroyuki Oki. Rammed Earth Modern House by Brent Kendle. Glass Balcony Pools at Aquaria Grande Residential Tower in Mumbai, India. The beautiful Aquaria Grande residential towers, currently undergoing construction, will be equipped with one of the most stunning architectural feats when the project is completed, transforming standard balconies into swimming pools. The residential location consists of two 37 story towers located in Mumbai, India. The Aquaria Grande Tower was designed by Wadhwa Group, and will feature several different amenities including a car park, fully equipped clubhouse, and a sustainable podium garden.
*UPDATE – Inthralld has been informed by James Law Cybertecture that the design of the water balconies is for the Bandra Ohm Tower for Parinee Developers, and not the the Auqaria Grande Towers for Wadhwa Group.