Month: February 2023

One of the most common decorative objects in projects, mirrors have existed since the Badarian civilization, around 4,000 BC. With several transformations in its material and manufacture, the mirror is a decorative object and can also serve as a design strategy.

As our cities incrementally and inevitably densify, we look to occupy the tiny nooks and crannies for a place we can call home. Located amongst the hubbub of delivery trucks, bicycles, and a never-ending procession of vehicle traffic; this project sits within a minute 160m2 site, backing onto a key commercial precinct within Cremorne in Melbourne. Despite the site’s context, our client loved the sheer richness and vibrance of the area so much that they set out to make this place a long-term place of residence.

The historic country house and gardens Wümmehof in Bremen used to for 50 years be the home to the grandson of the last German emperor and head of the house of Prussian kings after the family stepped down from the throne. Due to the latter as well as the fact that the main house was originally designed by the early Fritz Schumacher and landscaped by Friedrich Gildemeister (both prominent architectural figures of 1930’s Germany) the building and parts of its grounds were Grade A listed by the city. Additionally, its location in a flooding zone adjacent to the tidal river Wümme – which seasonally expands its size a hundredfold – made it particularly difficult to plan and execute the brief to transform the place into a communal living project of seven about equally large units.

The asset management company occupies an entire floor of a super high-rise office building in Lujiazui. The team is composed of mathematicians and engineers. The founder hopes to set aside half of the floor area as public space for meetings and activities. The space is expected to have a sense of technology and an academic atmosphere. The project tries to explore a light and calm atmosphere different from the popular office mode that emphasize dynamic and color. Space quality is achieved through a subtle material palette and precise detail.

Our clients, a family of four, including two teenagers had occupied this house for several years. The house, a traditional and modest timber villa (situated in an inner urban suburb of Melbourne) while adequate for young children, was showing its limitations in accommodating four adults. The existing house lacked functioning living spaces, internal light, and connection to the outdoors.  Accommodating three bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom, the original villa was in relatively good order. However, an assortment of tatty ‘lean-tos’ at the rear of the villa containing an inadequate kitchen and dining room, laundry, and external toilet were long past their use-by date. 

A project located in a quiet residential area in Chofu City, Tokyo. The client was attracted to this environment due to the trees planted in a green belt next to the site. One of the requests from the client was to create a residence inspired by “red soil” and “reddish brown,” which contrasted with the surrounding green. Furthermore, the client wanted to use the house not only as a place to live but also as a gallery-like space that is open to the community. The house is a new hub for the client, who is a merchandise buyer and a director for design in art, and was designed to be used for various public and private activities.