Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Sloped House Stands Out (& Up) in Rural Wine Country

Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

[ Filed under Offbeat & in the Architecture category ]

One could call it crass inspiration at a glance – clearly the slope of the roof reflects the adjacent Swiss mountains – but this design goes beyond the “wow factor” to work well in its unique habitat.

The lower end of the structure deposits residents onto the private vineyard site, while the lofted portion provides privacy in the direction of the adjacent village (as well as great views of the relatively flat surrounding landscape).

The overhang created by the lofted portion also forms a natural set of parking spaces without having to either fully enclose space for them or waste a secondary portion of the site for such a use.

Designed by Nunatak Architectes, the exterior is still the most overtly remarkable piece: a simple play of contrast and matching, dark gray object rising out of the green growing grounds and tying the building in with big background mountains as well.

Keep Going - Check out this Great Related Dornob Article:

Warm Fusion: Country Home Combines Urban & Rural Style

Winter Home Roof Sloped for Snow Like an Avalanche Shed

[ Filed under Offbeat & in the Architecture category ]

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Rotating Bookcases Can Turn to Face Either of Two Rooms

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT

[ Filed under Furniture & in the Bookcases category ]

While lounging in the living room, you set your book back on the shelf to read later … then grab it off the shelf from your bedroom. Not magic, merely a bit of creative engineering with a twist. And consider the flip side: having a party in the living room, or want to clear you mind in the bedroom? No worries, you can spin yourself a blank wall on demand just as easily as you brought the bookcase into view in the first place.

Via Inhabitat: “The UnWaste Bookcase is a brilliant sustainably designed full-wall rotating library created by architect Ben Milbourne (Bild Architecture), eco-designer Leyla Acaroglu (Eco Innovators) and furniture designer David Waterworth (Against the Grain).

Aside from its neat rotational functionality, it also features engaging materiality. “The bookcase is manufactured from reclaimed plywood discarded from construction site hoardings, and the material's unique characteristics of posters, weathering, graffiti and mismatched paints were incorporated into the design.” This kind of multi-dimensional collaborative project really shows that two (or three heads) is better than one.