Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Minimal Modern Home in the Shadow of an Ancient Castle

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:00 AM PST

Situated in a location of unique beauty, this home in Ayora, Valencia, Spain is a happy marriage between natural and human-made landscapes. The home is on a mountain with a castle at the top, situated in the midst of a neighborhood which, aside from the majestic ancient castle, looks like many others in Spain.

The home is known by its creators at Fran Silvestre Arquitectos as House on the Castle Mountainside. It is a beautiful example of a simple, modern silhouette contrasted with the rough edges of the mountain behind it.

Rather than modifying the land to fit the home, the architects respected the lovely plot and simply built the home to match the unusual terrain. This is most evident when viewing the home from the side; the elevation in the front is markedly different than that in the back of the house, closest to the mountainside.

Inside the house, a central void unifies the first and second stories. Some rooms are open to the street in the front of the house, allowing a connection to the neighborhood. Others face the rear of the lot, allowing for a visual connection with nature.

Plenty of natural light and extensive views of the breathtaking environs contribute to an overall feeling of peace surrounding the home on the mountain. Thanks to the care taken by the architects to preserve this magnificent location, there is plenty for the residents to gaze at from their truly remarkable home.

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45-Degree Catch Hinge: Simple & Genius Safety Innovation

Posted: 29 Jan 2013 04:00 PM PST

They get bent by use, flip, flop and flap around in the wind, get in the way and sometimes even hurt people by sticking out. Surely, there had to be a better way – and now someone has found it, and it may be the best door hardware idea since the lock.

Via YankoDesign, “The traditional door catch is still being used in many countries. Although simple to use, the design has two major flaws. Because of its orientation, the catch tends to get in the way and hurt people and as a result, it bends and gets deformed. The simple solution is to change the vertical hinge to a 45° angle. This ways the moving latch hangs down flush with the door (thanks to gravity) and doesn't come in the way. And like the design team puts it, ‘Safety is ensured and the lifespan of the latch is extended.’”

And while these are not often found indoors, they are frequently used outside – which, in many ways, makes them even more subject to abuse by weather, strangers and so forth. The genius is not just in identifying the problem, or even solving it as such, but the incredibly easy resolution that requires essentially no more time, work or material than the original. A modest twist in orientation extends functionality, durability and safety. The extensive design team of Liu Xiangyu, Prof. He Xiaoyou, Ma Xiaodong, Geng Tao, Tang Xiaobo, Yu Lu, Zhang Ye, He Fang, Han Ya & Tang Hui are quite worthy of their Red Dot award.