Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

A Livable Work of Art: A-Cero’s Sculptural Open Box House

Posted: 17 Jul 2013 10:00 AM PDT

a-cero open box house

Part powerful monolith, part sculpture-inspired work of art, the Open Box House from Spanish architects A-cero stands tall against the Madrid skyline. It is a one-of-a-kind residence that truly resembles a piece of gigantic sculpture inspired by renowned Spanish sculptor Jorge Oteiza.

back of open box house

library open box house

The home occupies three stories: in the basement are the garage and mechanical facilities. The ground floor is dedicated to the living room, kitchen and servants’ quarters. The top floor is reserved for four bedrooms and a library.

exterior with pool open box house

sculptural open box house

The interior features furniture also designed by A-cero, and the Japanese garden (again, designed by A-cero) outside of the home is a truly impressive addition to the already-beautiful piece of architecture.

concrete exterior a-cero open box house

lit up exterior a-cero open box house

Sharp-eyed viewers will notice that the facade of the home features different textures: some surfaces feature smooth concrete while others feature brandering, or a rough texture.

open box house living area

living room a-cero open box house

The living space extends into the outdoors, with a huge swimming pool and outdoor sitting and eating areas. Numerous oversized windows let the sun into every areas of the home. Warm, colored outdoor lighting gives the dramatic presentation worthy of this work of art.

    

Primitive Knife: Stone Age-Style Kitchen Cutting Implement

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:00 PM PDT

Borrowing both from modern minimalism and human prehistory, this tool-inspired kitchen knife combines handle and blade in one simple design object.

Its creator, Italian design student Michele Daneluzzo, molded it such that the more substantial part forms a natural place to grip toward the top and back, tapering to a sharper edge down below and to the front for slicing.

Beyond aesthetics, the form flows into the function as well, bringing cooks a closer, more tactile and ergonomic connection with what they cut. Originally a student project, the piece is now in production thanks to Del Ben, a cutlery manufacturer in Italy.

Crafted from polished steel it is certainly a step up from the stone or bronze ages, though its diminutive pebble-shaped stand seems insubstantial and ill-planned by comparison.

    

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