One of the most essential aspects of interior design is lighting – an element that can make or break an interior space of any size or material. Yet good lighting can be especially important for smaller or more crowded spaces, making them feel larger and more open even when their literal dimensions haven’t changed. In turn, larger spaces with poor lighting may feel smaller and less welcoming than they have the potential to be. To make interiors feel aptly large and well lit, designers can rely on several tried and true methods that make the most of a space, from using the right shades and types of lights to placing them in the best locations to integrating other elements that best complement existing lighting. These strategies, as well as several examples of their application, are listed below.
How to Choose the Front Door of a House?
As much as walls, ceilings, and furniture pieces define the character and perception of an architectural project, doors play a critical role in building that style. Among all the doors used in houses, the front door is the first tangible element that homeowners and visitors will encounter, acting as the pivotal point where architecture greets the user. After all, first impressions are always important; and the entrance door is certainly one that can set the tone for the rest of the interior. However, choosing the right front door for a contemporary house can be difficult, especially with so many design possibilities. Therefore, before making that decision, it is crucial to know what those possibilities are – and how these can transform the front door into a design statement.
2+U Tower / Pickard Chilton
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Architects: Pickard Chilton
- Area: 1000000 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: C.R. Laurence, Kalzip, Kaswell, Kawneer, Mosa, +5
Coastal Design: The New Waterfront Parks Making Waves
Between rising water levels and global migration to cities, architects and designers need to critically reimagine the relationship between coastal landscapes and public space. Cities are facing entirely new risks and environmental conditions. Resiliency, infrastructure, and ecology are increasingly common terms, reflecting the growing demand to address the spatial and formal challenges faced by cities worldwide. Rethinking boundaries and edges, designers have unique opportunities to help shape public understanding of these conditions through waterfront parks.
Prix Versailles 2021: World Selections for Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations and Sports announced
The annual Prix Versailles awards, created in 2015 to promote a better interaction between the cultural and the economic, announced the 2021 World Selections celebrating 24 projects in the categories of Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations and Sports.
Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal / LMN Architects
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Architects: LMN Architects
- Area: 37264 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: HBB Landscape Architecture, Dark Light Design, The Greenbusch Group, Ilium
Mount Si High School / NAC Architecture
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Architects: NAC Architecture
- Area: 360000 m²
- Year: 2019
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Professionals: Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Metrix Engineers, Mechanical NAC Engineers, Berger Partnership
Catalyst Building / Michael Green Architecture
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Architects: Michael Green Architecture
- Area: 165 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: AutoDesk, C.R. Laurence, Kingspan Insulated Panels, Bison, Boon Edam, +20
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Professionals: Aercoustics Engineering Ltd, RDH Building Science, Code Unlimited, AECOM, Bernardo Wills Architects, +5
Urban Flight: New Homes in the Move to Rural Living
Cities around the world are facing new questions of urban flight. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, it exacerbated a range of living conditions and housing crises, from telecommuting and construction to global economies. As Fast Company reports, almost 40% of those living in cities have considered moving out since the pandemic started. With the possibility of the pandemic stretching on for years, more urbanites are considering the move to rural areas and small towns.
Kayak Point House / Christopher Wright Architecture
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Architects: Christopher Wright Architecture
- Area: 2196 ft²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Dornbracht, Laufen, Miele, Subzero/Wolf, A&D Furniture and Repair, +18
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Professionals: Peter Gintautas Nalis A.E.C, Gary Henderson Interiors, Grapestone Construction
Studhorse / Olson Kundig Architects
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Architects: Olson Kundig
- Area: 4078 ft²
- Year: 2015
Bear Run Cabin / David Coleman Architecture
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Architects: David Coleman Architecture
- Area: 1890 ft²
- Year: 2018
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Manufacturers: Duravit, Fry Reglet, Acor, Amerilux, Ann Sacks, +7
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Professionals: Piazza Construction
Whistler Ski House / Olson Kundig
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Architects: Olson Kundig
- Area: 6000 ft²
- Year: 2014
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Professionals: Schuchart/Dow, CJ Anderson, EXP Services Inc., Fast + Epp
Putting Wood on a Pedestal: The Rise of Mid-Rise Podium Design
Podium construction – alternately known as platform or pedestal construction – is a building typology characterized by a horizontal division between a lower ‘podium’ and an upper tower. The podium, which is typically made of concrete or steel, is crowned by multiple light wood-frame stories. Often, the lighter upper structure contains four to five stories of residential units, while the podium houses retail, commercial, or office spaces and above- or below-grade parking. An alternative configuration sports six to seven residential stories (including the podium) and subterranean parking. Some visible examples of this podium construction style include the amenity-rich Stella residences designed by DesignArc; an attractive yet cost-effective student housing project for the University of Washington by Mahlum Architects; and the warm, modern University House Arena District also designed by Mahlum Architects in Eugene, Oregon.
Stirrup House / Olson Kundig
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Architects: Olson Kundig
- Area: 6472 ft²
- Year: 2015
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Professionals: Galena Engineering, Grid Engineer, Lucas Design Associates, O-Lighting
Gethsemane Lutheran Church / Olson Kundig
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Architects: Olson Kundig
- Area: 64135 ft²
- Year: 2012
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Professionals: Candela, The Berger Partnership, Cierra Electrical Group, Rafn, Sider+Byers, +1
JW Marriot Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa / Olson Kundig
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Architects: Olson Kundig
- Area: 561000 ft²
- Year: 2015
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Professionals: Alonso y Asociados, Grupo Diestra, Luz en Arquitectura, ASLA