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[ Filed under Ultramodern or in the Architecture category ]

As massive and looming as it may be, this set of stacked boxes is a home with a huge emphasis on tiny details. Strategic material choices, structural supports and fine-grained textures bring it back down to human scale, making it livable despite its lofty overarching appearance.

Weathered wooden slats have the same monolithic effect as board-formed concrete, giving the horizontal top-story box a vertical emphasis through thin seams and wood grain and reinforced by a mixed pattern of slotted window slices. Lighter knotted-wood accent shutters at the end of the element also serve to soften its dominating look as it hovers over the landscape.

Created by Colboc Franzen for a semi-rural plot in France, this three-volume design is all about transitions too. The first floor, tucked halfway into the ground itself, features an entryway, office, and service spaces (garage, basement and laundry room).

The second accommodates in-between functions – kitchen, living and dining rooms. Bedrooms are placed on the top floor, in the secure, bunker-like concrete block that sits above the rest.

The multi-story approach also responds to the site-specific topography. A shifting ground level from front to back gives both of the first two floors access to ground-story space, while the lofted cube is left to sit surrounded entirely by sky.

For more information on this video click – www.indiavideo.org Video by www.invismultimedia.com
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There seems to be a real movement gathering momentum asking questions about how we live our lives, particularly looking at the benefits of working with our hands and making things whether as a profession or as a hobby.

Tomorrow a new book is released in the UK written by Mark Frauenfelder the founder of the most popular blog in the world, Boing Boing with more than 5 million unique visitors a month.

It’s called “Made by Hand” and is a celebration of reconnecting with the simple stuff. Here is a video where he discusses lots of folk who are simplifying their lives with a degree of self sufficiency and also his own experiments. I was delighted to see at 15.20 that he is into carving spoons.

The made by hand website

Not having a TV I missed it but James May started a mans DIY TV show yesterday on BBC2 called Man Lab.

He said “Like many people, I spend most of my working life typing at a computer. During the course of a normal day writing things for the telly, almost everything I do is – well, cerebral is too big a word for Top Gear, but you know what I mean.
After a day like that, an evening spent fixing things – messing around with a bicycle or doing a spot of DIY – is an immense therapy. It is very refreshing to do something with your hands, even if it’s only to clean your shoes. Or take a clock to bits and put it back together. Or mend an old motorcycle.”

All this follows on recent books the Craftsman by Richard Sennett and Shop Class as Soul Class by Matt Crawford both of which argue for a revaluing of hand skill.

Finally I wanted to share a rather wonderful animation of Ken Robinson’s speech on the current state of education and how he believes it kills creativity.

This great new line of outdoor wicker lighting combines the casual, easygoing feel of this natural woven material with a modern twist. Popular outdoor furniture brand Dedon has joined forces with contemporary lighting guru Flos to do what they do best – wicker and lighting, respectively. Combined with the cutting-edge style of renown designer Philippe Starck, the results are illuminating! This freestanding floor lamp features a sleek, slim base topped by its characteristic basket-style shade. These chic two-toned lamps are available in Chalk/Carbon, Chalk/Terracotta, Terracotta/Stone and Platinum/Titanium finishes. Light up your alfresco entertaining, living and dining areas in style. Fore more information visit Dedon.

Changing the ambience of your home is as easy as one can think of with the suggestions from HGTV’s CHIP WADE & Levolor. The Levelor Custom Size windows treatments are a brand new product offered by Levelor and Lowe with different blinds and shades and can be easily installed in a house in a single day.

Few of the tips for your Home Decor are:

• • View change: The new Levelor Custom Size windows treatment has different options of various colours and texture palette to add to your home. It has been designed in such a way which provides a room with appropriate light and privacy.

• • Furniture arrangement: A nice bit of arrangement done with the furniture of house so as to give appropriate pathway (preferably 5feet) is ideal with proper scaling of the room furniture depending upon the perimeter of the room.

• • Turning the old stuff into something new: Some old stuff in the store can be used to create a small piece of decorative art with some innovative ideas behind it.

• • Giving a Fresh look: A fresh new coat on the walls with vibrant colours can also result in a change in the ambience and give the room a fresh new look.

• • Accents and Accessories: Some unique accessories could also be used like space enhancing mirrors or funky pillows for a makeover of a room.

• • Using a bit of Greenery: Indoor plants can also be used for decor purpose which adds aroma to the life of the room.

o  Small Change = Big Impact: Few changes in the kitchen or living room furniture can also make an impact in the styling of the ambience.

All these steps could help in creating a makeover to the feel and look of the home. For further tips or queries Chip Wade, visit www.chipwade.com. Also visit www.Lowes.Levolor.com for Levolor Custom Size Now blinds and shades, offered exclusively at Lowe’s.

In many older homes the window are made of wood which easily breaks down over time. Many people do not fully understand the importance of having a good set of windows in their home. As wood framed windows age they begin to break down which in turn increases the amount of cooled air that can escape from your home as well as increase the risk of break-ins due to dilapidated window locks. The security risks of having older windows alone is reason enough for many people to seek replacement windows, add to that the fact the replacing older windows with newer ones can greatly effect your utility bill in a positive way and the reasons for replacing the old windows in your house begin to make more and more sense. Installing new windows can greatly reduce the amount of money that you must pay monthly to the electric company by sealing in cooled air allowing your thermostat to work more efficiently by not having to try and stay caught up with the amount of cool air that might escape from older windows. The possibilities for Atlanta window replacement vary greatly and the types of windows that you can install on your home are substantial.

Replacing your windows using vinyl framed windows has many advantages. The first is that vinyl is highly customizable which will make it easier for you as the buyer to find exactly what you are looking for in a set of windows for your home. In addition to the customizability of vinyl windows they are also easy to install and will not require and further cosmetic attention that the actual process of installing the windows. If vinyl is not your speed you can always go with your standard storm windows which are some of the strongest windows that you can get. Most storm windows are double paned which adds not only to their strength but also to their insulation value. In addition to their strength, storm windows are also available in a variety of materials such as aluminum, vinyl and even wood. Storm windows are very affordable and make a great replacement for older wood framed windows that have been eaten away by insects and the weather. Replacing your windows is sure to be a job that will require a substantial amount of funds; because of this it is best to consult with a number of Georgia window replacement companies in order to find the best price.

The attractive bathrooms that you see in magazines, TV commercials and big hotels or any other places always create some kind of wish in your heart if you could get one such bathroom for your home? Well, that is nothing impossible to achieve. You may worry about the budget, but if it is said that you can manage to get a luxurious bathroom suite like the ones you see at an affordable budget may sound something unbelievable, right? The fact is it is possible provided that you plan your bathroom suite at little smart way.

When it comes to luxury bathroom suites one needs to start from a particular angle and take the right decisions regarding the bathroom furnishings. At the very first instance you have select the bathroom suite design that you will put in your bathroom. The design of your bathroom suite will decide the accessories and bathroom components that you would select for the bathroom. Whether it is a new bathroom or just update of the old one, the style should be kept in mind. You can choose from designs like traditional to contemporary designs. Then decide on bathroom furniture and other components like sink, toilet seat, bathtub and others.

Research is the key to saving your money on bathroom furniture and accessories that you would buy. Take the help of internet to browse through the catalog of different companies and bathroom accessory shops to find out competitive pricing furnishings. Your patience and research will definitely help you find companies or shops online that provide affordable bathroom furnishings that would make the perfect bathroom suite for your home.