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The Waterhouse at South Bend in Shanghai is a wonderful contrast of old and new. Chinese architects NHDRO have thoughtfully renovated a disused Japanese army headquarters into a modern boutique hotel, keeping the original concrete and brick walls while adding current materials and details. Might be worth bookmarking if you’ve got an older building renovation in your future. The Waterhouse is located by the new Cool Docks development on the South Bund District of Shanghai. If you’re interested in staying there, bookings are available through Design Hotels.

Ran across this renovation project over on Dwell: it’s a the 360-square-foot carriage house that was transformed from a pigeon roost into a mini loft. Especially notable is the postage stamp sized kitchen and bathroom.

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Just saw this impressive sliding door/wall over on Dwell. The Belgian architects 51N4E choose 5mm-thick white marble mounted on a 20mm honeycomb structure for the sliding door that separates the kitchen and adjacent storage space. The wall appears either opaque or translucent depending on time of day and amount of light.

More pictures below.
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Perusing OWI this morning, I came across this Chapel House in the Flemish village of Bazel. While the chapel windows and lofty ceilings definitely induce envy, the mix of soft muted colors and occasional odd material makes for an inspiring interior. Perhaps with the right paint color in a strategic spot and the addition of a few antiques or collectibles, you can steal a little bit of the look for your own home. Also, take a look at their use of chicken wire, or at least that’s what it looks like… photos below.

Photos: Verne

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Another interior I bookmarked over on tumblr was this townhouse by Jörg Ebers of Ebers Architekten. It’s pretty fabulous with all sorts of surprising colors carefully applied to certain areas; my favorites are the full-on color tile bathrooms.

To see the complete story and slideshow, visit NYTimes.com.
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Just ran across this space by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec over on Daily Icon. A few Bouroullec objects are scattered throughout the apartment, of course, but especially interesting is the use of color in certain areas. While certainly the apartment has a simple and restrained feel, the color used in a few niches, walls and doors provides a focused ‘fun’ aspect that balances out the otherwise austere palette. More pictures below.

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These two photos of a 70′s villa are uber-minimal/sparse, but the other shots show a quirky side. Refurbished by interior architects Renaud De Poorter and Femke Holdrinet, the home still has the bones of the original build, but the updates make it feel thoroughly modern and livable. It’s quite the showpiece.

Photography: Verne

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So, this house looks pretty interesting, right? Large windows, large overhang/cantilever, idealic setting, all these signs point to ‘yes’.

However, looking at this image below:

you kind of get the impression of an old mobile home perched dangerously on the edge of a hill. Some graffiti, a little trash strewn about, and the setting is the kind you hope your kids aren’t spending time around. Am I wrong? Ah, now wait, before you go getting all upset, these photos reinstate the initial opinion of excellence and grandeur: (more…)

OWI is a treasure trove of homes to break my heart against, I swear. This strange one has all sorts of odd choices, but the end result is honest and comfortable. Things to pay attention to: the unassuming facade, the atrium with retractable roof (of course), the staircase through the brick wall and the small glass floor portion below (shown lower right), huge metal bookcases filled to the brim, the lack of ‘finish’ to the ceilings, and about ten other things that I won’t list. It’s like a person you meet that seems sort of boring until you discover they are absolutely fascinating.

If you saw the dreamy film “A Single Man” by Tom Ford, you were probably wondering about the lovely house in the center of the film. If you want it, you can have it for a mere 1.5 million.

Hidden in a wooded valley at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains, the redwood, concrete & glass residence opens to the oak forest that influenced the form and orientation of the design. A meticulous restoration of systems, as well as surfaces, hardware & appliances has been completed. This published, world class architectural treasure incorporates open plan living, dining and den areas, two bedrooms, one & a half baths, laundry and attached two carport. In nature and apart, yet just 15 minutes to downtown Los Angeles.

Thanks to Matt for link!

Here’s an office/study on wheels that proves not all shacks have to be eyesores. Smart.

design by Piet Hein Eek, thomas mayer architecture

[via Make:]

Check out this slim-fit house in Toronto. Making use of a super tight lot, the home is a smart example of how space and light can be used to the best advantage. Dwell has some good shots of the interior and exterior, and check out the architect’s site (Donald Chong Studio) for floor plans and extra photos. I especially love the landscaping in the outdoor areas.

[via Dwell]

A Grand Designs episode was on the other night featuring two eco houses squeezed into a rather narrow plot in South London. The plan was to build two identical homes, selling one to finance the other in hopes of living mortgage free. Even though the owners ended up way over the original budget (as most builds do on the show), the outcome was spectacular. Despite the small footprint, the use of oblique windows and skylights opened up the space and maximized light, all while maintaining a keen sense of privacy. Plus, seeing as the home owner was also the owner of a joinery/carpentry firm, he was able to construct the houses himself alongside his team, and, as a result, the craftsmanship was impeccable. It was altogether inspiring. If you’re planning on building on a small plot of land, you might want to check it out.

other bullet points: grass covered roof, constructed using sustainable materials and high performance glass and insulation, low impact piling foundation system, rain-harvesting system

list of materials and sources used here

architect: hampson williams, architecture
homeowner’s site: Talisman Manufacturing

If you are dreaming about your dream house, yet aren’t quite sure how it will fit together spatially, you might want to try out this inexpensive kit. Seeing your design properly in 3d might help iron out any kinks and get it closer to becoming a feasible project.

3D Home Kit (left): $39.95, Buy it here.

Also shown (right), Home Quick Planner: $29.95, Buy it here.
(kit includes 700 precut, reusable peel-and-stick furniture and architectural symbols for every room in the house including the kitchen, study, bedrooms and bathrooms.)