This warehouse conversion by Josephine Hurley Architecture Studio, is in one of Sydney’s most recognised heritage buildings, the distinctive Edwards & Co. building. The building is wedged into a narrow street in the fast regenerating inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Formerly a tea factory in the 1920s and more recently an advertising agency, the brief was to breathe new life into the 300-square-metre space as a private residence that spans two levels. Level 6 with the iconic arched windows was completely gutted and the former caretaker’s office was demolished and replaced with a guest retreat on the roof, located behind the emblazoned parapet. The client brief focused heavily on the notions of comfort, practicality and respect for the building. The client, an architect-turned-talented-musician wanted the architecture to be a backdrop that would facilitate everyday living and transform depending who was there. The concept employs a collection of restrained and understated…

A very unique person walked into XS Studio for compact design studio. He told them that he worked selling spices – which immediately sparked their imagination. They were asked to design an apartment in a new, white high-rise for a person whose daily occupation involved matter, smells, and colors. A person with deep roots, broad intellectual knowledge, and a passion for arts and culture, whose daily occupation and livelihood are down-to-earth and sensual by nature. Their encounter with this client ignited their imagination and brought them to create for him a world of contrasts: matter and anti-matter (clean, simple white against heavy wood, black metal, authentic rugs), simplicity alongside complexity (square, clean geometry contrasted with a soft, rounded, classical language), and old versus new (a new luxury building faced with a passion for collectibles which have been carefully curated with profound knowledge). And one man, living in one home, which…

 On one of Stockholm’s most beautiful streets, this unique and classically modern apartment is located on two floors, at the top of a property on the area of Villagatan. A well-appointed floor, generous and airy living areas of absolute highest standards and elegant rooms decorated in an international style with timeless material choices and classic Farrow & Ball colors.  A very spacious living room with lovely views, king balcony, fireplace and space for several different seating areas. On upper level there is a large bedroom, an office in tower room, adjoining terrace and two dressing room / possible bedrooms with bathroom en suite. Enjoy!!!! See also :https://house-diaries.com/a-special-penthouse-in-sohony/

This 1,400 square foot house, designed by chadbourne + doss architects, is built up from the foundation of an existing bungalow. The owners love art, cooking, gardening, and rusted steel. They wanted the house to celebrate those things. Living spaces are stacked on two floors between two solid full height walls either side. These walls bracket an open plan with views through the house from front to back. This provides privacy on a tight urban lot and wall space for the client’s growing art collection. A custom steel stair and perforated steel fireplace surround provide porous screening to the living spaces from the street. A custom sliding TV armature was designed to allow flexible viewing from the Living Room, Dinning Room, and Kitchen. A multi-level deck incorporates a hot tub and extends the living space into the west-facing garden. Materials and details are natural and honestly expressed. Exterior materials include…

Studio Space A have collaborated with the owner to revitalise a tired artist’s villa, bringing colour and intrigue to a dynamic family home. Astrid Zydower was a sculptress who lived in this London town house for decades. Using the front living space as her studio, she famously created the Orpheus piece at Harewood House. Known for hosting cosy roast lamb suppers amidst an assemblage of kitsch objects, she entertained friends in kooky style. Astrid’s spirit was the inspiration for this 250 sqm house refurbishment. The owner needed a space for her family, space to work and space to entertain. With 3 stories and lofty ceiling heights, the house is ideal for multi personalities to coexist in undiluted charm. Space A worked on creating a fusion of mysterious moments in the house, curating it as a series of little and large doorways, arched tunnels, translucent voiles and bold colour combinations.( Published…

At the top of the house is this unique attic of a total of 201 sqm with a fantastic view. Free and high position as well as large studio windows provide a fantastic light flow. There is a generous and airy living area with a fireplace, open, social floor plan and almost four meters to the ridge. The floor has retained its wind character with exposed beams, masonry wall sections and angel stairs. A wonderful combination of modern elements and classic color choices with a stylish and modern kitchen in open plan. Enjoy it!!!! https://house-diaries.com/a-lavish-attic-by-architect-love-arben-in-stockholm/

This renovation and addition project by Woofter Bolch Architecture Studio, added approximately 600 sf to a 100-year-old residence in SE Portland. Home to two established artists, the project completely transformed the interior to maximize daylight, views, and opportunities to display art. A new three-story extension was added in the back, creating a new studio space, kitchen, and vaulted library/bedroom. Two new covered porches provide direct access to the back yard from both the basement and main living levels. Both the exterior design and the new interior spaces continue the historic language and elegant proportions of the existing house.(Published with Bowerbird) Photography : Jon Jensen See also :https://house-diaries.com/an-artist-studio-a-converted-barn-in-provincetown-ma/

This commission for a lakeside residence in Caputh by Borgos Pieper Studio, helped the clients realise their dream of transforming an unusual lakeside Dacha near Potsdam into a rich mix of spaces that fuse the garden and lake views into a luxurious rural retreat. The existing Dacha, built in the 1950’s for a senior politician in East Germany, could not be altered in its volume or area. The unique and idyllic site overlooking the Caputh Lake outside of Potsdam has a handful of neighbours and is surrounded by a nature reserve. The timber structure was transformed and recovered to capture the impressive views and make a unique home. The sloping site offers privacy through its established garden that focuses the internal and external views towards the lake to the South. The three storey home has a lower ground entertaining level that opens onto the lakeside garden level, a intermediate level…

The “ Caminhos do Romântico ”territory in the city of Porto (Portugal) has unique characteristics, mixing bourgeois houses with popular housing, interspersing gardens full of camellias and other exotic species with gardens and backyards but also several examples of industrial archeology. An important part of these routes is made through roads that have markedly rural characteristics, with high walls of the old farms and the fountains and washrooms. The primitive house which was completely in ruins, has been recovered by Floret Arquitectura using the techniques and the conventional architectural language of the time. The extension of the building was made at a lower level, taking advantage of the terraces, using wood and concrete, clearly demarcating in chronological terms the addition of the original. This intervention managed to reconcile the needs of a large family with the conditions resulting from the recovery of the built heritage, respecting the specificity of the place and…

It was only after living in their 400-year-old Jacobean farmhouse in Suffolk for 3 years that Architect Howard Nash (Co-director of Nash Baker Architects) and his partner Monique Beauval-Nash felt they knew the building well enough to make a start on its renovation. They used this long gestation period to good effect, repairing and improving decaying Victorian farm outbuildings and developing creative ways of tackling the architectural and conservation issues raised by the main farmhouse. Now, they have completed building works to the farmhouse and the result is a subtle and exquisite weaving together of the historic, the not-quite-so historic and the contemporary into a quietly confident statement of architectural and design excellence. The project took nearly 3 years to complete. One of the main reasons for this is the careful consideration that was given to every architectural and design decision by demanding owner/designers – who knew they would themselves…

With a quiet and charming courtyard location in a beautiful turn-of-the-century property from 1907, you will find a home with a wonderful personality, just 44 sq m, which is easy to like. The home offers an incredible charm and a cozy atmosphere with many exciting hints and corners such as well-preserved details from the year of construction. The generous ceiling height of 3 meters in combination with large, sash windows and a beautiful tiled stove creates a light and airy home that is easy to long for. There is a spacious living room with tiled stove and beautiful old serving cabinets and a unique bedroom solution behind a wonderful glass veranda that is an awesome element in the apartment. https://house-diaries.com/a-small-dusty-pink-apartment-in-sweden/