Chiyodanomori Dental Clinic by Hironaka Ogawa & Associates

Chiyodanomori Dental Clinic by Hironaka Ogawa & Associates

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This is a dental clinic accompanied with a housing project.

The conditions required were: to make the clinic and housing into one building, to create three individual treatment rooms and a couple of rooms that are able to alter into treatment rooms in the future for the clinic, and to provide the treatment area wide spread feelings while keeping its privacy. For the housing section, the client wanted to have a pleasant view of the sky. Other than these conditions, locating openings also needed particular attention in order to maintain enough natural lighting levels in the building; the site suffers from strong winter wind and is famous for the hottest temperature record in Japan during the summer. 

First of all, I made a rule to create a 2.7m x 2.7m cell that is needed for the individual treatment area. I placed the cells in grid inside of a walled box and located a couple of courtyards to get sunlight while considering their relations to each cell. By doing so, fifty-five cells were created on the plane. I let the building be seen as one volume by employing a hip roof and laid the second floor of the housing in the hipped or inclined section. 

The clinic and a part of the housing have different ceiling heights created by the slanted roof, and the courtyards’ varying depth creates natural light gradations. Therefore, there would be diversities in spaces. The plan is fairly ruled by a 2.7m grid. However, one can experience diverse feelings in each and every space because of the dissimilarities in each cell heights, natural lighting, and volume. While aiming for a functional and rational plan, I encountered ambiguous relationships between outside and inside conditions that generated a mysterious depth in the space. The diversity in light and space was created unintentionally by the fifty-five cells inside of the structure.

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Words: Courtesy of Hironaka Ogawa & Associates
Function: dental clinic (+private house)
Location: Gunma, Japan
Structure: wood frame
Site area: 804.26 sqm
Architectural area: 306.18 sqm
Total floor area: 383.31 sqm
Completed date: 2011
Photography: Daici Ano

http://thisispaper.com/filter/interiors/Hironaka-Ogawa-Associates-Chiyodanomori-Dental-Clinic

The Floating Farmhouse by Tom Givone

The Floating Farmhouse by Tom Givone

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Sited at the edge of a pristine creek, with a waterfall cascading over an ancient dam of hand-laid stone, the Floating Farmhouse was a sinking ship when first discovered. After a design and build process spanning four years, the 1820 manor home is now a study in contrasts: fully restored to its period grandeur while featuring purely modernist elements, including a curtain wall of skyscraper glass in the kitchen, polished concrete and steel finishes, minimalist interiors, and a cantilevered porch “floating” on the surface of the water.

The design incorporates as many local materials and salvaged architectural elements as possible; hand hewn barn beams, Cor-Ten steel sheets, antique cast-iron radiators, and finish woodwork milled from trees felled on the property. But perhaps the best example of a low-carbon footprint material is the home itself. It was built with local materials, delivered by horse and wagon, and built entirely by hand. Renovating an old structure pays homage to that past, both aesthetically and environmentally. It also avoids the landfill, recycles an existing footprint, and spares the greenhouse gases generated by the manufacture and shipping of new building materials (even green ones). 

As a designer and builder, one of the most effective methods I have discovered, in addition to seeking the sweet spot between uniqueness of material and ease of application, is to peel back layers, expose what is inherent to the structure, and incorporate it into the final design; add by taking away.

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Location: Eldred, NY, USA
Square footage: 3600
Architectural Designer: Tom Givone
Builder: Givonehome, Inc.
Words: Courtesy of Tom Givone
Photographers: Mark Mahaney, Tommaso Fond, Michael Bloom

http://thisispaper.com/filter/interiors/Tom-Givone-The-Floating-Farmhouse

We Hostel in Sao Paulo

We Hostel in Sao Paulo

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The House: The 1910’s mansion had its original room disposition nearly unaltered, though it was completely renovated in terms of interior design and amenities. The interior design, signed by the young architect Felipe Hess, is vintage and plain composed of mobile panned across the city. Contemporary pieces blend to this scenario, renewing the atmosphere that part of the eclectic style of the mansion, goes through the lines of retro furniture and culminates in the practicality of hosting solutions.

The lighting project signed by Ana Lucia is also a good surprise. The First thing a guest see by the entrance is an amazing chandelier made out of uorescent tubes hanging on the air.

Acommodation: The WE has 46 vacancies total, with shared rooms accommodating a maximum of 8 people. There is one en suit just for women, with a balcony; one room for couples, with a queen size bed and a huge balcony; one private room and 6 shared dorms. All of them are equipped with individual lockers, wall sockets and reading lights.

Innovation and interactivity: The creative direction of Rodrigo Marangoni makes a connection between the real and the virtual by using QrCodes on strategic spots in the house. The guests can access custom set lists by reading the codes. In addition, maps of Metro service and sights can also be downloaded on the guest's phone, making it easier to foray through the city.

The structure: The hostel provides towels, bed linen, wifi, breakfast and bed tidy free of charge to every guest. The WE team has been strictly trained to help – either with issues related to their stay at WE or with information and tips that will help to provide the best possible travel experience.

Localization: Located at Vila Mariana, one of Sao Paolo’s most traditional neighborhoods, the hostel sits on a peaceful corner, right beside a bike rental spot and close to many of the city’s famous touristic spots, as well as the metro and domestic airport. But the important thing to stress here is that the WE is extremely close to Parque do Ibirapuera, and just one block away from the bohemian Joaquim da Távora Street, with its many bars and exciting nightlife.

Common areas: Each common area has its own identity and exclusive items, such as the chalkboard on the ceiling of the glass room, the bar at the eat&drink area, the comfort of TV room and the special décor at the lounge. To sum up, everything was designed to make your stay in Sao Paolo as pleasant as it can be.

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Available in Thisispaper Guide
Words: Courtesy of Guilherme Perez
Photos: Fran Parente

http://thisispaper.com/filter/interiors/We-Hostel-in-Sao-Paulo