Courtney Apple
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped porcelain tile and multicolored floor eat-in kitchen idea in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, gray cabinets, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, no island, shaker cabinets and gray countertops

Fresh Look Design
Family room - eclectic family room idea in Edmonton

John Gollings Rising from under the eaves of a suburban bungalow in Surrey hills is a new ’nugget-like’ pavilion. Fused onto part of the house’s triple-fronted facade this pavilion mimics and expands upon the original dwelling‘s architectural language. Connections and disconnections are made between the old and the new, promoting a layered and evolving character. The clients’ brief was for a sustainable, flexible living space; that was contemporary, whilst fitting in with the existing context. The Forever House does this by being both reverent and cheeky, radical and conservative. The original house is clad in a double-skin of clinker bricks. Commonly used throughout the 1930’s neighbourhood, clinker bricks have been unpopular in recent times. They have an unusual character- a kind of tudoresque-art-deco. Instead of spurning this humble material, the Forever House reappraises and incorporates it. The purplish, burnt bricks are laid randomly along with their matte and glazed red cousins producing an abstract, colourful fresco. On the large south-western wall the pattern is at it’s most powerful, taking on a decisively urban presence. The new pavilion’s materiality relates it back to the original house; but does so on it’s own terms. This relationship is not merely skin deep, and importantly the new walls are constructed of double brick cavity. The fancy bricks are all ‘seconds’ normally rejected by architects and the inner skin are ‘thirds’ ready for land fill. While not only matching the quality of the original house, this helps provide a high level of thermal mass for the new living space. The existing floor boards in the areas of the demolished areas of the house were retained and reused to allow for seamless connections of the new stairs and hallway. The project has both hot water and electrical solar panels on the roof and complemented by appropriate glazing and cross ventilation, the room is simple to heat and cool. ESD initiatives are however, woven in seamlessly; allowing the other architectural aims to come to the fore. The dialogue between old and new is continued inside the dwelling. The original foyer’s white painted walls and elegant timber details are borrowed in the new interior. However, in the pavilion they become freer and more dramatic. The timber motif changes in scale and role: from a picture rail in the original house- it becomes stairs, shelving and a low bench in the new living room. Something you hang a painting on in the old, becomes something you sit on in the new. Spatially, the pavilion’s interior brings an entirely new language to the project. It’s crystalline geometry is derived from the tucking of the pavilion under the existing eaves. This move allows for deep, chamfered skylight penetrations; their diamond-like shape accenting the new architectural language. Located on a triangular site, the original house had four yards and three street facades. This unusual arrangement provides opportunities as well as constraints. By straddling three of the yards and attaching the pavilion to one of the facades, the Forever House not only provides a new neighbourhood presence, but also makes use of an awkward left over space. Further, this central position allows the owners to take part in their children’s play whether they are in either the garden or the old or new parts of the house.

well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run Baufritz have houses throughout the country, but it is in the Marlow and Cookham areas that we have built the most homes. Christine and Duncan Penny approached Baufritz in 2011 to replace what was an old house on the site which was becoming increasingly more expensive to run. The existing 1968 house has been added to and extended numerous times by different owners, and as a result was also quite piecemeal in its layout. The Pennys therefore desired a home that suited their young family – a bespoke house for four. Significantly, they looked carefully at the lifetime cost of a new home - rather than the short term view on how much the new house would cost - when making their decision of a self-build project. The new house was to be a contemporary home which looked to fulfil the needs of a modern family home – well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run and maintain and one which would fit into its surroundings. Planning was not going to be easy, as the site adjoined a conservation area, but in dialogue with the planners a solution was found where the home was divided up into three separate elements with separate roofs. The planners felt this would break up the mass of the house and therefore reflect its context or "genus loci". This is what ultimately dictated the building form. Baufritz fulfilled their initial brief in being able to create a contemporary family house for them, but the speed of construction is what ultimately sold it to the Pennys as they would have to move out of their existing home whilst the new house was constructed. Being able to do this within a tight timeframe was important. As Duncan Penny was spending much time out of the country on business in the Far East, it also meant he had no time to project manage the project, and Baufritz's turnkey package was therefore the perfect solution: Baufritz were able to design the house with their in-house House Designers, project manage the build from start to finish as well as construct the home on a tight and difficult site. Danny Galvin from DG Site Preparations were contracted to do both the demolition and Groundwork. What sets Danny and his team apart are their commitment to the environment: between 85-90% of the demolished house was taken away to be recycled and this was achieved by separating out the waste carefully into its component parts before it is taken off site to be recycled. The house was manufactured in our factory in Germany to ensure waste was further reduced, and this method is also employed by our partner basement builder, Glatthaar Fertigkeller, who follow a similar philosophy of zero waste. This ultimately made the home as energy efficient as possible in both its manufacture and construction. The timber and render exterior was erected within 3 days, and this weather tight shell quickly achieved a dry and clean internal working environment. By building in this manner, any possibility of moisture contamination is negated and any health issues associated with this, by default, annulled too. The aspect of the house is primarily south: this being advantageous not only for the views, but also for the passive solar gain and floods of natural light. External blinds are used on the south facade to enable the client to control the levels of sunlight or solar gain they require depending on the time of day or time of year. The kitchen area benefits from direct morning sun – this was a high priority on the client's wish-list. Leading out from the kitchen is a discreet morning patio area – perfect for enjoying breakfast outside. A sunken patio area to the south leading out from the family room used the sloping site to its maximum potential, creating a wonderful outdoor living area which fulfilled the clients brief of an "inside – outside" feel to the house. The House Designer reflects on the design, "The design is modern and has strong links between floors in the main living areas, with open galleries and large areas of glazing. There are terraces on three sides of the house as well as balconies to the bedrooms. This means that the outside spaces can be used all year round!" The home is an incredible 100 tonnes gross / 66 tonnes net carbon store and has provision for solar hot water through photo-voltaic cells on the main south facing roof. Although the client has chosen not to install this technology at present, the possibilities of installing these systems at a later date were integral to the mechanical and electrical design of the home. It is heated by gas, and has an electrodynamic water treatment system to negate the high levels of limescale found in the local water system.

well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run Baufritz have houses throughout the country, but it is in the Marlow and Cookham areas that we have built the most homes. Christine and Duncan Penny approached Baufritz in 2011 to replace what was an old house on the site which was becoming increasingly more expensive to run. The existing 1968 house has been added to and extended numerous times by different owners, and as a result was also quite piecemeal in its layout. The Pennys therefore desired a home that suited their young family – a bespoke house for four. Significantly, they looked carefully at the lifetime cost of a new home - rather than the short term view on how much the new house would cost - when making their decision of a self-build project. The new house was to be a contemporary home which looked to fulfil the needs of a modern family home – well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run and maintain and one which would fit into its surroundings. Planning was not going to be easy, as the site adjoined a conservation area, but in dialogue with the planners a solution was found where the home was divided up into three separate elements with separate roofs. The planners felt this would break up the mass of the house and therefore reflect its context or "genus loci". This is what ultimately dictated the building form. Baufritz fulfilled their initial brief in being able to create a contemporary family house for them, but the speed of construction is what ultimately sold it to the Pennys as they would have to move out of their existing home whilst the new house was constructed. Being able to do this within a tight timeframe was important. As Duncan Penny was spending much time out of the country on business in the Far East, it also meant he had no time to project manage the project, and Baufritz's turnkey package was therefore the perfect solution: Baufritz were able to design the house with their in-house House Designers, project manage the build from start to finish as well as construct the home on a tight and difficult site. Danny Galvin from DG Site Preparations were contracted to do both the demolition and Groundwork. What sets Danny and his team apart are their commitment to the environment: between 85-90% of the demolished house was taken away to be recycled and this was achieved by separating out the waste carefully into its component parts before it is taken off site to be recycled. The house was manufactured in our factory in Germany to ensure waste was further reduced, and this method is also employed by our partner basement builder, Glatthaar Fertigkeller, who follow a similar philosophy of zero waste. This ultimately made the home as energy efficient as possible in both its manufacture and construction. The timber and render exterior was erected within 3 days, and this weather tight shell quickly achieved a dry and clean internal working environment. By building in this manner, any possibility of moisture contamination is negated and any health issues associated with this, by default, annulled too. The aspect of the house is primarily south: this being advantageous not only for the views, but also for the passive solar gain and floods of natural light. External blinds are used on the south facade to enable the client to control the levels of sunlight or solar gain they require depending on the time of day or time of year. The kitchen area benefits from direct morning sun – this was a high priority on the client's wish-list. Leading out from the kitchen is a discreet morning patio area – perfect for enjoying breakfast outside. A sunken patio area to the south leading out from the family room used the sloping site to its maximum potential, creating a wonderful outdoor living area which fulfilled the clients brief of an "inside – outside" feel to the house. The House Designer reflects on the design, "The design is modern and has strong links between floors in the main living areas, with open galleries and large areas of glazing. There are terraces on three sides of the house as well as balconies to the bedrooms. This means that the outside spaces can be used all year round!" The home is an incredible 100 tonnes gross / 66 tonnes net carbon store and has provision for solar hot water through photo-voltaic cells on the main south facing roof. Although the client has chosen not to install this technology at present, the possibilities of installing these systems at a later date were integral to the mechanical and electrical design of the home. It is heated by gas, and has an electrodynamic water treatment system to negate the high levels of limescale found in the local water system.

Photo: Baufritz well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run Baufritz have houses throughout the country, but it is in the Marlow and Cookham areas that we have built the most homes. Christine and Duncan Penny approached Baufritz in 2011 to replace what was an old house on the site which was becoming increasingly more expensive to run. The existing 1968 house has been added to and extended numerous times by different owners, and as a result was also quite piecemeal in its layout. The Pennys therefore desired a home that suited their young family – a bespoke house for four. Significantly, they looked carefully at the lifetime cost of a new home - rather than the short term view on how much the new house would cost - when making their decision of a self-build project. The new house was to be a contemporary home which looked to fulfil the needs of a modern family home – well designed, well insulated, cost-effective to run and maintain and one which would fit into its surroundings. Planning was not going to be easy, as the site adjoined a conservation area, but in dialogue with the planners a solution was found where the home was divided up into three separate elements with separate roofs. The planners felt this would break up the mass of the house and therefore reflect its context or "genus loci". This is what ultimately dictated the building form. Baufritz fulfilled their initial brief in being able to create a contemporary family house for them, but the speed of construction is what ultimately sold it to the Pennys as they would have to move out of their existing home whilst the new house was constructed. Being able to do this within a tight timeframe was important. As Duncan Penny was spending much time out of the country on business in the Far East, it also meant he had no time to project manage the project, and Baufritz's turnkey package was therefore the perfect solution: Baufritz were able to design the house with their in-house House Designers, project manage the build from start to finish as well as construct the home on a tight and difficult site. Danny Galvin from DG Site Preparations were contracted to do both the demolition and Groundwork. What sets Danny and his team apart are their commitment to the environment: between 85-90% of the demolished house was taken away to be recycled and this was achieved by separating out the waste carefully into its component parts before it is taken off site to be recycled. The house was manufactured in our factory in Germany to ensure waste was further reduced, and this method is also employed by our partner basement builder, Glatthaar Fertigkeller, who follow a similar philosophy of zero waste. This ultimately made the home as energy efficient as possible in both its manufacture and construction. The timber and render exterior was erected within 3 days, and this weather tight shell quickly achieved a dry and clean internal working environment. By building in this manner, any possibility of moisture contamination is negated and any health issues associated with this, by default, annulled too. The aspect of the house is primarily south: this being advantageous not only for the views, but also for the passive solar gain and floods of natural light. External blinds are used on the south facade to enable the client to control the levels of sunlight or solar gain they require depending on the time of day or time of year. The kitchen area benefits from direct morning sun – this was a high priority on the client's wish-list. Leading out from the kitchen is a discreet morning patio area – perfect for enjoying breakfast outside. A sunken patio area to the south leading out from the family room used the sloping site to its maximum potential, creating a wonderful outdoor living area which fulfilled the clients brief of an "inside – outside" feel to the house. The House Designer reflects on the design, "The design is modern and has strong links between floors in the main living areas, with open galleries and large areas of glazing. There are terraces on three sides of the house as well as balconies to the bedrooms. This means that the outside spaces can be used all year round!" The home is an incredible 100 tonnes gross / 66 tonnes net carbon store and has provision for solar hot water through photo-voltaic cells on the main south facing roof. Although the client has chosen not to install this technology at present, the possibilities of installing these systems at a later date were integral to the mechanical and electrical design of the home. It is heated by gas, and has an electrodynamic water treatment system to negate the high levels of limescale found in the local water system.

Living room - traditional living room idea in Venice