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Blau-Thompson Residence
This Civil War era, 1680-square-foot three-story row house is located in the Italian Market section of Philadelphia. The BluPath Design principals and their young child were the clients. The project goal was to upgrade a traditional housing type to meet a contemporary lifestyle, applying both sustainable criteria and clean, modern yet sensual aesthetics. The challenge of the property (only 830 square feet in lot size) was to create a design that was small, but smart.
The structure formerly housed a luncheonette with two apartments above. The interior was gutted and renovated into a single family home. The construction of a small rear addition added a new kitchen on the first floor and new bathrooms on the second and third levels. The east-west orientation of the home was ideal for the roof-mounted solar collectors, which were installed to provide domestic hot water and supplement the new radiant floor heating system. Exterior sensors improve the efficiency of the heating system's response to fluctuations in outside temperature. A new white-coated, rubber membrane roof reduced the structure's heat gain by 20 percent. A water catch system collects rainwater and air conditioner condensation to water the home's small rear garden.
Large windows and skylights bring light deep into the row house and reduce the use of light fixtures. The rear yard garden features ipe decking (a dense, water-repellent hardwood) on permeable compacted gravel to minimize storm water runoff. BluPath Design’s principals used the project to demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated with beauty and function, with sensual materials and colors, well-proportioned and light-filled rooms, economic use of space, and thoughtful details. Cherry flooring and custom stairs complement the Indian slate tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen features custom walnut cabinets with blue granite counters and backsplashes. The first floor dining area is illuminated by a BluPath-designed fiber-optic chandelier. Ipe hardwood is also used for the master bath tub-surround and shower floor. Sliding frosted glass panels separating the master bath from other living areas allows light from the corner windows to naturally illuminate the adjacent room.
Awards
Honorable Mention for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
IIDA Philadelphia City Center Chapter 3rd Annual Interior Design Awards, June 2007
Bronze 2006 Commonwealth Design Award
10,000 Friends of PA, May 2006
Media
HGTV ‘What You Get for the Money’ February 2007
Philadelphia Style Magazine March/April 2007
Philadelphia Inquirer June 11, 2006
Philadelphia CityPaper September 25-October 2, 2003
Photography by Barry Halkin

2B is at once a tranquil art gallery and a comfortable residence; white walls as a simple canvas that bears the quiet sophistication of hovering sculptures and framed compositions of brushstrokes and purposeful blots. Exposed structural concrete and sliding panels of timber begin to define the ephemeral lightness and contain the sideboard that complements the living space, just as the bay windows frame the dynamic mountainous scenes beyond. Natural light afforded by the bays begins to change in timbre and so the sculptural shadows begin to dance to the soft bending pentatonic melodies by the lady of the house - the artiste in residence. - www.0932.am
Type . Residential
Location . Hong Kong
Floor Area . 1,195 SQ FT
Year of Completion . 2014
Collaboration . Oval Design Limited (HK)
Photo Credit . David Chan & Dennis Lim
Text Credit . Pamela Lim
Interior . Oval Design Limited (HK) / 0932 Design Consultants
www.0932.am

These two though....
This retired "simple beach couple" are a couple of our faves. This was a collaboration in every sense of the word from start to finish. This was not a "throw us the keys and we'll do it all for you" type of project. They were very involved in every decision from architect plans all the way to bedside lamp placement. They had this land and former bungalow on a walkstreet in their beloved Hermosa Beach for over 30 years before they enlisted us to help them design and build their dream home. We worked with Lane Design Build and the client in wonderful harmony, and everyone is very pleased with the results.

• Geometric pool featuring a raised spa with copper scuppers and tanning ledge
• In-floor cleaning system
• PebbleSheen in French Grey
• Classic Pool Tile in Thames Earth
• Ivory travertine paver deck in offset diamond pattern
• Pool cabana with outdoor kitchen featuring U-Line and Asko products
• Cedar pergola
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