Located between Ziqidonglai Central Park and the peripheral edge of Jiading, a new town in Shanghai, China, From East Bookstore displays a very European design. Scenic Architecture Office imagined a cultural retreat with unusual architecture elements that blend in, defining the personality of the project : “We conceived the environment of the bookstore as a whole, which provided an even and merged interrelation between interior space and exterior space, guiding people to read and relax“, explained the design team.

A sense of intimacy is provided by two small gardens included in the layout of the property, which further blur the indoor-outdoor boundaries. It is here that the visitors are offered an extra treat: “In different parts of the courtyards we created multi-leveled and enriched spatial sequences  through splits and merges of wall routes and simple wall openings“. How would you comment on this highly modern bookstore design in Eastern China?

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Inspired by the Ionic architecture order, Studio 65 designed a seat, chaise and side table for lounging entitled Colonna. By literally breaking down a column, the designers developed three seating units, each with a well designed personality. The upper part of the “stack”, “Capitello”, is also the most alluring one, presenting interesting details from every standpoint and offering a high level of comfort.

The middle piece (“Attica”) is a cozy seat with a dotted black and white cushion- a small, yet very interesting addition to the overall composition. “Attica TL” is the base, consisting of a central table with a glass top. Even though the project was especially created for the outdoors, we can not imagine why the trio can’t be brought inside, with enough space available. The creative furniture collection- which we are certain appeals to those of you living for classic design inspiration- is available for purchase at Gufram.

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Defined in 2012, Mediterrani 32 is a high-quality architectural project that focuses on the importance of nature and bringing it inside the house. The project was completed by Isern Associates and inspired by the words of Claude Monet, the impressionist painter, who stated that only the surrounding atmosphere can embellish a subject and give to it a true value. Exploring the words of Monet, the designers envisioned a space that establishes a dialogue between the interior and the exterior environment. The location, very steep and narrow, did not represent an advantage. The designers chose to expand the house on vertical levels. 

At a glance, the house seems to integrate perfectly into the landscape despite the contrast created through its “raw” look, unveiling a living space that is quite luminous and bright, despite integrating some obvious industrial elements. Sliding doors separate the open plan kitchen from the terrace, inviting the nature to smoothly sneak inside and the normal doors that separate the living spaces have been eliminated, in order to create more space and more breeziness. “All this helps create a very formal building, with huge cantilevers facing out to emptiness, the woods and the sea which lie before it. A structure which opens up to these views and the sun, and which thanks to the terraces and the porches confuse the interior with the exterior.” 

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We discovered the idea of twin homes on Freshome a while back, yet this project managed to surprise us. Antonio Altarriba Comes developed an interesting ensemble of six modern semi-detached homes in a row plus a seventh independent villa showcasing the same design style. The project (found on ArchDaily) is located in Rocafort, Valencia, Spain and occupies a total surface of 2,135 square meters.

According to the architects, “the whole group is a combination of different pieces that come together indifferently, getting the suggestive unity of variety that is the pursuit of contemporary architecture. The volumes consist mainly of two elements: the ground floor, which is completely opened to the exterior through its north and south sides and the upper floor, built with natural stone, with drilling façades depending on the interior needs“.  Each of the dwellings has a small inner courtyard enclosed in glass- a captivating design addition making up for the lack of green space. [Photographs: Diego Opazo]

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A highly modern architecture approach, a generous mix of materials, spacious interiors and extensive ocean views characterize Casa Spa, located in Playa Gaviotas, Canete, Peru. The project was envisioned by Gomez de la Torre & Guerrero Arquitectos as an opulent retreat, where the transition from one covered living zone to the neighboring open space is barely noticeable.

The exterior of the residence reveals the architects’ choice towards simple geometry. Casa Spa is shaped like a giant rectangular white box, with a large terrace and suspended glass bedroom opening up to the rear garden and ocean views beyond. The breezy feeling is taken indoors, where the design of the rooms pay tribute to space, natural lighting and comfort. A water fountain&small pool combo acts as the focal point of the living room, adding up to the fresh feel of the place. Can you spot any detail that you would personally add to your own home decor?

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