//February 2010
//Travel
The annual holiday-themed mass consumption month that we call Christmas is finally behind us and without the distraction, the harsh reality of winter has truly set in. Now is the perfect time to take a break from the bitter cold with an adventure to Central America where commercialism can be traded for conversation and comradeship. Free yourself in the largest of all of the Caribbean Islands and become immersed in the colourful, friendly and vivacious little colonial town of Trinidad, Cuba.
On an island frozen in time but rich in tradition, warmth and hospitality, Trinidad remains intrinsically beautiful and alive. Set dramatically between mountain range and gorgeous coastline, its streets are awash with colour - the entire spectrum represented in a stretch of shining immaculately restored buildings, revolutionary murals and lovingly nurtured vintage cars. Equally nurturing are the Cuban families who welcome you to their homes when you opt to stay in a casa particular, the only form of accommodation in Cuba other than a hotel.
Taking the place of materialism, music and dance are the very essence of Cuba. Traditional Spanish and African rhythms in the form of jazz, rhumba and salsa belt out through live open-air concerts held on the steps fronting the Casa de la Música. Foreigners and locals unite to dance and dine on street food galore from market stalls lining the cobble stone streets. This crazy scene encapsulates the joyous, carefree nature that Cubans are famous for.
Modern beats are found in a unique Cuban night hot-spot, Disco Ayala. Existing deep within a hill side cave, a play of colored light and shadow cascades over the eccentrically shaped stone interior to a musical concoction of hip-hop, reggaeton and salsa-disco. Keep cool with a Mojita (Mint Rum Julip) or a Canchanchara - the special “aphrodisiac” cocktail of the region made from lemon juice, honey and rum.
By day enjoy a slower pace of life. Wander through the plethora of museums dedicated to architecture, traditional furnishings, art, archaeology and revolution. Soak up the backdrop of mule-drawn carts as they clip-clop through the traffic-free streets. Pass by children laughing and playing whilst the old folk’s rock gently beneath their shaded porches. Be sure to chat with the Cuban people who are famous for being educated, happy, communicative and spontaneous.
The dense cultural fiesta of Cuba evokes images of a decadent era now forgotten. No other Western nation offers such unique experience. The “real” Cuba may leave you enlightened and confused. With an open mind you’ll most probably fall madly in love with the country, while being thankful you don’t have to live in it.
With such uncertainty to whether socialism will survive in the inevitable post-Fidel future, now is the time to celebrate Cuba’s bygone era and embrace its mystery and charm before it’s too late.
SARAH RADHANAUTH
//February 2010
//Architecture
Vernacular architecture – a “local architecture based on available resources to address local needs” – has in recent years become more and more popular in places like New Zealand, Australia, and many South American countries, as people turn once again to the simplicity in design and material use employed by their ancestors. The United States – with its ultra-slick high-rise apartment blocks and extravagant suburban villas – has been slow to follow this trend, but this residence, a modern take on the classic American ranch, is a breath of fresh air on the California coast. Designed by San Francisco-based architects Turnbull Griffin Haesloop, it signals a move away from the showy, over-sized American “vacation home” towards a more modest, refined and ultimately more comfortable living experience.
Dubbed the “Sea Ranch Residence”, the design actually comprises two separate homes – the larger 1030 sq ft main house and a 500 sq ft guest house – on an infill lot in Sea Ranch, a small community situated along a stunning 10-mile stretch of coastline, some 110 miles north of San Francisco. The site for the house, secluded in a mountainous landscape, is edged with mature evergreen trees on one side but opens out to the expansive meadow on the other, providing amazing views over the Pacific Ocean. The architects sought to create a threshold in this larger landscape, moving from the contained space of the hedgerow to the open space of the meadow. Throughout the design stage, they looked to some of the earlier agricultural forms along the north coast, and translated these ideas into the pairing of the barn shape of the main house with the agricultural shed shape of the guest house. This pairing formed a compound that creates a woodland garden on the entry side of the house, thus allowing the landscape to take centre stage on the site.
From the garden, the entry of the main house opens through a bar of support spaces and steps up into a narrow section of the open space, covered by the broad, sloping barn roof. The simple shape of the barn is made more complex by eroding the form, with a large volume carved away to make an exterior octagonal deck that draws the open meadow into the center of the house. Grass planted header steps spill down from the deck out into the meadow, A continuous band of windows and doors follow the cutout to capture the distant views of the coastline and maximise natural light, while grass planted steps spill down from the exterior deck out into the meadow beyond.
The design is inspired by Japanese simplicity and minimalism, and is constructed almost entirely of wood. While maintaining a simple appearance on the outside, the house charms with its warm – almost exotic – interior, featuring cedar ceilings, sheetrock walls and contemporary furniture. This refined detailing serves to heighten the spatial experience of moving from hedgerow to meadow. Overall, this modern yet humble ranch looks like the perfect getaway for those who enjoy both chilly nights in the mountains and sunny days on the beach.
STEPHANIE COSTELLO
//February 2010
//Column
If you ask anyone with a family what they desire most in a home there are usually a couple of things that are always mentioned. A garden, their own front door and a parking space. This is one of the reasons why our once green and pleasant land is now covered in sprawling housing estates full of Lego box houses. It is why our roads are clogged with increasing numbers of cars as suburban living is totally car dependent. It’s also the reason why our energy use continues to rise due to the larger energy appetites of detached houses. Meanwhile our city centres are inhabited by childless couples, singles and the extremes of rich and poor.
Borneo Sporenburg in Amsterdam is a development that demonstrates that it’s possible to create high density family housing within the heart of the city rather than building over green fields. By stipulating that 30-50% of each dwelling should be void, e.g. a patio courtyard at high or low level, the masterplan eliminated the need for private gardens at front or back. It also provided extreme privacy and security for the resident families, with strong gates to the ground floor - also part of the masterplan’s rules. A further important rule of the masterplan was that parking should not be provided on-street but should instead be incorporated into the volume of the dwelling. This led to half-sunken garages supporting a raised ground floor, carports and sunken car parks for the large blocks, allowing the streets to be a minimum width, maximising efficiency. By eliminating the ‘semi-public’ private gardens and parking spaces the houses are brought into a very direct relation with the street, overlooking it directly and with front doors opening with one step into the public realm.
The sense of communal safety this produces is highly successful. The most striking feature of the housing is the variety of architectural solutions for each identically sized plot. Each owner was free to choose their own architect (from a long-list drawn up by the master planners) to create their own house within the general guidelines set by the masterplan. The resulting visual vitality and expression of personal commitment to the area is one of the most successful aspects of the development.
HAMISH HERFORD
//February 2010
//Interiors
Chinoiserie at it’s modern day best; the handmade interiors house Fromental combine the finest skills together with luxurious fabrics to create the World’s most beautiful wallpapers. Their elaborate designs now garner industry awards and decorate some of the most prestigious properties across the globe. Pricing from £150 per sq m.
FROMENTAL.CO.UK
//February 2010
//Interiors
Uber cool Boffi have launched a new kitchen collection celebrating the return to nature with the Duemilaotto kitchen. Designed to emphasise the value of natural materials, Boffi’s latest is a unique combination of artisan crafts, reclaimed wood, natural stones, solid wood and Boffi’s Ecowood, combined with modern technical materials such as stainless steel, corian and all the Boffi finishes.
BOFFI-CHELSEA.COM
//February 2010
//Interiors
When passing through the streets of residential London these days one can’t help but notice the ever expanding skyline of our city. The reason for this trend can not only be attributed to the many new developments being erected, but also to an increasing number of savvy home owners who have realised the potential of that most underutilized of spaces, the attic.
When advising my clients on the subject of loft conversions I start with planning the space. All too often I see fabulously spacious lofts divided into tiny box rooms suitable for little more than the family dog. As such my advice is, be bold! Create open plan airy rooms or indeed one open plan room per floor. Open plan rooms with clever design can always be divided by sliding screens or folding doors to allow defined areas without heavy permanent walls. An obvious advantage of a loft is the ability to maximize any view that you have from your property, so incorporate floor to ceiling windows or - where permitted - folding doors leading onto a roof terrace.
One of the great aspects of our city’s architecture is the mix of period and contemporary, slithers of glass dividing Victorian houses and buildings. This is what I find most inspiring about designing a loft conversion; it’s an opportunity to add an exciting contemporary element to a period property.
With regards to space planning firstly I would suggest thinking clearly about the usage of this new floor, keeping your opinions open to potential new buyers when the time comes to sell your property. With this in mind I would suggest incorporating clever storage solutions, using every nook and cranny with a concealed push touch door. You may design your loft for a bedroom suite but in time could convert this space into a study or gym – so keep your opinions open from the outset. I would recommend installing a bathroom on this level. Regardless of its use one will always need a bathroom at times so let’s make life easier, there are great compact designer bathroom furniture and the quirky nature of a loft is very suited for this use. It’s also worth noting that installing a bathroom in the loft conversion will improve your home’s value and saleability.
If you are blessed with having high pitched ceilings then consider a mezzanine level to your conversion – this offers a cosy sleeping platform or a sky high study. In my mind the beauty of a loft conversion is the light, the view and the sense of calm. So we should never overlook these fundamental elements.
Whenever possible I’d recommend incorporating a balcony or roof terrace running off the main loft room – this gives a wonderful extension to the loft making the space feel larger and more airy. When looking at flooring ensure that the interior flows with the exterior to gain the illusion of space.
Glass is a natural material for lofts, gone are the days of ‘day light saving’ in period homes. Please consider bold glass statements rather than conventional Victorian windows. Planning has come along way and you’ll be surprised what your borough finds acceptable. Floor to ceiling glass structures are stunning, or use concertinaed glass doors as a minimum.
Natural light is wonderful but even our changeable English climate can produce immense heat through glass so factor in an effective design of heat reflective blinds or window treatments, and do carefully consider air conditioning and ventilation requirements to ensure your new loft is comfortable even on those (rare) summer days.
If this is sounding all too conventional to the ‘Man’ of the house, just think about all the electric ‘James Bond’ type toys that could be incorporated into this new space. At a touch of a button the blinds could open and close, or a projector could lower from the ceiling. This is as much an adult space as for the wee ones.
Lastly, really wow up the interior design, don’t let this be a forgotten bland expensive children’s/storage room. Seek the help from designers from the outset to design a functional yet inspirational concept before you start storing those suitcases in the corner again.
JACQUELINE WILLERS
Please contact Jacqueline for any interior design advice:
jacqueline@jacquelinewillersdesign.com
07967 608 671
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