Mirindia House by Marcio Kogan

Layers of warm Brazilian hardwood, stone and concrete edge their way up Mirindiba House – one of the latest contemporary architectural artworks designed by Brazil’s Marcio Kogan.



This luxury home low profile boasts covered and open living spaces, embracing the outdoors as an important component of the home’s plan. Large spans of glass form pillarless windows that open seamlessly into the outdoors. An elongated pool stretches along the deck and past the sauna, under the open sky, and flows into a “cave” that houses a cool, shady outdoor living room. Concealed in the far wall, sliding glass windows can be pulled across to close off this living space from the elements.



This favorite living and lounging spot lures residents and guests deeper into the house, through a formal dining room and into the far reaches of the kitchen, tucked off the main corridor. Upstairs, the bedrooms and their accompanying ensuites, and the master bedroom with his and hers walk-in closets, complete the upper floor. The piece de resistance is found topping this luxurious yet hospitable home – the cinema room, encased in hardwood and boasting magnificent views of the city at your feet.



About Marcio Kogan

Born in 1952. Graduated from Mackenzie School of Architecture in 1976. Received an IAB award for the Rubens Sverner Day-Care Center in 1983, and in 1994 an award for the facade for the Larmod Store, organized by the Magazine of the newspaper Folha and CCSP (Creation Club of São Paulo). Realised an exhibit of small-scale models entitled “Architecture and Humor”, a critical view of the architectural and urbanistic problems of the city of São Paulo, which had great repercussions throughout the city.



Participated in the IV Architecture Biennial with these projects: UMA Store, Strumpf Residence and the MRA-2 commercial building in 1999. Awarded Architectural Record House 2004 for Du Plessis Residence – Laranjeiras / Paraty / Brazil.

Prefab Home Modular 4 by Studio804

Prefab Home Modular 4 is Studio 804’s most ambitious project to date. Consisting of seven modules, the 1500 square foot home features a remarkably flexible floor plan anchored by a core of service space that defines the interior, while the seven modules are offset in the middle to separate public and private, creating a bold four-foot cantilever on either side of the house.



In contrast to its contemporary appearance, this prefab home design addresses materiality and energy efficiency concerns. The north facade was kept tight to protect from cold winter winds while the south façade was opened up with broad glass to flood the living space with natural light and take full advantage of the sun’s heat in the winter. The cellulose insulation in the walls, floor and ceiling was made from recycled materials and offers superior thermal and moisture protection.

This prefab home also features many other sustainable materials which include: bamboo flooring, recycled countertops, adjustable thermal window protection, a porous driveway, FSC approved Brazilian hardwood and recycled aluminum siding, ventilating skylights, and a white “cool” roof.

Studio 804 is a design/build program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design focused on the creation of community based architecture. During this final exercise, the students collaborate to bring a housing design to fruition that provides architectural solutions with an emphasis on affordable homes.

Via: www.busyboo.com

Modern Residence in central Austin by BercyChen

A modern residence designed by Bercy Chen Studio for a 2-family house located in central Austin. The architecture design is split into two living areas in order to accommodate two families.

Constructed of a modular steel frame, the house consists of two pavilions connected by a glass hallway. the frame is infilled with prefab thermasteel panels to minimize construction on site waste. the structural frame is exposed, showing the construction process and articulating the house’s facades. the repetitive modular method as well as the prefabrication allows for greater efficiency during construction.



the house is influenced by different regions and cultures. both the use of the roof as an outdoor living space and the shading devices are derived from moorish architecture. The body of water and the spatial continuity between inside and outside was inspired by asian architecture. the structural transparency of the volumes and the minimalist aspect of the interior was derived from japanese pavilions.

Sustainable Boomerang House in Tilaran, Costa Rica

At 1,000 sq. ft., the Boomerang House in Tilaran, Costa Rica, may be small, but it sure is sweet. Aside from its aesthetically appealing architecture and the wonderful, warm, yellow light radiating from its curved, glass entrance, this modern home’s most notable appeal is actually Green. The house is the sustainable creation of innovative designer Jean Paul Cazedessus of Be Green – Sustainable Housing in Costa Rica.



This boomerang-shaped house design incorporates a copper standing seam with a grass-covered roof and walls, lending a look of rustic, raw modernism to the structure. The house is actually custom-created with a waste-not-want-not philosophy, “built to human scale, considering wants and needs of occupants"




The state-of-art Boomerang House was the first to be built in the b-green.org development. The home is 1000 square feet of art and architecture, integrating the smooth curved lines of an Australian boomerang with a custom “sunrise design” wood post & beam patio structure.



This green home combines a copper standing seam roof with a living grass roof, like the walls, is built to a structural resistance of 8.0 on the Richter scale. One of many unique architectural features in the custom designed home. One of the most appealing are the “Thomas Jefferson” style, auto French door, that in the opinion of all who have seen them, are “unique in the world”.



Some of the other unique features are operable glass block ventilation windows, and glass block door/wall in the shower, to mention but a few of many attributes. Additionally it includes a detached 300 sq feet covered carport and storage room.

Status: For Sale $325,000

Casa Elegante, Luxury Property on Sarasota Bay

Casa Elegante is a pure simbol of luxury, a lavish new construction designed to catch the eye of the high-end shopper. Records show that the property on Sarasota Bay was buy for under $1.5 million back in 2003. The home was developed by Laughlin's Luxury Lifestyles and built by Triangle Construction and is a lavish 14,243 square foot residence. Believe it or not, the listing says this one is a certified green home.



There are five bedrooms and the finishes include lots of marble and travertine as well as exotic woods including Brazilian cherry, teak and bamboo.The grounds include a large pool and spa and a dock and boat lift.

It's been on the market for a while, check out this press release from August 2006 that says that Sky Sotheby's Realtors Laura Brady and Stuart Mattison "personally commit to spending upwards of $50,000 over the course of the first year, of which 5 percent goes to photography and copywriting, 20 percent goes for the launch event, 15 percent goes for Internet ads, 30 percent goes for direct mail and brochures, 25 percent goes for print advertising, and the balance goes for odd and ends."



It looks like the home was previously priced at $10,850,000 but it is currently at $9.950,000. Although it was built in 2006, the extreme extravagance already makes it seem like a relic of an earlier, more optimistic time.