Oliphant house by black shack architects

Architect Glenn Rappaport designed the house for owner and artist Eric Oliphant.  Set on a hillside at 9000 ft in the beautiful Aspen surroundings, the Oliphant house truly belong on the site. With its informality and interaction with nature it breaks down the barrier between inside and out. As I walked around on the site it reminded me of a village from back in the day.  

The house consists of 5 volumes. The main cabin, the Master bedroom cabin, garage + mechanical, art studio and guest cabin.

  

  The houses are both humble and luxurious, they sit so simply and effortlessly in the landscape but the same time show that there is thought and process behind every detail. 

To see and read more about this house click here and here 

House Morran

There is no question, plywood can be beautiful. Just look at this house designed by Johannes Norlander Arkitektur. It is located on an Island by Gothenburg. The house was a old cottage from the 50's with a extension built on in the 70's. Most of the structure was kept intact and just given a new facade and some minor tweaks. The facade is clad-ed in plywood and coated in black pine tar. The roof is coated in tar paper. Inside it is natural pine and plywood.   

To find out more about this house, click here

kengo kuma and associates

Some interiors by Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and associates. I think architecture can be fun, and almost spontaneous in its look. This has a informal way of it that I like. It might not be the typical design that so many find appealing, how ever, it is fun, and I think it should be shared and enjoyed.

 

You can see more of Kengo Kuma and associates here

Why go to Norway..This is one reason!

The Geiranger-Trollstigen Route nicknamed the “Golden Route”offers 106km of spectacular Nordic nature. Six routs are already complete and 12 more will be complete by 2020. The Tourist routes are aimed at drawing tourists to all corners of Norway. By pairing great architecture with beautiful drives the country of Norway seeks to put itself on the map as one of the best destinations for Nature travelers.  

 This is TrollStigen road. It translates to Troll Ladder in English. 

One of the signs you will see on the road.

 Awesome sitting nooks

Not every one can do the long walk to get to Trolltunga.(pictured above) So how do you give the travelers the feeling of the raw / natural beauty that Norway possesses?.

By doing this. The glass is leaning against the edge, and the "floor" is falling off like a waterfall, creating a good vertigo. 

A day with some evening fog.

A clear day.

Trollstigen visitor center, Summer time. (designed by Reiulf Ramstad architects)

Trollstigen visitor center, winter time.

You can visit Trollstigen both summer and winter. The experience will be very different each time, the weather changes drastically from one day to the next and no matter what the weather it will be a great adventure. If you want to read more about the "Golden Route" you can click here

Aspen Music School

The Aspen Music School. Not much to say other than its a must see if you like architecture that responds to its surroundings. Design is done by Harry Teague Architects. 

Sketch of the Pond Studio. I do not know who drew it, but looking at it its pretty cool to see the sketch vs. the real built. 

 The Pond Studio in the middle. The angels of the structures reflect the   high mountain surroundings.   

 Beautiful interior with acoustical panels that to me shows a kind of ruggedness you only find in the Aspen Valley Mountains. I do not know if this was the intent. But I did get a tour in there once, and it was quite spectacular.   

Detail showing the geologic layers from the original conceptual sketches. Pretty cool. If you want to know more about this building you can look here and here.

Finish Tower Rotsee

Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler designed this tower as a part of a lager idea.The tower will be used only in summer, when rowing competitions and events are taking place on the lake. 

I can imagine having gatherings and banquets in there on a nice Finish summer eve. Cant wait to see how it looks when some furniture are placed.  

When the shutters are shut the building takes on a sculptural quality. 

You can see and read more here
If anybody knows more about this projects, or others that you think I would like, or think I would enjoy your blogg, please feel free to leave a comment. 

The Benedict Music Tent

The Benedict Music Tent in Aspen, CO, is one of my favorite structures. The original tent was designed by Finish/American architect Eero Saarinen in 1949, to be replaced by Herbert Bayer’s design in 1964. Both of the designs were temporary structures. Every summer they were erected, and every fall the were taken down. However In 2000, Harry Teague Architects, a local firm to Aspen was asked to replace the temporary tent with a more robust, year-round version with a similar atmosphere but improved acoustics. And they did. The Benedict Music Tent is phenomenal.  To many of our opera buildings and music halls are exclusive, This is not, this is a inclusive building. Just like Eero Saarinen and Herbert Bayer thought it should be Harry Teague Architects opened it up to the Aspen trees around. The new structure have walls that open on all sides. The sound of music lets people sit outside and enjoy as well as inside. The idea of sharing a experience of both nature and sound is so well executed that it leaves no room for thinking that it was not deliberate. 
 

 

somebody sitting in the sun enjoying the music that is being played inside. You can see more of this here

Finish architecture

The Finish architecture firm Plusarkkirehdit have a really cool understanding of light and how to get enough of it in the rooms. They also have a great sense of balance between clean and simple and warm and welcoming.  

I love this Sauna. The connection between outside and inside in undeniable. The idea of sitting there sweating while snow is falling outside would be a amazing experience. 
You can see this house here.