Located on the Sweden's Stockholm Archipelago, Island House by WRB Architects is a cool coastal home designed to complement its wonderful waterfront setting. This rustic vacation home boasts a distinct cottage style design characterized by panoramic views of the ocean from outdoor living spaces and glass-enclosed interiors alike. The cozy, comfortable style of the home lends itself to socializing in groups and relaxing alone. A sheltered wood deck allows for all-weather outdoor entertaining, while the house also invites nature in through the extensive use of natural wood to finish floors, walls and ceilings. The main house opens onto the ocean, while the bedrooms and bath are more private, facing a secluded courtyard outlined by old oaks and rocks. A sauna wraps up the amenities and necessities of this modern waterfront cottage home. WRB.



4 Jan 2010 | Cottage Homes | Comments (1)
Like a shard of metal breaking through the earth’s surface, this beach cottage design (dubbed “Klein Bottle House”) by Melbourne-based architecture firm McBride Charles Ryan also breaks the boundaries of conventional residential architecture. Located in Rye, Australia, this modern vacation home is surrounded by sand dunes and beaches along the Mornington Peninsula. The architects started with the idea of a spiral in this modern beach cottage, and built it based on that concept of fluidity and movement. The floor plan follows natural topographic curves, thus the unusual house plan unfolds like a piece of origami. Weird and wonderful angles and many facades make up the home exterior and set the tone for equally unpredictable and contemporary interiors. “The development was intense – the serious pursuit of joyful nonsense. The result we think is a unique shape and internal space; an unexpected entry sequence and series of new relationships between the traditional components of the home,” explains the architect. This Australia home design is certainly a geometric wonder, framed in steel and clad in lightweight cement. As an added layer of innovation to this stylish yet eco sustainable cottage, this design incorporates a water harvesting system, double-glazed thermal windows, and a central courtyard creates passive cooling and cross ventilation. McBride Charles Ryan
via World Buildings Directory


19 Nov 2009 | Cottage Homes | Comments (1)
This gorgeous cottage home design located in the resort setting of Mar Azul, on the shore of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was developed for low maintenance, low cost and low environmental impact with an eco friendly cottage appeal. Designed by Argentina’s BAK Architects, this cottage home is surrounded by forest, offering a private, peaceful setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. The concrete and glass house offers a great view of the outdoors, with an understated look that suits its natural surroundings. The glass wall house boasts a walkout to a wood patio and thus, a deep connection to the environment. Inside, two main living areas are designed for public and private life. The public spaces are housed in the glass-enclosed main floor, including a kitchen, dining and living room, which open to the terrace. The private living areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms are in a more closed-off style. Regardless of public or private, all interiors are finished with pine in this rustic cabin home. BAK Architects
via Digs Digs



21 Sep 2009 | Cottage Homes | Comments (0)
Oregon-based architecture firm Litmus undertook an amazing renovation of a cottage house of a horticulturalist, leaving its original landscaping intact and relocating the main entrance. A stone exterior entrance with a water feature welcomes residents and guests, inviting them into this nature-lover’s haven. Both inside and out, natural wood and stone are the predominant materials, giving this design a strong "rustic cabin home" style, but in a refined way. This cottage-chic stone exterior house also boasts wood walls that evoke feelings of the outdoors, even inside. The hub of this rustic cabin home is a farmhouse-style kitchen, dining room and living room, leading to an outdoor living area – all combined into a shared gathering and socializing space with a casual, comfortable look. A grand fireplace clad in natural stone adds that extra touch of “hearth and home” to this cozy space. Litmus
via Digs Digs


1 Sep 2009 | Cottage Homes | Comments (0)
David Jay Weiner is the architect behind this urban cottage design in Stephentown, New York. The contemporary, urban look of expansive glazed facades set in a black wood frame is complemented by the cottage unique, irregular shape, which really stands out among its pastoral, grassy meadow surroundings. Inside, the tall ceilings of this single-storey, open concept house plan, with floor-to-ceiling windows extending the length of the cottage on both sides, bathe interiors in natural light and enhance its sense of spaciousness. Clerestory windows offer additional illumination from above. Inside, a feeling of relaxation and serenity prevails. In contrast to the black exterior, interiors feature a white palette on ceilings, walls and floors, which is punctuated by the colors of nature visible through the all-encompassing windows. A unique weekend cottage design by architect David Jay Weiner. Architect David Jay Weiner.



16 Jul 2009 | Cottage Homes | Comments (0)
Copyright © 2005-2008 Infogate Systems Inc. All Rights Reserved.