Colonnade extends from concrete house on an old vineyard in Switzerland

A concrete house in Switzerland by architecture practice DF_DC has an outdoor terrace on a plinth banded by an asymmetrical colonnade of rectangular columns.

Deep fins along the side elevations filter in light while preventing overlooking from the adjacent properties.

Located on a former vineyard in Comano, the the aptly named Concrete Villa sits on an elongated site.

There are open views to the east and west, but nearby neighbours to the north and south.

In response, the flanks of the home have been finished with concrete and strolatto, a render of cement and pebbles common to the area.

A smaller concrete projection forms a halo over the entrance.

At the back the house opens out onto a long, sculptural terrace surrounding a pool of water.

Spread across two floors, Concrete Villa has a basement reached by a twisting feature staircase.

The ground floor of the home contains the kitchen, living room, double-height dining room, garage and workshop, along with a guest bedroom that has its own separate entrance.

This living room leads through a sliding glass door onto the terrace on a large concrete plinth.

A concrete pavilion-like structure, created by extending the horizontal line of the ground floor, wraps around the rear terrace and pool.

The smaller first floor  is stepped back from the ground floor to present a smaller volume to the street.

It contains the more private areas – three ensuite bedrooms and a children's play area, above a large garage alongside the main entrance.

A strip of glazing runs along the front facade of this upper level.

This allows light into the bedrooms while preventing overlooking from street level and disguises the full extent of the house.

A small basement houses a wine cellar and sauna, as well as a gym.

The interiors contrast white surfaces and concrete floors with black furniture, and several skylights help bring light into spaces where windows in the exterior walls have been avoided to restrict views in.

Modernist furniture from Brazil and Scandinavia and a series of objects by French architect Jean Prouvé fill these spaces.

DF_DC was founded by Dario Franchini and Diego Calderon, and is based in London and Switzerland.

Other recent projects that have made expressive use of concrete include an annex to a home in Brazil by Reinach Mendonça Architects and a raw concrete home in Bavaria designed by SoHo Architektur and cantilevering over a terrace.

Photography is by Giorgio Marafioti.

The post Colonnade extends from concrete house on an old vineyard in Switzerland appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/3b82iHc

30 Historical Figures Reimagined As Modern Day People

Before photography was invented, we had to rely on sculptures, paintings and written descriptions to figure out how some famous historical figures looked like. This, of course, did not come without some misinterpretations. For example, people are still uncertain what Napoleon’s real height was after all these years. Graphic designer and history lover Becca Saladin, however, decided to try her own hand at recreating some well-known historical figures as modern day people and you’ll have to agree that the results are pretty impressive.

Becca says she has been fascinated by history and archaeology since she was a child. “I think humans perceive the past as a series of events; something like a movie that we can’t really feel or touch,” says the artist. “I believe the things that bring us closer to the past are those that truly humanize us – the bodies from Pompeii, the perfectly preserved Inca mummies, the personal objects of those long gone, and more.”

The woman started Royalty Now back in February of 2019 just to see how her favorite historical figure, Anne Boleyn, would look like as a modern day woman. “I wanted to know if she could come to life from the few pale, flat portraits we have of her,” says Becca. What started as a project to satisfy her own curiosity eventually led to her gaining nearly 69k followers on Instagram. Becca says she’s thankful for the support and interest in her work and can hardly wait to see what happens next.

See the historical figures reimagined as modern day people in the gallery below!

More info: Instagram

#1 Nefertiti

“This bust of Nefertiti (believed to have been sculpted during her lifetime) is famous for its grace and beauty. Nefertiti lived from approximately 1370 – 1330 BC. She was an Egyptian queen and the wife of Akhenaten, an Egyptian Pharaoh. Akhenaten is famous for his attempt to transition Egypt into a monotheistic society (worshipping only the sun god, Aten), instead of a polytheistic one.”

#2 Julius Caesar

#3 Queen Elizabeth I

#4 Alexander The Great

“I did some research on his looks and it is recorded that he had curly golden hair and heterochromia (one eye blue and one eye brown or a combo of both), so he was definitely a striking figure.”

#5 Agrippina The Younger

“Agrippina the Younger is someone I only recently learned more about but she had a crazy life. She was the sister of Emperor Caligula and the mother of Emperor Nero. I highly recommend giving her a search if you’re interested in that era of Roman history!”

#6 Jane Austen

#7 Anne Boleyn

#8 Madame De Pompadour

“Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, better known as Madame de Pompadour. She first caught the eye of Louis XV at a masked ball in 1745 (it was said that she was dressed as a domino, and he was dressed as a plant) and was his chief mistress thereafter until 1751. Even after she was no longer Louis’ mistress, she was a trusted friend, confidante, and advisor, essentially becoming one of the most powerful women at the French court until her death in 1764.”

#9 Mary, Queen Of Scots

#10 Empress Elisabeth Of Austria

“During her life, Elisabeth (known as Sisi), was known for being beautiful, smart, rebellious and passionate. Definitely worth some digging into if you are interested in late 1800s Europe.”

#11 Louis XIV, The Sun King

#12 Katherine Of Aragon

“This portrait of Katherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII and Queen of England from 1509-1533, has always been my favorite. There are several portraits of her that all range in looks, so it’s hard to tell her true likeness. I think this one captures her piety, meekness, and obedience as documented by historians.”

#13 Louis XV

“Louis XV is lesser known than his predecessor the Sun King and his heir, Louis XVI, but he was the second-longest reigning monarch in French history. I have always known him by his famous mistresses, Madame De Pompadour and Madame du Barry.”

#14 Catherine Parr

“She was the only wife to outlive the king, who was tyrannical in his last years.”

#15 Marie Antionette

#16 The Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov

#17 Emperor Augustus

“Emperor Augustus (born Octavius, the great-nephew of Julius Caesar) was the first emperor of Rome, ending 500 years of republic. He’s an incredibly controversial figure, especially due to the smart and ruthless way he came to power, but he ruled over a time of relative peace in the Roman empire.”

#18 Queen Isabella Of Castile

“Queen Isabella of Castile, partner to Ferdinand II of Aragon and the queen who sent Columbus on his way to the “new world” in 1492. ”

#19 Abraham Lincoln

“Abe Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. He preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy.”

#20 Christina Of Denmark

“Christina of Denmark, seen here in an original Hans Holbein portrait, lived from 1521 – 1590. Christina was considered as a possible bride for King Henry VIII of England. Christina was not fond of the English King’s reputation, given that he had divorced his first wife and beheaded his second wife. The originator of one of the greatest quotes about King Henry in history, Christina famously said: “If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England’s disposal.” What an amazing denial to a marriage proposal.”

#21 Madame Du Barry

“This is Madame du Barry – the official mistress of Louis XV after his first love, Madame de Pompadour’s death.”

#22 Eleanor Of Toledo

“Eleanor of Toledo was an astonishing woman. Originally from Toledo, Spain, she was a bride to a famous member of the Medici Family, Cosimo I de Medici. Her husband regularly consulted with her on matters of politics, and she even served as consort during his time away from Florence.”

#23 Katherine Howard

“Katherine Howard (c. 1523 – 13 February 1542) was Queen of England for only 16 months as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Katherine was actually the cousin of Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. When they married, he was 49 and she only 16 or 17. Katherine was accused of adultery and executed by the King, ending her short reign as the Queen of England.”

#24 Caligula

“Caligula, infamous brat and Roman Emperor.”

#25 Napoleon

“Did you know that Napoleon was most likely 5’7″? That’s taller than King Louis XIV. Some say his perceived smaller stature was due to him looking small in comparison to his huge accomplishments. Others say there was an error when translating his true height from French to English. Who do you think he looks like here?”

#26 Benjamin Franklin

#27 Henry VIII

#28 King Henry VII

“Here we are with Henry VII, the first tudor monarch, a frequent request from you all. Henry was the last king of England to attain the throne in battle after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.”

#29 Mona Lisa

#30 Grace Kelly

“Grace Kelly, American film actress and Princess of Monaco.”

The post 30 Historical Figures Reimagined As Modern Day People appeared first on DeMilked.

Related posts:

1. This Artist Reimagined 10 Cartoon Characters As Black And Triggered Some People On The Internet

from DeMilked https://ift.tt/3943t8A

Coronavirus quarantine hospital in Wuhan completes in just nine days

A prefabricated hospital with capacity for 1,000 patients has been built in nine days in Wuhan, China, which is the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The Chinese state confirmed yesterday that the first of two quarantine hospitals in Wuhan had completed in just over a week. It will start admitting the first 50 infected patients today, reported China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Called Huoshenshan Hospital, the facility has been handed over to 1,400 medical staff from the Chinese military.

The building took nine days to complete, with a total of 10 days between construction starting and the first patient being admitted.

The hospital has capacity to treat 1,000 coronavirus cases. Stock image of surgical masks by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Construction workers in Wuhan laboured through the night to dig foundations, concrete building bases and to crane modular prefabricated-units into place.

At peak times 1,500 workers were reported to be on site. Workers interviewed on CGTN, which is funded by the Chinese state, said they had only slept for two hours in three days.

A second hospital in Wuhan called Leishenshan Hospital, will have a capacity of 1,500 patients. It is due to complete on 5 February and start admitting patients on 6 February.

Coronavirus is a new flu-like virus effecting the respiratory system. It causes a fever and a cough, which can progress to pneumonia.

In mainland China there have been over 360 deaths from the virus, and one death of a Chinese national in the Philippines. Currently there have been over 17,000 confirmed cases of infection, with 175 cases outside of China in 25 countries around the world.

Video reporting from CGTN showed units with ultraviolet disinfection technology installed in the walls, which will allow staff to pass equipment to and from treatment rooms without entering.

"With the support of the government and the people, we are sure to win this smokeless war," China's vice premier Sun Chunlan said when he inspected the hospital on Sunday 2 February.

This model for prefabricated hospitals was pioneered in China during the SARS outbreak in 2003. At that time, Xiaotangshan Hospital was built in Beijing in just seven days.

The city of Wuhan was put under quarantine on 23 January 2020, with all planes and trains in and out of the city suspended. Stations are being guarded by the military.

British and American nationals who have been evacuated by their governments were put under quarantine for two weeks in their home countries upon their return.

The post Coronavirus quarantine hospital in Wuhan completes in just nine days appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/2u5qFET

Scott Whitby Studio creates multi-level boudoir for a throuple

Three people can sleep, practice yoga or drink whisky together in this bedroom designed by London-based Scott Whitby Studio.

The clients are a throuple – a romantic relationship between three people. They asked Scott Whitby Studio to create them a bespoke boudoir in their south London home, which also features spaces for other activities.

The architects responded with a reimagining of the traditional four-poster bed. Above the large sleeping space is a mezzanine that can be used for reading, exercise and other forms of relaxation.

Studio founder Alex Scott Whitby said the project was "unusual and exciting". He saw it as an opportunity to rethink the typical bedroom layout, where furniture is simply dotted around a room.

"Making space for a contemporary relationship typology was a new challenge for us as a studio to tackle," he said.

Called The Tri-Pod, the bed structure comprises a huge piece of joinery, crafted from walnut.

Two first-floor rooms, both with high ceilings and tall windows, were combined to make space for it. It sits in the centre, away from the walls, allowing light to reach all parts of the room.

The bed, with a mattress large enough for three, can be opened up or closed off.

This allows one of the threesome, who suffers from a sleep disorder, to enjoy a restful night's sleep sheltered from street noise and planes. It also allows the bed to be concealed when the trio are entertaining guests.

A storage closet is slotted into one side, alongside a staircase that leads to the upper deck. Scott Whitby describes this upper level as "a secret leisure world for whisky tasting, yoga and reading".

The architect suggests that more of London's Victorian properties could be reconfigured in this way, creating two rooms on top of one another rather than side by side.

"We are delighted that our client loves their quirky, practical, exotic bed and that we have been able to help them live in a space that fulfils their needs and requirements in an innovative and transformational way," he said.

Other projects completed by Scott Whitby Studio include a pop-up cinema in a shipping container. It is currently working on a renovation of an art-deco sea pool in Cornwall.

Photography is by Nicholas Worley.

The post Scott Whitby Studio creates multi-level boudoir for a throuple appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/2SfTshQ