Eclectitude: Cool Houses

Showing posts with label Cool Houses. Show all posts

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Mosaic Tile House - Venice, CA

So, there I was, cruising somebody's Pinterest board of mosaics when I saw it. A house covered in mosaic tile. Right here in Los Angeles...road trip~!

The house has been a 23 year ongoing art project (oh, how well I know how those are...) by Cheri Pann and her husband, Gonzalo Duran. The house is a typical Venice bungalow with two art studios tacked onto the back. Shown below is Cheri's tile and painting studio, you can see Gonzalo's metalwork and paint studio in the back. They are, as you might guess, the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.

Those of us who like to create art we can live in, we get each other.

Mosaic Tile House - Venice (front of house)

Mosaic Tile House - Venice (front porch)

Mosaic Tile House - Venice (one of Gonzalo's doors)

Mosaic Tile House - Venice (side wall)

Mosaic Tile House - Venice (Cheri studio)

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Rock House - Laguna Beach (Brion Jeannette, Architect)

My, it has been a long time. I have to stop letting work overtake my life and supersede doing creative things for myself.

So, I've been meaning to do this post for a while on one of my favorite California art properties. I'm not necessarily a fan of beaches but I love the fact that the architect worked with the landscape and built into it rather than just bulldozing over it. All of the detailing just makes me sigh.

I also give Brion Jeannette, the Architect, full props for all the energy efficiency measures.

A few images below, but watch the video....

Rock House, Laguna. Brion Jeannette, Architect

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Organic Architecture Artistry - Las Olas, Bolivia

Catching up on cool buildings!

At times, I wonder if it's possible that I've found them all, then something groovy will surface and I'll be delighted to know there are more undiscovered gems out there. I hope spreading the images of great, unusual buildings inspires other people to "break out of the box" (literally) and let their flights of fantasy free.

German sculptor Martin Strätker got to do exactly that in Bolivia, he built his dream, called it Las Olas and rents out the cottages to adventurous travelers who want someplace more interesting than another vanilla hotel (aka, boxes with bad furniture.)

Living the dream!

Las Olas, Bolvia Martin Strätker, Artist

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Casa del Acantilado, Spain

This one stopped me right in my tracks with a "YES, PLEASE". I love a funky roof to begin with, and I am absolutely enchanted with the "face" of this house design. The ocean view doesn't exactly suck, either.

I find the interior very underwhelming and sterile in contrast to that amazing roof. That baby needs some color and some style to make it look less like a Swedish skin care clinic.

Designer: Gil Bartolome

Casa del Acantilado (Cliff House), Spain - Gil Bartolome

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Solaria Off-Grid Earthship, Taos NM

I've finally been nudged out of my overwhelm by this lovely piece of architecture in Taos, NM called Solaria. While I love the house - and especially that mosaic column - the landscape around is a little bleak for me. I'd want trees. And lots of them.

The idea of being totally off the grid appeals to me in so many ways...right until the part about internet connectivity and speed. That's the deal killer. I suppose that if I didn't make my living needing high speed internet it might not matter, but for now it does. Sigh.

The video is a slide show of many of the pictures of the interior/exterior of the house, sadly it isn't a walk through talking about construction and livability. But we can't have everything I guess ;)

Solaria Earthship - Mosaic Column

Solaria Earthship Bedroom

Solaria Earthship Oculus

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Doolittle House in Joshua Tree - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

This just went on the market and got all sorts of blog coverage. One thing I find interesting about following certain artists is how you see repeated themes in their work. I think I can recognize one of Kellogg's houses anywhere, now.

I love the roof on this one in particular because it lets in so much natural light, something those of us who live in standard boxes miss. I also really covet that copper fireplace hood.

BONUS! There's video on this house~!

Doolittle House by Architect Kendrick Kellogg

Monday, January 20, 2014

Organic Architecture in India

I'm not sure I would live in this farmhouse near Mumbai, India, it seems more like an interesting place to stay as a rental. The designer, i.STUDIO, created an interesting mix of brick and rough stone that works on the exterior but less so for the interior.

I think that's what makes it feel like not a place to live for me, but a place to visit temporarily. I wonder how much of that is cultural upbringing?

Do the interior brick walls make it feel like "home" to you?

"Brick House" by i.STUDIO architecture, Mumbai India

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Art Nouveau House in Los Angeles - the O'Neill House

I was stunned recently to discover this TREASURE right in my own back yard! Right here in Los Angeles, a piece of whimsical Art Nouveau architecture that could only have been built by someone brave enough to say "damn the neighbors, full speed ahead!"

I love that.

And bravo! I may need to take a drive by sometime soon :)

I couldn't find too much info on the house other than this, from I am Not a Stalker.

"In 1978, an art dealer named Don O’Neill and his wife, Sandy, decided to remodel the guest home of their traditional residence in the Art Nouveau-style of Don’s favorite architect, Antoni Gaudi. That guest house is pictured below and is actually the most famous portion of the property."

Art Nouveau O'Neill House - Los Angeles

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Lotus House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

So, a rare opportunity cropped up for a tour of some of Ken Kellogg's fantastic work. The only one I could get to was the (luckily) the one I wanted to see the most, the Yen House in La Jolla (also called the Poppy House or the Lotus House.)

Pictures from the tour - which supports the Institute for Organic Architecture he is constructing.

Best quote: "Architecture is a love affair with nature."

Lotus House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Creative Cob House - Somerset

Thanks to a commenter, I stumbled upon a whole trove of amazing examples of organic homes over at naturalhomes.org. The first one that caught my eye was this piece of livable art built by the Goatlings in Somerset, UK.

It will come as no surprise that one of the owners is a artisan woodsmith. I may need to import him when I build my house ;)

Cob house in Somerset, UK

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Atoll House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

It's been awhile since we visited the wonders of architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, a favorite of mine and pal of James Hubbell.

His name came back up when I recently got an invitation to tour some of his homes and chat with the architect (pictures and goodies coming!) While this beauty, called the Atoll House (La Jolla, CA), isn't on the itinerary, we do have some eye candy.

Stained glass and chandeliers are by James Hubbell.

Atoll House, La Jolla - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect