A Sculptural Welcome to Childhood in Illzach

Strasbourg-based studio Dominique Coulon & Associés brings a splash of bold color to Illzach, a small town in the northeast of France, with a ‘multi-childcare crèche.’ The new building takes on the appearance of a sculptural installation more than a conventional childcare facility. Positioned at the edge of the town, it greets the surrounding neighborhood with an interplay of form and color that feels both unexpected and quietly confident. Framed by cherry trees and Japanese spiraea, the building conveys a soft energy in keeping with the spirit of early childhood.

With the children’s school, architect Dominique Coulon draws attention with a bold base in hues of pink and orange, over which a composition of white geometric forms appears to hover. These volumes are clearly defined against the open sky, offering a visual rhythm that enlivens the streetscape. Inside, double-height spaces rise through the structure, allowing light to shift and circulate in ways that animate the interior throughout the day.

images © Eugeni Pons

Design and Architecture

The crèche by Dominique Coulon & Associés surrounds the children of Illzach with gardens and courtyards that feel secluded and safe. These sheltered outdoor areas extend the architectural program into the landscape, encouraging movement and rest in equal measure. They remain protected from urban noise and wind, forming a setting where energy can be released without constraint.

Approaching the project, visitors encounter a forecourt shaded by a horse-chestnut tree, which opens the building gently to its corner site. The French architect has used this position to full advantage, designing large glazed sections that draw the eye toward the interior. The entry sequence is calibrated with care, guiding guests into a sunlit hallway that functions as both circulation and gathering space.

Dominique Coulon designs the crèche in Illzach as a sculptural presence at the town’s edge

The Heart of the Crèche

Dominique Coulon & Associés transforms the Illzach crèche’s main hallway into a spatial event. Orange surfaces rise to meet a cylindrical skylight, where rings of blue frame a view of the sky. The effect is playful but meditative, and the scale of the space makes it flexible for a range of uses. Rather than partition the building with corridors, the design favors openness, giving this central volume a social and symbolic weight.

Activity spaces are arranged to encourage fluidity and proximity between age groups. Rooms for toddlers and older children lie side by side and face south, ensuring strong natural light throughout the day. Glazing connects these spaces to the outdoors, while cross-ventilation allows the interior to remain cool during the warmer months. The project is an example of early childhood architecture that prioritizes both spatial complexity and intuitive use. Light, color, and form are not decorative here but integral to the atmosphere of calm alertness.

the building’s colorful base supports white geometric forms that rise into the sky

Surroundings and Accessibility

the crèche is surrounded by gardens and courtyards that feel calm and protected

a generous forecourt and glazed facade welcome families into the building

Conclusion

The Illzach crèche, designed by Dominique Coulon & Associés, is a testament to the power of thoughtful architecture in creating nurturing environments for early childhood development. By combining sculptural form, vibrant color, and careful attention to natural light and ventilation, the project establishes a new standard for childcare facilities. The building’s emphasis on community, flexibility, and connection to nature ensures that it will serve as a welcoming and inspiring space for generations of children and families in Illzach.

Introduction to Metal Deer Frames

If you are a fan of nature, arts, and beauty, then the metal deer frames are something you should definitely consider as a decoration for your interior or exterior. These are perfect for people who wish to add style to their interior designs or those who wish to make their gardens or lawns look like a part of nature. When it comes to the concept of your house, people may have different preferences, such as wildlife or modern/classical design, in the selection of frame designs, metal deer can be tailored to your needs.

Below are some inspirations you can use depending on the type of environment you want to print the metal deer frames for.

Types of Metal Deer Frames

1. Minimalist Modern Deer Frame

A minimalist design is characterized by a sophisticated absence and lack of details, with emphasized lines. A simple non-gaudy metal frame with straight rigid looks that contains little artistic craftsmanship can easily fit into a contemporary living room or an office.

Design Tip: Opt for a shiny or even matte metallic as the black steel or the brushed silver for the home to remain as sleek as possible.

Application: It can be hung as a separate sculpture on a wall or placed in the middle of the foyer.

Read more – Modern Black Home Office Design with Gold Wallpaper and Leather Chair

2. Rustic Deer Frame for Country Homes

Families with country homes or those living in the countryside will find that a rustic deer frame design is ideal for them. This concept also introduced the use of tough and coarsely textured finishes and body colors that blend with the natural scenerio of the neighborhood.

Interior Design Tip: A unique mixture of iron or steel and wood can be incorporated to provide an extra dimension of texture.

Ideas for placement: Ideal for installation above the fireplace or in a lobby where people can see the Shabby chic ornament.

3. Geometric Deer Head Frame

Those who prefer to hang modern art and striking patterns on their walls will find a geometric deer head appealing. This frame works in sharp angles and shapes with an outlined body of a deer that provides it with a modern and almost geometrical form.

They have recommended materials like black powder coated steel or having the frame in gold finishes in order to offer a modern urban look to the frame.

Placement Ideas: Ideal for urban apartments, art galleries, or as part of a gallery wall.

Note – Modern Vibrant Yellow Wall Paint Design

4. Silhouette Deer Frame

One of the most stunning designs to create a frame for a deer is a silhouette design. The body contour of the deer is almost always concave which gives them a sleek and rather lightweight appearance. This design can be worn on occasion allowing the back of the T-shirt to be more visible to the public.

Design Tip: A black or white metal frame looks best when placed against the backdrop of the bright colour of the wall or the natural wood hue.

Placement Ideas: Works great as a statement piece in a living room or as part of a nature-themed wall in a bedroom.

5. Nature-Inspired Deer Frame with Leaf Accents

To get more closer to nature, round the head of the deer with leaves or vines around the antlers. This design has a balance of both wildlife and nature in order achieve a harmonious look.

Suggestion: The frame has to be made of bronze or copper alloy to obtain that old look and if you want some contrast, you may paint green on the leaves.

Placement Ideas: This type of lighting is best fitted for outside patios, gardens, and even green buildings.

6. Abstract Deer Frame with Artistic Flair

In this case, you can opt for an abstract deer frame in which the shape of the deer is distorted or depicted through curves and lines. It also means it can be designed aprompt more freely, which gives it a distinctive character.

Choose bright colours or combined metal finishes

As the summer months approach, it’s the perfect time to plant flowers and get our outdoor spaces looking their best. In this article, we’ll share our favorite tips and tricks for creating beautiful, low-maintenance flower pots, including the best plants for full sun, partial shade, and full shade.

Every spring, my mom and I have a tradition of spending a day planting flowers and filling our container gardens, window boxes, and porch planters with vibrant blooms. My mom has a wealth of plant knowledge, and I’m grateful for her help and expertise. This year, we visited Chalet Nursery in Wilmette and found some stunning annuals to fill every inch of my front porch, back deck, and sunny yard.

Before we start planting, we always take the time to plan out our containers. We walk around the house, note the number of pots and planters we’re working with, and determine whether each spot gets full sun, partial shade, or full shade. We also choose a loose color scheme to tie everything together. This year, we opted for a bold palette of purples, oranges, and pinks.

My Mom’s Formula: Thriller, Filler, Spiller

My mom’s formula for creating beautiful container gardens is to use a combination of thriller, filler, and spiller plants. The thriller plant provides height and drama, the filler plant adds body and color, and the spiller plant cascades over the side of the pot. This formula creates a layered, lush look that’s perfect for containers.

Best Plants for Full Sun

For containers that get full sun, we recommend using plants like spike, angelonia, wave petunias, geraniums, calibrachoa, sweet potato vine, mezoo trailing red, and helichrysum ‘Lime’. These plants are perfect for window boxes, porch planters, and backyard pots.

Best Plants for Partial Shade

For containers that get partial shade, we recommend using plants like spike, geraniums, impatiens, diamond frost, mezoo trailing red, and vinca vine. These plants thrive in part shade or spots that get filtered morning light and afternoon shade.

Best Plants for Full Shade

For containers that get full shade, we recommend using plants like impatiens, jenny (lysimmachia), vinca vine, and mezoo trailing red. These plants are perfect for shady spots that don’t get much direct sun.

MAD’s Poetic Vision Explored Through Rotterdam Exhibition

A new exhibition at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion, debuts alongside the long-anticipated opening of the MAD-designed Fenix Museum of Migration. During the exhibition’s opening, designboom spoke with Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director of the Nieuwe Instituut and curator of the show.

‘With the opening of Fenix here in Rotterdam, it was a great chance to finally do an exhibition together,’ Chen tells designboom. ‘Ma and I have had quite a number of conversations, both formally and informally. I always felt like we needed to continue it. I was always left wanting more.’ This exhibition continues that dialogue, assembling MAD’s early speculations and recent large-scale works into a spatial and emotional journey.

images © Ossip van Duivenbode (unless otherwise stated)

Tracing Origins in a Rapidly Changing China

The Rotterdam exhibition Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion begins by anchoring MAD’s origin story in the formative years of independent architectural practice in China. ‘There were no private architecture firms allowed until the 1990s,’ explains Aric Chen of the Nieuwe Instituut. ‘Ma is part of that second generation of Chinese architects. It’s really remarkable to see how quickly things took off.’

A central installation expands upon MAD’s 2008 publication MAD Dinner, a document of creative gatherings the founders held during China’s early 2000s building boom. These interdisciplinary salons gave rise to speculative urban visions — a Tiananmen Square reimagined as a park, an aquarium seen through the perspective of a fish — which now appear in model form, offering insight into the studio’s earliest attempts to reframe public space and identity.

MAD opens its first solo museum exhibition in over a decade at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam

Ma Yansong’s Fenix as Cultural Anchor

Among the most anticipated works on view is MAD’s design for the Fenix Museum of Migration, the newly opened museum in Rotterdam dedicated to global migration stories. Fenix features the Tornado, a swirling, double-helix stair that lifts visitors through the atrium of a historic warehouse to a rooftop observatory. The Tornado connects the ground to the sky, but also history to the present.

It’s MAD’s first cultural building in Europe, and its role is deeply symbolic, especially given the museum’s context in Katendrecht, once one of the first Chinatowns of continental Europe. The exhibition offers detailed insight into the design of Fenix as a built manifestation of MAD’s evolving interest in architecture as a vessel for memory.

the exhibition coincides with the completion of MAD’s nearby Fenix Museum of Migration

Shanshui and the Evolution of MAD’s Philosophy

MAD’s longstanding engagement with shanshui — the classical Chinese worldview in which landscape, city, and spirit cohere — remains a thread throughout the show. ‘Shan Shui painting was a big influence on Ma for a certain point,’ Chen continues. ‘The studio has since moved on, but the relevance of that is still really important for understanding the firm’s work today.’

Rather than presenting shanshui as a metaphor or motif, the exhibition shows how the philosophy permeates form-making, whether in the land-integrated design of Quzhou Sports Park or in the undulating mass of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles.

Aric Chen curates the exhibition to reflect two decades of MAD’s emotionally-driven architecture

Emotion and Architecture

The exhibition’s title, Architecture and Emotion, invites viewers to consider architecture as more than a functional or aesthetic exercise. ‘Emotion is not something that we, here in this part of the world, are used to thinking about when we talk about architecture,’ says Chen. ‘But with MAD, emotions are very much connected with the idea of nature.’ The Nieuwe Instituut’s interest in climate resilience and spatial justice finds unexpected alignment in MAD’s emphasis on sensory experience and cultural memory, positioning the exhibition as a counterpoint to more techno-rational design narratives.

The selection of projects, Chen noted, leans toward recent and ongoing work, but also draws attention to the studio’s cross-cultural approach. ‘We always want to bring other cultural perspectives into the conversation,’ he says. ‘What Ma and MAD really do is provide that other schema or worldview for looking at space and how we experience it.’ From Beijing to Los Angeles, Paris to Rotterdam, MAD’s projects resist a singular national identity.

May 17, 2025

Introduction to Southwand House

At the crest of Costa Navarino’s undulating terrain, the arrival at K-Studio‘s Southwand House feels like entering an orchestrated landscape in Messinia, Greece. Stone walls emerge from the hillside with quiet confidence, their proportions studied yet generous. This is a place where sunlight, shadow, and view each carry weight. The slope itself seems to shape the rhythms of movement across the site, encouraging slow transitions and thoughtful pauses.

The architecture responds to the topography not with dominance but with choreography. Two towers, linked by terraces and a bridge over the pool, offer a sequence of experiences that shift depending on time of day and position. Level changes frame distinct atmospheres within a single continuous dwelling. Views unfold gradually, with the Ionian Sea and distant villages making their presence known only after one has begun to settle into the rhythms of the site.

Context and Philosophy

Costa Navarino, a sustainably driven destination in the southwest Peloponnese, forms a compelling context for this architecture. Framed by a coastline shaped by 4,500 years of human history, the development’s philosophy is informed by a commitment to preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Messinia. Within this vision, Southwand House takes shape not as an isolated retreat, but as part of a broader effort to harmonize luxury living with environmental stewardship. The surrounding area includes villages, five-star resorts, and golf courses that remain sensitive to the land’s rhythms.

images © Ana Santl Andersen

Southwand House: Informed by Messinian Vernacular

The architects at K-Studio curate stone, wood, and lime, so that the Southwand House echoes the character of traditional homes that populate the surrounding region. Rather than mimic their forms, the structure channels their spirit of layered construction and embeddedness in place. Courtyards, shaded terraces, and a breezy circulation strategy reflect an architecture attuned to climate and tradition without nostalgia.

Southwand House sits within the Olive Grove neighborhood of Costa Navarino, where villas are nestled among ancient olive trees and open to panoramic sea and golf views from garden level. This specific enclave evokes the character of Messinian countryside, with wildflowers, cypress trees, and orchards forming a lush backdrop. The landscape is a living presence that guides decisions about scale and materiality.

Rather than a single monolithic gesture, the house feels like a cluster of decisions that have grown over time. The play of towers, terraces, and open-air connectors gives the building a kind of narrative structure, guiding the inhabitant through spaces that alternate between open and enclosed, private and social. Light bounces between walls and water surfaces, while fragrant plantings animate the edges.

Southwand House by K-Studio sits on a hillside overlooking the Ionian Sea and Navarino Bay

K-Studio’s Palette Echoes the Olive Grove Beyond

Just outside the perimeter, olive trees stretch in all directions, their silvery foliage responding to the breeze in waves. The architecture borrows their palette, anchoring itself in the muted greens, soft browns, and stony whites of the region. From the ground floor, one can glimpse both the sea and the fairways of the golf course. These views are never forced. They appear gently, like an old friend arriving in the evening light.

There is no sharp division between nature and design here. The lines are soft, blurred by wildflowers and filtered shadows. The villa’s position within the Olive Grove neighborhood ensures both privacy and openness. Buildings around it remain low and dispersed, reinforcing a sense of seclusion without isolation.

the architecture is shaped by the slope, creating a sequence of vertical and horizontal experiences

Experiential Spaces and Connection to Nature

Each of the Southwand House’s main bedrooms is treated by K-Studio as a distinct threshold to the landscape. Glazing expands views without flattening them, encouraging quiet contemplation rather than exhibition. The children’s room, with its custom bunk structure, brings a sense of invention and delight to the design, demonstrating the house’s embrace of shared memory-making.

The outdoor pool, Crossfit area, grass field, and cascading fountain are embedded into the design rather than added on. These elements serve to deepen the relationship between body and place, drawing the occupants outward into the warm air and onto the textured earth. Showers tucked among stone walls offer intimate refuge. The experience of movement through the site feels like a form of slow recreation.

material choices echo traditional Messinian homes using stone wood and lime plaster

May 17, 2025

Introduction to Volante Social Housing

Monadnock Architects unveils Volante, a social housing building which occupies a slender footprint within the Nieuw-Zuid redevelopment in the Dutch city of Hilversum. Here, porch flats and generous greenery shape a legacy of postwar urban planning. On a site previously occupied by a residential-care facility, this new social housing project completes an ensemble of five structures, introducing density while honoring the open qualities of the neighborhood. The structure’s position atop a parking garage required precision in planning, resulting in a carefully calibrated relationship between height, massing, and light.

Volante is designed as two joined volumes, aligned lengthwise to nestle between existing buildings while preserving access to daylight and sightlines. At the center, a circular atrium provides orientation and light, anchoring the corridors that lead to each unit. Though compact, the apartments benefit from this shared interior rhythm, with circulation treated as an architectural space rather than a means to an end.

images © Stijn Bollaert

Design Approach

With the design of its Volante project, Monadnock Architects takes a pragmatic yet expressive approach to facade design. Long elevations are animated by a steady cadence of vertical piers and horizontal bands, realized in brickwork that feels both familiar and carefully wrought. Rather than apply decorative treatments, the architects embedded richness into the construction itself. Shaped bricks form junctions with a quiet attention to detail, creating shadows and texture that reward close observation.

The main entrance distinguishes itself through a palette of glazed bricks in deep, contrasting tones. Openings shift in scale and shape, inviting movement through a slightly abstracted gateway. This deliberate formal variation signals a break from the repetitive housing block, asserting the address as a shared front door and a marker of arrival within the neighborhood’s internal rhythm.

Volante is part of a densification effort in the Dutch city of Hilversum

Optimistic Details

Monadnock Architects use the terminal walls of Volante to define its urban role beyond the immediate site. These gable-like end facades are more than closures — they operate as signals, visible from afar, and carry a subtle figuration that punctuates the building’s linear volume. In a district that balances visual openness with increasing density, these gestures give character without demanding attention.

There’s a distinct clarity to Volante’s expression that reflects a belief in the dignity of housing. Materials are robust, but their assembly conveys levity. The ochres and reds of the brickwork catch changing light with warmth, while the building’s quiet symmetry offers a sense of order amid the trees and neighboring facades. It is a structure that looks settled, yet quietly ambitious.

The architecture resists the urge to impose a singular identity. Instead, its strength lies in how fluently it completes a larger composition. Densification here does not compete with the inherited character of Hilversum’s greenery or mid-century fabric. The building draws on these cues, integrating new residents into a context with care and continuity.

the main entrance is marked by glazed bricks and geometric openings that establish identity

the brick facade features vertical piers and horizontal bands that create depth and rhythm

end facades are designed as urban markers visible from a distance

Conclusion

In conclusion, Volante is a testament to the potential of social housing to not only provide necessary accommodations but to also enrich the urban fabric. Monadnock Architects’ thoughtful design ensures that the building is both a respectful addition to the neighborhood and a beacon of modern architectural expression. By balancing density

RDZ Studio Unveils Futuristic Café Interior in Zurich

In Zurich’s Seefeld district, Draft. Coffee by RDZ Studio draws from Scandinavian clarity and combines it with Swiss precision. From the moment visitors approach the facade, marked by a naive-style cloud sketch logo on the front window, it’s clear this café is shaped with design intention. The cloud motif sets the tone for a space where soft geometry, minimalism, and tactile materiality converge. Inside, RDZ Studio founders Ida Héritier and Konrad Roslak unfold a design narrative of brushed steel, beeswax-coated surfaces, and sculptural furnishings, centered by a cloud-shaped bar.

images courtesy of RDZ Studio

Cloud Bar and Beeswax Plaster Walls Complete Draft. Coffee

The centerpiece of the café is a bespoke, cloud-shaped coffee bar fabricated entirely in brushed stainless steel. It anchors Draft. Coffee, echoing the geometry of the accompanying stools whose fluted forms contrast with the sharp linearity of the tables. Wall plaster made from beeswax warms up the industrial coolness of the space, a detail that speaks not just to the RDZ Studio’s commitment to low-impact, sustainable materials.

Bespoke furniture pieces, part of the Zurich-based studio’s Cloud Collection 2024, are paired with curated vintage finds, adding a timeless quality to the café while subtly nodding to reuse as a design ethic. An expressive bench rendered in a woodgrain pattern reminiscent of marbled ash adds visual movement, softening the otherwise industrial material language. Overhead, the lighting casts gentle halos that harmonize with the café’s circular motifs, most strikingly displayed in the graphic wall installation of concentric, glowing discs that seem to hover like portals.

Large street-facing windows invite a generous wash of daylight, activating the nuanced textures and material junctions across the sci-fi retro-futuristic interior. The modulation of light and surface transforms Draft. Coffee into a spatial experience, one that invites lingering, observation, and sensory immersion.

Draft. Coffee by RDZ Studio draws from Scandinavian clarity and combines it with Swiss precision

Design Elements and Materials

Draft. Coffee features a range of bespoke furniture pieces, including a cloud-shaped bar, stools, and an expressive bench rendered in a woodgrain pattern reminiscent of marbled ash. The space also incorporates curated vintage finds, adding a timeless quality to the café. The use of beeswax plaster on the walls adds warmth and texture to the space, while the lighting design creates a sense of harmony and visual movement.

this café is shaped with design intention

the cloud motif sets the tone for a space where soft geometry, minimalism, and tactile materiality converge

Project Details

Project Info:

Name: Draft. Coffee | @draft.thecoffee

Architect: RDZ Studio | @rdz_studio

Location: Seefeld, Zurich, Switzerland

Lead Designers: Ida Héritier | @idaheritier, Konrad Roslak | @konradro_

May 16, 2025

A New Beginning in the Mountains of Northern Italy

Italian studio NAEMAS Architekturkonzepte takes to the South Tyrolean mountains to design a residence titled Zierhof with Parlor. The dwelling stands at the edge of a highland clearing in Brenner, where soft light grazes the terrain and winter shadows retreat more slowly than the seasons. This alpine site, chosen after careful consideration, was selected not for its similarity to the past, but for its qualities in light, slope, and spatial relation to the valley below. In this elevated position, the rebuilding of a family farm destroyed by fire becomes an act of anchoring memory in new ground.

The structure is shaped by the land as much as it is by the family’s intention to rebuild without retracing their steps. A southern-facing incline opens toward the valley with a wide gesture, welcoming daylight through every season. This position secures warmth even in winter and orients the structure gently along the natural topography, affirming the family’s bond with the environment rather than nostalgia for a fixed past.

images © Gustav Willeit

NAEMAS Architekturkonzepte Unites Two Volumes

Zierhof with Parlor, conceived by NAEMAS Architekturkonzepte, expresses its program through a dual-volume composition that resists symmetry without feeling discordant. A sharply angled gable roof echoes traditional forms but steps askew just enough to suggest something reimagined. The cladding carries a pattern derived from the façade of the previous house, and yet this translation feels like a whisper rather than a replica, signaling continuity through abstraction.

The architects curate the interiors to balance the weight of history with the clarity of a new perspective. One volume recalls the farmhouse idiom through materials drawn from the region: larch floors, linen drapery, and Silberquarzit quarried nearby. The stair’s guardrail quietly references an old facade motif, drawing a tactile thread between generations while allowing the space to breathe differently.

Zierhof with Parlor is situated on a southern slope in Brenner for optimal year-round sunlight

Parlor Recast in Concrete and Color

With its Zierhof with Parlor, NAEMAS Architekturkonzepte proposes a new form of domesticity through the second building, where a reinterpretation of the alpine parlor unfolds. Here, exposed concrete imprinted with timber grain grounds the space, while a centrally placed tiled stove anchors it in a ritual of gathering. Color appears unexpectedly. Reds and pinks in the kitchen, and terrazzo flooring flecked with pigment all suggest vitality as a necessary architectural gesture.

the site was chosen through careful analysis of orientation light and topography

program is divided into two distinct building volumes that respond differently to memory and renewal

a gable roof and patterned facade are inspired by the original farmhouse

Conclusion

In the hands of NAEMAS Architekturkonzepte, the project becomes an architecture of dualities held in quiet conversation. The pairing of tradition and invention does not seek resolution. Instead, the material, volume, and tone all offer the family a way to live among memory without being confined by it. The result is a residence that not only honors the past but also looks towards the future, creating a new beginning in the mountains of Northern Italy.

Introduction to G.ao House

G.ao House by 85 Design stands quietly among the streets of Hòa Hải, Vietnam, carrying ambitions that extend well beyond shelter and workspace. Surrounded by the tropical landscape of central Vietnam, the project reflects a broader shift in the country’s architectural outlook toward sustainability. Designed as a hybrid between residence and office, it demonstrates how smaller-scale projects can respond to the climate crisis through material choices and energy strategies.

Design and Architecture

The architecture takes form through a prefabricated steel frame, selected for its low-waste assembly and future recyclability. This structural approach allows the building to remain flexible over time, supporting the shifting demands of daily life and work. The designers minimized the building footprint to open up surrounding gardens, letting air and light move freely through the spaces. A rooftop solar array feeds over 11,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy into the building annually, supported by smart management systems that optimize consumption and storage.

images © To Huu Dung

Interior Design and Layout

The architects at 85 Design organize G.ao House’s two main floors and attic to weave interior spaces with the exterior landscape. A front garden introduces water features and reclaimed stone elements that recall the site’s construction process. These salvaged materials add texture and character while reducing waste. On the ground floor, a casual dining bar serves the office community, while the upper levels blend private and communal functions through adaptable layouts. Features such as a double-height void, cascading balcony waterfall, and glass fish tank contribute to the building’s layered sensory experience.

Vertical Greenery and Ecological Intentions

Ecological intentions are extended vertically with a green wall that stretches from ground to roof. The living surface enhances air quality while moderating the indoor environment throughout the year. Above, the attic opens toward panoramic views and benefits from operable roof elements that adjust to changing weather. Mechanical systems for cooling and water storage are discreetly positioned alongside solar panels on the roof to ensure that technical performance supports the building’s quiet relationship with its context.

G.ao House by 85 Design merges living and working spaces in Hòa Hải, Vietnam

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

The home performs as much as it shelters. Through integrated energy and water systems, it reduces fossil fuel dependency by up to 80 percent and prevents the release of more than 8.5 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Over time, its contribution to offsetting emissions rivals the environmental impact of planting thousands of trees. In this way, the project offers more than functional space — it becomes part of a larger environmental narrative.

the project uses a prefabricated steel frame to reduce waste and allow flexibility

rooftop solar panels generate over eleven thousand kilowatt hours annually

rainwater and irrigation systems are designed for reuse and minimal resource waste

Conclusion

G.ao House by 85 Design is a testament to the potential of sustainable architecture in urban environments. By incorporating eco-friendly materials, minimizing waste, and maximizing natural resources, the project sets a new standard for environmentally conscious design. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, G.ao House serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that it is possible to create functional, beautiful, and sustainable spaces that not only reduce our carbon footprint but also enhance our relationship with nature.

Modern Design Responding to Wild Nature

Studio Saxe’s design for the Rio Perdido West Bungalows stands as an example of architecture that responds intuitively to its environment. Hidden among the ecologically rich town of Bagaces, Costa Rica, the site itself was once challenging to access, hidden away between two converging canyons. Here, the cool waters of the Rio Blanco meet the warmer currents of the Rio Perdido. In this pristine natural landscape, Studio Saxe crafted floating pavilions that blur the boundaries between architecture and nature, offering guests an immersive experience in this rare corner of the world.

The design concept was to create a place that coexists with its surroundings while maintaining a level of comfort and privacy. Each bungalow is elevated on slender pilotis, ensuring that rainwater and wildlife continue their natural course underneath. This minimal contact with the land allows the forest and the river to remain undisturbed while creating a space where the views are ever-present. Frameless glass walls offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding canyon, while the design takes cues from the cultural and natural heritage of Costa Rica, creating an experience that connects visitors to the land in an unobtrusive way.

images © Alvaro Fonseca – Depth Lens

Rio Perdido Floats Among the Trees

Conceptualizing its Rio Perdido – West Bungalows, the architects at Studio Saxe employed a restrained design strategy. A stone wall acts as a visual barrier and a connection to the land, bringing privacy for guests and framing sweeping views of the canyon, and grounding the structure within the topography of the site. The bungalows are designed to encourage a dialogue between shared and private spaces, with strategic placement allowing each room to open onto expansive terraces or be shielded by thoughtful partitions. A discreet division between the bedroom and bathroom allows for privacy while preserving the natural flow of the space, with a large uninterrupted window that frames canyon views, bringing nature into the heart of the interior.

Interior designer Dania Saragovia brings a warm and inviting character to each bungalow, using a palette of natural materials and woven textures that complement the architectural style. Her choices, which include a range of tactile materials, enhance the feeling of connection to the environment while maintaining a serene atmosphere. The warmth of the colors and the simplicity of the design invite relaxation and reflection, helping to create a holistic, immersive experience that feels like an extension of the landscape outside.

Studio Saxe designs the Rio Perdido – West Bungalows to harmonize with Costa Rica’s landscape

Sustainable Bungalows by Studio Saxe

Sustainability is at the core of Studio Saxe’s Rio Perdido – West Bungalows, with every decision made to minimize environmental impact. The structures float above the forest floor, preserving the land’s natural flow and allowing wildlife to roam freely. Long roof overhangs reduce solar heat gain and protect against Costa Rica’s heavy rains, supporting passive cooling strategies that reduce energy consumption. Locally sourced materials such as wood and stone reinforce the commitment to environmental stewardship, while ensuring that the structures are in harmony with their surroundings. This deep respect for the site’s ecological integrity is a defining feature of the project.

The bungalows at Rio Perdido adapt to the sloping site, with each structure carefully designed to respond to the terrain’s different elevations and conditions. Studio Saxe utilized prefabrication techniques to streamline construction and minimize disruption to the fragile ecosystem, ensuring that the project’s impact was as light as possible. Despite the modern materials used, the buildings maintain a strong connection to regional craftsmanship, reinforcing the local character of the design. The result is a contemporary tropical architecture that balances modernity with sustainability.

the bungalows are elevated on slender pilotis, allowing rainwater and wildlife to pass beneath

frameless glass walls offer panoramic views of the surrounding forest and canyon

Dania Saragovia curates the interior design with natural materials and woven textures

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Rio Perdido West Bungalows by Studio Saxe are a testament to the power of sustainable and modern design in harmony with nature. The project showcases a deep respect for the site’s ecological integrity, incorporating locally sourced materials, minimizing environmental impact, and preserving the natural flow of the land. The result is a unique and immersive experience that connects visitors to the land in an unobtrusive way, making it an exemplary model for contemporary tropical architecture. The project’s success lies in its ability to balance modernity with sustainability, creating a