I like that the tray has an airy, casual feel, but what makes it look perfect in the room is the color and texture. The mix of a round and textured item on a smooth and square surface not only creates interest in the room, but also adds a touch of warmth and coziness. This unique combination of shapes and textures is a key element in creating a visually appealing space.

The addition of the tray to the room has also brought a sense of balance and harmony to the space. The color and texture of the tray complement the other decorative elements in the room, including the two basket tables. The round shape of the tray and the baskets creates a sense of continuity and flow, while the textured surface of the tray adds depth and visual interest.

It also brings the color and texture that acts as a visual balance for the two basket tables I have in the room. This large round basket table in a corner of the room is a perfect example of how the tray’s color and texture can be used to create a sense of balance and harmony. The tray’s ability to blend in with the other decorative elements in the room, while also adding its own unique touch, is a testament to its versatility and style.

In conclusion, the tray has been a great addition to the room, bringing a sense of balance, harmony, and visual interest to the space. Its unique combination of shape, color, and texture has created a warm and inviting atmosphere, and its ability to complement the other decorative elements in the room has made it a valuable and stylish addition. Whether used as a decorative piece or as a functional item, the tray is a great example of how a simple element can make a big impact in a room’s overall design and aesthetic.

Introduction to Holy Water

In the Dutch city of Heerlen, Holy Water by MVRDV proposes a playfully irreverent reimagining of the St. Francis of Assisi Church: not as a house of prayer, but a public swimming pool. With the help of Zecc Architecten, the Rotterdam-based studio won a competition to convert the 20th-century monument into a social amenity, preserving the historic spirit of the brick building while giving it a second life in service of the community. ‘Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have?‘ asks Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV. ‘A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this.’

Key Features of Holy Water

One of the most innovative elements of Holy Water by MVRDV is an adjustable pool floor. This technical achievement accommodates swimmers of all ages and abilities while simultaneously supporting a completely dry, flat surface for cultural programming. When filled with a thin layer of water, the pool transforms into a mirrored surface, capturing the architecture in reflection and giving the illusion of walking on water. ‘You can create a beautiful visual effect,’ says Maas, ‘allowing the church to return to its original form and appear even larger and more impressive through reflection.’

visualizations © MVRDV

Salvaging and Repurposing Sacred Elements

A glowing circular canopy announces the entrance to MVRDV’s Holy Water renovation, forming a contemporary counterpoint to the brick mass of Heerlen’s original church. Inside, circulation paths along the former aisles lead to changing rooms and food services tucked behind glass walls. These transparent dividers preserve the building’s axial procession while ensuring the pool’s climate does not interfere with the fragile historic finishes.

Sensitive reuse is at the heart of the project, where original church pews are integrated into the design, doubling as poolside seating and bar counters. The pulpit, once a platform for sermons, will become the lifeguard’s chair. These subtle but thoughtful gestures anchor the transformation in memory, rather than erasure.

The design pays homage to ecclesiastical aesthetics through mosaic flooring that references stained glass and local murals. Working with artists from Heerlen, the architects emphasize community involvement. Lighting too has dual purpose — rows of suspended fixtures echo the original chandeliers while marking out swimming lanes. It’s a balance of spiritual atmosphere and functional choreography.

MVRDV’s Holy Water project transforms a historic church in Heerlen into a public swimming pool

Holy Water and Heerlen’s Urban Revival

Keeping a pool warm without damaging the church’s materials posed a major challenge. Holy Water by MVRDV solves this by insulating the roof externally and restoring its existing tiles. Inside, the original timber structure remains visible while hidden acoustic panels absorb echoes. A glass envelope around the pool keeps moisture away from the art and architecture, and all technical equipment has been cleverly concealed underground.

A joint effort by MVRDV, Zecc Architecten, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Nelissen Ingenieursbureau, and SkaaL, Holy Water by MVRDV exemplifies integrated design thinking. With structural, climatic, and economic expertise contributing to its realization, the project stands as a model of what adaptive reuse can achieve when heritage meets imagination.

The transformation of St. Francis of Assisi Church into Holy Water by MVRDV aligns with a citywide redevelopment push that includes a Roman museum and the renovation of the Royal-Rivoli cinema. The swimming pool not only relieves pressure on Heerlen’s existing facilities, but anchors a cultural and civic revival in the heart of the city. When completed at the end of 2027, Holy Water by MVRDV will be a working model for how disused sacred spaces can be respectfully reinvented.

the design preserves the church’s architecture while introducing a flexible, adjustable pool floor

mosaic tiles inspired by stained glass and local murals decorate the pool

church pews are rep

Introduction to KOMINORU Design’s Small House on a Corner Lot

In a city where every square meter counts, KOMINORU Design’s Small House on a Corner Lot comes together like a game of Tetris. Built with a compact, 30 square-meter footprint in Nakano City, Tokyo, the three-story wooden home demonstrates that good design doesn’t need a lot of room — just a sharp understanding of codes, air, and light.

The Tokyo-based design team cleverly exploits the building regulations of the Japanese city to carve out more volume than one might expect from such a modest footprint. The corner lot status, coupled with semi-fireproof building classification, allowed the architects to expand the building coverage ratio to 80%. The result is a vertical home that feels surprisingly spacious, even generous, despite its micro lot.

images © Katsumasa Tanaka

Architectural Design and Layout

KOMINORU Design’s Small House on a Corner Lot sidesteps the usual tradeoff between structural exposure and fire safety. By specifying 120mm-wide columns and beams, the architects could partially expose the wooden frame while maintaining regulatory compliance. Ceiling planes rest atop these beams, raising the perceived height of each floor and adding a sense of openness. It’s a nimble dance between tradition and technicality.

The team makes use of the sloping sky exposure plane on the south side to its advantage, creating a compact rooftop terrace that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. On the steeper north-facing slope, dictated by a 1:1.25 regulation, the architects turned challenge into storage. The bathroom, a space used less frequently, tucks neatly beneath the slanted roofline, with a thoughtfully integrated bathtub that nestles into the angular void.

the Small House on a Corner Lot rises three stories in Tokyo

Passive Ventilation and Sustainable Features

KOMINORU Design transforms the tall, slender form of its Small House on a Corner Lot into a passive climate machine. A ventilation window at the rooftop level pulls air upward through the vertical volume, operating like a contemporary wind tower. Natural ventilation circulates with ease, keeping the interiors cool without relying heavily on mechanical systems.

The project reimagines the role of gardens in dense cities by going vertical. With limited space at ground level, the architects planted greenery above the eaves and lifted the garden to the second floor. From inside, residents can glimpse tree branches and leaves at eye level, lending an experience more typical of a larger, freestanding home.

partially-exposed timber beams raise the ceiling without sacrificing fire safety

a ventilation window at the top creates a passive wind tower

a raised second-floor garden brings greenery into the compact home

Conclusion

With this residence, the architects demonstrate how tight constraints can yield unexpected results. It’s a study in how smart regulation use, passive systems, and a touch of green can transform a sliver of land into a full-fledged family home — no compromises necessary, just a shift in how we think about scale.

Hamptons, it’s the home design term you’re searching for the most. But here’s the news just in: so many Aussies are getting it wrong.
Allow me to step in and show you how to rock Hamptons styling at your place.

What is Hamptons styling?

The style was inspired by a group of villages in Long Island in the US many years ago. Think a crisp white colour palette, dark timber floors, and blue striped armchairs. But Down Under we do Hamptons design a little differently.
The crispness, the white, the texture and the natural materials – what’s not to love about Hamptons done right?
Think less The Real Housewives of New York City and more The Real Beachgoers of Bondi Junction. While the classic style is more upmarket, locally we take a soothing casual and coastal approach. Just like Covergirl, it’s easy, breezy and beautiful.

Hamptons colours

The base colour palette of Hamptons styling is white, brown, light grey and soothing blue. There’s no getting around that. It’s best to use white (or other milky tones) as your main player if you want that light and airy feel. Then, accessories with pale blues and greys in smaller doses. Pale blue tones give a nod to the classic Hamptons vibe but still keep it feeling relaxed.
In order to nail the relaxed vibe of Hamptons style, you’ll want to stick with pale blues, greys, whites, and neutrals.
When it comes to hard flooring, mid-brown tones are your friend. And in carpet, opt for calming beiges. Black decorative moments also work in Hamptons styling, or a pop of gold can elevate the look.
Myth buster: Navy blue is not essential in modern Hamptons homes. It’s a very old-school approach and you’re a modern day lady!
Avoid at all costs: No red, no yellow, no orange. No warm tones at all in a Hamptons styling. Keep it cool and crisp at all times. Like a good cucumber.

Hamptons patterns

A Hamptons home needs pattern. Because the scheme is so soothing, you’ll literally fall asleep at your marble benchtop if there’s not some invigorating pattern to look at.
While we don’t need to overdo it, do rock a subtle stripe. A pale blue one is nice, as is a black and white.
Also consider some floral patterns in things like cushions. Shibori patterns are gorgeous here too. But (and this is a big but), ensure these patterns are backed up by solid colours.
A patterned cushion is to be teamed with a solid colour cushion. A patterned vase teamed with a solid colour accessory.
Pattern play is a must with Hamptons style done right. Just be sure to go for subtle patterns and similar hues across your pieces so everything is harmonious.
Also embrace natural patterns, like the grey vein in a marble coffee table, or the weave in a rug.
Myth Buster: You don’t have to shop at a Hamptons or coastal store for Hamptons patterned accessories. Something like a soothing blue and white tribal rug can really add pizzazz to the scheme, so think outside the box.
Avoid at all costs: The classic ginger jar. They’re very old-school Hamptons style and so expected. Aussie Hamptons style is less obvious and more beachy.

Hamptons materials

Now, this is where things get interesting because the materials really give life to Hamptons styling.
On walls, consider some tongue and groove panels. Textured wallpaper in bedrooms will also work wonders.
In furniture, think soft linen sofas and cushions. Timber with a visible grain is also really important in things like entry tables or buffets.
If you love Hamptons then you need to get into textures.
Then, accessorise with materials like concrete, marble, wicker and rattan. Ceramics and glass are also important. White flowers are also crucial. Think hydrangeas, orchids and chrysanthemums.
Myth buster: You don’t have to include metallics like silver at all in a Hamptons scheme – especially the shiny stuff. More modern styles feel earthier and organic. Think brushed nickel or leather pull handles.
Avoid at all costs: The coral. Glass jars with sand. Shells. All of these are so very obvious and you’re more talented than that.

Conclusion

Hamptons styling is all about creating a light, airy, and soothing atmosphere in your home. By incorporating the right colours, patterns, and materials, you can achieve a beautiful and relaxing space that’s perfect for any occasion. Remember to keep it cool and crisp, and don’t be afraid to add some subtle patterns and textures to give your space some visual interest. With these tips and a little bit of creativity, you can create a stunning Hamptons-inspired home that’s all your own. This article was originally published on 14 Jan 2020 at 9:00am but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.

We asked, you answered! Here’s the list of top things Aussie renters want in their homes, and I’ve gotta say I’m a bit surprised with some of the revelations. After polling our Instagram audience, we’ve come back with the juice on all their pet peeves and must-haves when it comes to selecting a rental. Want to apply for some or all of these homes? Apply for multiple rental properties with one application with 1Form.

1. 79% prefer a house over a unit. Hey, don’t be hating on apartment living. Who doesn’t love a garbage chute, no lawn to mow, and walls so thin you can hear your neighbors going at it like rabbits throughout the night? Turns out only 21% of you are team apartment, with the vast majority eager to enjoy a front and backyard; having a garage to store your car in; and racing to put the out bins in your pyjamas the morning of rubbish collection.

Apartment living definitely has its benefits. Picture: realestate.com.au

2. 79% would rather larger living space than a larger bedroom. I’m with you on this one. I’d happily sleep in a bedroom the size of a phone booth if it meant I could have a mammoth sofa to sprawl out on. Given that many of us fall asleep on the sofa before bed anyway, I say this zone is far more important than the boudoir. Though I do draw the line at having to push your bed against the wall in a small bedroom. That is the stuff kids rooms are made of and I’m not having it unless someone is tucking me in and reading me a bedtime story.

Extra living space is more desirable than bedroom space for most of you. Picture: realestate.com.au

3. 88% would rather extra bench space than bathroom space. I get this one. While you can store all your cosmetic lotions and potions on the dresser in your bedroom, it’s probably frowned upon to have a microwave on your bedside table or sit the kettle and toaster on the end of your bed. Though appliances in the bedroom do have their advantages: breakfast in bed would become a whole lot easier. And who could say no to the idea of a popcorn maker nestled between your pillows? Think about it is all I’m saying.

Kitchen space is where it’s at for most of our responders. Picture: realestate.com.au

4. 56% want a garage over a pool. Like pineapple on a pizza, the nation is divided on this one. And for the record, pineapple on a pizza is absolutely dreamboat.com/getintoit. The urge for a garage is a strong one, especially if the area you live in is considered dodgy on the crime front. And here’s the other reality nobody wants to talk about: pools, like maintaining a fake tan, are bloody hard work. The cleaning, the chlorine, the creepy crawly. It all sounds a bit strenuous for a home you don’t actually own.

A garage is useful for many reasons besides just parking the car. Picture: realestate.com.au

5. 58% want a garden paradise over city views. Gardens seem cute until you realise how much you have to tend to them. They’re more demanding than children and can’t be put in front of an iPad to keep them quiet. So the fact that so many of you are eager for one is certainly pretty surprising. That said, city views are like seriously good-looking people; a few months into being around them the novelty wears off.

A city view can be a spectacular addition to your living space. Picture: realestate.com.au

6. 71% want aircon over a summer breeze. I don’t know who the summer breeze people are, but I don’t get you and I’m not sorry about it. But then again, I’ve watched so many episodes of Forensic Files on Netflix that I’m certain someone will jump in and kill me if I leave the window open at night. So that’s a me issue more than a you issue. But, seriously – who can pass up the skin-drying qualities of a robust aircon unit? Not me.

Air conditioning beats out a summer breeze with our responders. Picture: realestate.com.au

In conclusion, Aussie renters have spoken, and their preferences are clear. From houses over units to aircon over summer breezes, the results of our poll offer a fascinating glimpse into what matters most to renters when it comes to their homes. Whether you’re a landlord, a property manager, or simply a renter looking for your next dream home, these findings are sure to provide valuable insights into the wants and needs of the rental market. This article was originally published on 21 Jan 2020 at 1:17pm but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.

Feel like your family members are turning into some of Australia’s most-loved TV characters?

Well here’s a shock you didn’t expect: maybe you’re the one slowly becoming the Kath Day-Knight of your very own Fountain Gate.

Read on to discover which Aussie TV character you are based on the decor in your home.

Are you Alf Stewart?

If your living room is filled with puffy recliner chairs, decorative stubby holders, and collectable licence plates, you might be channeling your inner Alf Stewart. You can often be found yelling “strewth!” at the TV from your leather recliner, and you never leave home without a decorative stubby holder. Framed sports guernseys and frilly curtains are also a staple in your home.

Alf Stewart’s home in the iconic TV series Home & Away. Picture: Seven Network / Youtube

You’re everything we love about an Aussie bloke of a certain age. Never change, ya flamin’ galah! Although I do draw the line at hamburger phones.

Are you Irene Roberts?

If your home is filled with boomerang pillows, ‘live, love, laugh’ decals, and crocheted blankets, you might be an Irene Roberts in the making. You’re a busy lady who doesn’t have time for interior trends, and you prioritize comfort over looks on the home front. That’s why your quote decal hasn’t come off the wall since 2002, and why you refuse to part ways with the doll toilet-roll holder you picked up at a garage sale over two decades ago.

Lynne McGranger who plays Irene Roberts in the TV show Home and Away. Picture: Liam Kidston / News Corp

But we still adore you because your home oozes heart and soul. You do you.

Are you Harold Bishop?

If you have a commemorative spoon collection, instruments on display, and a VHS player, you might be a Harold Bishop at heart. You love cracking out the tuba when people come around and can’t part ways with your beloved VHS tapes. There’s also nothing more relaxing than polishing your spoon collection. You also have too many aprons for someone who doesn’t bake very much.

Neighbours behind the scenes. Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) and Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi). Picture: News Corp

Are you Mr G?

If you have framed theatre posters, a dress-up box, and a karaoke machine, you might be a Mr G in disguise. Every night is an opportunity to get out the feather boa, pop on some ABBA, and drink a few bottles of Passion Pop. You love all things Broadway and can name every one of Barbra Streisand’s singles – including where they landed in the charts.

Actor Chris Lilley as Mr G in ABC-TV show ‘Summer Heights High’.

Are you Sharon Strzelecki?

If your living room displays old trophies, cricket memorabilia, and a mini bar fridge with a toaster oven, you might be a Sharon Strzelecki at heart. You love your sport and it shows. Your bedroom shelf is stacked with participation trophies from sports days gone by. Even though your kitchen can fit a regular fridge, you have a bar fridge with a toaster oven on top.

April 12, 2025

Introduction to Keff Joons

In a quiet, industrial pocket on the outskirts of Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood, artist Cj Hendry unveils Keff Joons, her most colossal architectural intervention yet. Housed in a cavernous warehouse at 50 Gold Street, the work is less an exhibition and more a disorienting monument to scale and sensation. A tangled explosion of oversized inflatable ‘balloons,’ the work takes up nearly every inch of vertical and horizontal space, inviting visitors to climb into the chaos. At once playful and a little bit terrifying, the space distorts your sense of direction, weight, and proportion, to bring an experience that’s more akin to a bounce house crossed with an Escher drawing.

Keff Joons is on view from April 11th — 20th, 2025 at 50 Gold Street in Brooklyn’s Vinegar Hill. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but lines are likely — Hendry’s installations have a reputation for drawing enthusiastic crowds.

image © designboom

Dissolving Structure and Play

Inspired by Jeff Koons’ balloon-animal iconography but veering off into absurdist territory, Cj Hendry has crafted something decidedly her own. Keff Joons asks: what happens when structure dissolves and play becomes the architecture? ‘While Jeff has transformed the balloon animal into an icon of art, I’ve cobbled together these balloon ‘knots’ that forgo structure and form and are totally ridiculous,’ the artist says. That irreverence is part of the appeal — it encourages visitors to interact, to climb, to trust the materials and their curiosity. Nothing is roped off, everything is touchable. Here, architecture isn’t static. It wobbles, it squeaks, it responds.

The installation takes shape as a tangle of individual oversized balloons in electric hues of red, green, pink, yellow, and purple. They are not arranged as disparate sculptures but rather meld into a dense, architectural knot. Keff Joons doesn’t just occupy space; it swallows it, with balloon arms coiling and sprawling across multiple rooms like a surreal organism. It’s immersive and ungraspable, forcing visitors to feel their way through the tangled mass, often on hands and knees. There’s no signage, no guidance — only the rubbery scent of vinyl, the squeak of air-shifting surfaces, and a thrill that lands somewhere between childhood joy and low-level adrenaline.

image © Cj Hendry Studio

Hyper-Realistic Drawings and Sculptural Maquette

Adjacent to the Keff Joons balloon labyrinth, Cj Hendry grounds the installation with a selection of her trademark hyper-realistic pencil drawings. Nine in total, the works zoom in on individual balloons — now suddenly delicate, isolated, and precise. There’s also a sculptural maquette of the entire installation, offering a bird’s-eye view of the chaos you’ve just scrambled through. These quieter, more contemplative pieces reveal the technical rigor behind the whimsy, highlighting the artist’s gift for straddling the line between spectacle and skill.

Experiencing Keff Joons

To experience Keff Joons, visitors must shed their shoes, sign a waiver, and suit up in orange grip socks — part uniform, part equalizer. It’s a logistical detail that adds to the sense of ritual. One is not just looking at art. Visitors are entering it, physically and psychologically. Hendry understands the power of participation, of turning viewers into climbers, sliders, and explorers. The experience is democratic, and hilariously impractical. No backpacks, no coats, no skirts. Just the viewer and the balloons.

image © Cj Hendry Studio

image © Cj Hendry Studio

When it comes to home decor, one of the biggest challenges is creating a space that can seamlessly transition between seasons. You love a dramatic winter look, but is it the best styling solution for those summer months? Or perhaps you’re obsessing over jute and breezy curtains, but they’re not exactly screaming cosy come July.

We’ve enlisted the advice of interior designer Heather Nette King to learn how to handle your home decor, regardless of the season. Whether it’s redirecting light, savouring the heat, creating an on-theme ‘look’ or simply ensuring your indoor plants survive the year – here are Heather’s best tips for a trans-seasonal home.

A few small touches can take your home from summer haven to winter comfort nest. For instance, well-insulated flooring is the key to trans-seasonal functionality, but winter tends to be the more difficult season when it comes to what lies beneath. Carpet is the ideal flooring for cooler months because it’s lovely and tactile, and having a good underlay means it keeps the heat from escaping. However, if dealing with floorboards, which are lovely and cool for summer, adding a chunky woollen rug for winter can make a big difference.

Ideally, you want to get a rug that’s large enough so there’s always something for your feet to land on. For example, you want your chairs to still fit on the rug when they’re pulled out from the dining table, and similarly with your bed, you want an edge around the frame of at least 30cm. A good rug gripper can also help your rug stay in place and give you a lovely cushiony feeling underfoot.

Start with flooring

Well-insulated flooring is the key to trans-seasonal functionality. You don’t need to have rugs everywhere, but underneath your bed, below your dining table and around your living room are good places to start. When it comes to sizing your rug, consider the space and the furniture that will be placed on it.

Adjust your accessories

Speaking of rugs, have you ever thought about changing up the fabric and colour depending on the season? This doesn’t just apply to rugs either. Cushions, throws, bed linen and tablecloths can be adjusted to suit a more summery or wintery theme. Winter creates ideal conditions for plushier fabrics, like velvet or faux fur, while summer begs for jute or linen.

Move things around

Not everything has to stay in one place all year round. Try shifting your furniture to take full advantage of lighting and heating at different times of year. Moving smaller items and furniture can help, and you can bring all your blankets and rugs out and use them to decorate your living space. If you have a fireplace, you could move your seating or bring in an ottoman for people to perch on.

Consider window coverings

When it comes to blinds or shades, variation is key. Shutters offer countless ways to control light and heat, and you can have them fully open, fully closed, slanted, one side open, one side closed – you’ve got so many options. For blocking out light, black Roman Blinds are a good option, while Flowing Blinds offer a sheer look that provides light blocking and privacy too.

Care for your indoor plants

Ideally, your indoor plants should survive the seasons, being mostly sheltered from the outdoor elements. However, you do need to be mindful of keeping them away from your heater or air-conditioning unit so as not to burn or freeze them to death. Heather’s main tip for indoor plant longevity is to invest in self-watering pots, which essentially allow the plants to drink when they’re thirsty, or refuse water when they’re not.

Secondly, change the soil every one to two years to make sure your plants get the nutrients they need to keep on trucking. By following these tips, you can create a home that seamlessly transitions between seasons, and your indoor plants will thrive all year round.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating a trans-seasonal home is all about making small changes to your decor and layout to suit the changing seasons. By adjusting your accessories, moving things around, considering window coverings, and caring for your indoor plants, you can create a space that is both functional and stylish, no matter the time of year. With a little creativity and planning, you can enjoy a beautiful and inviting home that adapts to the seasons, and makes the most of the unique qualities of each time of year.

OLA Palermo: A New Kind of Office Typology

In Buenos Aires, New York-based architecture studio ODA has unveiled OLA Palermo, its first major project in Argentina. The bold adaptive reuse effort transforms a decaying parking structure into a lush, multi-functional hub on the edge of Palermo’s famed parkland. With its curving glass facade and sloping green rooftop, OLA Palermo signals a fresh, urban-minded typology which merges office life, leisure, and landscape. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

ODA’s intervention breaks from the conventions of corporate architecture. OLA Palermo is at once a Class A office building and it’s a reimagined civic space. The project replaces the old concrete shell with restaurants, shops, and a public promenade, layering in a new vertical park that loops up and over the building. ‘These types of partnerships are the future,‘ says ODA founder Eran Chen. ‘When this is completed we will have a park that will become an icon for the city, and quite possibly the coolest office building in the southern hemisphere.’

images © Alan Karchmer

Stitching Neighborhoods through Adaptive Reuse

ODA operates at the urban scale, reconnecting two Buenos Aires neighborhoods long divided by the underused site known as Ámbito Gigena. The new OLA Palermo complex occupies a strategic position between the city’s racetrack and the beloved El Rosedal de Palermo park. By drawing the landscape up and across the building, the architects reclaim an urban dead zone and weave it back into the civic fabric. ‘We have an abandoned concrete infrastructure that does not speak at all with its surroundings,’ said Álvaro García Resta, secretary of Urban Development. ‘The goal is to transform the three-story building into a multi-purpose development.’

Green space is vertically reintroduced to the city. The roof becomes a public terrace, its wild landscape of native flora doubling as a social condenser. ‘It won’t be a park made to contemplate,’ García Resta notes, ‘it will be a dynamic area, to stroll and explore.’ This emphasis on mobility and interaction positions OLA Palermo as an experiential connector, offering over 40,000 square feet of terraces, elevated paths, and an open-air brewery, accessible to both the public and private tenants.

ODA transforms a former parking structure in Buenos Aires into a mixed-use office and public space

Sustainability through Adaptive Reuse

ODA approached sustainability in Buenos Aires with both strategy and restraint. Rather than erase what existed, the architects preserve and reprogram, recycling 80% of the original structure into the new 160,000-square-foot development. That includes a 250-car garage, a mirrored glass skin that reflects the landscape, and office spaces with 360-degree views. The building leverages its location with easy highway access while rethinking what office space should look and feel like in the 21st century.

Demonstrated through the project is ODA’s ongoing interest in hybrid typologies — works that bring together private development with public benefit. The team behind the transformation includes BSD Investments, Coinsa, Inscape Landscape, and local executive architect Aisenson Studio. In Chen’s view, it’s an example of ‘a truly unique typology that will benefit the city and its citizens for decades to come.’

Design and Features

The project’s name, OLA Palermo, is a subtle nod to history. It honors the jockey Gigena, who tragically died while racing in 1912. A century later, the site bearing his name is being reshaped into a civic landmark. In reimagining a once-forgotten structure, ODA has created a gesture toward better, greener, and more inclusive urban development in Buenos Aires.

OLA Palermo connects two previously divided neighborhoods near El Rosedal park

the design integrates green paths that loop over the building and extend the public park

a mirrored glass facade creates organic curves and reflects the surrounding landscape

Conclusion

OLA Palermo is a pioneering project that showcases the potential of adaptive reuse in creating vibrant, sustainable, and community-driven urban spaces. By transforming a neglected parking structure into a thriving hub of activity, ODA has set a new standard for office design and urban development in Buenos Aires. As the city continues to grow

KWK Promes Gambit Office

Introduction to the Project

When Polish architecture studio KWK Promes was asked to design the new Gambit Office in Gliwice, it was presented with the familiar paradox of creating a showpiece on a shoestring. Rather than shy away from the challenge, the team turned it into a design prompt. The resulting project is a workspace defined by its sculptural facade comprising an aluminum, tubular stack.

To shape this unique structure, the team repurposes the very material its client distributes: industrial pipes. To keep costs down while making a visual statement, the architects proposed building a structure that resembled a stack of pipes. Thus, the design seeks to make practical use of the client’s own stock, sourced at wholesale prices, while doubling as a literal billboard — one that advertises Gambit’s trade to anyone passing by.

images © Juliusz SokoŁowski

Gambit Office Finds Form in Function

The team at KWK Promes site the Gambit Office along the site of a former rectangular production hall, surrounded by modest houses with pitched roofs and long outbuildings. This context helped shape the new structure. The building’s tripartite program — a warehouse, workshop, and office — each takes on a distinct volume. The sloping roof of the office wing reflects both the practical needs of pipe storage and the pitched context of the neighborhood.

If the shape of the office looks familiar, it may be because it unintentionally echoes Christo’s London Mastaba. The sloped roof came about by necessity: it reflects the optimal way to stack cylindrical pipes, which in turn set the angle of the roof pitch. Add to that the restrictions of the local zoning code, and the building’s sculptural silhouette emerges not from ego but from efficiency.

Inside the office, natural light is abundant. Ground-floor office spaces feature large windows with views onto a landscaped garden. Upstairs, skylights illuminate storage and auxiliary rooms where flexibility and wall space take precedence over views.

KWK Promes designs the Gambit Office in Polish to resemble a stack of industrial pipes

Design and Durability

Though KWK Promes’ Gambit Office is undeniably industrial, it’s surprisingly sensitive to its surroundings. From the street, it shows a confident urban front. From the residential district behind it, the fragmented roofline breaks up its mass, helping it blend into the scattershot neighborhood fabric. This duality, at once assertive and modest, is typical of the studio’s work.

At first, the facade was intended to be clad in Gambit’s pipes, which are designed for underground use. But when tests showed they oxidized under UV light, KWK Promes pivoted to raw aluminum sheeting — a low-cost, high-durability material the team had used in past projects like Unikato and Konieczny’s Ark. The aluminum will weather naturally into a soft, concrete-like patina, requiring minimal maintenance — an important consideration given the environmental cost of building operations.

the building blends into its residential surroundings while presenting a bold, street-facing front

Sustainability and Coexistence

Birds and pipes don’t always mix, but at the Gambit Office, coexistence won out over control. While the architects initially considered installing bird netting to prevent nesting in the pipe-like elements, they ultimately decided to welcome avian residents. The pipes at the building’s edges were capped to prevent whistling in the wind, but otherwise, nature was invited in.

Though the KWK Promes Gambit Office is surrounded by asphalt and truck bays, the architects carved out a bit of sky for the people inside. A rooftop terrace, tucked above the lowest section, offers employees a space for relaxing outdoors. It’s a small gesture, but one that speaks volumes about the studio’s commitment to designing even utilitarian spaces with a welcoming atmosphere.

the building’s form reflects local residential architecture with pitched roofs and simple volumes

natural light enters through windows and skylights, while a rooftop terrace offers employee respite

Conclusion

The KWK Promes Gambit Office stands as a testament to the power of innovative design in transforming challenges into opportunities. By repurposing industrial pipes and incorporating them into the building’s design, the architects not only created a unique and functional space but also showcased the client’s product in a creative