Архитектура

Big doesn’t always mean better. Small City Houses wants to prove that you don’t need many square meters to create wonderful spaces. The book is a collection of small homes that symbolize contemporary cultural coded values: compactness, efficiency and minimalism.

This book brings together a selection of ideas for urban dwellings which respond to the scarcity of construction space in a particularly way. From homes on miniscule and problematic plots of land to small planned urban refuges, the projects included here prove that the lack of square metres actually promotes creativity, equally in respect to that of the architects as of the occupants. In these homes, the finest details are taken care of, each and every corner systematically put to good use, helping to create a feeling of spaciousness and wellbeing.

These houses are built to make the best use of renewable resources and designed to guarantee environmental protection and the health of the community. Ecological housing has in fact ceased to be the choice of just a few radical ecologists to become one of the fastest developing interests in modern society.
Along with the people’s interest, that of the architects dedicated to designing this type of housing has also grown, with aesthetics and comfort no way incom­patible with the principles of sustainable development. Research into alternative materials and new ways to apply traditional prime materials have paved the way to create a whole new range of superb designs.

The emergence of a greater awareness of the environment, the application of new technical knowledge, and the use of traditional construction methods such as orientation towards the sun, are motivating a growing number of owners to have ecological houses built on a small scale.

These small eco-houses are the first step towards a culture of sustainable and responsible construction, based on the use of natural materials which save energy and contain environmental contamination, but also on the creation of small oases that offer a high quality of life.

There are numerous examples of how pleasant ecological houses can be from an architectural viewpoint, and the variety of ecological materials now available allows architects to select their own approach.

This books presents a selection of small eco-houses: considered architectural anomalies for some time, these houses have laid the foundation for tomorrow's construction. Lots of color photos.

Diminutive rooms, grand possibilities. Small Homes, Grand Living shows how to make use of a limited space and turn a small apartment into a design marvel.

Small Homes, Grand Living’s assortment of projects and homes pays homage to the iconic innovation within modest living areas and shows the creative usage of space in continually expanding urban areas.  As more people across the globe move into cities, living space becomes a precious commodity. Designers, architects, and innovative inhabitants seek new ways of creating a home that is just as comfortable as it is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Where does one stow clothing, bicycles, suitcases, or bed linens? Where is the perfect place for the desk, bed, or couch? How does one use less square meters more effectively?

Compact flats perched atop the roofs on high-rise buildings. A one-bedroom apartment that houses a family of four. Stairs that cleverly transform into wardrobes. A collection of cozy cocoons shows the personality and innovation of those living inside: a home is both shelter and a welcoming reflection of the residents. Small Homes, Grand Living offers real interior design solutions directly from the occupants' imaginations.

In the world today, the homogeny of most services and the low-cost tag applied to nearly any entity ends up creating a self-defensive reaction in those still searching for something specific, the particular in the regular. It therefore means finding that distinctiveness which makes the experience felt in the hotels presented here fly far beyond a simple classification by number, area or volume. The largest hotel project presented in this volume reaches no higher than 104 guestrooms.

In the world today, the homogeny of most services and the low-cost tag applied to nearly any entity ends up creating a self-defensive reaction in those still searching for something specific, the particular in the regular. It therefore means finding that distinctiveness which makes the experience felt in the hotels presented here fly far beyond a simple classification by number, area or volume. The largest hotel project presented in this volume reaches no higher than 104 guestrooms.

Inspired solutions to a reality of housing today

 * Case studies plus photos and floor plans
* Expert commentary by the designing architects

 The architects featured in Small Houses have reinvented the small house, successfully creating the illusion of space where, in reality, there is very little. With their remarkable sleight-of hand, space and light are maximized, superfluous elements are minimized. These invaluable case studies, illustrated with full-color photographs and floor plans, are expertly explained by the architects who created them. For any architect or design professional working with the realities of small homes, this book is a treasure trove of ideas and information.

Due to their proportions - often related to the budget - minimal houses tend to use a basic, light structural system, generally based on wooden frames or thin metal sections, which also make the building easy to construct on isolated or inaccessible plots of land. These homes can hide ingenious elements inside, such as folding tables, hanging beds, translucent panels, and highly efficient storage areas. This collection of 25 projects includes practical, contemporary examples that demonstrate the countless architectural solutions available for houses with minimal space.

Simplifies living as its very best is what’s offered in these rural getaways. By applying first-rate modern design technology and advances to an age-old concept, the award-winning architects featured herein have reinvented the small country house. For their exemplary maximisation of space and light and masterful paring down, while also ensuring the utmost in comfort, these houses are invaluable case studies for any professional (or aspiring professional) in the fields of Architecture and Design. IIIustrated with full-colour glossy photographs and floor plans, each project is expect explained by the best authority available: the designing architects themselves.

If cabins make you think of lumberjacks…of Camp Grenada, circa 1974… of Deliverance…then you need a copy of Small Wood Cabins. Paul Bunyan would have been proud to call any of these twenty-five magnificent cabins home. Each cabin has been designed to maximize limited living space and create a warm, appealing place for living, relaxing, and entertaining. Full color photographs, ground plans and sketches, and in-depth technical commentaries by the architects themselves render these cabins truly inviting for design professionals everywhere.

A variety of beautifully-illustrated case studies of small interiors ingeniously designed to maximize their limited space make this an indispensable sourcebook. Featuring thorough technical information -ground plans, materials, specifications on furniture and fixtures- this book provides ideas on every aspect of the design process from the ground up. These homes are streamlined inside and out, with dozens of never-before-seen solutions in storage and an array of innovative, multi-purpose design solutions for furniture and fixtures in homes where space is a limited commodity.

In Small Kitchens, ideas and inspirations for contemporary kitchen design are offered, which are representative of a limited use area for today’s residential requirements. Recognized designers and architects as well as renowned manufacturers show that it is entirely possible to unite functionality and aesthetics and to transfer these concepts to a small use area.