AMD House (2009) Project, Management and Construction Location Altos del Sol Gated Neighborhood, Ituzaingo, Buenos Aires, Argentina Total Area 205 m² Photo DOT Principal> Arq. Alejandro Amoedo Lead Designer> Arq. Alejandro Amoedo Project Manager> Arq. Alejandro Amoedo Collaborators> Valeria Bruno, Lucas D´Adamo Baumann, Verónica López Garrido. The shape of this house, located in a gated neighborhood to the west of Greater Buenos Aires, was inspired by a painting and its driving force was the coincidence of the lines dribbled by its owners long before getting to know each other. On a trial-and-error basis, it was an experimental project where we sought to get rid of the influences of the predominant images of current design and the main aim was to search for internal and external sensations, sustainability and re-using of left-over materials. This generates situations to be found almost constantly; the virtual relationship with the garden and its pond, with three levels, interacting with each other through the double-height glass at the different times of the day, together with the clouds, the sky and its different hues. The cross ventilation and the sun entering the room in winter are also significant. The functional layout finds a solution, in few meters, to the needs of a very large family. On the ground floor, the kitchen, the dining room and the sitting room are integrated so as to offer a spatial continuity that makes them flexible from a functional point of view and visually larger. The half-covered garage, located next to these rooms works as a complement to them, becoming a barbecue area that may be fully closed. The finishes are mainly those of the construction in apparent conditions: reinforced concrete, wood, aluminum and glass. The main construction system involves rigid frameworks, built by concrete and steel beams and columns, whose main function is to cover large areas with little material and to replace division walls by other items such as furniture, plants, panels, metal or wooden and glass sheets. Thus, the rooms are filled with natural light and are offered an industrial aspect inspired by the origin of Lofts in New York.

Located in Toronto’s Beaches district, 150_W addresses the challenges of maximizing southern exposure within an east-west oriented mid-lot while exploring opportunities for extended outdoor living spaces designed for the Canadian climate. The building’s plan and section is focused around a south-facing side-yard terrace creating an L-shaped cantilevered volume which helps shelter it from the winter winds while leaving it open to the warmth of the winter sun. This side terrace engages the site and home both spatially and environmentally, extending the interior living environment to a protected outdoor space for year-round use, while providing the framework for integrated passive design strategies. Architect: nkA Photography: Peter A. Sellar / www.photoklik.com

Philipp Stickel, http://neochic.de

A rearyard carport was created to allow the home to engage with the landscaping. The landscape had previously hidden behind a garage that was both dilapidated beyond functional use while also blocking the owner's view. Landscape Design by Cubic Yard Design

Crocodile Creative

ARX

(c) RADON photography / Norman Radron

S&G wohnbau GmbH

addition and complete interior and exterior renovation Contractor: Cottonwood Custom Builders

Binary House by Collaborative Designworks Benjamin Hill Photography

Photo by Jeff Demetriou

Photo: Casey Dunn The western facing rainscreen shields the building from the effects of the direct western sun. We used cementitious panels with integral color. The product is called Cembonit.

Photo: Jason Snyder © 2013 Houzz

Architecture by László Tóth, László Papp and Frigyes Schalling; Interior design by István Bényei; Photography by Zsolt Batár