Villa Mecklin is a good example of the house design capabilities of the architects. The buildings were built at a leisurely pace by Huttunen–Lipasti–Pakkanen Architects, located in Velkua, Naantali, Finland.. Villa Mecklin looks like the perfect weekend retreat. A stylish, minimalist interior being all you need to really detach yourself from work. The main standout feature is the front dock or terrace which is big enough for a camp out, its sheltered terrace extending over the summit of the rock. One arrives from the harbour to the entrance of the main building sheltered by the trees. After a descent of a couple of steps, the expansive landscape of the western shore, with its long vistas, unfolds. A fireplace has been sunk into the centre of the large terrace, accessed via a hatch in the decking. When the fire is not lit and the hatch is in place, it is possible to use the whole big terrace as, for example, a dance floor. In connection with the shoreline sauna, there is also a stove-heated cabin for guests. (more…)
Big Rock is a 140 acre property two hours drive from Sydney and Canberra. This project was designed by Edward Szewczyk, an Australian architect born in Poland. The small, intricately detailed, steel house is an place where owners and their friends escape from the city. One of the cool house’s features is a large swimming pools. It’s located right near the lightly suspended steel pavilion and presents itself as a solid sculptural object.
It is the great place to appreciate the nature around. Located on the dam below the pool and on the edge between the water and the forest is the jetty: a steel structure essentially made of two horizontal planes, deck and roof. The jetty is suspended above the water and the gazebo is suspended towards the trees. Jetty or gazebo is such a point taking strength from its surrounds. (more…)