Interiors

As is often the case with residential renovations, architects are required to think through a myriad of issues – heritage street frontages, assimilation of the new ‘box’ hopefully not merely plonked on the back, addressing how to integrate the existing space and the new, making the new build sit in sharp contrast to the existing surrounds or to have it sit in harmony.

Located in the quiet and tree-lined Brugmann area of Brussels, stands a six-story townhouse from the 1920s. The entire heritage collected through decades etched a number of styles and materials. That is until two years ago when creative Raphaël Van Gend bought the 600m² space and renovated the impressive residence towards a fresh direction.

Talented Finnish interior designer studioJoanna Laajisto recently redesigned one of the world’s leading design and innovation consultancies Fjord Helsinki. With a very clean and simple Scandinavian style, the 1000 m2 studio was furnished with natural materials of high quality.

Family homes are just that. Homes filled with families. And families start small and get bigger, often with alarming rapidity. Houses or apartments that once suited a couple no longer suit one with a baby. A house that once sufficed to bring up toddlers is dangerously close quarters for a family full of teenagers.

The city of Salzburg, in Austria, has the honour of being crowned with UNESCO’s World Heritage status. Recognising the significant importance of the city’s architecture, among other achievements, as an important symbol of tradition. A clear conundrum is clearly set for any architect that vies to create an original building.

A little village in the hinterland of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula called Red Hill may not squeal design hotspot, but a few recent additions to the region’s accommodation options may be changing that idea. Last year there was Jackalope, Carr Design’s slick, moody 46-room boutique hotel nestled beside a vineyard.

Rob Mills is no stranger to opulent, visually rich interiors. Pretty fitting then that his own family home in Armadale in Melbourne is a likely contender for his studio’s most magnificent, artistic, and opulent to date. Collecting a suite of architecture and interiors awards last year—including gold at both the San Francisco and New York editions of Driven x Design—Armadale Residence might be Rob Mills’ magnum opus:..