Paraguayan architecture office Bauen has completed a house in the forests of Guaira, which cantilevers off three concrete walls to project over the site's steep and lush landscape.
Casa Himmel, or Cloud House, was designed for a Paraguayan couple to settle down in for their retirement.
Casa Himmel is situated on a remote mountain site
After identifying a steep and isolated site in the Guaira region, roughly 200 kilometres from the capital city Asunción, they enlisted local architects Bauen with the brief that the home should be as light on the landscape as possible.
"The clients found the ideal spot in a remote region, in which the main character would not be the architecture but the landscape itself," said Bauen's founder Aldo Cristaldo Kegler. "Keeping in mind these premises, 90 per cent of the house was already solved."
The building's steel structure cantilevers from three concrete walls
Three concrete walls are set into the slope, creating a platform from which steel-and-glass structure cantilevers.
Because of the difficult access to the site, Bauen chose to use shorter steel sections that would be easier to transport.
A portion of the home projects dramatically towards the landscape
According to the architects, the primary structure was manufactured in 60 days, and assembled in only seven using bolted connections.
"The structural spans become the windows and are simply closed with glass," explained Kegler. "Every square metre of the project allows the striking surrounding view to pass through."
Large windows are fitted between the steel elements
Roughly cross-shaped in plan, the interior living spaces are delineated by only a few walls.
Running perpendicular to the slope, the home's open-concept kitchen, living and dining room welcome visitors as soon as they enter through the front door.
On either side of this volume are the private areas: the owner's living quarters to one side, and a home gym on the other.
At the highest point of the building, a covered terrace looks out over the mountainous landscape beyond. An exterior staircase leads up to a secondary roof terrace that is open to the elements.
The home has minimal interiors
Bauen's interiors were completed in a minimal palette of reflective white surfaces, with little furniture or other elements to distract from the views.
"Having the advantage of a 360-degree view of the mountain range, designing the house was not an arduous task," Kegler said.
An interactive installation examining the influence of shadows on human perception and a pavilion designed for the Burning Man festival are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Monash University.
Also featured is a platform designed to help older Chinese people understand the developing language of China's younger generation and a research project that explores how urban environments can become breastfeeding-friendly.
Monash University
School:Monash Design, Monash University Courses: Bachelor of Design/Master of Design
Tutor: Gene Bawden, Head of Design
School statement:
"Positioned at the intersection of several creative disciplines, our Master of Design provides you with a platform to explore advanced principles in contemporary design that will enhance your design practice and provide you with a platform to be an innovative leader.
"This project-based and studio-focused course offers you the opportunity to extend your learning within a specialisation area of interaction design, multimedia design, or collaborative design.
"At Monash, we create the designers the world needs – inventive, purposeful, and visionary. With specialisations in Communication Design, Industrial Design, Spatial Design, or Collaborative Design, our Bachelor of Design degree responds to the increasing global demand for designers who can respond to the complexity of contemporary global society, be inclusive and ethical and contribute sustainably. Our most complex challenges are a call to action for all designers."
The Embrace by Natkanok Onratn
"The Embrace is a temporary pavilion designed for the Burning Man festival at Black Rock City, Nevada. The pavilion responds to the loss of opportunities for social interaction due to physical distancing requirements in the current global pandemic. It creates a constantly changing spatial atmosphere that embraces its occupants.
"Rays of sunlight are filtered through the structure resulting in a variation of lighting patterns that enrich experiences of its interior.
"People can inhabit the complex multi-levelled structure in various ways. By climbing and exploring, individuals can reach different levels of the structure that afford views out across the desert landscape."
Student: Natkanok Onratn Course: Bachelor of Design/Spatial Design Tutor: Peter Charles
The ÅTERSTÄLL Process by Vincent Chu
"The ÅTERSTÄLL process confronts the waste and environmental impact associated with discarded and broken furniture. Customers have their broken furniture disassembled and placed into the ÅTERSTÄLL process.
"The piece is 3D scanned, from which the artificial intelligence can identify the furniture type, mounting points, and required loads to be supported.
"The new geometry is optimised to minimise material usage, before being 3D printed for the customer, ready for re-assembly."
Student: Vincent Chu Course: Bachelor of Design/Industrial Design Tutor: Dr Rowan Page
POC (Perception, Observation, Connection) by Oly King
"POC is an interactive installation exploring the influence that shadows have on our perception. POC allows people to pause, observe and reflect. It aims to inspire a greater connection to and appreciation for our surroundings.
"The installation is made up of 27 hand-made hybrid letter sculptures, projecting three different composite shadows from three separate angles.
"The viewer is given a torch to explore the darkroom and installation. The projected shadows transform in a state of constant flux as the light navigates the room. Taking the time to observe the present allows us to connect with not only the physical world but also our own wellbeing."
Student: Oly King Course: Bachelor of Design/Communication Design Tutors: Rick Milovanovic and Tristan Ceddia
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea — Title Sequence by Tao He
"This is a sequence for a TV mini-series based on the original science fiction novel by nineteenth-century author Jules Verne.
"The animation brings a new sense of drama to a story over 100 years old. Tools used include Cinema 4D, After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop."
Student: Tao He Course: Master of Design/Multimedia Design Tutor: Jeff Janet
GreyZone: Experience Exhibition by Shangyu Huang, Chongbo Gao, Wanting Qiao and Shen Wang
"GreyZone is a digitally-enabled interactive exhibition that explores the world of a private detective. It allows its audience to understand detective processes by guiding them to observe and explore the detective world in a more detailed way.
"It also enables them to recognise the motive for committing a crime; and explore human emotions such as friendship, family interactions, and personal obsessions.
"The exhibition space — both real and virtual — connects different audience members through a combination of art installation, spatial experiences, electronic screens and AR/VR exploration."
Student: Shangyu Huang, Chongbo Gao, Wanting Qiao and Shen Wang Course: Master of Design (Collaborative Design/Multimedia Design) Tutor: Jeff Janet
Xinyan, Communicate without Barriers by Lan An
"Xinyan is an education platform that aims to help older Chinese people understand the slang and emerging language of China's younger generation.
"The project is intended to be a game located in China's most popular communication platform, WeChat. The game operates as a series of quizzes to help users understand and memorize the meanings of new words and phrases, but in a fun and entertaining way."
Student: Lan An Course: Master of Design/Interaction Design Tutor: Dr InDae Hwang
Getting Onboard by Lisa Fu
"When we think about the future of transport, part of its challenge includes how we can best support people to transition to more sustainable travel behaviour and practices.
"As such, the design of dedicated onboard bicycle zones for metropolitan trains in Melbourne (Australia) represents a viable, sustainable alternative to car-based transport, as well as a gateway to more people engaging with micro-mobility travel options.
"Passenger pain points, travel patterns and opportunities uncovered through design research and practice are embodied in the design of the rail interior space, wayfinding, and digital passenger information display systems."
Student: Lisa Fu Course: PhD Design Tutors: Dr Robbie Napper and associate professor Selby Coxon/Mobility Design Lab
An Intersectional, Gender-Sensitive Design Framework for Planning a Breastfeeding-Friendly Urban Environment by Enira Arvanda
"Women who breastfeed often experience complexities and social stigma in public spaces that impact their decision to continue with breastfeeding.
"This research seeks to explore the potential of the urban environment as a breastfeeding-friendly setting. It will investigate environmental features and characteristics that encourage and support women to breastfeed in public spaces.
"This study aims to develop an intersectional, gender-sensitive design framework for planning a breastfeeding-friendly environment that could be implemented by urban designers, city planners, policymakers and other stakeholders."
Student: Enira Arvanda Course: PhD (Design) Tutors: Associate professor Nicole Kalms and dr Jess Berry/XYX Lab
Emergency Department Futures by Troy McGee
"What will the Emergency Department waiting room of the future look like in 2030? 2050? 2100? How will we experience urgent healthcare?
"How will it be delivered. How might we access it? What are the dilemmas, challenges, and opportunities that are afforded by the future?
"This PhD research project explores the Emergency Department waiting room of the future. View the full project at emergencydepartmentfutures.com."
Student: Troy McGee Course: PhD (Design) Tutors: Professor Daphne Flynn, associate professor Selby Coxon, dr Rowan Page and dr Keith Joe/Design Health Collab
Making Space by Dion Tuckwell
"This research project explores how a co-design approach might activate the hidden affordances of collaborative learning environments. So-called 'Innovative Learning Environments' (ILEs) suggest exciting new opportunities for a wider range of pedagogies than traditional classrooms, however, teachers are often disengaged, and ill-equipped, to make meaningful use of these spaces.
"Making Space inquired into how teachers might co-create shared strategies by developing participatory action research (PAR) and a co-design approach to collaborative design research.
"Teacher-participants successfully created a community of learning about space and effective integration of ILEs and pedagogy."
Student: Dion Tuckwell Course: PhD (Design) Tutors: Professor Lisa Grocott/Emerging Technologies Research Lab and dr Kate Coleman/The University of Melbourne
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Monash University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
Dezeen Showroom: furniture brand Leolux LX has launched a rounded armchair designed by German designer Martin Ballendat "for relaxing and lounging".
Developed specifically for the contract market the armchair is designed to be a contemporary addition to offices and public spaces, but could also fit in a modern home.
Martin Ballendat designed the LXR18 armchair for Leolux LX
"LXR18 is an armchair for relaxing and lounging," said Martin Ballendat.
"Perfect for a resting area in an office or public space. But it also fits perfectly in a residential environment."
It has a distinctive, rounded form
The chair is formed of two rounded sections that connect to form a distinctive round shape. The seat and back sections are defined by customisable piping.
As with all of Leolux LX's furniture, the LXR18 is made to order and can be upholstered in a range of leather and fabrics.
A small writing table can be attached to the armchair
The armchair is also available with a small writing table topped with oak that can swivel over the seat.
About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
Dezeen promotion: Swedish interior designer Tekla Evelina Severin has collaborated with Italian kitchen manufacturer Very Simple Kitchen on two bright kitchen models, which were presented at Milan design week.
Combining bold colours and geometric forms with simple but creative details, the Very Simple Teklan Edition modules marry Italian tradition with Swedish colouring.
Severin and Very Simple Kitchen used marble in striking colours for the kitchen modules
"Very Simple Teklan Edition is inspired by the exchange of cultures starting with a profound reflection on the history of Italian and Swedish architecture," said Very Simple Kitchen.
"The result is two entirely handcrafted and sustainable made-in-Italy products."
The material was recovered from marble waste
For the first module, Severin and Very Simple Kitchen used black and white marble for the kitchen countertop, which runs along the length of the kitchen units and partway up the wall.
In a bid to make the project more sustainable, the marble from both modules was recovered from waste before being restored by skilled artisans to give it a renewed appearance.
Despite being sourced from waste, the marble appears as new
"The starting points for both kitchen models are the marble worktops, the first characterised by a striking combination of white Carrara and black Marquina marble, arranged vertically to create a uniquely striped effect recalling Romanesque and Gothic architecture," the brand explained.
"Despite its second life, the material retains its full naturalness and all the characteristics that derive from it, including the continuous maturation of the product and the ability to restore it like new."
A mustard yellow finish contrasts the monochrome countertop
To balance the marble countertop's traditional materials and colours, Severin chose a mustard yellow finish more commonly found in contemporary Swedish design. According to the designers, this creates "a warm and welcoming environment".
This same shade of yellow has been applied to a shelf above the modules which has rounded edges, giving the design a softer feel.
The kitchen modules also come in a red and pink colourway
The second kitchen model combines a subtle Portugal pink hue with Levanto red marble in a nod to Italian artistic traditions.
The same familiar colour blocking stripes found on the first module make up the marble top.
Several drawers underneath the marble countertop are specifically dedicated to storing pots and pans, which users can reach easily when using the oven.
Shelving and storage space has been added above and below the units
"The result is a timeless collection vibrant in both concept and colour," explained the brand.
"With simplicity, attention to detail and creative soul, Very Simple Kitchen finds a perfect match with Tekla's personality, establishing an unprecedented and functional partnership between Italy and Sweden."
To read more about the Very Simple Teklan Edition, visit Very Simple Kitchen's website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Very Simple as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
Dezeen Showroom: furniture brand Cassina has reissued and adapted a chair designed by Danish architect Bodil Kjær in the 1950s that provides the "perfect position to unwind".
Oringinally launched in 1955, the High Back Chair was designed for young people to relax after a day spent using uncomfortable office furniture.
Cassina has reissued the armless chair (above) along with a version with arms (top)
Cassina has reissued Kjær's original armless chair along with an adapted version with arms that is more suited to reading.
"Today, Cassina brings this armchair back to life with the same invitation to relax, together with a new version with armrests that favours a comfortable posture for reading," the brand said.
The High Backed chair is available in a range of colours and finishes
Both versions of the chair have solid wooden legs that can be rendered in American walnut and natural or black stained oak.
The soft padded seat and backrest are made from recycled polyurethane foam and can be covered in leather or textiles in a range of colours and finishes.
About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
