Natural materials

Introduction The Born district of Barcelona was the seat of a prosperous artisan economy during medieval times and still preserves traces of that in the names of its streets: Assaonadors, Argenteria, Cotoners, Carders, Flassaders were the trades carried out by the artisans of this neighborhood. The urban fabric in this part of the city is mainly made up of multi-family dwellings between party walls. The structure is made of load-bearing ceramic work walls and ceramic vaulted ceilings with wooden beams. The width of the floors was determined by the length of the wooden beams then available on the market, generally about four meters. The apartment that is the object of the renovation is located in a building from the mid-1800s and was inhabi... More

From SinglePoint Design Build: “This project consisted of a full exterior removal and replacement of the siding, windows, doors, and roof.  In so, the Architects OXB Studio, re-imagined the look of the home by changing the siding materials, creating privacy for the clients at their front entry, and making the expansive decks more usable.  We added some beautiful cedar ceiling cladding on the interior as well as a full home solar with Tesla batteries. The Shou-sugi-ban siding is our favorite detail. While the modern details were extremely important, waterproofing this home was of upmost importance given its proximity to the San Francisco Bay and the winds in this location.  We used top of the line waterproofing professi... More

The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) makes a daily impact on hunger by distributing nutritious food across Chicago and Cook County. Their new volunteer orientation space informs visitors of the incredible work employees perform each day and inspires the community to support their mission. Office branding reminds employees to cultivate and celebrate progress daily. More

Revantage provides real estate services to one of the world’s largest investment firms. Their mission, to provide flexible and rewarding environments for their luxury apartment clients to thrive in, inspires the approach for the environmental branding throughout the space. More

This home combines the character and heritage of the past with the innovation and sustainability needs of the future. The owners of this North Vancouver Craftsman bungalow, originally built in 1912, envisioned a home that reflected the history of its location and of their 20 years living there as a familywhile being functionally and visually inspiring and highly energy efficient.   Ema Peter Over three years, the house was transformed by our team into a modern, energy efficient home that retains its history and character. This was the first Passive House Plus certified home in the lower mainland of BC, a standard that requires ultra-low energy consumption with up to 90 percent reduction and is a step further than the internationa... More

This project was a single-family new construction build in Avon, Minnesota, featuring Suyaki unbrushed yakisugi (shou sugi ban) exterior charred siding. It was designed as a hobby project by Colin Koop of architectural juggernaut SOM as a family home for his parents. Design parameters   https://nakamotoforestry.com/portfolio/avon-house-avon-mn-suyaki/   Product: Suyaki 1×6 select grade shiplapPrefinish: BlackApplication: Residential – ExteriorSF: 6280SFDesigner: Colin KoopBuilder: Schoenberg ConstructionDate: September 2017Location: Avon, MN More

Koh Kong, a peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand and part of Cambodia’s 450-kilometre coastline, features a number of closely interrelated ecosystems. Expansive mangrove forests carve out small islands, waterways, and ecologically diverse estuaries along the coast, creating a vital and fragile ecosystem which local communities rely on for their livelihoods. In recent decades, economic development in the country, characterized by widespread natural resource exploitation, has devastated Koh Kong’s wildlife and has marginalized local communities from the forests, fisheries, and arable areas which they need to live and thrive. Koh Kong Mangrove Lodging provides an alternative model of development, one that is rooted in the preservatio... More

This minimalist home was originally designed for a retiring couple moving from an urban lifestyle to live out their golden years in solitude. After the project was abandoned, we recreated the design concept to adapt to more of an urban or suburban context to create a literal oasis for anyone seeking refuge from rugged external conditions. More

We were inspired to create our first authentic living space to reflect our client’s desire to live and work in his painting studio. The design emulates his painting style and personal lifestyle by using natural materials, minimalist values, and bridging social context within a live-work environment. The overall form takes on an ethos of monumental simplicity which inherently captures panoramic lake views from the steep mountainside terrain. ​ As part of authentic living, this studio is entirely devoid of added paints or stains. The exterior walls are made of exposed rammed earth construction set atop a giant plinth of exposed concrete. The interior features natural plywood finishes and exposed structural beams. We focused all of our... More

Rezi Hotel & Studios is located in a beautiful coastal area in Parga. The project is about the creation of 6 new rooms in the attic of the existing hotel. The main goal was the harmonization among the architectural design, functionality and aesthetic. Serving the principles of modern design combined with the customers’ satisfaction, a minimal place was created in a boho-chic frame with emphasis on details.   The natural materials together with the earthy and warm grey and beige shades, reflect harmonically the blue of the sea and the sky creating the setting for this amazing internal place.   The white tones selected for the walls and the ceilings make the place seem more spacious and brighter. The clear, sharp roof... More