Salvaged Ring Coffee House

Salvaged Ring - Coffee Shop - Nha Trang, Vietnam

Olá,

I was reading Dezeen.com the other day when I came across an article about a coffee house in
Nha Trang, Vietnam that was made of scrap wood.

As you all already know, I am a staunch advocate of eco-friendly building.  I immediately fell in love with this structure.

The Salvaged Ring is a coffee shop located along side a highway in the countryside of Nha Trang, Vietnam.  After years working, the owner, which is a local carpenter, had a big stock of scrap wood that he wished to have another life. a21studio brought these pieces of wood came to life.

Upper Level of Coffee House

The timber skeleton supports a thatched roof that spirals down from an entrance near the road to cover a lower level with seating scattered about a central garden.

Stairs leading to lower level

Lower Level and Central Garden

"The advantages of using the salvaged wood are that it saves the owner money and it gives the wood another life instead of being left useless in the warehouse." 

- Toan Nghiem, Architect

I immediately fell in love with this Coffee House, because it took me back to my time in Thailand.  It would be great to sit there having a great cup of coffee, enjoying being close to the river and having a great view of the garden.

View of Wood Frames

Traditional carpentry techniques including mortise and tenon joints were used to connect the variously sized sections of wood needed to build the frame, meaning no additional timber had to be sourced.

The palette of natural materials also included coconut leaves, used to form the thatched roof, and stones that were used to make low walls next to the entrance.

Street View - Coffee House

It is great seeing that recycling of materials to be used in construction is taking off all over the world!

- Eddy

Prado House

PRADO HOUSE

Olá!

This morning while reading my daily newsletter from ArchDaily, I came across an article on PRADO HOUSE.

What immediately drew me to this house is the use of concrete slabs in its construction.  For some reason, I am very attracted to homes built of concrete.  I always get the feeling that these homes would be nice and cool inside, especially when it is very hot outside.

PRADO HOUSE  - FAÇADE

Prado House is located in Zapopan, JAL, Mexico and the architects are CoA arquitectura and Estudio Macias Peredo.

The guideline of the architectural Project is established by the walls, a system of independent vertical elements that support structure and create a vestibule for spaces that compose a route in which exterior and interior relationships are consolidated.

PRADO HOUSE - EXTERIOR

The geometry generated allows the gradual unveiling of different views, creating different atmospheres around the architectural heat of the project: the central courtyard, which feeds inner spaces of the house.

PRADO HOUSE - INTERIOR

Crystal and ironwork façade closures underline the independence of wall components by means of introducing a different material palette.  The slabs on floor, mezzanine and terrace tuck into the wall coat and dress a different tone to create a contrast.

PRADO HOUSE - MEXICAN GARDEN

The house, separated from any restrictions imposed by the terrain, can be encircled almost entirely.  It welcomes the wind, speaks to us about patios and mexican gardens in its own words, from its own materials, its own creations, its own colors.

In other words, I LOVE THIS HOUSE!

- Eddy

Solar Powered Flat Pack Shelters

Ola,

As you all are well aware, one of my goals as an interior designer is to infuse
GREEN BUILDING in all of my future projects.  On a personal level, I love dwellings that have a small footprint and are self sufficient.

I came across an article on INHABITAT.COM entitled, IKEA Unveils Solar-Powered Flat Pack Shelters for Easily Deployable Emergency Housing.

IKEA's Flat Pack Solar Powered Shelter

IKEA has taken their flat pack technology and is now using it to create comfortable, solar powered shelters for emergency housing for natural disaster victims and refugees.

The solar powered flat pack shelters where developed in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees(UNCHR) and can be quickly setup for those in need.

Before IKEA's collaboration with the UNCHR, the UNCHR could only provide tents are covered mass-shelters for the overwhelming influx of refugees into other countries.

IKEA's Flat Pack Shelter can be assembled in 4 hours

Here are some great things about these new shelters being provided by the UNCHR:

• They arrive flat packed, facilitating transport of the lightweight shelters all at one time

• They are 188 sq.ft. (17.47 sq. metres) and can be built in four hours

• They have enough room for five people to sleep comfortably

• They are twice the size of the official refugee tent

• They have solar paneled roofing, allowing inhabitants to generate their own electricity, removing the need for candles or kerosene lamps 

• They provide privacy, comfort, and the dignity of having their own place

• The roof also helps to deflect solar reflection by 70%, keeping the interior cool during the day and warmer at night.

These new shelters will be used in Ethiopia next month.

It warms my heart to know that natural disaster victims and refugees of conflict will have not only a warm, dry place to sleep, but also a place they can call their own while they start to rebuild their lives.

AWESOME!!!