A Timeworn Brownstone in Brooklyn Becomes a Growing Family’s Sanctuary

The site has the typical challenges of many urban lots in Ho Chi Minh city: abutted by tall neighboring houses, small developable area relative to the clients’ program, and compromised access to daylighting and natural ventilation. Due to the height restriction, the house was pushed 1 level below the ground to accommodate the large program. In an effort to solve as many issues as possible, we proposed a concrete column system hidden inside the north and south concrete wall that face the neighbors, acting as the primary structure for the house and freeing up the space in-between. These concrete walls provide privacy to the clients and their family, and open up the east and west facade for views and outdoor-indoor connection. Because the column system extends continuously from the basement to the roof, the concrete beams spanning in-between can be moved vertically without any structural concerns. This flexibility also meant total discretion to determine the elevations of the upper floors–which we intended to take advantage of. By convention, the program is stacked floor-by-floor to maximize the usable area of a small lot which could result in monotonous and isolated spaces. We wanted to do just the opposite: visually and spatially connecting the different parts of the house together by splitting the floor plates, and then cascading them to create a multi-story atrium. In this space, life unfolds naturally; once a family member steps out of the bedroom, he/she will be in an all-connected “room”, and in the company of another member, whether that person is on the other side of the atrium or 2 levels above. In addition to spatial articulation, this atrium brings daylighting down to the basement, and–working with the 2 sunken gardens which are naturally filled with cool air–aids the stack effect by letting the hot air rises to the top. The temperature of the lower floors, as a result, becomes more comfortable. From the outside, Cascading House looks solid as a rock that provides sturdy shelter. The interior, however, feels as porous as a sponge soaking up natural light and air, and brings family members closer together–the qualities that make this house a home.

The kitchen is the first place we tend to think about when we are planning for a home makeover. In the modern house, it is the kitchen that is increasingly becoming the heart and soul of the living area and the central social zone. This is exactly why we love the idea of adding that […]

The post Black Kitchen Appliances: Dark and Bold Additions for Every Kitchen appeared first on decoist.

White tile, concrete, and steel accents connect a contemporary home with the industrial heritage of its site.

A beautifully decorated party table has the power to be the focal point of your next fete. Do you keep it simple with one centerpiece? Do you cover it in portion-sized edibles that guests can grab and go? Is there such a thing as over-decorating? While the answer to these questions may ultimately come down […]

You’re reading How to Decorate a Table for a Party, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.