Interior Design Ideas, Tips & Inspiration

The visually captivating Aluminum House designed by UNIT Arkitektur AB is a modern extension to a traditional 20^th-century farmhouse located by Lake Gärdsken in Alingsås, Sweden. This area near the southern tip of the country is dotted with two-story houses with stone basements, although many have been completely rebuilt, enlarged, or renovated. While this was one of the few houses that had remained largely untouched, the owners finally decided to breathe new life into it and also add more space.

A small modern glass-box style add-on was chosen over a more traditional building to provide contrast between the new wing and original house.

As required by the city’s building standards, the extension needed to have window openings on its streetside façade, so aluminum sheets were laser-cut with a floral design that doubles as a trellis for growing vines. For increased longevity the aluminum was anodized to allow for added durability over the next century with minimal maintenance. This provides a striking contrast to the house’s masonry wall foundation.

A charming terrace with outdoor seating is directly connected to the extension, which contains a cozy living/dining area that is divided by an interior wall of simple built-in open bookshelves. The floor-to-ceiling minimalist wood bookcases frame a doorway that leads to a new corridor connecting to the two-story main house. The layout also features a new entrance, but the highlight is a clear, open view of the garden terrace from one end of the house to the other.

In keeping with Swedish design aesthetics, furnishings are kept minimal, floors are made of simple blond wood, and modular white cabinets are smartly tucked away along walls. With numerous glass doors and ample lighting, the aluminum extension becomes a dazzling light box at night.

[Via ArchDaily]

Posted by Sebastien D. at 26 November, 2010

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