Casa Decor, the discovery that shaped a house

The owners of this house were very clear when they visited Casa Decor 2020: they wanted a kitchen with the White Macaubas quartzite by Sensa and they wanted their home to be designed by Gärna Studio.

The couple, with 3 independent children, needed an open plan home with spaces that flow and communicate with each other. A cosy house to welcome their children and grandchildren and spend time together. These were their requests to Laura and Enrique of Gärna Studio, an architecture and interior design studio that the couple already knew well thanks to other projects that the architects and designers had carried out.

The project had two clear objectives: to create versatile spaces that could be used at different times depending on the needs; and to achieve a sense of unity in its design, with little variation in terms of elements and textures. To achieve this, Laura and Enrique looked for materials that were easy to fit and that would serve as a guiding thread between the different spaces. “We also played with different ceiling heights and lighting to achieve a greater sense of spaciousness and functionality, creating a welcoming atmosphere”, says Enrique García, architect and project manager at Gärna Studio.

This eight storey building, whose façade stands out in the landscape, is situated in the residential neighbourhood Aguas Férreas, in Lugo (Spain). For its design, “one of the basic premises of the developer, Dmanán Viviendas, was to design and execute an environmentally friendly building with an appearance that would stand out from its surroundings”, explains architect Patricia Montes from Aringal SL, the architecture and engineering firm in charge of the project. Therefore, from the very beginning of the project, Aringal’s work focused on combining the client’s objectives with the philosophy of its own company, which is very committed to incorporating sustainability into its projects.

The majestic appearance of the façades and their clean design gives this building a unique character. “The straight forms, terraces, window openings and materials used are its unique features”, says architect Patricia Montes. Two materials were combined in the façades of this building, creating a play of textures: Dekton Edora, a light grey shade with a minimalist look, and Corten steel.

In dialogue with the surrounding traditional architecture, rich in masonry façades, the luxury residential building ‘8X On The Park’ literally shines with its glass façade and the off-white colour of Dekton Halo. Located in the northeast of Emery Barnes Park in Vancouver, it is a symbol of the city’s luxurious and exclusive lifestyle. Not only for its design, by GBL Architects, but also for its interior design and complete facilities.

According to Joey Stevens, from GBL Architects, ‘Dekton was chosen primarily to establish a contextual dialogue with the adjoining building, using the heritage masonry, but giving it a more contemporary expression. Durability was also an important factor for the developer’. Thus, the grey shades on off-white Dekton Halo provide a soft and shiny tone like the reflection of a crystal. It is the perfect counterpart to the protruding windows, glass balconies and ‘X’ shapes that give the building its name.

Versatility as a home philosophy 

A house for everyday life with children, spaces for meeting friends and a vision for the present and the future in every corner. These were the requests of the owners of this house located in Madrid, whom Laura and Enrique of Gärna Studio accompanied throughout the entire process, from the purchase itself, in which they took into account the architectural potential of the house, to the final creative touch.

The structure of this large house fitted perfectly with the classic contemporary style that the family was looking for, which aimed to create versatile spaces with a vision for the future.

“We try to create homes and spaces that can easily evolve, with well-designed and timeless elements that serve as a base on which to add decorations that adapt over time: wallpaper, cushions or a lamp”, says Enrique García, project manager and architect at Gärna Studio.

The first floor is very spacious and bright and features interconnecting rooms. This area is devoted to daytime living and includes the living-dining room, which has a small bookcase on one of its sides and a fireplace clad in natural stone that helps to create a cosy and homely atmosphere.

Entente cordiale

The owners of this house, located in a privileged position near Madrid, had been living in the USA for many years. When they came back to Spain, they were very clear about three things: they wanted a house in which black tones stood out, both in the architecture and interior design, that reflected the North American volumetric codes and that was very well interconnected. They needed the architect, interior designer and landscape designer teamed up to give meaning to the project. “As they had been living abroad for a long time, they didn’t know exactly who would be able to meet their demands, so they decided to launch a tender”, explains interior designer Raúl Martins.

“Although we were given total freedom to propose different solutions, they were strict about the colour. Obviously, such requirements can make a project more complicated, but also much more interesting. I believe that an architect or interior designer has a duty to be empathetic with the customers and to look for the best solutions to meet their needs”. In the search for these solutions, the collaboration with architect Francisco Noguera was key. The design of the space was complicated at an architectural level, as it was necessary to minimise the impact of a black exterior in a sunny city like Madrid, but also at a volumetric level.

“It was very enriching working with Francisco. I love the architects’ view of scale, the importance they give to finishes and their concern for the interaction between materials”, says Raúl. This was especially important in the common areas of the house, where the architecture is sometimes more similar to that of a hotel, with ceilings of up to 5 metres. “The works were difficult. It took two and a half years to complete. But the result was better than the owners expectations. They were delighted with the integration between the shape of the building itself, which has a surface area of 2,200 m2, the interior design and the landscaping work by Fernando Pozuelo, which gave context to the whole”.

The initial project for this development built by the Palomera company in Santander (Spain) envisaged that part of the façade would be made of concrete. However, after considering various possibilities, the architects decided on a finish with similar characteristics in terms of aesthetics, but with greater resistance to temperature changes and unfavourable weather conditions, such as Dekton Protek Slim. The large dimensions of this material – with formats up to 3,200 x 1,440 mm – made it possible to create an image very similar to the one they had in mind.

The position of the floors of these six family houses varies on the site in order to better integrate the complex into the landscape and ensure perfect natural lighting, which reveals the exterior cladding. According to Be2Arq Arquitectura y Diseño, ‘working with a material that is virtually unchanged, more durable and requires little maintenance was a very rewarding experience.’

‘Our architect, Michael Cardinale, wanted to reinterpret the style of typical European villas in a contemporary manner and planned to use marble as the main feature. However, he quickly dismissed this idea. The owners of the Izvor House are a big family with a very active social life and needed a much stronger material’, Kylie Petrou, Project Manager at Axon Homes, explains.

They found the right product in Cosentino’s materials: an extremely compact quartzite with unique stain resistant protection and a classic pattern. Sensa White Macaubas also fitted perfectly with the other finishes they wanted to use, such as walnut veneer, terracotta accessories and Japanese tiles in olive green or Mediterranean blue.

The former Lubro bread factory has a rich history in Utrecht. For years bread, bisquits and cookies were baked in the large bakery in the middle of the city. When the factory closed its doors in 2004, the flour silo was demolished and the former bakery and its offices remained silent for years. But after more than 10 years of vacancy, the former Lubro premises have been brought back to life: six iconic townhouses have been built in the former bakery and the office building has been converted into apartments and catering outlets.

Commissioned by Hurks Bouw, interior design and realization agency The Home Factory contributed ideas about the layout and living style. They made sure that living in a spacious factory hall became a reality.

RTE radio presenter Jenny Greene and her wife Kelly Keogh moved into their dream home on 12th March 2020, the day before Ireland went into lockdown. After purchasing their new home, they were both in agreement that their number one room was to be their bathroom and working with designer Michelle Dunne from Realm Concepts, the decision was made early on to convert the main guest room into a luxury bathroom.

Michelle Dunne speaks about the design plan, “Initially, when the house was bought it had four bedrooms with one very small bathroom on the return, so when we were looking at the layout, it made sense to knock the wall between the two front bedrooms to create a much larger main bedroom and change the second bedroom next to this room into a spacious bathroom”.

“The clients had a very specific wishlist. They wanted two sinks, a large walk-in shower, a stand-alone bath, and plenty of storage. Storage was going to be key as they were sacrificing one of the bedrooms. In terms of the style brief, the clients wanted to go for an ‘Industrial look’ and that they didn’t want it to be too feminine. When starting any new project, I like to get a sense of the client’s own personal style, how they dress etc.”