Sibylle Kramer

In the face of climate change, architecture must transcend traditional boundaries to address pressing environmental and social challenges. This volume explores the transformative potential of a visionary approach that seamlessly integrates plants and greenery into architectural design. By redefining buildings as living systems, these concepts enhance air quality, provide acoustic insulation, optimize energy efficiency, and create thriving oases of biodiversity. From lush rooftop gardens to verdant façades and planted interiors, the featured projects showcase how innovative architects and designers are reimagining the relationship between nature, people, and the built environment. The book highlights the diverse ways organic resources are being incorporated into contemporary constructions and how they serve as independent planning elements and design features, often in synergy with cutting-edge building technologies. With case studies from around the globe, this book celebrates the beauty, functionality, and necessity of green building envelopes in shaping sustainable, vibrant cities.

New exciting and surprising design approaches how great living quality can be wonderfully made possible in small spaces. A tiny house is much more than just a very small residence. It is a living concept that reflects the challenges of the future – from the fundamental question of how to finance the dream of home ownership to more complex considerations, such as whether doing without material luxury means more freedom, to social issues such as how we deal with our planet's resources. This volume presents remarkable examples of masterfully implemented solutions for tiny houses. The designs of these micro-wonders show that even – or especially – well thought-out room concepts can be realized in the smallest of spaces, without sacrificing excellent design. Intelligent floor plans, multifunctional rooms and ingenious nesting of furnishing components create not only compact living spaces, but also unique habitats.

The "Where Architects Stay"-Series heads towards the Sea: Stylish vacation accommodations at the coasts of Western Europe where architects would stay themselves when traveling. Individuals with a passion for design may have high expectations of their vacation accommodations. The new volume is dedicated to the Atlantic coast of the western part of the European continent with its different landscapes and lively cities. Just as diverse as this region are the carefully selected accommodations presented here, imaginatively designed jewels, far from mass tourism. This architecture and travel guide invites readers to discover enchanting vacation homes, whose architecture and interior design make each stay perfect: Ranging from lonely lighthouses to urban lofts, from sustainable tree houses to minimalist villas or historic structures. Each property is distinguished by the highest design quality with a personal touch, originality, and much attention to detail.

Kniha Kontejnerová architektura představuje ikonické modulární stavby z celého světa, jejichž základní stavební jednotkou je právě kontejner. Světoví architekti používají tyto prefabrikované krabice s čím dál větší oblibou. Jejich hlavní devizou je variabilita a flexibilita, díky níž se na sebe dají vršit, skládat, řezat a následně sestavovat v nekonečném množství variant. Prohlédněte si nejznámější hotely, rezidenční jednotky, hausbóty, galerie, kanceláře, pop-up obchody a další stavby, které již slouží svému účelu a svým nezaměnitelným designem dotvářejí genius loci.

Design reduced to the absolute essential - the shipping container. Invented in the 1950s by Malcom McLean, these plain steel boxes with corrugated profiles revolutionized the worldwide trade sector. These huge receptacles for storing and transporting cargo have found their way into architecture to become an essential part of global building culture. Ever more astonishing architectural applications and design experiments are based on these standardized, strictly geometrically conceived units. Their imaginatively designed shells are just as versatile as their use: sometimes with original, rough surfaces with traces of use that tell a story, sometimes with a curtain facade made of wood and largescale glazing, or even as a purist composition with a sophisticated light installation. In an everchanging world with its hybrid forms of living and working, this book presents a collection of remarkable container buildings.

Exclusive living retreats set against the backdrop of majestic peaks, steep slopes and picturesque valleys The chalet is a building style that enjoys lasting popularity all over the world. Dating back to the herdsman’s hut in the Alpine region, it became a longed-for destination and the most preferred holiday domicile in the 19th century with the emerging fascination with the Alps. Today, architects and designers are primarily inspired by the constantly redefined interplay of sublime nature, traditional architecture, regional building typologies, individual design, and modern formal language that pushes them to reach magnificent creative peaks. The projects selected for this volume are diverse and remarkably multifaceted: From a traditional construction with a flat gable roof, wide roof overhang, and robust timber façade, to contemporary, thoroughly idiosyncratic interpretations with clear lines, creative choice of materials, and fine details. However, the artful staging of the imposing mountain world in the interior design plays a decisive role among all presented chalets.

The Baltic Sea has gained rapidly in importance as a travel destination in recent years. More and more people appreciate the diversity found among urban designer hubs, sleepy and cozy villages, and ever-changing coastal strips. The new volume in the series on design retreats shows destinations away from mass tourism with a focus around the Great Belt. Both an architectural and a travel guide, this volume offers inspiration and promises to fulfill the longing for peace, solitude and variety - for holidays spent at a farmstead on the dyke, above the sea on a crane, or in a fancy loft in Copenhagen. The common denominators among all accommodations presented here are a convincing design and a special location by the Baltic Sea.

When water becomes an object of architecture... Water is probably the most diverse and fascinating of the four elements. When presented in a swimming pool, it signifies refreshment and relaxation, health, vivacity and zest for life. In this form, shaped by architecture and incorporated into the constructed and/or natural setting, water presents its most beautiful side. The precious substance is always at the center of the design of a swimming pool, reflected in the shape, the choice of materials, the color range, or the illumination concept. In the contemporary projects from around the world presented in this volume, renowned architects and innovative newcomers showcase the source of all life in a great variety of compelling and creative ways.

The combination of architecture and vacations is highly inspiring. It promises relaxation and pleasure, beauty and style, all in one. Each of the vacation domiciles presented here can fulfill even the most discerning demands of a traveling architect. All lodgings are unique architectural jewels with a wellbeing guarantee and a personal touch that are (design-)visions come true. From the archaic forest hut in the mountain, the luxuriously decorated loft in a major metropolis, or the romantic idyllic house by the lake – these part-time dream houses allow visitors to forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and they are the perfect place for a short escape or a longer time out.

Whether private or public, bath and spa areas represent tranquility and relaxation, a retreat from the hectic everyday life. The evolution from yesterday’s reclusive and functional bathroom to today’s open and extravagant wellness oasis continues to open new frontiers. This is accompanied by architects and designers resorting to ancient bathhouse cultures, interpreting them with contemporary concepts, materials and products. With a selection of projects from all across the globe, this volume showcases an exceptional spectrum ranging from small and intimate baths to wide open spa landscapes. They all have their own special way of inviting you to immerse, relax, and let go. The multitude of design concepts presents the coming together of solid and fluid elements in architecture and interior design as an inspiration for body and soul.

Spas are becoming increasingly common all over the world. In holiday resorts as well as in private homes, yesterdays bathrooms are giving way to wellness rooms for recovery from modern lifes hustle and bustle. Architects and designers integrate their clients longing for rest and relaxation in their designs. Bath & Spa presents seventy projects for relaxation, recreation and dreaming with photos, plans and drawings. Whether in a small bathroom or a top-flight spa, surprising design opportunities arise from different combinations of materials. The publication of the series Architecture in Focus invites the reader to discover the new trends at this exciting interface between the solid and liquid states.