Braun Publishing

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.

Functionally and esthetically compelling solutions for library building and spaces today that work for all users. Libraries are spaces for learning, discovery, and also for interaction. Their architecture is currently the subject of much discussion, as the demands on these cornerstones of modern civilization have changed enormously since they have had to meet the requirements of the new multimedia and digital age. The library as an institution underwent a real image change from an introverted knowledge repository to a globally networked information provider and communication mediator. The architectural expression of this expanded and constantly evolving profile of requirements makes library construction extremely multi-layered and complex. But this is also precisely the source of enormous potential for bold designs and ingenious aesthetic concepts. Whether involving new buildings, conversions or extensions, this volume shows the diversity of this building task with its interplay of state-of-the-art technology and cultural demands.

Buildings from all over the world using the latest developments, innovations and achievements of eco-friendly architecture. Climate change and environmental pollution, rising energy prices and dwindling resources pose major challenges for the world of construction today. If sustainability is to become a global reality, it must also be designed and expressed with trend-setting aesthetics: The carefully selected sample projects of contemporary architecture show how this can be implemented in compelling ways. They offer an informative overview of current, very different concepts, approaches and techniques. Sustainable building also means that ecological parameters involve not only all aspects of the actual building, but also the construction process and the afterlife in the sense of deconstruction and conversion, all of which must be considered by the planner as early as the design process. It is becoming increasingly important not to focus on short-term goals, but above all, on long-term ones.

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.

Elaborating the diversity of wood architecture today for private homes More and more architects and builders are exploring the possibilities of a material for the construction of houses that offers unparalleled major advantages regarding design, function and ecology. Wood is a renewable building resource that impresses with its natural qualities as well as its astonishing versatility, especially given a number of new techniques, processing options, and innovations. Moreover, wooden architecture represents a promising opportunity to work towards a more CO2-neutral future. Frank Lloyd Wright said about the world's oldest building material that it is "universally beautiful" and "the most human of all materials", facts that are highlighted in this volume focusing on residences. The presented projects demonstrate the sheer endless possibilities of timber for architecture and interior design. From an esthetic point of view, they also show completely new ways for, but not limited to, the design of individual homes.

The impressive wealth of Scandinavian interiors: locally inspired and international successful Nordic home design has long won over aficionados of clean lines, cozy and functional furniture, and bright spaces. This richly illustrated, inspirational book celebrates the Scandinavian interior design scene and its spectacular momentum in recent years. It offers a unique insight into the latest trends, such as the use of more contrasting colors, mixed sustainable textures, and the quest for the ultimate comfort of both body and mind. The pages in this book invite readers into vibrant, intimate, and elegant interiors that illustrate the great diversity and creative atmosphere prevailing in the home decoration style of northern Europe. It is set to become a sourcebook for interior designers, architects, and anyone looking for fresh ideas for introducing the Hygge lifestyle to one's own home.

The trend towards the Tiny House - and also the Micro Flat - is more than just a short-term hype. It is an attitude towards life, a contemplation on the essentials to which more and more people are attracted. The past months have shown us what we really need - and that is often not so much. All over the world, houses and housing units in mini format are en vogue. For many, they are the only way to fulfil the dream of owning one's own home. The carefully selected projects from all over the world show how space can be gained by concentrating on the substantial, intelligent floor plans, well thought-out storage solutions and nesting of functions. They highlight in very different ways that great living quality can be wonderfully made possible in a small space through a clever design.

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.

Most wonderful diversity: How global architecture of today heads for tomorrow Nearly exactly ten years after the publication of the Atlas of World Architecture, this new follow-up publication reviews the last architectural decade by means of current exemplary buildings from all continents. Not only have building tasks, techniques and styles changed greatly in the last decade, but the world has transformed, which is significantly reflected in global building culture. Conversion and sustainability have gained significantly in importance, and great innovative architecture has emerged in new regions. The most diverse projects from temporary exhibition halls to mega airports are compiled and vividly presented in concise texts, accompanied by images and drawings. Contemporary Architecture. Masterpieces around the World is published as a new reference work that reflects the exciting diversity and remarkable achievements of current architecture worldwide. A particular focus is once again on presenting previously unknown masterpieces alongside the well-known highlights of today's world of construction.

Cafés, coffeehouses, and coffee shops around the world supply us with energy and lift our spirits every day. They are spaces for exchange and interaction, for letting the imagination flow and even escaping reality, and, of course, for writing, reading and thinking - a second home for many of us. From reduced minimalism to ironic eclecticism, from cozy and hygge to industrial style, from vintage to elegant: this centuries-old institution is constantly redefined, reconceived and restaged for example as espresso bars, coffee roasteries and art house cafés, reflecting new social trends and design inspirations as well as the latest developments from the world of coffee. A Coffee A Day features an exciting global contemporary conceptual and stylistic range with a focus on the creative design esthetics.

How can homes be upgraded to meet today’s demands – from living comfort to energy efficiency and digital requirements? How can the fusion of the historic and the new be used as a design element? The use of existing residential buildings scores not only with the charm of what has been handed down, be it a baroque villa, a 19th-century farmhouse, or a post-war bungalow, but actually also always with an excellent ecological balance. The extensive reworking, whether modernization, renovation or extension, is a widespread and thoroughly rewarding task for many architects. Since the initial situation is documented for each of the presented projects, the reader can clearly understand the redesign process.

After the Middle Ages, concrete fell into oblivion and was only rediscovered around 1700. Through constant further development and improvement, it became the most widely used building material of our time. New and innovative applications make it an incredibly valuable design tool for contemporary architectural conceptsas its properties and appearances can be influenced by the respective mixture of components. The creative potential is almost inexhaustible. As versatile as this malleable material presents itself, it requires the skill and passion of its planners to create esthetically convincing solutions. The publication shows the enormous relevance and inimitable fascination of concrete in impressive imagery and versed texts with all relevant facts.

Buildings designated brutalist in style were largely built in the 1960s and 1970s, exuding an aura of daring, uncompromising design today. It is the French term "brut," meaning raw or unrefined, that lent its name to this particular architectural phenomenon. Vilified for decades as the step-child of modernism, brutalist architecture is now enjoying an astonishing comeback as the latest discovery among digital trendsetters. As well as fascinating users across social networks, brutalism is also inspiring contemporary architecture. Large-scale sculptural forms, coarsely finished materials and floor plans that defy convention merge with contemporary design to generate enthralling new creations. This book offers a sophisticated overview of post-war and contemporary brutalist buildings and of the relationship - in appearance and design, in the grand concepts and the smallest details - between brutalism today and its ancestors.

This fundamental work provides an overview of the whole creative realm of contemporary landscape architecture. Every aspect of the design and production of these public and private spaces is thematized and elucidated. These spaces encompass a huge variety, stretching from classic garden design and golf courses to greened facades, from guerilla gardening and cemeteries to roundabouts. The approximately three dozen chapters chart the various tasks and challenges in comprehensive introductions. Around 250 vividly illustrated case studies from around the world offer solutions and suggestions in the design process. Whether conservative in style and requiring little explanation, or striking, even ostentatious, these projects are always inventive, unique and compelling - and always seeking to redefine the relationship between human beings and the natural world.

Buildings and spaces bearing traces of the past that are integrated into new functional and artistic concepts are galvanizing the architecture and design scene. As a result of the increased awareness of sustainability issues and growing appreciation for existing building structures more and more often the decision is being made to convert rather than demolish - sometimes also because of economic considerations. This volume explores the question of the functional and creative possibilities emerging from revitalization that respects existing structures. The projects carefully selected for this volume demonstrate their worth through sophisticated concepts of utilization and ingenious approaches to design. The existing building structure is not renovated or even restored, but rather left as it is found with traces of past uses, often of its demise, preserved, sometimes carefully enhanced. Whether through aggressive contrast with the new or an interpretation of the existing spaces and surfaces, the interventions always show respect and consideration and establish an enthralling relationship between the old and the new.