Design delight - bohème is one of two new houses down in the valley of the lower village near the coveted escarpment estate and is due for completion in February 2017. Careful attention and much effort has been given to layout, material selection, interior design and the furniture selection. For those who want something a little different than the standard contemporary box house!! Get in touch today to get a viewing of the house this winter.

Site Area: 214 m. / 64.73 tsubo (1 tsubo = 3.306 m.)
Building Coverage: 34.22% < 50%
Building Area: 73.34 m. / 21.18 tsubo
Plot Ratio: 89.87% < 200%
Land / Building Ownership: Freehold
Building Type: Residential house (hotel compliant)
Expected Completion Date: February 2017

BUILDING

Basement: 67.18 m. / 20.32 tsubo
Level 1: 69.56 m. / 21.04 tsubo
Level 2: 69.50 m. / 21.02 tsubo
Total Floor Area: 206.24 m. / 62.38 tsubo
Parking: 1 covered lot

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

Main Structure: In situ concrete, timber
Roof Structure: Timber
Glazing System: Argon gas filled double-glazing system
Window System: Timber and aluminium
Walls (External): Off-form concrete, galvanised sheet metal cladding, timber cladding
Walls (Internal): Wallpaper, paint, tile
Flooring: Hardwood flooring, roll carpet, tile
Ceiling: Wallpaper, paint
Doors: Olefin sheet finish, paint
Bathroom:　Washlet toilet, ceramic wash basins, shower system for all bathrooms (bathtub in master bathroom)
Kitchen: Cooker hob, extraction hood, oven, microwave, stainless steel sink, single-lever mixing faucet, dishwasher
Primary Heating System: Oil central heating, floor heating throughout the building
Air-conditioning: Reversible; living room only
Lighting: Mostly LED
Internet & TV: High-speed Internet, Terrestrial digital TV (BS,CS 110°)

Atypical of form following function, the living room was arranged on the top level to capture the panoramic sight of verdant trees in summer, while framing the view of the majestic mountain. In winter, the house was envisioned to bring in the purity of white snow to light up the spaces within, and for the occupants to enjoy the winter wonderland outside. As such, the house would be imbued with a deep connection with nature, bringing the outside into the intimate spaces created within, and abundant natural light.

In conceptualising the design, an intentionally measured inspiration was taken from the traditional log cabins of the Western Hemisphere, while at the same time, there was a conscious decision to pay homage to the functionalism of modern and traditional Japanese architecture.

We wanted a house that would evoke an emotive response between itself and the eventual owner. A relationship that would evoke memories that would last a lifetime, and a timeless embodiment of evergreen themes re-imagined in a new world context.

To achieve all these objectives, a lot of time was spent discussing the circulation of the various spaces. Particular attention was paid to the circulation of internal spaces to enhance the well being of the inhabitants.

The living and dining rooms were deemed important in the context of promoting social interaction and being the cornerstone of all activity in the house. And with the beautiful views looking out from the fenestrations, it would also be the most evocative space within the house. It was also critical that the external facade interacted with the surrounding nature and environment.

The concrete finish of the external walls of the basement was decidedly left in its raw form for practical reasons as a resilient barrier to the abundant snow and harshness of the brutal winter, not least because raw concrete is itself beautiful. To finish the concrete in any other manner would have detracted and diverged from our own objectives for responsible architecture.

We like raw forms but eschew unnecessary external embellishments.

We worked to achieve a non static form, and to imbue the building with the perception of movement, both linear and visual. To do so, we articulated movement by twisting the different volumes ever so slightly from their axis. The form was intended to be demure to and blending in with the surrounding nature; a conscious move away from overly complex shapes. With the gradient of the terrain a virtue, the intended buildings were aligned so that the fenestrations were able to capture the captivating natural vistas, further accentuating the experience of the dweller.

Careful attention and much effort was given to the overall coordination of the furniture, fittings and finishings in the house.

Bohème was decorated with a titillating collection of furniture from renowned Parisian atelier Roche Bobois. The main star being the “mahjong”sofa set upholstered in Dragon and Carp prints as well as richly coloured Asian inspired fabrics from their Jean Paul Gaultier collection.