Category: Architecture and Interiors

Not to mention a Holiday Room!

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I don’t recall where I ran across this originally, but in any case it had no context but certainly looked interesting.

I wish this had come with an exterior view, it might better explain what’s actually going on. Some elements are immediately recognizable (a certain reader will appreciate the inclusion of a grand piano in the scheme) like kitchen and bathrooms and bedrooms (zimmer is the only thing I can make out in any of these space). I ended up having GPT sharpen and increase the contrast of the originals to make them more legible, and even though I haven’t had the best of luck using this method in the past when the room labels are in English, it did just fine with the Deutsch.

My German is beyond rusty (I was fluent in at one point in my life, but sadly it’s all vanished from disuse), so I asked for translations on the words that weren’t immediately obvious to me. Since they all make sense in the context of the floor plan, I will assume that GPT got the sharpening right on these particular plans.

At first I thought the set of rooms behind the garage was an in-law suite, but it’s actually rooms for the male servant (Diener), not to be confused with the maid’s quarters (Mädchenzimmer).

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Why yes, yes I would!

My ignorance of this floor plan took me down a rabbit hole. When I was working with GPT, it kept referring to it as Villa Tugendhat. So I opened the Google machine and gave it a spin.

This house has history! It’s now a museum and even has an Instagram page!

Finding it answered the lingering question: how can the ground floor be under the floor with the garage? Because it’s on a slight hillside. It all makes sense now!

And the male servant isn’t just a servant, he’s the private chauffeur!

Chauffeur!

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ADDENDUM:

Thanks to reader Hsvrbl for supplying a link to a more complete set of plans!

This one provides the mechanical basement level as well as roof plans, elevations, and cross sections.

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It really needs a full bath off the Master Bedroom.

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937 square feet on the ground floor and 667 on the second floor for a total of 1604 total square feet. It’s a decent size house, yet it still seems compact. I like the metal roof and the stucco exterior. The only downside I see at first glance is there’s no dedicated dining space; just a small table in the kitchen, and I’m not sure what you could do about that without increasing the overall footprint of the house. The other thing I might do is lose the bedroom directly above the Living Room and give that space a 2-story high ceiling.

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And just think…all this could’ve been yours for only $20—including materials or, you know, the actual construction.

What stands out to me immediately is the size of the Utility Room and the first thing you see when you walk in the front door is the washer and dryer on the other side of the house. I think what I’d do is run that hallway all the way to the back of the house, put in a French door there, and the reconfigure the remaining Kitchen/Utility area in a way that better utilized the space and offered its own private exit to the back yard. I’d probably also knock out that wall between the Living and Dining Rooms.

Upstairs in the rear bedroom I’d get rid of that dressing shelf or whatever it is and push the toilet wall out so the entire “south” wall in that Bedroom is flush for the entire length. I’d also pop a door somewhere in there that connects to the front Bedroom to create a pseudo Master Suite.

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An interesting concept poorly executed. It’s AI generated, and it shows.

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Villa Orbit by Hamidreza Edrisi & Hoori Taleshi

Hamidreza Edrisi & Hoori Taleshi: The defining characteristic of this design lies in its continuous circular geometry, which gracefully embraces a tranquil central courtyard. This circular configuration represents unity, sustainability, balance, and the cyclical relationship between human life and the natural environment. Unlike linear architectural organizations that primarily respond to functional requirements, the circular form introduces a fluid spatial experience, creating continuous movement and a sequence of evolving visual relationships where every step reveals a new perspective.

At the heart of the project lies the central courtyard, conceived not merely as an open space, but as the fundamental architectural element of the composition. This central void challenges the traditional perception of absence in architecture, emphasizing the ancient architectural principle that voids possess an equal spatial significance to solid forms.

Beyond its role as an open-air space, the courtyard functions as a living ecosystem within the building. It introduces natural light, fresh air, seasonal vegetation, and a sense of visual calmness into the interior spaces. Each room maintains a direct dialogue with this inner landscape, strengthening the connection between inhabitants and nature while enhancing the overall sense of serenity.

n this project, architecture is experienced not only through enclosed volumes, but through the continuous interaction between light, vegetation, shadow, material, and movement. Natural stone is selected as the primary material, allowing the structure to emerge organically from its surrounding context. Its textured surface reflects the tones and characteristics of the surrounding rocks and earth, enabling the architecture to establish a deeper connection with the landscape and gradually become part of its natural environment over time.

Large circular openings are carved into the stone envelope, creating moments of curiosity and discovery. These carefully positioned apertures frame selected views of gardens, sky, and distant landscapes, transforming them into architectural experiences. Like visual lenses, these sculptural openings invite residents to perceive nature from multiple perspectives and establish a continuous visual relationship between interior and exterior.

Ultimately, the project presents a contemporary interpretation of landscape-responsive architecture, where geometry, materiality, and nature converge to create a timeless sanctuary. Villa Orbit embodies a sustainable dialogue between human habitation and the natural world, celebrating architecture as a mediator between built form and the surrounding landscape.

There is so much wrong with this floor plan I don’t know where to begin.

• You have to go back outside after you enter to get to the bedroom wing—unless you want to walk all the way around the circle. At the very least the Storage Room (#10) should be reduced in size and a hallway put in on the inner wall to allow direct access from the entry to the guest room. You’d still have to walk through the guest room to get to the rest of the bedrooms, but it would still be an improvement.
• On a smiliar note, you have to walk through a bedroom (#9) to get to the Living Area (#2).
• The Kitchen (#4) is tucked away in for all intents is a back corner.
• There is only one bathroom (#5) for the entire house?

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. When I originally saw the photographs of the exterior and interior I sought out a floor plan and I’m kind of sorry I did, because I like what the architects were striving for.

I’ve designed circular houses before and there are plenty of ways to get around all these design flaws. First and foremost, reduce the size of that central courtyard to allow for a continuous hallway either along the inner or outer circumference (or some combination of both). This house is so huge having it crossover via a “spoke” hallway between the two seems logical if you want to preserve views into the courtyard for certain rooms but others don’t require it.

I’d also reduce the overall diameter of the entire house. Based on the amount of wasted space alone, I think would work much better if it were smaller.

Add another full bath; ideally integrate it into the Master Suite (#5) and provide a guest bath somewhere on the same side of the house as the public areas.

Bring the kitchen in to where the large dining table is currently shown and provide a direct entrance to the outside.

And while we’re on the subject of entrances and exits, where are the “second means of egress” in so many of these rooms? If the house goes up in flames, you’re going to burn before you ever get out of it.

All in all, an interesting concept but very poorly executed.

[source]

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I’d get rid of the table/bendh in the kitchen and add more cabinets and put the range against the long wall and a refrigerator on either of the shorter walls. The CHAMBER in the upper right corner of the second floor plan is awfully small for a proper bedroom, so that would undoubtedly be used as a home office or den.

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But I could be—and probably am—wrong. The only question is what is that large room on the right side that opens directly to the outside? Seems a bit large for a laundry or even a laundry/mechanical room. Sauna perhaps? I have no idea.

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What would you do with this very compact floor plan?

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The sleeping porches attest to it being pre-air conditioning and that dedicated phone closet would probably put it in the 1920s.Definitely close to the turn of the LAST century.

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I think this one would work as a modern house with very minimal changes. What say you?

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But it would make a great B&B…

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You could certainly do worse.

HOWEVER…even though I wasn’t going to do it again, I went ahead and made a few changes to present them visually instead of just trying to describe them.

I extended the dormer window to double-wise on the second floor to accommodate full height ceilings in both the bath and new walk-in closet.

Gotta say…that was an ordeal with the tools I had available, but it felt good when I was finally finished.

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…did no one have to pee when they were downstairs?!

If I were using this plan to build new, I’d lose the nook and coal chute and push the porch out so the inner edge lines up with the exterior edge of the existing nook. I’d then reconfigure that area so the rear door is moved to align with that new wall and add a door to that new space from the new hall area that was created. The half bath could go into that new space. In fact—since there’s no laundry room—depending on how far out you push that rear wall, there could be room enough for a side-by-side washer/dryer and a half bath back there.

I also noticed there’s no refrigerator in the kitchen. There’s plenty of room in that space, so if you move the door to the dining room to the corner nearest the stairwell you could actually put in a u-shaped kitchen with refrigerator on one side and stove on the other.

I don’t see a whole lot that needs to be changed on the Second Floor.

~ADDENDUM~

I went ahead and drew the changes I’d suggested—plus a second floor revision left by a reader. I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of this; editing floor plans in Photoshop is a BITCH.

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It’s cute, and it’s even got a half bath on the first floor! f

And a rear entry… 😈

Sorry, that’s the twelve-year-old in me talking.

But seriously, the only thing I’d do is ditch the dining alcove and knock out the wall between it and the kitchen. Then I’d rework the kitchen to make it all a bit more in keeping with what we expect from a 21st century kitchen.

On the second floor, that bathtub looks suspiciously small, so I’d definitely turn it 90 degrees and shove it up against the wall with the window and then relocate the sink and toilet to match the “modern” layout.

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…for a small house, it ain’t bad.

The kitchen obviously needs to be brought into the 21st century, but it looks doable in the existing footprint. I’d also convert the alcove off the 2nd floor bedroom to an ensuite. It might be a little tight, but I’d make it work. Also, the third bedroom on the first floor would make an excellent office, study, or even a small media room.

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Campeche Houses / Terra e Tuma Associated Architects
Area: 230 m² (2475 ft² )
Photographs: Débora Jank

Two friends and a shared plan: to build their homes in Florianópolis. The choice of a shared plot of land in Praia do Campeche was not only pragmatic but also symbolic. The challenge then arose of designing two independent residences on the same lot , without losing sight of the autonomy of each—nor the possibility of a closer, almost communal, coexistence.The plot, measuring 12 meters wide by 30 meters deep, was divided in half and subjected to the regulations, resulting in a buildable area of ​​only 4.5 meters by 19 meters for each house. This spatial constraint guided the project, influencing decisions regarding site placement, construction system, and internal organization. The house emerges from the boundary—and responds to it with intelligence and precision.The result is a vertical and permeable architecture. On the ground floor, the double-height living area and large openings ensure cross-ventilation and natural light, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior. The master suite faces the rear, with direct access to the garden. Upstairs, two bedrooms complete the layout.The houses form an architectural ensemble that fosters respectful coexistence among neighbors who are also friends, without sacrificing privacy. There is a delicate balance between the common and the individual—an architectural gesture that, in the end, translates not only a way of living, but a way of relating to one another.

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I don’t hate it, and I actually love the airy living/dining/kitchen space, but I definitely would plaster all that exposed concrete block. I’ve never been a fan of naked block, and in this house it seems excessive.

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Tear into it, guys.

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You know, living simply with less?

Why does all new construction have to be a McMansion with a three car garage?

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Yeah, it’s AI generated and the architects readily admit it’s not a real project yet. But I love setting and choice of materials. I could live there. I just wish they’d published a floor plan.

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If you need not one, but two walk-in closets in the Master Suite (one of which being approximately 100 square feet) maybe—just maybe—you have too many clothes and should consider donating to those in need.

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I’m assuming that since there’s no Laundry Room one could convert the rear porch.

I’d move the wall between the Breakfast Room and Dining Room further into the Dining Room and close off the doorway between the two spaces. I’d then make the Dining Room into a home office or Media Room. I’d put a wide doorway between the former Breakfast Room and Living Room and convert that space into the Dining Room.

Upstairs, I’d convert the Sitting Room into a proper bedroom, close it off from the bedroom on the left, and extend those closets to the outer wall. I realize you’d lose the perfectly symmetrical windows upstairs but I’m sure there would be some workaround to that. I don’t have an issue with the Sleeping Porch, although I’d convert that to a Master Suite Retreat

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But I still like it!

But I don’t understand why there is such an opulent bathroom in the lower right corner that isn’t connected to a master suite. I also don’t understand the purpose of the empty room connected to said bathroom. Utility/Laundry Room?

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