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OFFICE4 architecture practice redesigned and renovated an abandoned building, deserted during construction in the 1980s, meeting the owners’ need for a functional house up to the contemporary housing standards. The basic design challenge was the split-level logic that the existing building followed, whereas the sense of nature was intense, as the building stands in the center of a 5.000 acres plot with distinct geomorphology.
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The bearing structure of the building was kept intact, while adjustments were made to the size of the windows and to elements of the exterior by adding canopies, as well as architectural protrusions to handle the facades harmonically as a whole.
The basic design intention was not only to take advantage of the exceptional view and the orientation of the building but also to use natural materials that blend with the surrounding environment and create coherence between the interior of the house and the intense geomorphology of the exterior.
The building showed many handling and design difficulties because of its age and the split-level logic. The technical difficulties that occurred due to the existing state of the building were tackled with the use of waterproofing and thermal insulation that were applied to the façade. The main goals were to waterproof, soundproof and thermally insulate the house to meet the current needs of a modern building, to integrate those materials in the design without tampering with the quality and the aesthetic outcome of the construction.
On the 1st level, the owners’ desire was to design an autonomous space with an independent entrance that serves as a guest house. The guest house consists of the sitting area, the kitchen, the bathroom, and an open bedroom and it was designed with a special rustic design. On the 2nd level, there is the parking area with workshop space. On the 3rd level, there are 2 kids’ bedrooms, a dressing room, the family’s bathroom, and a laundry room. On the 4th level, there is the main entrance with reception furniture, the guests’ WC, the kitchen and a small sitting area. A metallic sign in Morse code greets the visitor to the exterior of the house entrance. On the 5th level, there is the sitting area and the dining area, while the fireplace looms in the center of the space. This is an open space that brings out calmness, while the surrounding large windows bring light to the space and the exterior environment becomes one with the interior. One short flight of stairs leads to the top floor, the 6th level, right to the primary bedroom level, where there is also a small WC and a walk-in closet.
The lighting study was very important for the design as it takes advantage of the geometry of the house interior and simultaneously offers the possibility for dramatic lighting scenarios on different elements of the spaces.
The basic materials used were charcoal grey stone to the exterior, black metal on details, white stone to the background of the sitting area, cement mortar technique to resemble Tadao Ando’s Haute Concrete and wooden natural oak floor in herringbone weave pattern in the space of the sitting area. All the wooden surfaces, cladding and floors, used in the majority of the spaces are oak in natural color. In the kitchen white glass was used on the cabinets, Corian on the worktop and terrazzo on the floor.
Upon entry of the house through the glass main door, you are welcomed by a simple and small foyer with a large wooden structure on the side that has cabinets and shelves that matches the tone of the flooring and ceiling.
The comfortable living room is right beside the small foyer separated only by a tall white panel with a simple design to match the white ceiling over the living room.
A dining area is also close to the foyer just beside the large wooden structure lining the wall of the foyer. that matches the patterned flooring.
The wooden ceiling above the foyer a row of small modern flush-mount lighting. This is just beside the large gray L-shaped sectional sofa with matching throw pillows.
Across from this comfortable large L-shaped sofa is a row of glass windows running along the wall to the far end with a large glass wall for sight seeing of the two reclining arm chairs facing it.
Beside the area of the reclining chairs is the modern fireplace mounted on the wall with a wooden column above. There is a set of L-shaped built in bench attached to this for a comfortable reading nook by the window.
The dining area by the foyer has the same wooden ceiling that hangs a trio of decorative crystal lighting over the wooden dining table that also matches with the hardwood flooring.
This other living room has a large black leather sectional sofa lining the walls facing the large waist high entertainment cabinet with the same black tone. These are then complemented by the lovely chandelier hanging from the ceiling that has exposed wooden beams as well as the rustic red brick wall at the far end.
This is the lovely kitchen of this home that has a U-shaped peninsula with wooden countertops to pair with the black cabinetry that pairs perfectly with the black tray ceiling, black flooring tiles and the stainless steel modern appliances.
The kitchen peninsula is paired with a couple of wooden chairs for a small and cozy breakfast bar topped with a row of pendant lights. There is also a view of the bedroom from this vantage through walls of glass.
This kitchen has a bright aesthetic thanks to its white L-shaped peninsula that matches perfectly with the white countertop of the kitchen island that has a wooden cabinet base that stands out against the beige flooring.
This is a closer view of the L-shaped peninsula topped with a matching white ceiling with modern lighting as well as a couple of pendant lights over the white breakfast bar at the far end.
The white countertop of the kitchen is paired with a light gray backsplash fitted with floating wooden shelves for dishware and decors.
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The wooden kitchen island has wooden drawers on the side with a handle-less design. The white countertop makes the modern stove top stand out.
The white L-shaped peninsula is paired with a couple of gray stools for the breakfast bar near the gray concrete wall.
This is the view from the set of wooden steps that leads to this kitchen. It has white walls lined with lights at the bottom to light the way. This pairs well with the wall decors that has their own lighting as well as the flush-mount ceiling lights.
This set of wooden steps is located just a few steps from the dining area near the foyer.
This is a closer look at the dining area near the foyer and living room. It has a rectangular wooden dining table paired with a wooden bench on the side below the window.
This area is bathed with natural lights afforded by the large glass window above the built-in wooden bench that matches the tone of the table and the flooring.
This is the bright hallway of the house with white walls and white ceiling that has a concrete beam in the middle. The white walls are contrasted by the glass doors that have black frames.
This bedroom can be clearly viewed through its lovely glass wall. The platform bed has a large wooden wall behind it serving as a large headboard flanked by two large pendant lights that give off warm yellow lights.
This other bedroom has a bed that has black leather cushioned headboard that makes it stand out against the white walls and light gray ceiling. This matches with the sleek black wall panel that gives accent to the plain elements.
Behind this black wall panel is the walk-in closet with its wooden flooring that matches well with the wooden structures built into the wall that has racks, drawers and shelves for storage.
This is a view of the rest of the bedroom from the vantage of the bed. Across from the bed is a glass door that leads to an outdoor area and next to it is a floating black desk top for a nice study and work area in the corner.
This is a closer look at the study area at the corner. It has a wooden panel that is topped with a row of modern flush-mount lighting with warm yellow lights. Beside this large wooden panel is a tall mirror attached to it.
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This bathroom has a wooden vanity with a black bowl sink that matches well with the surrounding black marble walls. This is also present on the walls of the shower area at the far wall with a matching black ladder towel rack.
This other bathroom has a deep black bowl sink with a matching thin black faucet topped with a wall-mounted mirror that has black frames. These also match with the black wall behind the black toilet beside the vanity.
This bathroom has beige wall tiles that match well with the textured bowl sinks of the vanity with wooden cabinets and shelves underneath. This matches perfectly with the rustic ladder towel rack beside the vanity.
The white faucets of the textured sinks are mounted on the beige wall tiles topped with wall-mounted mirrors complemented by the modern wall-mounted lamps.
This bathroom has a freestanding white porcelain bathtub placed at the far end beneath the thin window that brings in natural lights to augment the brightness of the recessed lights of the tray ceiling.
Across from the vanity of the bathroom is the textured and patterned wall with an embedded alcove shelf for the products placed above the white porcelain toilet.
The bedroom has a window on the left side with a built-in wooden bench underneath that connects to a wooden structure that has shelves and cabinets at the wall beside the glass door.
This is the lovely playroom of the house that has a wide hardwood flooring for playing and bright white ceiling and walls that has embedded built-in cabinets and shelves on the side of the door.
The white ceiling of this play room is contrasted by the black flush-mount lighting in the middle. You can also see here that there is a wooden wall on the far corner that matches the hardwood flooring for a bit of accent to the plain white walls.
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On the other corner is the glass door that leads to outdoor areas as well as bring in an abundance of natural lighting that brightens the white ceiling and light hardwood flooring.
The other large wall of the play room is dominated by a large wooden structure with a couple of cabinets and a set of wooden shelves on the side for storage of toys and decor.
This one corner of the simple concrete balcony that has a wooden ceiling with modern spotlights mounted on it.
The other corner of the balcony has the same wooden ceiling and the same waist-high glass wall to augment the concrete border for safety.
This is one of the two reclining chars at the far end of the living room. It faces a large glass wall that provides a nice view of the surrounding landscape. It is adorned with a rustic firewood storage for the fireplace.
This is the main entry door of the house. This area is complemented by the surrounding textured stone walls matching with the stone walkway.
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Jon Dykstra
Jon practiced law before launching his online publishing career, bringing analytical rigor to everything he builds. Home Stratosphere combines that precision with a lifelong obsession with residential design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and furniture.
His current focus is AI-driven design analysis, using artificial intelligence to study patterns in color, layout, and material choice across thousands of homes. His Personality Type Home Design Guide applies personality frameworks to interior aesthetics, helping readers design spaces that reflect how they actually think and live.
His favorite piece on the site is the 25 Most Popular Designs, is a daily-updated ranking of the top designs over the last 30 days, driven entirely by visitor activity. The feedback is invaluable for understanding what resonates most with readers. LinkedIn
