Italian Palazzo

  Inspire Notes: This building is an astonishing renovation and re-discovery project undertaken by Italian architect Sabrina Bignami. The Casa Orlandi guesthouse is an 18th century palazzo situated close to Florence. On another note, how delicious are those sofas?   You will notice that the *frescos, which were surprisingly bulldozed over with paint, have been meticulously and gingerly uncovered by a fresco restorations expert. The original artist was Tuscan based 18th century painter Luigi Cantani who must be smiling from an artistic heavenly place as Ms Bignami oversees the painstaking restoration of his fine work. *fresco ~ the technique of …

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Coastal Home

  Inspire Notes: The architects of 01 Arq have produced superlative work in this simple, raw but refined coastal home in Huentelauquen Chile. They have profited from the amazing landscape and the home provides just a thin glass facade to face the ruggedly beautiful environment.     Some really simple ideas to take away: The entire chalkboard wall. The simple white and cream skin allied with natural materials like wood and rattan, smartly punctuated by the dark wood floor trim and support poles. It’s not even right is it? That I sit here (happily) writing about this magnificent home rather …

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Herzliya Home

   Inspire Notes: This highly spectacular, angular home built in Israel is the work of Sharon Neuman Architects. The decision to build this ecological home with such visually jarring angular plains impacts completely on the interior of the house as you will see below. It is such a work of art that it is almost farcical for being built next to the more conventional two family home next door, dampening a little of its singular lawless majesty. The glass facade above is just glorious with modesty frosting on the lower part of the first floor whilst the bottom floor large …

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