Architecture

Designers Jonathan Glatt and Sara Ossana of O&G Studio met over ten years ago as graduate students at RISD, where Jonathan studied jewelry and metal fabrication and Sara studied interior architecture and theatrical set design. Their backgrounds have a synergistic dynamic which allow them to blend intricate detailing and experimentation with scale and proportion to bring traditional motifs into the 21st century. The duo, who has an affinity for old things, look towards the wisdom and inventiveness of traditional American design traditions for inspiration. They feel strongly that furniture should be collectible, meaning relevant and fresh now, yet will last for a lifetime and be passed down for generations. They currently work out of a 3,500sf combined studio and workshop space in the East Bay area of Rhode Island, and you can see that influence in their Friday Five inspirations.

Built for the architect himself, Slip House was designed as an adaptable prototype for learning about sustainable design, as well as ways to build affordable homes. Designed by Carl Turner Architects, the design is made up of three stacked boxes that are "slipped." The top floor, which houses the living area and rooftop access, is covered in milky glass sheets.

SDB25 is a minimal home located in Seounbuk-gu, Seoul, designed by Apollo Architects and Associates. The house is located in the northern residential districts of Seoul with historical landmarks and traditional Korean housing. Located on a sloping ground, the residence maximizes its 330 square meter site by expanding the foundation underground.

Hill House is located in Melbourne, Australia, where lots are narrow, requiring architects to think outside the box -- and the team at Andrew Maynard Architects did just that. The owners of the home wished for a modern update that included reorienting the entryway and an outdoor space that actually got sunlight. The also needed the home to provide adequate space for their three growing children.

Known for his minimalist structures, Architect Paul Kaloustian's all-white space echos his work's uncluttered aesthetic.

Downtown Los Angeles just got a lot greener, and is the perfect example of why I’ll take a sea of green over the ocean blue any day. Still under construction, the new Grand Park runs east to west from Grand Street to Hill Street and the City Hall downtown. Designed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios, a portion of the park opened in July and the remaining segments extending to City Hall, later this summer.

This house located in Hyogo Prefecture in Yamasaki came to us via JA+U (Japan Architecture+Urbanism) and the light-filled, minimalist space is perfect for the often-cloudy location that it's in. Designed by Yo Shimada of Tato Architects, the main part of the home is partially sunken in the ground, which includes the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.

Now this is an entryway! Designed by the architectural firm Matharoo Associates, the Curtain Door is most definitely a door like no other I've seen. The massive door is made of 40 sections of thick Burma teak and sits between the entrance's concrete walls. Each section has been carved to incorporate 160 pulleys, 80 ball bearings, one wire rope, and a hidden counterweight.

The Cape Town-based firm SAOTA (Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects) is known for their jaw-dropping designs and the Montrose House is no exception. Located up a steep incline at the end of a cul-de-sac, the home overlooks a valley and has views of the mountains and bay off in the distance. This house was made for the outdoors and the views of them through the walls of glass that cover the house.

This two-storey modern residence, called 44 Belvedere, is located on a wooded lot in Oakville, Ontario. Imagined by Guido Costantino, the black palette consists of stucco, concrete, brick, anodized siding and a mix of opaque and transparent glass.

This birdhouse-shaped treehouse designed by Nendo houses two birds with one stone.

Each year, A’ Design Award and Competition seeks out the best in design across multiple categories to award the very best designs with their