A Forest Villa Ideal For Family Retreats And Mediations

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A private retreat in a forest, away from everything sometimes seems like a wonderful idea for spending some away with those that matter the most. One such location is in Tala, India. This is where Architecture Brio completed building a wonderful villa in 2016. It’s a 225 square meter structure which can accommodate four adults and two children.

View in galleryThe villa is surrounded by grass and trees on all sides and even welcomes nature inside of itView in galleryA viewing deck offers the inhabitants a beautiful place from which to admire the views and relax

The villa looks modest, one of the goals of the architects working on the project being to integrate it into its surrounding as best as possible. It sits on a hilltop, on a cliff with a rather rugged nature. The conditions on the site and the surroundings inspired the simple and modest design of the building and allowed the architects to create a perfect retreat.

rods embedded deep into the ground" width="800" height="534" />View in galleryThe building is perched on a steep hilltop, being supported by rods embedded deep into the groundView in galleryThe outdoor areas are well-protected and in great sync with nature and their surroundingsView in galleryThe wooden deck wraps around the interior spaces, complementing and protecting them

The wooden decks are a key element in the design of the villa. They wrap around the interior spaces acting like a buffer between them and the forest that surrounds the house. They also frame the views and serve as perfect spots for meditation sessions.

View in galleryThe views are definitely beautiful and together with the secluded nature of the site they make this a perfect retreatView in galleryThe interior is casually divided into several different areas, each with a distinct function

Inside the villa, the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. The colors are simple and inspired by nature. White is used in combination with wood and toned of brown complemented by the occasional touch of green.

small round dining table in the corner by the large windows" width="800" height="534" />View in galleryThere’s a comfortable living space with a small round dining table in the corner by the large windowsdouble canopy bed that overlooks the deck and the view beyond it" width="800" height="534" />View in galleryOne of the bedrooms is defined by a double canopy bed that overlooks the deck and the view beyond it

The layout is simple and meant to ensure a casual and comfortable ambiance. The polished concrete flooring adds a touch of added simplicity to the decor, being beautifully complemented by all the wooden accents. At the same time, large glass walls and windows ensure a strong and natural connection with the outdoors, letting and views and the light enter the rooms.

View in galleryA spiral staircase offers access to a lower level where additional spaces can be foundView in galleryThe staircase drops into another bedroom, equally tranquil and serene

A spiral staircase connects the main areas to a lower level where additional functions can be found. This is a smaller but equally cozy and welcoming space characterized by the same interior design elements, materials, colors and textures.

View in galleryCurtains and timber accents make the space feel cozy and welcoming while keeping it simplefeaturing curved glass walls" width="800" height="534" />View in galleryThe bathroom is open to the outdoors too, featuring curved glass walls

Villa with breathtaking views where the elements have been carefully curated

Read article : Villa with breathtaking views where the elements have been carefully curated

Architects: Architecture BRIO
Location: Tala, India
Year: 2016
Area: 2.421 ft²/ 225 m²
Photo courtesy: Photographix
Description:

“The Tree Villa perches on the cliff of a 160 acre hilltop ‘treesort’ property surrounded by a meandering river landscape. The idyllic setting in Tala on the West coast of India, is a stone’s throw away from the Kuda caves. Nearly 20 centuries ago, Buddhist monks instinctively understood the qualities of this meditative landscape and made the hills their home. The Tree Villa was conceived as a celebration of this landscape by creating a series of blurred transitional spaces with different levels of transparency and openness within this forested tropical setting.

Upon arrival, a timber bridge takes the visitor off the forest floor on to a large stilted deck that wraps around the house and culminates on a viewing platform. The constant reminder of breathtaking views enhances a reflective ambience that is mirrored throughout the house.

The architectural elements of the house have been carefully curated, each conveying a message of its own: the bathroom enclosure is crafted out of vertical timber slats filled in with mirrored panels that reflect the surrounding forest and the other forms occupying the space.

They are abstractly reminiscent of tree branches that droop, giving nature opportunities to peek through within a constantly animated shadow play of hide and seek.

The horizontal openness and airiness of the large voluminous space below a dominating thatched roof is emphasized by wrapping it with a layer of operable glass. The curved corners of this glazed wooden framework display a panoramic exhibit of nature. The curves create a sensual kind of luxury and bring softness to the space. A second layer of a tie dyed bordered sheer curtains filters the harsh light during the midst of the day and nestles three other enclosures as well.

The villa accommodates 4 adults and 2 children. The functions included provide for two double beds, a loft bed for children, two bathrooms, a lounge, a place for breakfast or paying board games with an outdoor deck and a large viewing deck. Rather than compartmentalizing those activities into distinct rooms, the main space is broken up by three smaller enclosures that are positioned within it, ensuring a visual connection to the forest in multiple directions from all rooms: a pantry-cum-loft unit, a semi-outdoor bathroom and a curtained bed enclosure act as anchors and define interstitial zones such as the breakfast room and the lounge. The free flowing circulation in between creates visual permeability across the plan.

As smaller spaces within a larger space, the bathroom and pantry-cum-loft are enclosures made out of a wooden slatted framework and filled in with white plexiglass.

The pantry unit contains all the services of the room and a small kitchenette. The top of the unit is accessed with a wooden ladder and provides an additional bed. Looking down on the surrounding forest it is almost like a ‘pirates nest’, a great cozy hideout for young kids.

The enclosure of the semi-outdoor bathroom encloses an outdoor courtyard but also protrudes into the glazed interior space. An old Garuga fruit tree punctures the floor of the outdoor bathroom. One branch enters the room and exits again through the thatched roof. Other branches spread across the outdoor bathroom before exiting through multiple circular openings in the enclosure. A free standing bath tub and the indoor-outdoor feel of the space make it an ideal relaxed setting.

A large luxurious king size bed within a soft linen fabric enclosure can be open or closed off depending on demands of privacy.

A spiral staircase connects to a secret lower level that is suspended below the tree villa. This guest suite is on one side backed by a rock outcrop and on the other side surrounded by a thick forest. You can take a shower here with merely a curved glazed sheet separating you and the forest life around you. A timber floored outdoor deck and attached staircase invites you to take a hike in the forest.

Elements and textures as parts of the structure are focused on coexistence. The monochrome colour scheme of the space along with an eclectic mix of partly restored and partly custom designed furniture pieces give the interior a bohemian vibe. The restraint in the colour palette highlights the surrounding greenery.

$1.3 Million Homes in Oregon, Michigan and California

Read article : $1.3 Million Homes in Oregon, Michigan and California

TAXES$10,412 a year, plus a homeowners’ association fee of $154 every six months

CONTACTSean Z Becker, Sean Z Becker Real Estate, 503-444-7400; seanzbecker.com

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Birmingham, Mich.

WHATA 1929 house with four bedrooms and three full and two half bathrooms

HOW MUCH$1.295 million

SIZE3,191 square feet

PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT$406

SETTINGThis two-story house is on a winding road lined with large, well-maintained homes, in a small, affluent city. Linden Park, which has a play structure and trail along the Rouge River, is steps away. The city center, with its cluster of restaurants, stores and movie theaters, is about a mile and a half away. The center of Detroit is about 20 miles southeast.

INDOORSA stone walkway leads to the main entrance, which has an arched wood door with a stained-glass panel. Inside, there are arched doorways, built-in shutters for most windows and hardwood floors. To one side of the foyer is a living room with a fireplace that connects to a study with built-in bookshelves. Straight ahead is the kitchen, updated several years ago with white cabinets and granite counters. Two steps down from the dining room is a sunroom that is a more recent addition, equipped with a dedicated furnace and French doors that open to the backyard patio.

A spiral staircase in a turret leads to the second floor, where the master bedroom has built-in cabinetry with granite counters along two walls, carpeting, a safe and an en-suite bathroom. Three other bedrooms and two full bathrooms are also on this level. Downstairs, the finished lower level has a family room with a fireplace, an office and a wet bar.

OUTDOOR SPACEThe driveway leads to a courtyard at the back of the house, which connects to an attached two-car garage. The 0.49-acre lot has many landscape features, including snaking hedges, numerous gardens, a patio with two seating areas and a koi pond with a stone retaining wall and fountain. There is also a brick garden shed in one corner of the backyard.

TAXES$14,791 a year

CONTACTAnne Hammond, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel, 248-225-8214; cbwm.com

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Inglewood, Calif.

WHATA fully renovated 1948 live-work building with two bedrooms and one bathroom

HOW MUCH$1.325 million

SIZE1,599 square feet

PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT$829

SETTINGThis house is in an urban area with a mix of residential and commercial buildings, about 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles and four from Los Angeles International Airport. A few steps away is the 55-acre Edward Vincent Jr. Park, with playgrounds, sports fields and a pool complex. A new Metro station is scheduled to open nearby in 2019, and a football stadium (for the N.F.L.’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers) with a related entertainment complex is under construction about three miles away and is expected to open in 2020.

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INDOORSThe current owner, the founder of the landscape firm Jack Price Design, completed renovations this year, including new electrical, plumbing, roof, windows and doors. Dutch doors at the front of the house open to a studio and office with concrete floors. A doorway leads to a large living room with a high ceiling, skylights and a built-in platform along one wall that serves as both casual seating and a surface for displaying art and objects. Beyond is a kitchen with Ikea cabinets, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Thermador range and an Asko dishwasher, and two Dutch doors leading to the backyard.

A hallway with large sliding wood doors leads to the two bedrooms; they share a bathroom with a tiled wet room that has an open rain shower, hand shower and toilet.

OUTDOOR SPACE The 0.26-acre lot has been professionally landscaped, with pavers, citrus trees in planters, tables and a firepit made from weathered diamond-plate steel. There is a pebbled patio with built-in bench seating and a dining area, as well as steps leading down through a terraced garden to a potting area under shade cloth.

TAXESAbout $16,500 a year, depending on purchase price

CONTACTAnastasia Bowen, Benjamin Leeds, 310-994-3003; 404warren.com

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