Cool Design News

Shengzhe Shen

Hotel

Sunday, 2 August 2026

Zenstay

Zenstay is a boutique hotel on Dongji Island in Zhoushan, China. The project is a reconstruction of an original stone house on a hillside. Local dwelling forms and natural textures guided the design. The original stone and timber structure is preserved, and new white blocks connect the separated public spaces. An atrium and a staircase link the old and the new parts. Materials include concrete, local ashlar, old larch wood, used grey tiles and stucco. The hotel holds nine sea view guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a conference room and a viewing platform.

Zhe Wang of SZA Architects

Apartment

Saturday, 1 August 2026

Xizhimen Port

Xizhimen Port is an apartment building in Beijing, China. The ten-story structure was built in the 1980s and later renovated for young urban tenants. The new facade is formed by aluminum window frames that project out from the exterior wall. The frames organize the exposed beams and columns of the original building and provide space for the air conditioning unit of each room. Inside each frame, the color shifts from orange at the top to pale yellow at the bottom. Added windows on the east and west walls increase daylight by 50 percent.

Boguslaw Barnas

Residential Architecture

Friday, 31 July 2026

The Farmhouse

The Farmhouse is an example of the transformation of a typical rural homestead into a residential mansion. In the place of five existing farm buildings scheduled for demolition, the project team proposed five contemporary farm buildings. The newly designed forms have a shape, which results from the reference to the existing farm layout, terrain, view axes, functional needs, division into residential zones and location of trees.

Yaser and Yasin Rashid Shomali

Holiday House

Thursday, 30 July 2026

Lako

Used a solid and simple form to make a powerful and safe feeling. The primary goal was to create harmony with the surrounding by extending the sloping roof to the ground. Thus, the futuristic and modern form was born during this process. Contrary to a solid and cold exterior, the interior has fluid shapes, warm colors, and unique floor materials to make a cozy feel. Also, the low level conventional area brings down the viewer's eye level and presents different points of view.

Nobuhito Mori

House

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Double Skin

This building is a three-story wooden structure in a densely built up area of Tokyo. Although the site is small and the distance from the neighboring land is only about 1m, light and privacy were required. Inspired by the traditional Japanese shoji which softens the light, the designer have created a modern light filter that is resistant to wind and rain and can also be used outside. The translucent cladding on facade softens the light from outside and blurs the visibility of both passerby's and inhabitants. At night, the lighted facade become a large light to illuminate the streets.

Cristina Menezes

Residential House

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Casa Acqua

Casa Acqua is a residential house built in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The layout follows early Roman dwellings, with four modules arranged around an inner courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by water mirrors that recall a central fountain. All modules are fully open to allow natural ventilation and daylight, so air conditioning is not required. Vertical awnings and windshields provide privacy and protection from sun, rain, insects and strong winds. Prefabricated modules shortened construction time and reduced waste. The total area is two hundred and ten square meters.

Cool Design News

Zenstay

Xizhimen Port

The Farmhouse

Lako

Double Skin

Casa Acqua

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