Can't afford the real thing?

Love architecture but know you will never get to live in your dream house? What about a mini house instead to sit inside your own place? As a child I was fascinated by the dolls houses in the Museum of Childhood which perhaps explains why I love these.

I discovered them on this American site The Future Perfect. Which led me on to their own site Chisel & Wood. Each "building" is hand made with strong plaster and can be hung on a wall. I think my favourite are the ones from around the 1920's. Arsenal stadium would be a no-no due to Spurs supporting boyfriend.

Also loving the Curiosity Monkey by Committee below these - just the right side of kitsch and would look great on my new (imaginary) dressing table.

A barn conversion with a difference

Love this barn conversion in Connecticut. The actual barn itself is pretty young for a conversion - created in the 60's. Which is perhaps partly why it seems so unique. The wall of windows is stunning. Plus the repeat of all the smaller windows running down the side. I love how they have added the 'cob' style elements inside. It seems like a really nice way to create a cosy environment in what otherwise might have been an open, minimal, and perhaps cold feeling space.

Discovered on the Urban Addict where you can view more images.

Japanese Love Hotels

I am a big fan of the author Haruki Murakami and have read most of his books. Often strange, and surreal stories set in Japan. Many of the books mention love hotels. In the hope of finding some amazingly kitsch images,  I did a bit of googling and was not let down! There are Hello Kitty themed rooms, doctors surgery style rooms, full on S&M dungeons, rooms with waterfalls, rooms made to look like the stationary cupboards, or perhaps a train carriage is more your thing?! My favourite are the old school 70s ones - lots of images of those on this site.

left source, right source

boat hotel, source, right source

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pick your room, source

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Chimney Pot Park - Salford

Whilst looking for images of chimneys on google image, I came across a picture of this place in Salford. The tiny two up two down terraced houses in the north were not really designed for modern living and so these were left to rot until redesigned. The living space is on the top floor, the new roofs incorporate 'chimney roof lights' providing extra light. Read more about it here.

before (image from national archives

6 Rue du Lac - Brussels

Another Art Nouveux house, I posted about one the studios on Talgarth Road, in London a while back.

This is one of those images you find on Pinterest and think, ooh where is that, and find no original link or anything. Which can be very annoying. However, when it comes to finding the origins of images on the internet, I am quite a good detective.

This house is positioned on Rue du Lac in Brussels and was designed by Ernest Delune (1859-1947), However that is as far as I got, no pictures of the interior or anything. Boooo.

Cappadocia cave hotel

Did you see this hotel in the latest Elle magazine? Yunak Evleri in Turkey, it looks incredible!

St Paul's Studios, Talgarth Road

I remember seeing these years ago, stuck in traffic on the Mega Bus! on a long and painful journey to I can't remember where. Blocked it out of my mind. But these buildings stayed. Not knowing that part of London however, I didn't really have any info or the whereabouts to go back and have another look.

I spied these on good old Tumblr though and it all came back to me. I think what made the buildings stick in my mind so much are the huge windows dotted along the front of the building.

Some more investigation shows that the building was designed by Frederick Wheeler (1853–1931) and was financed by James Gunter (an English confectioner, market gardener and property developer) who wanted `specially designed to suit the requirements of bachelor artists and with accommodation for a housekeeper on the lower floor' (info stolen from Wiki)

The buildings are situated close to Baron's Court station, should you want to go have a look for yourself.

image from here

Housing estates, old and older

Has anyone been watching the BBC program "The Secret History of our Streets?" Last night was about Arnold Circus in Shoreditch, somewhere I have always found fascinating to walk around. The program informed us that Arnold Circus (now grade II listed) was The first housing estate in the UK, although failed in that it couldn't afford to house the areas poorest of poor.

There still seems to be quite a community feel in Arnold circus though, despite the obvious changes in the area. I have yet to catch a band at the band stand in the summer, which looks great. 

Arnold Circus 1901 more fascinating pictures here.

On a slightly different note, I love a bit of 60's architecture and the fact it causes so much debate.
My sister, Alice told me about the Alexandra and Ainsworth estate she lives near, and I was intrigued. I now walk past the estate every day on my way to work so have done a bit of research. See their community website for more information.

images from Open Buildings

They have a great website with a brilliant film made by the residents. "it's great, apart from the dog shit' is all one resident had to say. As with most of the housing architecture of the time, it was a bit of a social experiment, so there are some elements that fail and some that don't.

Martino Gamper and Francis Upritchard’s flat

I spied this on HomeCollection's blog. It's the home of artist Francis and furniture designer Martino who live in an ex-council flat in Hackney. These photographs on T Magazine, show that with a large amount of creativity, even the most boring house can be made unique and individual.

see more pictures here.

Beautiful Princelet Street

I came across these beautiful images online of a house on Princelet Street, off Brick Lane. Number 4 to be precise. I used to walk down this road everyday on my way to work and try and stare in the windows with not much luck. So it's nice to see these.You can see more on their site.

There is not enough wood in modern homes is there?! I did some more research and discovered that you could buy another house on the street for £2,250,000 (ouch!) Number 19 Princelet Street also looks pretty incredible, built in 1719. The first occupants were Huguenot weavers, much later in 1869 Jewish settlers errected a synagogue in the garden which I think is what is pictured below.

image from thebrimstonebutterfly.blogspot.com

You can read more about this place on this site. The place requires much needed funding apparently to save it, check out their site and donate. Finally, I discovered that 24 has been almost completely rebuilt, see below, an interesting article about it on Spitalfields Life.

image from Spitalfields Life

Go to Wiltons Music Hall!

Finally went here last night for a few drinks. Its tucked away in a quiet part of town hidden behind a few council estates. I didn't get to see the main hall, we went to the bar which is open any day of the week. I will definitely be going back for a proper event. Perhaps Barbara Windsor opening the tea and cakes afternoon!

There are some nice pictures on this blog, which show the beautiful decaying details of the place.

They desperately need funding to help save the place as they lost out on a bid from the Heritage Lottery trust. So go and show your support! www.wiltons.org.uk

Random Internet Finds

from designinspiration

by photographer Jasper James

By photographer Shelly Jones

from designinspiration