Category Archives: Unusual homes

There’s no place like Judy’s

Posted on February 12, 2011 | 1 comment

Hollywood history was written by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogard and Judy Garland. These people once partied in the same streets now frequented by the new Hollywood Royalty. Their former homes now often owned by anonymous owners. Every now and then one of them is up for sale as was the case with Ms Monroe’s home not too long ago. And now Judy Garland’s former residence is up for grabs. Grabs worth $5,5 million that is….

 

Judy Garland's home in Bel Air California

Image courtesy of Redfin real Estate

Garland in the back yard of the Bel Air home

LA curbed has more pictures of this home including the interior

 

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Posted in Homes of the rich and famous, See how others live, Unusual homes

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A single man home for sale

Posted on January 21, 2011 | 1 comment

Tom Ford’s award-winning movie A Single Man was aesthetically stunning. I was in awe with the decor, light, set dressing, design; everything. It helped that two of the most beautiful people in the world starred in it. I really loved Julianne Moore’s house, but was also quite partial to Colin Firth’s glass mid Century gem of a home.

Scene from the movie. Image by Hookedonhouses.net

The home, designed by renowned architect John Lautner, was built in 1949. It’s currently on the market for $1,495,000. The house has been recently restored to its original natural redwood and glass beauty. A classic that Frank Gehry and Frank Escher both count among their absolute favorite homes. It boasts so many glass walls it feels transparent at times.

John Lautner's Schaffer Residence

Want to know more about John Lautner? The Homevoyeurs.com webshop sells many books about this influential 20th Century architect. For instance this coffee table book Lautner, 1911-1994: disappearing Space, by Barbara-Ann Campbell-Lange. It’s on sale for $9.99.

Lautner, 1911-1994: Disappearing Space

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Posted in Famous buildings and movie locations, Homes of the rich and famous, Products from the Homevoyeurs.com webshop, Unusual homes

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Dutch apartment building for sale for 1 Euro.

Posted on January 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

An earlier Homevoyeurs.com post dealt with the question whether or not a council estate could be considered a monument. Park Hill in Sheffield got a grade II listing placing it in the top 7% of most important UK buildings. In the article Homevoyeurs compared Park Hill with the Amsterdam neighbourhood Bijlmermeer. Coincidence has it, Amsterdam housing association Rochdale is trying to sell off an entire apartment building in the Bijlmermeer. The entire building, with hundreds of apartments, is for sale for the symbolic figure of 1 euro. The 11 story structure is almost certainly going to be torn down as renovation costs are too expensive. It’s monstrous appearance however,  is testament to its birth period and some people think it should be preserved and get monumental status.

Kleiburg

Judge for yourself. But bear in mind that some of the world’s most famous buildings were once erected despite many protests. The Eiffel Tower being one. Up to far after its completion, and far after it proved its touristic success, people wanted to have it torn down. Not saying Bijlmermeer is like Paris, but let’s try to consider its historical value. Isn’t it worth preserving just for that? To illustrate a page in Dutch building history?

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Posted in Unusual homes

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Home Arteconomy in Belgium

Posted on January 14, 2011 | 1 comment

A Belgian couple commissioned Flemish architecture firm 51N4E to drastically renovate their farm-house. It was to be a place that was open and closed, private and public, sophisticated and rugged.

Arteconomy Courtesy of 51N4E

The couple, middle aged, had long wished to found a meeting place for people interested in the link between art and economy. Their own love for modern art drew them to modernistic architecture. The lay-out of their home, which they loved, did not meet the requirements for such a space. It needed a special treatment to fit its purpose as meeting point for creative interaction. The Brussels based architecture firm went to work, and with success.

Arteconomy courtesy of 51N4E

Most notable feature is a thin steel wall framing the surrounding fields and nature. It wraps around parts of the old home, and parts of the new add-ons. It seeps sparse lights where privacy and a darker setting is needed, and abundantly lets light through where openness is key.

Arteconomy courtesy of 51N4E

The owners often invite writers, artists and architects to stay in the house for creative retreats.

I like the building, it’s great, but the name of the house (gosh, art and economy meet… how to call this… I know! Arteconomy…) and the unpronounceable name of the firm make the hairs on my neck stand up.

photographer Åke Eson Lindman

 

 

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Posted in Design, designers and online finds, Unusual homes

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