courtesy Luxhaus

An oasis of calmness or an architecture with a license to party? This house is full of emotions.

L³ (reads: cubic) – LUXHAUS Lifestyle Loft. The name is for the cubic forms, the floor plan and the modern and timeless architecture of the hybrid – something between bungalow and loft – going new ways with breaking the rules through the form of its upper floor.

courtesy Luxhaus

The architecture convinces by two ingeniously engaging cuboids, extending in spatial colonnades and finally seam to disparish. The construction appears like a sculpture, the functional interior of the house therefore is astonishing. The typical colours of the company Luxhaus – red and white – attracts. The façade formerly plastered, now got a facelift with large format ALUCOBOND® panels in Sparkling red and Spectra White Silver.

courtesy Luxhaus

The relation to the exterior creates an ambiance being part of the architecture with large window areas.

The large roof-terrace invites for cool parties or a chaise longue with view to the stars.

+ Project facts

Project: LUXHAUS Lifestyle Loft
Location: Im Gewerbepark 30 d, 91093 Heßdorf – Fertighauswelt, Nürnberg, Germany
Façade Material: ALUCOBOND® Sparkling Red & spectra® White Silver
Architect & Owner: Luxhaus
Year: 2013
Photos: Luxhaus
Bemerkungen: Elemente bis zu 6 m Länge, im Holzhausbau möglich durch gemischte Holz/Alu UK.

+ All images courtesy Luxhaus

courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects

The new canteen in Paderborn is part of a master plan development of the two largest schools in the central city of Paderborn – Pelizaeus and Reismann Secondary Schools. In multiple steps the location will be developed to a common campus for formation, education and sports. The schoolyards are melting with the public space, building open access from a popular residential area to the historic city centre of Paderborn. The oval form of the canteen enabling a fluid intersection of all parts of the schoolyards is the attractive centre of the new campus and communicates with the different existing buildings.

courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects

Besides the master plan there was another reason for the bent surface: an optimal relation of insulated envelope against the floor space – a morphologic initial point for the ecological concept and energy saving architecture.

On three floors the new building accomodates room for the full time care of the pupils,the activities of teachers, parents and sports clubs. On the basement floor there are two multi-functional sports rooms, the ground floor and the upper floor provides space for the meals or as auditorium.

courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects

The whole space was optimized by dynamic building simulations with regard to energetics, daylight exploitation and caustic. A maximum amount of 27 kWh/m² was set for the effective energy consumption and even is falling below when realised. The bent façade is de facto of the same size as the horizontal boundary surface of base and roof floor! The cladding of the significant form is made with ALUCOBOND spectra® panels. Sizes up to 6 meter in length enable a precise joint pattern and elegant appearance. The bracing of the sub-structure was effectuated in stainless steel to minimize the thermal bridge.

courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects

All connections window benches and roof edges are equalled in section and material and thus support the unity of the outer ALUCOBOND® skin, shimmering in tender red or turquoise colours depending on the angle of the daylight.

+ Project facts

Location: Reismannsweg 2, 33100 Paderborn, Germany
Material: ALUCOBOND spectra® Sakura 917
Construction: Bent Tray Panels
Architect: Matern Wäschle, Grünebaumstr.2, 33098 Paderborn
Fabricator: Prudens GmbH, Wackenbergstr. 84-88, 13156 Berlin
Year: 2011-2012
Pictures: courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects, Paderborn

+ All images and drawings courtesy Matern Wäschle Architects

When decorating your home, no doubt you'll want to do it on the smallest possible budget. There's nothing more satisfying than hunting for beautiful bargains, but there are some things that it's not so wise to try and save money on, as it could end up costing you extra in the long run when it comes to replacing them. Investing in some of the following items is well worth the extra cost.

Bed Linen

The truth is that most of us spend a large proportion of our time in bed, and getting a comfortable night's sleep is crucial if you want to feel alert and active during the day. If you're redecorating and need new bed linen, you should really consider opting for something that's going to last. Cheaper bedding sets are often a little rough, and can begin to bobble over the course of a few months. Investing in good quality bed linen will ensure your sheets are soft and comfortable, and the price will probably equate to what you'd spend on replacing cheaper bedding anyway.

Wooden Flooring

It's both practical and looks great, but choosing cheap wooden flooring is a decision you could live to regret a few years down the line. It's easily damaged if you drop anything heavy on it, and gets spoilt by scuffs and scratches. Heavy duty, genuine wooden flooring is much more hardwearing, meaning it'll last a life time if you maintain it correctly. It also looks much better than cheaper kinds, and could even add value to your home.

Dining Room Table

If you have children, then the dining room table can end up taking quite a battering. Mealtimes and homework projects are often centred around your dining table, so like with wooden flooring, it's worth investing in something hardwearing. A large, oak dining set will look expensive and would make an amazing feature in any home. You could even invest in a custom-made tablecloth to help protect it for years to come.

Pots and Pans

Good quality cooking equipment can make all the difference if you consider yourself a bit of a culinary whizz. Pots and pans are the main thing you should look to invest in to make rustling up home-cooked food a breeze, but knives are important too. The Teflon will be better quality on more expensive pans and they'll last much longer than cheaper ones, meaning you'll probably save money in the long run.