Toby Orton

London

Freelance Writer and Editor at Freelance

freelance writer/editor at https://t.co/mig2iaKToM / https://t.co/2hZkVqyLSr / https://t.co/TGavnGjAWh / https://t.co/7TroZCQrrU

Articles

Architects Kendle Design Create an Expansive Desert Home in Paradise Valley - PLAIN Magazine

2 weeks ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

On the edge of a golf course, subtly emerging from against the dry Paradise Valley, Arizona backdrop, the Desert Fairways Residence by Kendle Design beautifully blends a balance of architecture and environment. Designed to harmonize with its native desert surroundings, the home presents low-slung, earth-toned volumes up against a dramatic folded metal roof that shelters its main living space.
A House in Ghent Mixes Color and Material for Impact

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

Architects Ruben Rottiers and Emily Pescod of Luchtschip Architectuur have transformed Brus, their own 1938 interwar house in Ghent into a vibrant and sustainable family home, mixing material and color to great effect. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood moments from the city center, the original property had little beyond its authentic façade and ideal North-South orientation worth preserving, which meant wholesale changes.
The Meraki House is a Mix of Luxury and Rustic Refinement Amidst the Lush Greek Landscape

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

Nestled in a stunning spot high on the terraced mountains of central Crete, Meraki House by Sigurd Larsen is a serene retreat linked to the nearby Meraki Hotel. Set on a plateau surrounded by ancient olive trees and dense shrubs, the guest house balances architectural impact with a deep sensitivity to its place on the hillside.
KOTO Create a Modular Flat Pack Cabin that Can Go Almost Anywhere

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

Designed with the form and function in mind to appeal to the design-savvy cabin enthusiast who values aesthetics on top of performance, KOTO‘s out of the box (or shipping container) structures can be erected wherever there is space. A UK-based design studio, KOTO made a name for itself with its minimalist cabins that promote nature-connected architecture.
A Playful, Elemental Cabin home by a Lake in Brazil

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

In Brazil, backdropped by towering hills covered in lush vegetation, this tiered residence balances architectural expression with the highest regard for its environment. Designed by VD Arquitetura in response to strict land regulations, the Toque Toque Grande II Residence is composed of two distinct volumes connected by a ramp block that dissects the outdoor space.
A Philippe Starck-Designed Mansion Tops a Nine Story Hotel in France

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

In Metz, a city in the northeastern region of France, an 18th-century mansion appears on the roof of a nine-story building, creating a curious, surrealist edifice overlooking the city. While one might half expect to find Edward Scissorhands in residence, the building is open to all as the luxury hotel Maison Heler. Designed by Philippe Starck, the hotel is the domain of the fictional Monsieur Heler, whose Starck-conceived backstory influenced its conception.
A 'Normal House' In Ireland Gets an Irregular Extension

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

Located in Ireland but owing much of its design to inspiration taken from the social housing of Camden, North London, the ‘Normal House’ combines a classic suburban semi-detached home with the daring modernist architecture of inner-city post-war Britain. Armed with a refreshingly straightforward brief; to extend a traditional home outwards to introduce a new kitchen, utility area, and WC, t o b Architect were able to elevate the desired simplicity.
Studio Andrew Trotter Updates an Evocative Villa in Puglia

1 month ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

A dreamy retreat towards the sole of the boot of Italy’s mainland, this idyllic escape was inspired by the coastal villas of Puglia. Architects Studio Andrew Trotter seamlessly blended traditional craftsmanship with modern living to update Casa Maiora to a place that celebrated tradition while embracing contemporary style.
Brooklyn Meets Sweden in the Redesign of this Greenpoint Townhouse

2 months ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

A project by Lea Architecture, this Brooklyn townhouse in Greenpoint was transformed for clients who split their time between New York and Sweden, taking on Scandi design elements while embracing the history and tradition of the building. Formerly a two-family residence, the project seamlessly transformed the building into a single three-story upper duplex for the clients, while preserving a commercial space and four-car garage below.
A Contemporary Home Pops Up in a Forest in Quebec

2 months ago | plainmagazine.com | Toby Orton

Nestled at the base of a hill surrounded by dense forest in a suburb of Quebec, Q8 Residence by Menard Dworkind is a striking building, balancing contemporary design with a desire to ingratiate itself within the natural habitat. Embracing its wooded surroundings, the home presents a closed, windowless façade to the road, enhancing its privacy while beyond its exterior shell unfolding into a light-filled sanctuary on the southern side.