Miami Ink

Orange Architects is a joint collaboration between three architecture firms; JSA, Cimka and Hofman Dujardin. They were established with the design have of three modern luxury villas for a luxurious housing development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Villa Ajmakan, 800m²:

Located on the northwest side of the city of Riyadh, the villa is organized in three living floors. On the majestic ground floor with a ceiling height of almost 4m the formal living, formal dining and the Majilis are located. All of these precious formal rooms have views to the green and the fountains in the garden. Perforated concrete give a sublime light effect to the Majilis. The large formal entrance with la central staircase is lighted through the direct sunlight which enters the core of the house through the water fountain with a glass floor located on the top floor. All of the formal rooms are accessed from the formal entrance. With the use of warm textures, fabrics, tiles and lightning each formal room has a beautiful and warm atmosphere. The formal entrance with white walls and a travertine floor is modern and elegant.

Villa Ajmakan II, 460m²:

The magic and spatial beauty of a natural cavern, a Cenote, with its carved out spaces and halls, was the inspiration of the Orange design team for this assignment. The Cenote appears as an indoor oasis, naturally lit by stripes of daylight that reflect in its enclosed pond. A perfect example of sublime architectural quality, defined by space, material and light. For the Ajmakan prototype villa the concept of the Cenote was translated in a compact spatial stacking of the different rooms, with an exiting internal space in between for disconnecting the different functions. By doing so we are able to position the different parts of the program exactly the way the client wants, and at the same time create architectural excitement. Thereby the concept is flexible and comfortable. Room positions can be altered to individual wishes, but the spatial concept stays the same. Central theme in this concept is the quality of the in-between space. This in- between space, the void, offers strategic views in different directions, both vertical and horizontal, while preventing the villa for an over exposure to the sun. Daylight is directed carefully and deep in to the house and at the same time the void functions as an effective tool for natural ventilation.

Orange Architects, established in 2008, is an intense collaboration with the architectural offices HofmanDujardin from Amsterdam and Cimka from Rotterdam.

Since mid 2010 the cooperation intensified. The three agencies complement each other very well, both in substance and in terms of the additional expertise that the different agencies offer.

Orange has been working since successfully on projects in the Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

An Orange website is in the process of being developed.

FOR SALE: 1600 The Strand, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Built in 1985 by well-known architect Ray Kappe of Kappe +Du architects, the 5200 square foot, 3 bedroom 6 bathroom beach front home, known as the Scheimer Residence, on California's Manhattan Beach Strand has recently gone on the market for the first time since the house was constructed.

The modernist masterpiece with views to die for and a rooftop pool is represented by Crosby Doe, for the asking price of $13,500,000.

Not one of my personal favorite of Kappe's -- I prefer the look and layout of his wooden beam homes like his Benton residence in Brentwood (which is the home of David Duchovny's character in Californication) his Millner-Myler Residence in Oakland as well as his new prefab structures for Living Homes), one cannot deny that the location and views of this home are almost unparalleled.

The sculpted, stainless steel door, a work of art on its own, pivots on its axis, inviting guests into this large concrete, steel and glass Ray Kappe designed house on Manhattan Beach's world-famous Strand, inches from the sand and sea.   

A three-story atrium, paneled in teak, is filled with exotic plants.

The atrium reaches up to the kitchen which opens into a great room with a bar and sweeping views.

A floating staircase, with glass steps leads to the media room, three bed-rooms, six baths and a pool deck. For the less athletic, there is an elevator.

 Located on a northern corner and cradled in the curve of the coastline, the house commands a Queen's Necklace view that extends from the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina to the south, and north all the way to Malibu.

  It's a very sexy, romantic house, it's a fantastic weekend retreat for someone who wants a second home, or for somebody who wants to get out of the city and live at the beach full time.   Above, the master suite is open and light-filled, a loft-like space that projects outward, over the living room, sharing its monumental windows and spectacular views of the beach.

The bedroom is completely surrounded by curtains that can enclose for privacy and darkness. Above, a translucent Japanese-inspired screen can be retracted, opening the high-ceilinged room to the domed skylight.

  The adjoining master bath is an indulgent private spa, featuring his-and-her water closets, a freestanding, black tile Jacuzzi tub and an immense granite and tile steam shower with its own view into the swimming pool from below the water's surface.

  The master bedroom has its own private staircase, leading to the rooftop deck and lap pool. White steel railings carry on the steamship theme to the summit of the house. It is an ideal space for poolside parties or just sunbathing.