A Calm And Meditative Australian Beach House
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Back from the beach, just beyond the privacy of a lush thicket, stands a modern beach house on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. Created by Shaun Lockyer Architects, Arakoon is a distinguished oceanfront house with three levels that nestle into the coastal dunes next to Noosa National Park. The stone and concrete home design was inspired by the gorges of Paradise Caves, Devil’s Kitchen and Lions Rock which are located to the north of the site. Rigid, narrow spaces are combined with openly extending spaces to create juxtaposition and heighten architectural experiences. Tangible, robust materials suit the context. Granite, weathered timber, and concrete spread from the exterior to the interior walls and floors, blurring boundaries.
Located in the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara nations, the Arakoon lodge rests high above the dunes to get the best views of the Sunshine Coast. Its brutalist concrete exterior thrusts long linear lines into the clear blue sky of Queensland, Australia. Dense bushes and trees soften the aesthetic, merging it sympathetically into the landscape.
The clean modern home exterior makes a smooth contrast with the site’s rolling topography. At the back of the house, the architecture has a commanding presence where it boldly measures the coast.
Healthy green lawns cover the home’s terraces, held together by wide white concrete borders and rustic stone paths. Glass balustrades run clear along the perimeter, leaving the sparkling ocean view unobstructed.
At the front of the house, the linear concrete architecture is much less impressive. Here, it appears as a one-story structure with a large parking garage. Plants spill down from a shallow overhang to soften the brutalist aesthetic.
The continuation of raw concrete, natural stone and wood elements into the home interior blurs the distinction between what is inside and outside. Rock paths flow directly from the terrace into the hallway of the home in a single sweeping line.
Concrete pergolas filter sunlight around the house’s terraces and windows, providing shaded outdoor areas and cooler interior rooms. Black window and door frames severely interrupt the light bare concrete and masonry walls to achieve a contemporary presentation.
Clean architectural lines and a simple material palette evoke a calm and meditative aesthetic befitting the happy place. High walls surround the property to ensure complete privacy for its residents and their neighbours,
On the rustic stone floor terrace, an outdoor dining table is located under the overhang of the second floor. An outdoor fireplace is set into a stone wall at the edge of the alfresco dining area, encouraging outdoor socializing well into the night.
A stone covered patio is home to a grill. Here, the owners of the house can cook food with smoky barbecue flavors. The outdoor kitchen can be accessed directly from the open plan living room. Inside the living area, there is a fully equipped and generously sized kitchen layout with a long dining island.
A gray sectional sofa hugs the living room area in a conversational arrangement. A pair of modern coffee tables nestle in front of the sofa, ready to hold drinks and snacks.
A rectangular dining table pushes up against an edge-to-edge window, where banquette seating is built in against the frame. A trio of dining room pendant lights hangs a sculptural arrangement along the length of the wooden table.
Just outside the living room, a compact pool design rushes against the windowpane.
The stone patio provides an airy breeze for the living room. It is also a connective space that connects different areas of the home. A beautiful tree makes an eye-catching yard centerpiece.
The small courtyard connects the main open plan living area with a much smaller TV room. The comfortable TV room is darkened to allow better screen viewing.
A corridor patio runs off the side of the pool design. Beautiful stepping stones dot the surface of the water.
The patio areas help anchor the home in its natural location.
The house unfolds as a series of spatial and volumetric architectural moments that keep the eye wandering and the mind enthralled.
Glass balustrades and exterior windows are thoughtfully aligned to ensure an open flow of images from one volume to the next.
Outdoor furniture keeps a low profile on the bedroom balconies to soak up the spectacular coastal panorama.
Concrete bedrooms are covered with natural golden wood to create a warm and textured look that complements the sandy beach beyond the balcony. Surface mounted spotlights dot the concrete ceiling. The master bedroom is a large space with a fabulous balcony area. Modern works of art cheerfully color the neutral-toned decor.
Bedroom furniture is kept simple, with a casually dressed bed and an understated bedroom chair. Bedside tables and an occasional side table provide storage and convenient surface areas for personal effects. Modern wall sconces offer reading light next to the cushions and a ceiling fan cools the air.
Inside the bathroom, natural stone still rustically characterizes the walls and floor. A linear vanity unit, a unique bud vase and a freestanding bathtub bring modern style.
Apart from the master bedroom, the bedrooms are small in scale. This compact size is more than adequate for sleeping and is easily cooled by the adjacent patio.
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A Calm And Meditative Australian Beach House
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Prices and Types of Flooring Tiles in Pakistan
Guide for flooring tiles and their rates
Bathrooms and kitchens were previously the most typical places in Pakistan to find tile flooring. In contrast to mosaic or marble flooring, which would have been historically popular in residences, now it is widespread and completely fashionable for newly built houses to employ tiles as being the most frequent flooring type. As a result, if you’re renovating your home’s flooring or building a new one, you’ll need to know what type of tile to use and how much it’ll cost. Keep on reading as we go so over different construction tiles available in Pakistan, as well as their prices based on sub-varieties, brands, and some other criteria.
Types of Flooring Tiles
Let us discuss the most common varieties of floor tiles in Pakistan
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are one of the most popular clay-based tiles on the market. They are mined, prepared, and molded before use. Their ability to blend in with almost any type of interior décor will astound you. Ceramic tiles’ most important features include their long lifespan, variety of applications, and strong resistance to scratches and abrasion.
They can sustain years of constant foot activity thanks to their durability. They provide a diverse range of design options. Ceramic tiles feature matchless colors and patterns and thus are usually covered in a durable finish. Ceramic tiles, but will not be used outside because they cannot withstand the heat and therefore do not adapt well to the freezing temperatures that winter brings. They have a proclivity for moisture absorption.
Porcelain Tiles
Someone frequently classified porcelain tiles as ceramic tiles because of the subtle differences between them and ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are made of denser clay but are fired at greater temperatures than non-porcelain ceramic tiles. As a function, the material is much more durable and resistant to harm. Porcelain tiles, unlike standard ceramic tiles, can be utilized outside because of their low porosity and improved resilience to cold and extreme temperatures.
Porcelain tiles are available in polished and unpolished finishes and thus are suited for a range of domestic and commercial applications with light foot traffic. They also are available in glazed versions, but this is less durable.
Granite Tiles
Granite tiles are the best choice whether you’re planning to put tiles in a high-traffic location. They’re made of granite, a dense and durable igneous rock. This rock’s speckled minerals and unique veining not just set it apart from other materials, but the mix of the two also ensures that neither two granite surfaces are alike. Granite tiles have such a fantastic reputation in the flooring industry because of this. Luxurious establishments get a strong demand for them since they are produced in a large variety of colors and have a great aesthetic value.
The natural and durable material utilized aids the scratch-resistant surface. Granite tiles are light and tiny in size, making them easy to work with. They are also acid-resistant. Granite tiles, like marble floors, are highly porous and stain-prone. However, once polished, they perform admirably in terms of scratch resistance.
Travertine Tiles
Travertine pieces are made of travertine, a form of limestone found in hot springs, natural spring springs, and caves all around the world. The material comes in a variety of hues and has pits or a rough texture that is caused by air bubbles and organic materials. Travertine tiles have such a beautiful surface that illuminates and provides your interior area with a natural look.
The durability of the travertine material can be judged by the fact that it was used to build the ancient Roman structures which can be seen in Italy today. As a result, the travertine is an excellent choice for temples, sculptures, and theatres. It is now commonly used in the construction of pathways, restrooms, pool decks, as well as other areas in which there is a lot of water exposure. Travertine is 100 percent biodegradable, giving it an ecologically friendly material. It’s both long-lasting and easy to manage.
Even though it’s a less expensive alternative than some other high-end materials, travertine tiles still are pricey, and so many people cannot afford to install them.
Slate Tiles
Slate, which is mined from natural mineral deposits, is one of the most popular floor coverings. It aids throughout the production of extremely durable tiles while still inducing natural beauty to give your floor a stunning appearance. The material can maintain a room warm even while providing a safe flooring option because of its high slip resistance. Regardless of the fact that slate tiles are less expensive than marble and granite tiles, they still are regarded as high-end and attain a greater price than ceramic tiles.
Sandstone Tiles
Sandstone tiles are designed to give your outdoor spaces a deep, natural feel. Pool surrounds, patios, and walks are among the most typical applications. Sandstone tiles come in many colors, patterns, and sizes, and they add a great earthy touch to every space.
Matte Vs Glossy
As stated earlier, a print, design, or pattern is applied on ceramic and porcelain tiles after they’ve been cooked throughout the kiln. The magnitude of these effects can vary, as well as the resulting pattern can be glossy or matte.
Matte tiles are commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms where there are a lot of water spills because shiny tiles could be highly slippery in high-traffic areas. Shiny tiles give the floor a sheen and add elegance to a room’s appearance, rendering them more popular in lounge spaces and drawing rooms. Granite tiles will not have prints imposed on them since they are made of natural rock, and they are usually available in matte varieties with a coating applied to give them even more enduring.
Half-body Vs Full-body
The amount of wear and tear that full-body and half-body tiles can withstand is the key difference. Concrete pavers are always half-body, which implies that after they are manufactured, a thin layer of paint is applied to a tile. Porcelain tiles, on the other side, come in half-and full-body variants. Because the printed layer on half-body tiles is just a few centimeters thick, when the tile is broken, the top layer would be exposed, exposing white or red clay beneath.
Full-body tiles, on the other hand, are designed to have their color, pattern, or design walk the length of the tile. When these tiles are chipped or filed away, they expose a second layer with the same design as the first, rather than a patch of clay underneath, that can be unsightly. Granite tiles, unlike the other two, are always full-body because they are cut from genuine rock.
Round-edged Vs Laser-cut
Tiles have always been put with a certain number of spaces between them, which are filled with grout. Depending on the manufacturing methods used and the material used, they could be round-edged or laser-cut. Granite tiles, for example, always are laser-cut away from the rock, resulting in sharp edges. Ceramic tiles, on the other hand, normally have rounded edges, but porcelain comes in a combination of both options.
What Type Of Tile Should I Use And Why?
You now know about the three most common varieties of flooring tiles in Pakistan; choosing between these may well be influenced by a variety of factors, such as.
- Size
- Strength
- Durability
- Target area
- Availability of patterns
- Ease of installation
- Cost
Here is another quick rundown of the factors to consider about this before deciding on the tile that’s right for you.
Size
Tiles come in a variety of sizes, with 1224 inches, 1236 inches, 1824 inches, 2424 inches, and etc being one of the most frequent for central living areas. Larger square tiles are recommended for lounges, drawing areas, and dining rooms, in short. The most common sizes for corner walk-in showers are 912 inches and 1218 inches. Some individuals, though, prefer to use larger tiles in restrooms because they make a small space appear larger.
Tiles come in a variety of sizes, with 12*24 inches, 12*36 inches, 18*24 inches, 24*24 inches, and etc being the most frequent for central living areas. Larger square tiles are recommended for couches, drawing areas, and dining rooms, in short. The most common sizes for corner walk-in showers are 9*12 inches and 12*18 inches. Some individuals, though, prefer to be using larger tiles in restrooms because they make a tiny space appear larger.
Strength
Granite is by far the most durable alternative available, however ceramic is the most vulnerable to breaking and damage. Porcelain tiles will be in the middle of the strength spectrum, but they outperform ceramic equivalents.
Durability
The durability of a tile also is determined by its strength. This implies that of the three alternatives, granite is by far the most durable. Granite also is easy to polish and restore to its former brilliance over time, but porcelain and ceramic tiles may have to be replaced.
Target Area
Because ceramic and porcelain tiles are not too slippery, they are commonly used in the kitchen and bathroom, while glossy tiles of both types are ideal for central living areas where water spills are uncommon. If we truly want your kitchen to survive, go along with granite tiles, which are not only more water-resistant than the other two but also more resistant to damage, cracks, and chips in the event that you drop a large pot or pan on the ground accidentally.
Availability Of Patterns
Geometric, floral, wood, and a variety of many other designs are being printed on half-body ceramic or porcelain tiles, leading to a new boom in the tiling sector. Full-body porcelain tiles, on the other hand, have fewer variations since it is more difficult to create a wide variety of ideas in the clay mixture before firing it. However, since granite tiles are produced from actual stone, there is indeed a restricted range of patterns from which to choose.
Ease Of Installation
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are simple to construct on cement floors because they are bonded with a layer of glue. It can be installed as a do-it-yourself project as well. Granite tiles, on either hand, require specialized installation. An ordinary tile mason can charge between Rs. 22 and 25 per square foot, but if you really want the greatest finish, choose who charges between Rs. 32 and 35 per square foot.
Cost
The cost of tile flooring in Pakistan is an important factor to consider. It flooded the tiling market in Pakistan with foreign ceramic or porcelain tile possibilities. China, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Spain are also the main suppliers of ceramic tiles. Chinese or Irani tiles, but are also the most frequent, are the cheapest, costing around Rs. 800 and Rs. 1,000 per meter (approximately 3.25 feet). Manufactured in Malaysia and Indonesia, a slightly better quality of tile is accessible in the store for roughly Rs. 2,300 to Rs. 2,800 per meter. The best quality tiles in Pakistan originate from Spain, and they begin at Rs. 2,800 a meter and then go up from that.
Porcelain tiles, on the other hand, are classified according to whether they are full-body or half-body in terms of cost. Half-body porcelain tiles start at roughly Rs. 1,200 per meter, whereas full-body tiles up to Rs. 2,000 per meter. It’s important to note that this was just the beginning price for porcelain tiles; branded and imported kinds might be considerably more expensive. Granite tiles are usually of good quality, with a long lifespan and great strength. As a reason, their typical price per meter is somewhere between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,200.
If you consider the factors listed above, you know you’ve got a choice not only between various types of floor tiles in Pakistan but as well as between the features you want in your tiled flooring or the amount of money you have put down for a home repair and construction project. We’ve provided all of the information so that you can make an informed decision about your home’s flooring specifications.
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Prices and Types of Flooring Tiles in Pakistan
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Luxury Beachfront Property In A Jungle Landscape
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A series of pavilions form this 1000 square meter beach property in Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica, expertly designed by architect Studio Saxe. Abundant tropical scenery integrates a jungle experience into the fragmented home, and beautifully frames the ocean view. A pioneer in sustainable tropical architecture, the project features passive systems that honor its stunningly green surroundings. Cross ventilation between the live programs also merges into a wonderful backyard project, rich in vegetation. In the home, interiors are developed under happily cooling white decorative patterns with earthy wood-tone accents. Retractable glass walls connect the interior living spaces with the jungle on its doorstep, so Mother Nature is only ever stepping away.
In this unique fragmented property project, separate pavilions contain the bedrooms, living spaces and service areas. The luxurious living room is freshly white, spacious free space. White sofas draw an L-shaped border around the living area, while a luxurious kitchen dining room occupies the rest of the volume.
A rustic coffee table adds a golden honey tone in the middle of the ethereal interior. Inserted perimeter lights shine a golden glow around the ceiling line.
Retractable doors break the living room pavilion on either side, adjoining the interior living space with the beautiful scenery.
Just outside the combined kitchen lounge, a huge dining room occupies the terrace. A series of dining room pendant lights are repeated along their length.
Floating wooden steps run along the entire length of the building to ensure that the interior and exterior space converge effortlessly. The oak dining table matches the wooden stair end.
Fourteen dining chairs await a large feast of guests.
A decorated area, a pair of outdoor chairs and a small side table make up a separate seating area.
Circulation of indoor and outdoor spaces weaves a harmony that allows homeowners to continually immerse themselves in the natural habitat as they alternate between spaces.
At night there is magical air around the tropical surroundings.
Palms grow immediately from the sun deck.
A bed of tropical plants grows along the edge of the deck, placing the pool in the abundant jungle.
The planting thins to the turf on the other hand, creating a drained area to arrange sunbeds.
Exterior lights illuminate the stairs at night so as not to stumble.
An elegant outdoor sofa and chairs form a tiny outdoor lounge at the end of the pool, cooled by the shade of the sloping palms.
The lighted pool and raised plants gave a beautiful color after dark.
Several seats offer options depending on the pool.
The ocean panorama glows through the trees on the property.
Separate programs facilitate transverse ventilation, as each space is exposed on two or three exterior walls.
The overlapping roofs of the pavilions create a charming circulation of space between the programs.
Extended rooflines were included to offer protection from the scorching sun and from rains through carefully calculated bioclimatic design.
The analysis of precipitation, sun pattern and wind ensures comfort with minimum energy consumption, and thus reduces the environmental footprint of the house.
Many other sustainable systems were also played here. Rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems, as well as energy, generate passive design at the heart of this project.
A series of thin columns support the roof planes, which creates a lightly floating effect.
Steel and wood construction and concrete foundations facilitate the illusion.
A path weaves through the soils, passing between senior trees and smaller shrubs. An outdoor swing chair makes a dreamy place to take off the hours in the shade with a good book and a cocktail in hand.
Retractable glass walls remove the boundaries between the home interior and the glorious exterior spaces.
The bedrooms are open to the tropical landscape and to the soothing sound of the ocean.
4 poster beds furnish the bedrooms so that a curtain of curtains can be pulled around the beds to avoid any bugs that may get in through the open windows. In this graceful white series, a clean white sofa replaces the average bed end, and another seat is located in the transverse breeze between two windows. A driftwood table sets up a proper beach aesthetic.
Natural carpet adds a moment of warm texture to the polished white concrete floor that complements earthy wood tone furniture around the room.
Rectangular wall lights illuminate footpaths and wooden milky linings.
Roof windows add ventilation to the bathrooms. Wood and rattan end retain the naturalistic look.
The amazing property is located back a short walk from the beach. From above, it is easy to see how the overlapping roof lines form the canopy of the tropical courtyard design, and how the trees at its core stand out.
Front elevation of the beachfront property.
High southeast.
The floor plan illustrates the division of volumes and the assigned use of each individual program. We can also see how the architecture interacts with the landscape, moving around established tall trees, and where new forest lines are implemented to protect, guide and define the exterior areas and elements of the home.
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