Modern Home In The Texas Hills With Spillover Pool By Cottam Hargrave.

402 Redbud Trail is a modern residence designed by Cottam Hargrave in the wooded hills of Austin, Texas. The project, whose sale was handled by the Kush group, was designed for a family of five with multiple living areas. With few gadgets, the house focuses on permanence and craftsmanship. It is sited to capture the views from the rear of a steep site that is accessed from the bottom.




Ascending the driveway, the observer first sees the underside of the building. This view highlights the relationship between the building and ground. The foundation becomes an integral part of the entry sequence while the pool, lawn, and patio act as integral parts of the house.















text courtesy of Cottam Hargrave, images courtesy of the photographer, the architects and the Kush Group

Location: West Lake Hills, TX
Residential Designers: Jay Hargrave and Michael Waddell, Cottam Hargrave
Interior Designer: Joy Kling, Spazio by Lytle Pressley
Home Builder: Gary Robinson, Home as Art, Inc.

Photos: Paul Bardagjy Photography

Cottam Hargrave
Office Address:
701-A South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-225-2400
Fax: 512-225-2401
Email: info@cottamhargrave.com

A Fake Pool Makes A Splash All Over The World.

Initially conceived of 12 years ago, the 'fake' swimming pool by Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich, known for his illusion-like installations, has been featured at various museums around the world. In 2001, it was featured at the 49th Venice Biennale in Arentina. In 2004, it found a permanent home at the 21st Century Art Museum in Kanazawa, Japan. In 2008, the fake pool was set up for a 2 year installation at MoMA's PS1 Contemporary Art Center. And as of December 2010, the pool was being installed in the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia.

In Japan:




For the long-term exhibit at the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, he constructed a full-size pool [20 x 9 7/8 x 10 feet (600 x 280 x 300 cm)], complete with a surrounding deck [the installation in Japan's museum does not have a wood deck], underwater pool lights and ladder.



When one first approached upon the amazingly surreal piece from the ground floor, it appeared that people, fully clothed, were standing underwater, alive and engaged in conversation, on the floor of what appeared to be a very real swimming pool.




However, when examining the pool from underneath, one sees that it's actually empty and the illusion of the water-filled space is achieved by his placing a large piece of transparent laminated glass suspended over the pool atop which lies some actual water.





The interior of the pool's walls are painted aqua to further add to the illusion.


One enters through pool through the opening shown below:


Here are the installation photos of the pool's latest appearance at The Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia:



Artist's Bio [courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery]


Leandro Erlich was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1973. At age 20, he won a grant from the Antorchas Foundation to take an advanced sculpture and installation workshop under the direction of Luis F. Benedit and Pablo Suárez. Between 1998 and 1999 he took part in the Core Program, an artist-in-residence program in Houston, Texas, U.S.

In 1999 he moved to New York and presented his first exhibition in a commercial New York gallery. Over the next two years he participated in the Whitney Biennial and represented Argentina at the 49th Venice Biennale (2001).

Erlich's works are in several private and public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, Buenos Aires; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Tate Modern, London; Musee d'Art moderne, Paris; 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan; MACRO, Rome; and The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Fonds national d'art contemporain (FNAC), Paris.

Erlich lives and works in Paris, France, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

images and info courtesy of the following:
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan
MoMA PS1
Somethingstartedcrazy on Flickr
Building process photos in Brisbane by Natasha Harth courtesy of 21c blog

Relax Like Royalty In This Moroccan-Style Rental Home On The Island Of Bequia

The Mangwana House (also known as The Bequia House) designed by Edgley Design is a large modern and inviting home in a stunning locale, available for rent or for photoshoots through Grenadine Escape.



The five bedroom villa is situated on a steep hillside in dense forest on the island of Bequia in the Caribbean with breathtaking views.





The design is inspired by traditional Moroccan courtyard houses, where a series of intimate spaces surround water, providing shelter from the sun throughout the day and cooling humidity from the pool.







Each bedroom tower has a living space below and a private access stair.




To the north of the courtyard a large hall provides eating and dining areas, and creates a sequence of spaces from a delicate balcony entrance suspended high over the treetops, through the public hall to the private towers beyond.




This stunning home sleeps a max of 12, is located between Friendship Bay and Lower Bay, Bequia and is a 7 minute drive to the beachfront. It has spectacular 300 degree views over the Grenadines, and an incredibly inviting Infinity pool that faces south.



You enter Mangwana at mezzanine level directly into a vast living area with vaulted ceiling, open- plan kitchen and magnificent 16 ft high Brazilian hardwood doors which in turn open onto the pool and frame one of the villa’s many stunning views. Rental includes maid service and the use of a Jeep.




Winter Rate DECEMBER 1 - APRIL 15 (7 nights min.) : USD $12,500 per week
Summer Rate APRIL 16 - NOVEMBER 30 (5 nights min.) : USD $10,000 per week

For more details about the booking the house, as well as more images, visit Grenadine Escape.