Hiding out in Hotel Hotel

I'm running away from Christmas. Who else is in? And I'm not escaping to a hip, happening must do destination ... or am I? For a long time many of our nations' capitals have got a bad wrap. Dull, boring hubs of government and not much else. Just ask Kim. She lives in Ottawa. Things are changing, at least in Australia's national capital Canberra. How much more hip and happening can the new Hotel Hotel get? So cool it's positively frosty ... that's if it wasn't so hot. Anyone else want to run to Canberra? At least until Christmas is over?

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Casa Solaris

Michael Grimm sent along some of his photos that came at the perfect time because I am NOT READY for the 30 cm of snow we are supposed to get and he was complaining about Brooklyn weather. So how about a little virtual trip to Vieques, off Puerto Rico... Designed by architect John Hix, hotel Hix Island House now has a guest house called Casa Solaris, which is entirely run on solar power. The house is designed to take advantage of trade winds, and the concrete is an unexpected contrast to the lush island landscape. The addition of yellow keeps it from being too sterile. 

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Concrete and acid green

The architect's own warehouse space. Raw and restrained with a shock of acid green in the kitchen, open plan with changing levels to allow privacy, all washed with the natural light pouring through large windows. Modern urban living with a cool luxury. Young St, Fitzroy by Steve Domoney Architecture.

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Manzara Ayvalik

Perfectly imperfect. Manzara Ayvalik by Istanbul architects Gabi Kern-Altındiş and Erdoğan Altındiş. Modern minimalism within a once crumbling historic shell in a village on the Aegean Sea. See. What did I say? Perfectly imperfect. Available to let as a holiday home it's my Wednesday daydream. I'm packing my swimsuit in my mind. More via Manzara Istanbul and Urlaubs Architektur.

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Paddington Residence

It's modern. It's concrete and glass, metal and timber. It's a series of blocks and voids. It's solid yet light and it sits proudly under an old fig tree next to neighbours steeped in history. It's the Paddington Residence by Brisbane based Ellivo Architects.

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