Comprised of two main elements, architects of summer houses are often careful to blend the dedicated building space seamlessly into the natural environment. Considering the relation between interior and exterior, a2architects are renowned for their heavy experimentation with new material, and incorporation of both modern and traditional detailing. Characterized by its simplicity, this vacation home exudes anticipation, trust, and immense comfort.

A2architects Construct A Summer Home Along The Hillsides of Sifnos, Greece

Inspired by the complexity and the volumes of the Cycladic architecture, the 250 sqm summer house lays along the hillsides of Sifnos, a Cyclades island group in Greece. Overlooking the harming valleys of Agios loannis and the Aegean Sea, a2architects strategically selected this North-East orientation for its astonishing views and unique landscape.

Conceived from an array of whitewashed & stone-clad volumes, each compartment of this residence is connected through various paths, terraces, stone walls, and pergolas, establishing continuity between building and landscape. Showcasing a palatial kitchen, a living and dining room, four ensuite bedrooms, two guesthouses, expansive corridors with narrow windows, a master suite, a terrace swimming pool, and private marble-clad stairways, this house was designed to provide substantial isolation amidst luxury living.

Complete with wooden pergola and rock wall structures which shelter the outdoor dining areas from harsh winds and excessive sunlight, each additional volume of this house is positioned vertical to the main building, creating a boundary which protects its inhabitants from the north wind whilst defining a big yard at the core of the villa.

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BMW R80 ESG 649

Despite its rustic and heavily worn out aesthetic, the BMW R80 ESG 649 is incredibly new. Regarded a unique piece amongst the most unique builds, this machine is anything but a mere café racer. Conceptualized and constructed in one of Poland’s many premier custom workshops, the Eastern Spirit Garage is renowned for their quality over quantity philosophy, and their reputation for churning out fewer than a dozen builds over the past seven years.

Sylwester Mateusiak Admits He Struggled To Complete The BMW R80 ESG 649

BMW R80 ESG 649

Showcasing more-than-perfect shape and proportion, the BMW R80 ESG 649 is no conventional R-series custom. With a sleek finish and perfect stance, even its creator, Sylwester Mateusiak admits this project was a struggle. Commissioned by a petrolhead car and bike collector from Warsaw, the BMW R80 ESG 649 showcases modular design, switchable panels, a removable set of fairings, and a spare tail unit for passengers.

BMW R80 ESG 649

With innumerable out-of-the-box specifications to consider, Sylwester Mateusiak took it upon himself to create something rarely-seen-before. Opting for a sporty instead of chunky, stocky, and upright, the BMW R80 ESG 649 instead features a long, low tank that completely eschews the design cues of the late 70s original. Through utilizing traditional coachbuilding and metalworking skills, this machine’s entire bodywork down to its tank and fairing, was hand-wheeled from sheets of aluminum.

BMW R80 ESG 649

Knowing good and well that complexity ≠ efficiency, the BMW R80 ESG 649’s fairings are easy to navigate. Mounted independently, these fairings are removable without any fancy tools, whilst the all-new cockpit and pimped-out handlebars showcase new grips, switchgear controls, and discreet LED blinkers. Incorporating a tank which not only holds fuel, but encompasses a concealed cargo space underneath, the BMW R80 ESG 649 runs on a Lithium-ion battery, masked by a brake master cylinder.

BMW R80 ESG 649

Retaining much of its distinct BMW flair, the R80 ESG 649 features a 797cc boxer motor, overhauled with fresh gaskets, new bearings, and a custom-made starter cover. Ditching the stock Bing carbs and fitted aftermarket Mikunis for better breathing, Sylwester Mateusiak crafts a complete custom exhaust with the right-hand pipe snaking under the swingarm to join its twin.

BMW R80 ESG 649

Amidst the innumerable rearsets and linkages, the BMW R80 ESG 649’s most notable mechanical upgrade comes in the form of a set of Suzuki GSX-R1000 forks. Adapted from a 2002 Gixxer, with internals adjusted to account for the slightly higher weight of the R80, Sylwester Mateusiak is careful to retain the fork’s bottom clamp whilst machining a new top. With front brake calipers taken from the GSX-R and mounted to discs from a 2009 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, the BMW R80 ESG 649 presents an interesting blend of iconic components, modified to fit perfectly into one solid unit.

Finished in a deep gold paint, with plush suede seating and a classic humped café racer tail unit, the BMW R80 ESG 649 represents a new generation of café racers who are increasingly adventurous and thrill-seeking.

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Through pursuing architecture driven by commitment, collaboration and expert craftsmanship, Assembledge+ has built a strong reputation for creating enduring environments that are user-focused, innovative and sustainable. Led by Design Principal and Founder, David Thompson and his father Richard Thompson, this father-son duo has continued to expand their capabilities in addressing larger scale projects in urban and campus environments.

David Thompson’s Laurel Hills Residence is Every Architect’s Dream Home

Constructing a house for himself, David Thompson proudly unveils the his Los Angeles, Laurel Hills residence. Featuring camouflaged walls and an inviting open-air garden, the house stands in an isolated setting, manipulated to create fluidity between the perceived indoor and outdoor spaces.

Comprised of three low-lying volumes made from western red cedar cladding, glass and dark cement board rooftops, the house is arranged around an outdoor courtyard and a back garden, with its surrounding area landscaped by gravel, paving stones, grass, and fauna, plus luxury amenities which include a pristine blue swimming pool. Through incorporating an array of wood-clad walls punctured with glaze, David Thompson has conceptualized the house to expand wider than it appears, with pocket doors which fold entirely unto walls.

Showcasing a dedicated guesthouse at its forefront, the third and largest volume houses over 50 solar panels, a kitchen, breakfast room, dining room, and a variety of stairwells, each leading down to separate spaces for family gathering and entertainment lounging. With sliding glass doors that bid entrance to a palatial pool and patio, the second volume is characterized by its fire pit, and outdoor furniture courtesy of Gloster.

Measuring an estimated 455 sqm, David Thompson’s Laurel Hills residence is truly one to be admired. Complete with white-painted walls and ceilings, and pale wooden flooring, the house is littered with bold details such as black cabinetry and marble islands, which offset the interior’s largely neutral palette.

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A Fully-Restored 1961 MGA Outlaw Will Showcase At The Annual Petersen Automotive Museum Digital Gala

Gracing the screens of spectators all around the world, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a digital gala on 26^th September 2020. The event, which is part of an online auction by Bring a Trailer, will showcase a fully restored 1961 MGA Outlaw, a once-in-a-lifetime Porsche 935 driving experience with Bruce Canepa at the Sonoma Raceway, and a six-night stay at a Scottish castle where one lucky auctioneer will be served by a private chef and a full house staff.

A Fully-Restored 1961 MGA Outlaw Will Showcase At The Annual Petersen Automotive Museum’s Gala

As a product of first frame-off restoration by the museum itself, the 1961 MGA Outlaw comes complete with larger carbs, disc brakes, a hot cam, new suspension components, and modern Oxblood interior; with wire wheels completing the exterior appearance. Disassembled all the way down to the last nut and bolt, the automobile’s all-new modern suspension components are expected to bring out the best in one of history’s greatest roadsters, with an added touch of classic British flair.

Dedicating all proceeds to Los Angeles community’s underprivileged students through the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation, the fully-digital gala is expected to feature at least 45 minutes of exclusive content and archival footage, with personalized gift bags shipped to each ticket holder’s home address. In a statement by Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director, Terry L. Karges emphasizes the importance of each annual gala in “…ensuring that we can continue to educate youth, engage with the community, and preserve car culture for future generations.”

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Ferrari Portofino M

Featuring the legendary ‘M’ suffix, for Modificata, in its name, the new and improved Ferrari Portofino boasts a slew of advanced technical and design features, such as an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a five-position Manettino. Regarded a highly revolutionary build, the Ferrari Portofino M invites drivers on a voyage of rediscovery.

The $243K Ferrari Portofino M Invites Drivers To Rediscover More Than The Depth of Their Wallets

Replacing its original seven-speed gearbox, its engine’s design is based on dual-clutch oil bath architecture with a 20% smaller clutch module and a 35% higher torque delivery. Through evolving the car’s transmission software strategy with an increasingly dynamic ECU, the introduction of an eight gear proved to not only be efficient and but significantly reduce fuel consumption in urban and motorway contexts. As a result of new cam profiles and an additional speed sensor on the turbocharger assembly used to measure the turbine revolutions, the Ferrari Portofino M’s power unit is capable of punching out 20cv more (620cv) than its predecessor.

Underscored by a slash on its front bumper that flows into the flank design, the all-new Ferrari Portofino M showcases intricate visual harmony, leading from the front, all throughout its sides and unto the rear. With a multi-level dashboard comprising of an upper half and an intermediate gap designed to light the perceived mass of the lower half, the Ferrari Portofino M interior has allowed designers to rationally organize its in-car devices whilst simultaneously defining its signature full-width architecture.

Utilizing padding of contrasting density and an ultra-compact seatback profile, the Ferrari Portofino M seating are a product of innovative magnesium structures, aimed to provide ample rear seat room, and three-level ventilation through adapting to the speed, temperature, and airflow of the outside world.

Ultimately, the Ferrari Portofino M is stacked with impressive functions, the most notable include, Rear Cross Traffic Alerts which warn drivers of moving obstacles hidden in the car’s rear blind spot whilst reversing, a Predictive Emergency Brake System intended to alert drivers of potential collision risks whilst readying the car to lessen the consequences of a frontal impact, and Lane Departure Warnings which provide acoustic and visual alerts that the car has strayed out of its lane. Worth an estimated $243K, the Ferrari Portofino M is expected to debut on the market in late Spring 2021.

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Host to the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions from 1958 to 1978, Montecito’s historic Solana estate graces and then exits the market, just as quickly as it appeared. Purchased with an extranomical price tag of $30.8M – who else could afford such palatial beauty amidst a pandemic, other than, Eric Schmidt, the former chief executive of Google, and his wife Wendy Schmidt.

Eric Schmidt Makes Montecito’s Historic Solana Estate His New Home

Having periodically listed and retreated from the market since 2012, the Solana estate has cycled through more agents than one can count, and is referred to as one of Montecito’s most original “hilltop Barons”, spanning across over 11 acres of private land. Initially listed for an estimated $57.5M, the residence which overlooks Santa Barbara, was built around 1915 for Frederick Forrest Peabody, the chairman of the manufacturer of the Arrow shirt.

Boasting 360 degree views of the Pacific ocean, the glow of Santa Barbara city lights and the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Solana estate accommodates five bedrooms, nine full and six half-bathrooms, alongside a private hair salon, and custom-designed Pilates room. Equipped with sub-zero appliances and decorated with Carrera marble countertops, the estate’s vast kitchen is lined with antique tile panels imported from Portugal, and vintage Moroccan lanterns. Made from blue pine salvaged from a pre-WWI Canadian airplane hangar, the kitchen is topped with beamed ceilings, a variety of other intricate details.

Designed by architect Francis T. Underhill, this 22,000-square-foot estate on 256 Eucalyptus Hill Drive, showcases 17th -century French oak paneling originally designed for a British castle, in the guest reception area, the Solana estate is littered with breath-taking architectural elements, including a Gladding McBean terra cotta glaze and original white Alabama marble. Bordered by nature, the estate’s grounds are highly fertile, giving bloom to a multitude of palm trees, lemons, limes, bananas, figs, and pomegranate plants.

With oversized French doors and grand loggias, the Solana estate is worth every dime it demands – and after a prolonged eight years on the market, the residence has finally met its match. Since serving as the chief executive of Google from 2001 to 2011, and later the executive chairman of the brand’s parent company, Alphabet, Eric Schmidt eventually stepped down in 2019. Currently chair of the US Department of Defence’s Defence Innovation Advisory Board, and co-founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit foundation established to advance oceanographic research, Mr. Schmidt is now worth an estimated $17.6 billion – and is precisely the sort of owner the Solana estate deserves.

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As simple as it was challenging, bespoke luxury automotive design and engineering company, ARES Design presents the all-new and enviable ARES S1. Combining the design of a hypercar with the performance of a supercar and the accessibility of a sports car, the ARES S1 was inspired by the most iconic racing prototypes of the 70s and 80s. Created with a goal of providing optimal driving pleasure and overall perfection, the ARES S1 is nothing short of mesmerizing.

The ARES S1 is An All-In-One Sports Car, HyperCar, and Supercar

Through employing extensive CFD studies to ensure ultimate aerodynamic performance and stability, the ARES S1 features handcrafted carbon fiber body panels, a dramatic low-profile silhouette, curvaceous wheel arches, a low front splitter, and a forward sitting cockpit. Built to embody an aggressive yet flowing stance, the ARES S1 produces maximum downforce and minimum aerodynamic resistance. Its sleek design and performance are further enhanced by its dynamic rear spoiler and the eye-catching exhaust exiting the bonnet – an iconic-styled feature specifically created to leave the rear extractor area free and clean, to further improve aerodynamics.

Enveloped in a 3D effect, the ARES S1’s interior showcases an array of minimal lines, with its HMI stored within a central console and dashboard. Finished in the finest Alcantara and Napa leather, the carbon fiber panels work to create a stunning yet functional ambience to enhance driving experience.

At its heart, S1 Project will be powered by a naturally aspirated V8 direct injection powerplant, delivering its power to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual clutch transmission. Tuned and mounted to a bespoke crafted exhaust system, the engine facilitates a maximum power output of 715hp, capable of leaping 0-100 km/h in a matter of 2.7s. Underpinned by double wishbone suspension, forged aluminium axles and adaptive Magnetic Ride Control, the ARES S1 guarantees a potent yet uncomplicated drive to even the freshest license holders.

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