hr: Architecture

One of the most exotic places to visit in the world is Asia, because it offers a lot of diversity, and the culture is vastly different from their neighboring continents. Thailand is a great country to explore, and it has many luxury villas that have recently attracted a lot of foreigners.

The simple and quiet beauty of Chiang Mai is perfect for those looking for a place to relax and distress – and the Baan Cheep Chang villa has opened its doors to travelers who want both comfort and luxury.

Baan Cheep Chang has six main deluxe bedrooms that are located in the heart of the tropical gardens. All of the rooms have en suite bathrooms. Quaint manmade waterfalls and ponds surround the area, adding a zen atmosphere. The main house has a large reception area, a handsome bar, and lounges. It also has a television room.

The house is a fusion of the old and the new – most of the construction was built on teak, and all decorations are antique furnishings rich with the culture of Thailand. Rare oriental rugs also add warmth to the already cozy room.

However, the interior space of Baan Cheep Chang – all 800 square meters of it – is air-conditioned. It is also equipped with telephone and wireless internet access and other modern comforts like a bath tub in the en suite bathroom.

Outside, Thai-style cottages are also available. It is designed for those who want to commune with nature and enjoy the sound of the river. It has a terrace that encourages lovely afternoon conversations with your loved ones. It can also be a favorite nook for reading, if you want to be away for awhile.

The Baan Cheep Chang is a welcome haven during the day and a spectacular vision at night. The wide open space is very refreshing, and the landscaping of the gardens are very beautiful. The riverbank becomes a nice backdrop if you want to meditate and just think.

It is very evident that a lot of care and effort has been put into creating this breathtaking villa. The strong architecture juxtaposed with the warm interiors make Baan Cheep Chang a very inviting and very comfortable vacation villa. Attention to detail, like handmade structures and hand painted decorations are also a personal touch that adds charm to the place - all the more reason to go to this enchanting sanctuary.

//All images are from Villa Chiang Mai

Sunshine, sea and luxury are what make Hale Nana Kohola – a 4,500-square foot architectural tour de force – an experience of a lifetime. Located in beautiful Hawaii, on the beach of Puako, this extravagant home on the island is a must-see (and a must-stay in), if you plan on going on a vacation with your family and friends.

Along the Kohala Coast, Big Island, this holiday villa comprises of two master suites, two guest rooms, an impressive media room, and a living room and dining room that opens to a spectacular view of the deep blue waters that Hawaii is most famous for. It also has a gourmet kitchen area that leads to a huge, stunning lanai, perfect for enjoying the cool sea breeze and serene atmosphere of the lavish island life.

Outside, a breathtaking infinity pool spells paradise. It is surrounded by lush trees and wide open sky, and could only be more spectacular at night.

Inside the beach front villa are high ceilings that add dimension and space to the already wide open area, giving one the feeling of freedom and relaxation. Feel pampered and spoiled in the island zen-inspired master suites, complete with lavatories, bath tubs, shower areas, toilet rooms and walk-in closets.

The warm, inviting colors are accented by wooden doorframes, thick rugs and carpets, intricately carved doors, large beds and quaint lighting fixtures. All of the rooms are also equipped with large flat screen televisions and state-of-the-art audio systems. These can even accommodate various iPod selections for the serious music lovers!

The architecture of Hale Nana Kohola is very simple yet very serene at the same time. It has also embraced the environment in such a way that sustainability is also given importance. Respect for the natural habitat of trees and birds in the area make the house even more special. The interior design is also styled to match the vicinity. Most of the furnishings are made out of wood.

At the end of the day, it is nice to come home to a sprawling garden, with a beautiful landscape of palm trees and a hammock to snuggle in. Watch the sunset while resting on the plush lounge chairs spread out on the beach. The next day, rise up early to catch the sunrise at the third-story tower: a 360-degree view of the island and the ocean is perfect for welcoming the day.

Hale Nana Kohola is your home away from home: a quiet and peaceful shangri-la that could easily be one of the most memorable and amazing travel experiences.

//All images are from Luxury Retreats Hawaii

This has got to be one of the most stunning residences that Stuart Tanner Architects has created: a breathtaking modern retreat house that sits on a cliff between the Tasman National Park and the Pirate’s Bay Beach.

This beautiful home offers unhindered view of its natural surroundings but also protects that environment by minimizing its physical and environmental footprints.

What’s so great about this house is its eco-friendly theme. The passive heating and cooling through cross-ventilation, on site waste water management, rainwater harvesting, and exterior sun screens all testify to that fact. These are truly some of the most impressive architectural components that make this project green.

This is a great example of a residential project that blends together the subtle, elegant lines of modern architecture with environmentally sustainable goals.

Take a look at this grand staircase. Isn’t it amazing?. This staircase is in a mansion that was named after the famous Soong Sisters who came Singapore from China. This is just of course urban legend. Nobody is certain if the sisters did in fact live there.

There are those who claim that the mansion is house is haunted.

This is a pretty although somewhat gloomy picture of the mansion. It certainly doesn’t look haunted in the daytime.

The mansion’s exterior looks really great. The trees framing it even give the mansion a classic look, and help set the mood.

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Photos courtesy of DanielKHC

Photo credit: w.marsh

The Ouerbacker mansion at 1633 W. Jefferson St. Built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style in the 1860s by coffee merchant, Samuel Ouerbacker (1841-1922). For part of the 1920s and 1930s, it also served as the home of an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church bishop, the Rev. George C. Clement.

Built in the 1860s, the grand but deteriorating Ouerbacker mansion, is one of the finest residences ever built in the Russell neighborhood.  For about 70 years the mansion was used for a tax business, starting in the 1930s. Because of unpaid taxes, the city took over it and has been for the last couple of years entered on the Louisville Historical Leagues list of most endangered properties.

Photo credit: w.marsh

The mansion is named after Samuel Ouerbacker (1841-1922), a prominent coffee merchant who lived there. Ouerbacker was the son-in-law of Alexander Gilmore (1826-1891), a steamboat captain who also lived there.

During the 1920s and 1930s, it also served as the home of the Rev. George C. Clement, a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

The Louisville & Jefferson County Landbank Authority’s request for proposals says that it is “one of the relatively few remaining examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture” in the region and that the “distinguished Louisville architectural firm of Clarke and Loomis designed the buildings facade.” The wrap-around facade of the Ouerbacker Mansion is thought to have been added later.

Photo credit Express Monorail

Located at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as seen from the Liberty Belle Riverboat. The Haunted Mansion is a beautiful structure, which is one of the most popular buildings in Disney World.

As you walk through the creepy doors of the mansion, you feel a chill run down your spine, past the gravestones and into the awaiting chamber. Beware as the sudden darkness envelops you.

Watchful eyes follow your every move. The poor heart-broken and lonely bride. The dancing ghosts and those behind closed doors waiting for you. There are 999 ghosts haunting the mansion.

Actually, there are only a little more than 300 ghosts in the mansion. The only time you are in the haunted mansion is when you are in the elevator room. When you leave this room you go into a large warehouse which is where the ride is. When you’re passing by the poor soul trying to get out of the coffin smell the air because there are fans blowing the scents of flowers toward you.

The doors which someone or some bodies are trying to escape are made of an elastic material and are the most replaced part in the haunted mansion. Years of planning went into this ride. At first it was to be a walk thru but to accommodate the thousands of people who come daily the brains at Disney World decided to make it a ride in your Doombuggie.

Villa Berenice is a magnificent Italian villa that can accommodate fourteen people. With its private swimming pool, terraces, a garden, and a wonderful view of the seascape and both the Sorrento and Amalfi Coasts, the villa is like paradise on earth.

Villa Berenice, located at the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula, is a two-story house with 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, two large living-rooms, a room with a fireplace and two computers, a dining-room, and a large kitchen.

At Villa Berenice, you can enjoy the 10 x 4 meter (about 33 x 13 feet) swimming-pool where you also get a good view of the seascape and the coast. Next to the swimming-pool there is a whirlpool bathtub — a perfect spot to relax.

Villa Berenice sits on an isolated, prominent and panoramic area in the mountainous peninsula, separating the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno. The villa is located right where the promontory starts to narrow, and from its terraces, you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the beautiful scenery, which during your stay here, you will never get tired of admiring.

The villa is surrounded by a large garden distributed on several levels and by a hilly and woody land which is part of a protected area. The house is about 20 meters (about 66 feet) away from the road which connects Sorrento and the hamlet called Sant’Agata sui due Golfi.

Villa Virginia is a splendid Italian villa that’s about 300 square meters with a splendid view of the sea. This luxury villa can accommodate 14 guests and boasts of a private swimming pool, large terraces as well as a garden.

With seven bedrooms with their own private bathrooms, Villa Virginia also offers a large living room with a fireplace, a kitchen and terraces. The swimming pool is one of the attractions of this villa, as it boasts of a whirlpool corner plus a changing room with a toilet, external showers with hot and cold water.

This lovely Villa is located about 1 kilometer (0.8 miles) from the village of Santa Maria di Castellabate, and about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the sea, in a lofty position on a pine-tree covered hill that offers a stunning view of the bay of Santa Maria di Castellabate.

The two-story building is surrounded by private fenced grounds of 1000 square meters (10000 square feet). Both stories have large terraces. Here at Villa Virginia you will enjoy every moment of your stay and will cherish this feeling for a long time when you are back home.

Exploring the Chianti region of Tuscany while immersing yourself in luxury is possible at the luxurious Villa Certaldo. This accommodation boasts of a huge swimming pool to sprawling grounds and all the amenities indoors.

Located off of a paved, lightly traveled country road, this luxury villa is near the town of Certaldo. Having a population of only about 15,000, Certaldo is a charming small town where you can spend the day shopping, picking up groceries or go exploring Certaldo Alta, the old medieval village.

In July, you can merrily get entangled with the town’s lively Renaissance festival, where you’ll find street artists, actors as well as musicians in the midst of medieval architecture! For sure you will have a great time exploring the Pretorio Palace as well as the magnificent Certaldo castle in the horizon. If you like museums, then the house of Giovanni Boccaccio is the place to go.

As you enter the gate of this historic 14th century villa you’ll find yourself in a garden filled with cypress, pine, and oak trees. A large swimming pool with terra cotta decking, while more than 35 lemon trees release their fragrance into the air. The garden offers a splendid view of the medieval town of San Gimignano.

This is just about the most charming villa rental in Chianti Tuscany. It used to be a small barn that has been transformed into a luxurious rental villa. This lovely vacation home comes complete with a pool and lovely views of the countryside.

The house offers a nice view of the surrounding countryside and a castle that’s only 500 meters away. Withing the vicinity you’ll find some wide green open spaces with olive-groves and a exquisitely maintained garden. Behind the Italian villa you’ll also find a huge covered terrace that has a fireplace as well as a patio table.

Located near Florence, this beautiful Tuscan villa is, for the most part, tastefully furnished with antique pieces. On the ground floor is a large parlor, a living-room with fireplace, and a dining area ideal for 10 people with access to the covered terrace. Here, you’ll also find a double bedroom with a king size bed plus bathroom and shower. The fully equipped kitchen has a dining area that can comfortably seat seven people.

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Photo credit: Photobucket