Architecture Wednesday: Converted Water Tower

If you’re looking for a home that can also help you get your steps in ... because there's no elevator ... then this former Swedish water tower is just the ticket.

The Vaxholm water tower is located on a small island in the Stockholm archipelago, just 20 miles from the Swedish capital. It was built in 1923 by Swedish architect Cyrillus Johansson, who also designed the Museum of Varmland. It has a cylindrical, wedding-cake design, topped by a copper-clad observatory and wind vein by Swedish sculptor Aron Sandberg.

The red brick industrial structure is currently on the market for $1.95M USD and was in service for 50 years before being decommissioned. It was sold to the current owner in 2000 and has undergone extensive renovations to become a four-bedroom home with living spaces set across four levels.

On the first floor is the kitchen, living and dining area with arched brick windows and a soaring 16-ft-high ceiling. Bedrooms are stacked on the levels above as well as a plywood-lined music room.

If you’re afraid of heights, this may not be the property for you, as the fifth and sixth floors are accessed only via a narrow spiral staircase. Originally the tower’s water tank, it’s now used to house telecoms equipment—the roof is dotted with antennas from telecoms firms, generating rental income for the owners to the tune of nearly 300K per year; in addition, a separate studio apartment on the property also creates rental income.

If you like Sweden and living tall, then maybe this one’s for you!

The Spaces

Architecture Wednesday: Ösmo Station

Y’all know that I love an old building,  barn, factory, a church, a train station, turned into a private hone, and this week is no exception.

This is Ösmo Station, located on the outskirts of Stockholm, in a quaint  little area called Nynäshamn. Ösmo Station was designed in 1901 by Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg built in what is called the National Romantic Architectural style that is seen as a successor to Art Nouveau. In art, that design language had already made its way through during the 19th century. And it was a beautiful, romantic, little train station from 1901 until 2010, when a family purchased the building and set about making it a home.

From the foyer, via a set of mirrored double doors are the living and dining rooms, with ceilings that stretch to nearly twelve feet; this is the old waiting room of the station, so it is large enough for a generous sitting area and fireplace, along with a dining area beneath expansive windows.

From that you go into my favorite room—seriously, I want this recreated in my house—room, the kitchen. A corner room in the house, light floods in from three large windows; polished pine covers the floors, and there are marble countertops and classic white Victorian tiles. The cabinets remind me of old counters in a general store, and the island looks like its own piece of furniture handed down over the years. Against one wall is a leather bench with two small round tables that is permanently mounted and included in the purchase, to be used as a simple spot for a bite to eat.

In the adjacent work room, or office, there is another wood-burning stove; the walls are a pleasing green, there is pine, again, on the floors, and more large windows. The bathroom on this floor is sapphire blue with a classic white tile, marble counters, radiant underfloor heating and a stylish  elongated window. 

The upper floor can be reached via two wooden stairs. In the hall behind a maple door there is a hidden staircase that leads to the guest room while the main staircase—which rises beyond the second floor and up into the tower—has with beautiful cross-post windows with small-framed upper windows.

On the upper level there are four possible bedrooms—five, if you convert the first-floor gym—along with an  additional living room, with a white tiled stove has been in place for decades, substantial walk-in closets and double bathrooms. There is also laundry and a beautiful primary bathroom with soaking tub.

As I said, they say it was designed in the National Romantic Architectural style, and I am feeling very much in love with this place. I love the style and the history, and the colors, from the red roof to the blue bathroom, to the grays and the greens; I even love the furniture, though a couple of those dining chairs are a wee bit narrow. I love it, and it’s for sale, too, for a price of about $650,000 USD. I’m trying to broach the subject with Carlos …

As always, click to emBIGGERate …

Dwell

Architecture Wednesday: A Duplex Penthouse In The Roeda Bergen

Well, after a couple of months lounging about by the creek and the lake and up in the woods, i was longing for something more urban. I was hoping Manhattan, or even Chicago, but then i stumbled upon Stockholm, and a gorgeous apartment, in a building from the 1920s, completely redone and so light and airy.
I'm packing my bags.
This two floor loft isn't the biggest apartment I could find--totaling just under 1100 square feet--but with eighteen foot ceilings it does seem much larger.
And completely redone.
The floors are oiled walnut, with underfloor heating--I hear it gets cold over there--and with air conditioning--because it also gets warm. 
The "Welcoming Hall" features built-in cabinetry and leads you into the large main area, with the living room and kitchen with all the best stainless appliances, and the most important appliance of all: a wine refrigerator.
I does love me some of the grape.
The bathroom with both bath and shower, Italian tiles, heated towel rail and washing machine and dryer, is also on the main floor, along with a Master Bedroom, and a second bedroom, with a built-in bed that can double as an office or extra living space.
The upper level holds a larger living area reached, from the top of the stairs, by a glass bridge that also serves the office and library.
It's small. It's urban. It's old. It's new.
It's nice.

via HomeDSGN