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Architects Ong and Ong have announced a contemporary open-plan interior for the renovation of a terrace house in Singapore, merging the interior and exterior spaces.With the glass partition doors of the first floor open, one large living area is created connected by platforms over a pool.

The house is laid out on an axis that almost acts as a line of symmetry. The layout of spaces certainly is arranged to this line. The master bedroom features an en suite bathroom space that is a contrasting architectural language to that of the façade. It is a glazed box that cantilevers over the pool area. This modern intervention emphasizes the playful nature of the scheme. Internally there is a total contrast to the ornate façade

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The Beitcher Residence was Designed by W3 Architects out of Venice, Santa Monica, California. The Beitcher Residence blends the client’s functional requirements with a variety of sustainable design strategies including passive solar design, state-of-the-art solar electric and solar thermal technologies. Nicknamed “The Integrated Solar House for Los Angeles,” the Beitcher Residence makes full use of the mild climate and the year round sun in the City of Angels.
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Basketball star Shaquille O’Neal first started trying to unload his house on Miami’s prestigious Star Island. O’Neal bought the home in 2004 for $19 million soon after joining the Miami Heat. The WSJ’s Private Properties column reports that the home was built in 1992 by Heat center Rony Seikaly. The home does have a certain gargantuan scale but that’s not unusual in some multimillion dollar South Florida homes.

Shaq On Star Island has eight bedrooms, an indoor basketball court, gym, steam room and sauna. The 2.5 acre grounds include a tennis court, six-car garage, dock, two-bedroom guest house and Shaq’s pool complete with Superman logo. The home is lavish but not particularly distinctive, money used to its blandest potential. The price is now $29 million. If I were to take a bet on a final selling price, I’d guess that Shaq’s going to have to cut a few more millions off this one. My guess is $23-$25 million. (more…)