All articles by Ana Lisa Alperovich

Ana Lisa is an independent writer and curator born in Buenos Aires and trained as an eco-designer at Goldsmiths University of London. In addition to writing for 6sqft she is a frequent collaborator at NYC’s Inhabitat, where she reports on global design week events and sustainable architecture. She also contributes to Australian BlackleMag, Argentina’s Casa Foa magazine and Inhabitots. She loves Japanese architecture and Dutch design, and is constantly in search of good ideas to share with the world. Currently she splits her time between Buenos Aires, NYC and The Netherlands.
Hunt Architecture’s garden studio offers a tiny backyard retreat in Boerum Hill
June 20, 2017

Hunt Architecture’s garden studio offers a tiny backyard retreat in Boerum Hill

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Sometimes you don't need to go far to escape the frenzy of the city. Forget about charming mountain retreats or luxury seaside homes, this humble beauty provides the perfect place to escape it all right in a Boerum Hill, Brooklyn backyard. Crafted by local studio Hunt Architecture using salvaged cedar and fence pickets, the Brooklyn Garden Studio is a grown-up version of the classic treehouse.
Learn more about this small wooden shed
Bates Masi’s passive Hamptons house boasts a twisted canvas facade
May 16, 2017

Bates Masi’s passive Hamptons house boasts a twisted canvas facade

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Adjacent to a preserve full of rolling sand dunes and low bushes of Long Island's south shore (the secluded area is said to once have been used as a film location for desert scenes in silent movies), this passive vacation home by Bates + Masi Architects named "Amagansett Dunes" takes full advantage of its setting. A unique facade of vertical louvers made from twisted canvas strips let marine breezes pass through them to cool the interiors and let in natural light without the harsh afternoon glares.
Learn more about this house in between the dunes
Wouter Scheublin’s spider-inspired table will walk right into your home
April 7, 2017

Wouter Scheublin’s spider-inspired table will walk right into your home

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When describing furniture as nomadic, it usually denotes lightweight, modular pieces that can easily be taken apart to move with you. But Dutch designer Wouter Scheublin created a table that needs no dismantling, as it can quite literally walk to your next home. Inspired by eight-legged creatures, the Walking Table is still graceful enough not to leave scuffing marks on your floor.
Learn more about this crawling table
Steven Holl’s ‘T Space’ is an art gallery tucked away in an Upstate forest
March 1, 2017

Steven Holl’s ‘T Space’ is an art gallery tucked away in an Upstate forest

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Though it looks like this cedar cabin is floating above the terrain, the structure actually sits atop nine steel stilts. Architect Steven Holl employed the building technique to minimize the home's impact on the forested environment and likewise wrapped the construction in a cedar skin so it would meld with the trees. Known as "T Space," the minimalist art gallery is located on a privately-owned, four-acre woodland property in Dutchess County.
Learn more about this suspended woodland home
SPACE T2: A 1959 hunting shack transformed into an off-grid studio by Steven Holl
January 22, 2017

SPACE T2: A 1959 hunting shack transformed into an off-grid studio by Steven Holl

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Space T2 is a minimal artist studio located in Rhinebeck, NY. Steven Holl Architects built the off-grid cabin using what remained of a 1959 hunting shack, dressing the exterior in a sleek black wood skin while keeping the interior core a cool and contrasting white. The tiny abode rests on a handful of stilts that have been embedded in the sloping earth below.
Learn more about this former shack
Natalia Geci’s clever furniture system was inspired by Marie Kondo’s de-cluttering principles
January 13, 2017

Natalia Geci’s clever furniture system was inspired by Marie Kondo’s de-cluttering principles

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Like many organizationally challenged folks, Argentinean designer Natalia Geci was inspired by Marie Kondo’s bestselling book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." Following the author's principal of only holding onto items that bring us joy, Geci created a freestanding, multifunctional furniture system to not only encourage de-cluttering, but to display these prized possessions.
Learn more about LYNKO
Burn calories sitting at your desk with HOVR
October 10, 2016

Burn calories sitting at your desk with HOVR

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Our bodies are designed to move, yet most of us spend our days sitting at a desk, staring at a screen. But here's a new device that claims to help counter that inertia by producing unconscious movements that can help keep you fit while answering emails. While it might look like some silly exercise device being offered on a late night television informercial, HOVR promises to burn calories by creating healthy movements without mental distraction.
get fit with HOVR
Wood-Clad Long Island home by Bates Masi takes inspiration from Quaker architecture
October 4, 2016

Wood-Clad Long Island home by Bates Masi takes inspiration from Quaker architecture

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Simplicity, humility and inner focus were key to early Quaker architecture, principles that also inspired Bates Masi + Architects' latest project. The beautiful Underhill home sits in Matinecock, a village within Oyster Bay, Long Island, on the site of an old Quaker settlement. It's composed of a series of interconnected wooden pavilions topped by angled gabled roofs, "each one focused inward on its own garden courtyard instead of out to the surrounding neighbors," according to the firm.
Learn more about this Quaker-inspired home
Geometric sound-absorbing wall panels are made from wood wool
October 3, 2016

Geometric sound-absorbing wall panels are made from wood wool

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Made from wood wool, a mix of leftover wood chips, cement, water and pigments, these sound absorbing wall panels come in assorted colors and shapes that can be arranged and re-arranged, turning any cookie-cutter apartment into a unique space. Designed by Swedish studio Form Us With Love and known as BAUX Träullit, they're a great example of how construction materials can also be functional and stunning.
Learn more about this lovely wall piece
Fashion Stylist Scott Newkirk Goes Unplugged in His 14×14 Rough-Hewn Cabin
August 28, 2016

Fashion Stylist Scott Newkirk Goes Unplugged in His 14×14 Rough-Hewn Cabin

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For many city dwellers bogged down by the hustle and bustle of everyday life, vacations are spent offline in far-away places, disconnected from technology and reconnected to nature. But fashion and interior stylist Scott Newkirk proves you don't have to go that far to have your own unplugged woodland dream. Located in Yulan, New York, just 90 miles northwest of NYC, Newkirk's charming wooden cabin is a mere 14x14 feet and is made entirely from salvaged and reclaimed pieces of wood.
Learn more about this rough and ready cabin
Bivouac offers free off-grid camping on a secret NYC rooftop
August 21, 2016

Bivouac offers free off-grid camping on a secret NYC rooftop

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While urban camping might sound like an oxymoron, there are some surprising options for roughing it in the city. Take for example Bivouac, a pop-up campsite on rotating, secret rooftops where you can wake up surrounded by Brooklyn's terraces or admiring Central Park from above--free of charge. Created by artist Thomas Stevenson, the site consists of six waterproof canvas tents with wooden frames and one-inch wool felt flooring for comfort and insulation. There's no electricity or internet to help guests disconnect from daily life, so all you have to do is book your stay in advance through Thomas (the "park ranger") and bring along a sleeping bag and food to share in a communal dinner.
Learn more about the rooftop camping project
Ruggie: An Alarm Clock-Rug That Only Stops Buzzing if You Step on It
August 15, 2016

Ruggie: An Alarm Clock-Rug That Only Stops Buzzing if You Step on It

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Tired of sleeping through the snooze every morning, hitting the button over and over again to only wake up sleepier? Then you might want to consider Ruggie, an efficient alarm clock-rug by Winson Tam that will only stop buzzing if you actually get out of bed and step firmly on it. And to help ease the pain of leaving the warmth of the covers, it will then play daily motivational quotes, setting a positive mood for the day.
Learn more about this clever alarm
Ana Arana’s Magnetic Room Dividers Have a Bit of ’90s Kitsch
August 2, 2016

Ana Arana’s Magnetic Room Dividers Have a Bit of ’90s Kitsch

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Room dividers are a great way to maximize space and privacy in small spaces, but in some cases, they can also add a decorative focal point, as well as a temporary storage solution. That's the case with Ana Arana's geometric and playful Tromploeil, which is made of separate perforated, white metal planes that are joined by magnets with colorful geometrical elements. The result has a fun, kitschy 1990s vibe that surely brighten up any cookie-cutter apartment.
Learn more about this playful room divider
Juno Jeon’s Bedside Table Has Scales That Act Like a Living Creature
July 22, 2016

Juno Jeon’s Bedside Table Has Scales That Act Like a Living Creature

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We interact with our furniture everyday--when we sit on a couch or open a drawer--but most of the time we don't even think about it. To make those interactions more visible (and fun) designer Juno Jeon creates ordinary objects with a surprising twist. One example is Pull Me to Life, a wooden bedside table complete with scales that react when in use.
Learn more about this piece
Shipping Crates Inspired These Simple Wooden Wardrobes By Sigurd Larsen
July 18, 2016

Shipping Crates Inspired These Simple Wooden Wardrobes By Sigurd Larsen

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Living efficiently in a studio apartment has many challenges, but one of the biggest gripes, especially for women, is where to stock all those clothes. If your home lacks a Carrie Bradshaw-esque walk-in closet, these custom-made pieces by architect Sigurd Larsen may work wonders. They take inspiration from the wooden shipping crates typically used to transport or store large, heavy or awkward items, and can also double as attractive room dividers.
Learn more about this wooden wardrobe
Playful Moiré Lights Reveal Magical Patterns As They Rotate
July 6, 2016

Playful Moiré Lights Reveal Magical Patterns As They Rotate

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Transform your space from stuffy to spectacular with one of these mesmerizing Moiré Lights by designer David Derksen. This artsy yet functional piece takes lighting to a new level by using perforated discs to create a lamp that projects moving patterns as it rotates and glows. As you may have guessed by the name, the hypnotic visage of each lamp is inspired by the Moiré effect.
Learn more about this magical lamp
The Shrine Is a Cubic Cabinet That Will Keep Your Valuables Safe
July 5, 2016

The Shrine Is a Cubic Cabinet That Will Keep Your Valuables Safe

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We all have those precious items that we want to keep safe -- grandpa's watch, a childhood diary, a stash of foreign money -- but in cramped apartments it's hard to find adequate space to stash them all. Sigurd Larsen's cubic cabinet called the Shrine, however, has plenty of compartments to keep valuables safe. It's simply a wooden box full of drawers and doors of varying sizes that are only accessible with keys.
Learn more about this intricate cabinet of curiosities
Designing This Shingle-Style Home in East Hampton Was a Family Affair for a Young Architect
June 3, 2016

Designing This Shingle-Style Home in East Hampton Was a Family Affair for a Young Architect

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The East Hampton Northwest Woods home is unlike most other projects by CWB Architects. Founding principal Brendan Coburn designed it as the firm was in its infancy, working in collaboration with his father, who was also an architect, and his mother, an interior designer. Its 2,200 square feet are complete with enough space for residents and occasional guests, each bedroom has its own bathroom, and the cupola allows for cross ventilation.
Learn more about this shingle-style home
CWB Architects Build a Modern Asian-Inspired Beach House in Southampton
May 22, 2016

CWB Architects Build a Modern Asian-Inspired Beach House in Southampton

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Back in 2004, a client with a taste for traveling approached CWB Architects to design a beach house with a distinctly Asian flavor, styled after houses he’d seen in Thailand and Japan. The result is this stunning, appropriately-dubbed 'Thai Style Southampton' home, which stands on stilts above a wetland. In addition to verandas, pointed gable roofs and Mahogany interiors, the charming home features a splendid view out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Learn more about this stunning Thai-home
Sander Mulder’s Ghostly Josephine Lamp Glows With Its Whole Body
May 16, 2016

Sander Mulder’s Ghostly Josephine Lamp Glows With Its Whole Body

By
Less is more for just about everything when it comes to cramped NYC apartments; the notable exception, of course, being light. So here's a brilliant design that strikes a perfect balance between being hidden but also visually arresting when it needs to be. Sander Mulder's Josephine Lamp is a standing luminaire that takes on an almost ghostly form, only becoming apparent when one switches its on-off button.
Learn more about this magical lamp
Gardener’s Majestic Hudson River Home Is Surrounded by Edible Gardens
May 12, 2016

Gardener’s Majestic Hudson River Home Is Surrounded by Edible Gardens

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This beautiful Hudson River estate is not only a stunning gateway with sweeping views and luscious gardens, but it's also a gardener's home with significant historic, cultural and ecological value. The estate, which is comprised of many buildings, once served as a farm, a gentleman’s club, a nursing home and a camp before Janice Parker Landscape Architects turned it into a nature-lovers retreat. In addition to featuring expansive views of the Hudson River and being surrounded by a rolling forest and farms, the estate delves deeper into the realm of Eden with its lush carpets of creeping thymus, blooming perennials and a full assortment of edible plants.
Learn more about this majestic home
CCS Architecture’s Watermill Residence Is a Modernist Starter Home in the Hamptons
April 24, 2016

CCS Architecture’s Watermill Residence Is a Modernist Starter Home in the Hamptons

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If you think the Hamptons is only for Hollywood stars who can afford the glitz and glamour of life, you might want to look at the summertime playground's hidden gems like CCS Architecture's Watermill Residence. The modest retreat was designed for a developer who wanted to sell property to new buyers at a moderate price level. A perfect starter home, it offers a down-to-earth vibe thanks to the architects' simplicity and casual modernist taste.
Learn more about this casual retreat
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