Komb House by Karim Rashid – Cairo, Egypt

Originally posted by design-dautore.com. Edited by Michael Holtermann

When I saw this post by design-dautore.com on Facebook (one of my favorites!), I immediately had to think about a photo shoot I did at Aziano club (Phoenix Mills, Garden Court) in Mumbai some years ago. The “benches/sofas” in the club struck me as very similar in concept to the Komb House in Cairo. Aziano refers to their style as “Jet Age.” (See my images at the end of this post.)

The Komb House was Karim Rashid’s concept house exhibition at Le Marche exhibition, which took place in Cairo, Egypt, in December 2010.

Designed to have a minimum impact on the environment, the Komb House is a dwelling that utilises technology to create traditions, customs, and a sense of family and community.

Incorporated within the house are ecological concepts like solar panel heated water, energy efficient appliances, the reuse of pluvial and grey water, low energy LED lighting, and raised radiant flooring. The Komb House mainly comprising materials like wood, metal, glass and solar panels, which means that it can easily be disassembled and reused.

Inside the house is composed of four main spaces, representing the main activities of play, eat, sleep and cleanse. The central space, inspired by Islamic patios, features an oasis with skylight and centre plunge pool while a skylight controls the house temperature. The skylight, when open, captures rain water which is filtered by a pool. A kinetic art sculpture levitates above, and as it rotates it captures wind power and distributes the energy throughout the house.

A single oval couch is the main feature in the living room with the purpose of creating a sense of gathering and community while also promoting communication and openness.

Aziano Club, Mumbai

Photographs by Michael Holtermann for Forbes Custom Media, New York.

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by Michael

Michael Henrik Holtermann, a native of Norway, has lived and worked as a graphic designer and photographer in New York for 24 years. In 2008 he started Holtermann Design LLC, a small design shop in the East Village of Manhattan. michael @ holtermanndesign.com

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