Gilded Windows in Helsingborg

Photographs by Peter Thuvander and Danyal Taylan

In the ever-present search for ways to make multi-family housing projects aesthetically appealing, this architectural facade brings a bit of conceptual victorian fancy to an apartment building. It may be a bit hyperbolic, but we love the departure from the norm...

8.26.09 frame house 2.jpg Architects Wilhelmson Arkitekter have embellished a sleek and modern building with gold-leaf plated frames around all of the windows of this 14 apartment project overlooking the Oresun sound. Their design (which is still in the planning phase) incorporates the gilded aluminum frames into enameled facade panels, creating a very interesting effect.

While many may consider this adornment to be a bit garish, we like the creativity and bold take on typically drab structures. The lack of personality and innovation of most multi-unit homes seems like a garish lack of ingenuity to us... Check out more images and information on this interesting project on dezeen, an online design magazine.

Comments (21)

What a hoot! Looks like a white-box art gallery turned inside out....

I love these! I would totally live in a building like this.

Hmm.. that might not be a bad project for INSIDE the windows as well. Especially if you live in a place with no window moldings.

It's amusing in a way that will grow dated and tiresome very quickly, like someone telling the same joke over and over again.

And in 10 years time, it will be amusing again in that tacky "wow, what were they THINKING" sort of way.

It's odd - but I like it!
Otherwise, it would just be another drab white box w/ square punched-holes...

Somehow liking, you know?

Heather C, that's such an interesting idea. Why shouldn't views be framed? Like everchanging artwork...

I think this succeeds because it's just boxes and frames -- the concept is straightforward, and the intricacy of the frames plays well against the starkness of the boxes.

I'm surprised that I kind of like this. It's kind of surreal, kind of Dada. It makes the structure less stark and more strange. I imagine the sun glinting off the gold and making the building come alive.

I'm now imagining interior and exterior windows being framed in metal or metallic paint, but in a plainer way (simple, broad lines).

Oh I love it! It does seem a bit Surrealist and it's just such a nice change from boring boxes.

I think the frames give the ridiculously minimal structure a little life and a little humor. These are elements sorely missing in most ultra-modern abodes, unfortunately. Bravo!

It would look great with some ivy or climbing plants...

The minimal clean lines don't work with the garish window frames.

loving the contrast. imagine the faces looking out the frames like portraits, or a plant and a kitty in a windowsill like a still-life. Art for the passerby.