These houses are decidedly modern, incorporating open floor plans, integrated exterior and interior spaces and sliding glass walls.

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In his most famous structure, the 1958 Seagram building (for which the ever-industrious Philip Johnson did the interior spaces), Mies' lyricism is given epic form.

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Another Hawksmoor design, for Christ Church, Spitalfields, may be said to rank higher for the bestial power of its facade and macabre associations. (It was built over a burial pit for plague victims.) But the drama of exterior and interior spaces at St.

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Although the project's exterior and interior public spaces are Graves-designed, apartment layouts and details are by a relatively obscure contract architect.

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Faena is fiercely proud of the Foster condominium's balconies, which rival the interior living spaces, which range from 1, 307 to 4, 730 square feet.

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In the vast factory complex, the only sign of life is the hum of a petrol generator as crews work on the abandoned interior - the empty spaces of the fenced-off car park testament to the thousands who would at one time have worked there.

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The open workspace design of the building brings exterior views to 90 percent of employee work spaces, and the coated windows help regulate the interior temperature without boosting energy costs.

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And despite all their quirky arches, carved niches, and cave spaces, the rooms live quite well (the interior designer overnighted in each to make sure): They have intuitive and reader-friendly lighting, good-size bathrooms, comfortable furniture, and wood-burning fireplaces.

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Architects, builders and interior designers say they're increasingly asked to create wide-open spaces with custom amenities that pack a "wow" factor for entertaining friends.

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