Lately, it seems traditional Mediterranean architecture is getting a bit of a face lift. We have said several times: making new from old is becoming more than a simple trend. The JA House by Filipe Pina and Maria Ines Costa is just more proof of that. The Portuguese home mixes rural and urban lifestyles so efficiently that it almost makes starting from scratch seem point...
Nowadays, architects seem to have found ways to overcome the difficulty of a sloppy location. We’ve seen several projects similar to the Invisible House with an intelligent use of levels that perfectly integrates the house into its geographical surroundings. But things are pushed a little further here. First, the slope gives meaning to the house’s name since it keeps it ...
More often than not, home and family are inextricably link. With the Greja House, Singaporean architecture firm Park + Associates reconsidered the influence of the home environment on family togetherness by creating a layout that encourages domestic interaction. Instead of breaking the space into walled off rooms, the architects used interconnected voids to generate an e...
The Haus Für Julia Und Björn by Innauer-Matt Architekten is a subtle wooden structure slipped into a picturesque valley of Austria. Bordered on one side by a lime tree and on the other by a walnut tree, the house follows the slope of the hill that it occupies with the main entrance on the first floor. The ground floor is tucked beneath and houses the kitchen, dining a...
If you know a little about Thailand, you might have heard about an earthy paradise called Phuket. Well the architecture firm A-cero led by Joaquín Torres and Rafel Llamazares have managed to make it even better by designing the interior of a unique hotel and restaurant located there. One step away from the dreamy white sand beaches, the hotel is composed of 10 villas des...
There’s something appreciable about the fact that Infinski‘s Manifesto House is named as such. Most likely due to the fact that Infinski’s own manifesto is founded on sustainability and affordability, and their Manifesto recycled pallet house in Curacaví, Chile, is a testament to their ethos. Both inside and out, Manifesto was created using 85% recycled, reused and e...
Infinita House, the recent work of Ecuadorian firm Natura Futura Arquitectura, could be the architectural manifestation of last month’s “Surfaces On Which Your Setting and Sitting Will Be Uncertain” exhibition at Design Miami. Or perhaps not, but RO/LU’s furniture would be perfectly at home in this five-bedroom home that is defined by its white exterior grid. Reminis...
As changeable as the infamous lizard from which it earns its name, the Chameleon House is located just outside of Prague and was designed by local firm Petr Hajek Architekti. The house borrows not only the lizard’s name but also the lizard’s shape. Six rooms radiating off of a central space, each room facing a different tree in the garden. The master bedroom has a vi...
On the heights of Whangarei Heads in New Zealand, stands the Castle Rock House, another architectural dream come true thanks to Herbst Architects. This heavenly house seems to be lightly placed upon the hills, overlooking the magnificent view on the bay. But a slightly deeper look is enough to see that the Auckland-based architects really put some thought into this proje...
Located in a residential neighborhood in Sapporo, Japan, Case is a minimal, single-family home by Japanese architecture firm Jun Igarashi Architects. In order to take full advantage of the small 50-square-meter building space, the architects built up, integrating wooden lofts that add 30 meters of extra floor space while keeping the residence open and bright. Curved sta...
Perched on a hill above Torres Vedras, Portugal, Casa Varatojo by Atelier Data blends the best of the country’s natural resources and native vegetation with a quirky contemporary layout. The house spirals carefully upward, from a ground floor entry ramp to the second storey volume. Reclaimed railway sleepers follow the spiral, beginning as a wall to delineate the prop...
You might not see it straight away, but hidden somewhere on the Chilean coast is the Casa Till by WMR Arquitectos. The local architects have achieved wonders to meet the expectations of their German clients. One might think their task was easy with such an astonishing view of the ocean, but things weren’t that simple. First of all, the house being the only one for mil...
Limited space is a ubiquitous challenge in urban settings. On the bright side, cramped conditions often lead to unexpected ingenuity. For the Casa no Príncipe Real in Lisbon, Portuguese architecture firm Camarim Arquitectos turned a tiny plot of only 41 square meters into a roomy, five-storey, single family home. That architects circumvented the spatial confinements b...
The Casa No Morro Do Querosene by Brazilian architecture firm grupoSP is not a new kid on the block, but we’re still completely enamored. How could we not be? That giant wall of books is probably the most magnificent display on which we’ve ever laid eyes. We can only hope that they also have a ladder that slides back and forth, but we’re probably just getting our hopes u...
Barely visible from the adjacent roadside, the Black Wood House by French architects Marchi Architectes almost disappears into its surroundings. Built on the lowest level of the lot, the timber structure is an extension of an existing house in Normandy, France. The clients a living area that was bright and open, so the architects created a minimalist space with skylights...
Located in southeastern California, Joshua Tree National Park encompasses over over 3000 square kilometers of exquisite scenery and intriguing natural sites. Integrating a residence into the landscape without ruining the pristine scenery seems unimaginable. However, the architects at Oller & Pejic were up to the challenge. The Black Desert House is located in the Yucc...
Sometimes, all an architect needs is a simple idea, a seed that will grow and blossom into an innovative creation. It can be a simple geometrical shape, like a triangle. In the case of the renovation of an old 1930’s Chinese building, SKEW Collaborative decided to take the triangle-shaped window as a starting point and make this idea evolve throughout the apartment. By p...
It’s in the Dolomites, in the small hamlet of Mareo, that the two brothers of Pedevilla Architects reached their full potential with Wohnhaus Pliscia 13. Adding to our growing collection of black houses, this chalet’s dark sheen is just one element that distinguishes it from the other homes in the area. Keeping in mind the peaceful influence of the mountains, Pedevill...
We love a good narrative, and the Tinderbox House is just brimming with narrative potential. The loft is the virtual unfolding of inspiration in a 19th century warehouse in Melbourne, Australia. Taking the basic elements of an eighteenth century fire starting kit, the architects at Australian firm Breathe developed the loft’s aesthetic around flint, char cloth and a s...
When nature inspires SJK Architects, it’s serious business. The Weekend House is located in Alibaug, India, and consists of a series of pods that interpret and reflect the lush natural surroundings. Using a steel web and dense concrete, the architects fashioned each roof into a beamless “leaf” that is supported by concrete-filled steel columns. The whole gives an impress...
Architecture sometimes is really about making the best of a bad situation. The Ramat Hasharon House 13 is situated in the Israeli countryside, in between the courtyards of two other houses. The constraint here was to maximize the space left amid the courtyards, while protecting the new house from prying eyes. Pitsou Kedem decided to cut right to the chase by drawing this...
Thanks to a system of highly modular doors and windows, the house can be transformed into an open air structure. And if that’s not impressive enough, the sheer scale of the whole system is mind blowing. Colossal sliding glass doors, a pool with a retractable roof, entire walls that open and shut…we could try and give you all the details, but we suggest that you simply wa...
ProtoHaus says, “Yes.” Not only does the space fit a bed, kitchen and bathroom into a space that is smaller than the size of the average living room, but it looks good doing it. Designed by an artist and engineer couple, the transportable structure is off the grid and self-sufficient, thanks to a solar and wind system. As if you weren’t already sourcing the plans, ProtoH...
Iceland remains a rarity with its nooks and crannies left almost untouched by human civilization. It therefore seems fitting that Californian firm Minarc would privilege sustainability and conservation for the Nice House located in a particularly well-preserved, rural area of the country. Designed as a minimalist family sanctuary with a deep connection to the environm...
While we all dream of spending a few holidays in the South of France, some actually have the nerve to live there! But if we all like to enjoy the fresh scent of pine at our front door, it comes with a few constraints. Dealing with a slope and establishing a regular level in order to fully embrace the view was one of the main problems with which French Architecture firm N...
The timber-clad N House is located on a sloping plot in Fukuoka, Japan. In building the two-storey home, the architects at Japanese firm Roote had to navigate a four meter elevation change and a triangular plot that narrows from 16 meters to a mere 4.5 meters. Additionally, the clients, a married couple with two daughters, requested that the architects carve out ample ga...
SALT is a program inspired by nomadic traditions and driven by a connection to the Arctic landscape. Their projects are rooted in forgotten structures that represent the historic Nordic lifestyle, and over the course of a year, the structures are making their way across the far north. Part of SALT’s program is the SALT Siida Workshop, which brought together architects...
The interior is a surprising mix of heavy materials (concrete and stone) that are rendered light and airy by the open layout and floor-to-ceiling windows. Beautifully catching the abundance of natural light, the wooden ceiling panels warm the space and give a cozy feel, while the Riva by Pininfarina furnishings create an ambience that is at once whimsical and chic. We ar...
Iconic Hotel Daniel in Graz, Austria, is about to welcome a new wave of visitors. The reason is a small but noticeable addition to its roof: a luxurious prefab suite called the LoftCube, designed by Berlin-based Studio Aisslinger. It might have a wonderful interior and stunning views of the various landmarks of the town, but the real intrigue is elsewhere. What make...
Making new out of old has become the great trend in modern architecture. And with the constant reminder that our natural resources are scarce and limited, the concept of renovation has taken on a whole new meaning, as demonstrated by this loft in Bratislava designed by Slovakian architects gutgut. You can forget about fancy interior design and think more about going back...
Basking in cool neutrals and pastels, this project in Saint Petersburg by int2architecture maximizes an open floor plan, tucking cozy nooks into every corner with simplicity and smart details to maximize functionality. Cabinets and shelving work to simultaneously separate spaces and provide storage. The airy space boasts a gorgeous selection of furniture that gives it a ...
Spanish architects Estudio Entresitio designed and built a labyrinth-like, two story residence on a long and narrow plot in a Madrileño suburb; the expansive volumes of the home clad in retractable metal shutters serve the dual purpose of providing privacy and hiding structural elements. Entrenched in nature, this starkly white project is set off by greenery, trees and a...
It has become vain for us to hide our love of Latin American houses. So many reasons explain this interest… reasons we find in the House Maza too. Maybe it has something to do with the luxurious and abundant nature surrounding the house, underlining the exoticism of its location. Or it might be because the house perfectly mimics an irregular and steep slope, organizing i...
Studio Velocity’s House in Chiharada is essentially a playhouse for grown-ups. Shaped like the turret from an imaginary castle, the architects chose a circular shape to preserve privacy and to provide a contrast to the irregular shape of the garden. The interior space is divided by four rectangular volumes of varying height. Each of the individual boxes contains a sta...
In the woods of the outer Stockholm archipelago hides a beautiful black house that might not seem like much. However, the House Husarö by local architects Tham & Videgård has been cleverly designed and hides a few tricks worth the trip. At first glance, the woods and surrounding nature strongly contrast with the purity of the home’s geometric shape and black facade. W...
Weathered steel, glass and concrete come together in a striking residence from the British architectural firm Hyde + Hyde. The House for a Photographer is located in an abandoned quarry that borders Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. After winning planning in 2010, the architects have recently begun work on the home. Rather than struggle with surrounding te...
