Armstrong Cottage is an off-grid, net zero retreat in Peterborough, Canada, designed by Peter Braithwaite Studio for a Toronto family. Built on an island with difficult access, the project required barges, floating docks, and winter ice crossings to transport materials and machinery. The house is made up of two pavilions—one for living, one for sleeping—set...

Chapelle MI is a contemporary extension to a historic stone chapel in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. The project from Atelier Ose respects the original heritage while introducing a modern timber structure that adapts to the sloping terrain. Built on pilotis, the new volumes appear suspended, reducing their impact on the site and creating a light contrast to the...

In Asturias, a modern residence by Jovino Martínez Sierra Arquitectos frames expansive views of the Cantabrian Sea and the surrounding meadows. Large windows and clean white volumes open the house to the landscape, giving it a strong connection to its natural setting. High ceilings and an exposed concrete ceiling beam define the space, giving it...

Set in the rural landscape of Central West NSW, Kavillo Studios reinterpret the region’s building traditions with a modern, sustainable approach. Designed as four studio dwellings, the structures draw inspiration from nearby shearing sheds and historic pisé (rammed earth) buildings. Their striking tent-like forms combine galvanised sheet metal roofs with thick rammed earth walls, grounding...

Set in Melbourne’s Eaglemont, Villa XXIII by FGR Architects draws inspiration from both art and landscape. The site sits just below the grounds where the Heidelberg School painters once captured the Australian bush in the late 19th century. Their legacy of plein air expression, tied to natural light and terrain, finds a modern echo in...

In Kaunas, Lithuania, this residence by Architectural Bureau G. Natkevicius & Partners takes a bold yet quiet stance. Instead of rising above its neighborhood, the house embeds into a sloping site, its angular roofline echoing the ground’s natural grade. From the street, it reads restrained, but from the garden, walls of glass open fully to...

Set in a forested landscape outside Montreal, this residence by Desjardins Bherer reworks a 1990s structure into a light-filled retreat. The architects opened the footprint by removing part of the ground floor and enclosing an extension in glass, creating a double-height living area that frames views of the pool and valleys beyond. The interiors pair...

In Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Casa Sofía by HACEDORMAKER_ sits on a forested cliff facing the Atlantic. From the street, its concrete facade stays closed and private, but inside, the plan opens directly to a patio, pool, and uninterrupted ocean views. The house is organized by a T-shaped layout. Private rooms run along one axis, while...

In Melbourne, Australia, FGR Architects designed the Concrete Curtain House as a calm presence within a chaotic suburban streetscape. The façade is defined by pleated concrete columns, a rhythmic brise soleil that provides privacy, controls sunlight, and sets the tone of the home’s restrained geometry. Behind the sculptural exterior, the plan unfolds across split levels....

Set in the open pastures of Drummond, Victoria, the Mingela Polo Residence by FGR Architects is a flat, pavilion-style home designed to dissolve into the Australian landscape. The structure appears to hover above the terrain, defined by a floating concrete deck and floor-to-ceiling glazing on three sides. Long eaves provide shade and frame panoramic views...

In Sydney’s inner-west, the Leichhardt House reimagines an 1882 worker’s cottage as a modern sanctuary. Designed by Porebski Architects, the renovation respects the original structure while introducing bold spatial connections and natural light that dramatically expand the compact footprint. At the heart of the design is the material palette—marble and timber working in harmony. Striking...

The Fowler & Ward x Base Cabin tiny house turns compact living into an adventure. At just 215 square feet, it swaps a standard loft ladder for a mini climbing wall and opens up with large bifold doors that connect the interior to the outdoors. There’s space for four to sleep, a skylight for stargazing,...

Set along the rugged edge of Harbor Springs, Michigan, the Lower Shore Residence by Lucid Architecture embraces its position on Lake Michigan with a design tuned to water, wind, and seasonal change. The home is organized into three distinct volumes: two wood-clad wings for private functions and a taller, transparent core that gathers daily life...

Suspended among the treetops of Quebec, this striking cabin by Kariouk Architects looks more like a futuristic mirage than a woodland retreat. Perched on a steel support above a rocky cliff, the cantilevered black volume hovers dramatically over the forest floor, creating the sensation of floating in midair. The design was born out of strict...

Designed by iHouse estudio, this compact home in Punta del Este, Uruguay, reinterprets mid-century living with a modern twist, blurring the boundary between inside and out. Raised lightly above the ground, the structure uses two bold yellow blocks to contain the kitchen, bathrooms, and storage, freeing the rest of the layout for an open plan...

This 684-square-foot cabin in Sea Ranch, California, was originally designed in 1968 by architect Joseph Esherick. Restored by its new owners with Framestudio, the project keeps the midcentury character while adding modern updates. The three-level open plan was preserved, with a partition added to close off bedrooms when needed. Custom blue cupboards and built-in bunk...

Overlooking Ames Lake near Redmond, Washington, the Scout Lake Residence now stands on a site once used as a Boy Scout camp. Designed by Stephenson Design Collective and built by Dovetail in 2021, the 3,900-square-foot house balances modern architecture with sensitivity to the protected lakeside forest. The home’s stacked block-like design draws inspiration from the...

Kohútka Cottage is a contemporary mountain retreat in Nový Hrozenkov, Czech Republic, designed by SENAA architekti. Inspired by traditional Wallachian log cabins, the home combines classic timber architecture with modern technologies to create energy-efficient living in harmony with its surroundings. The design respects tradition with its steep saddle roof, small casement windows, and deep overhangs,...

Yama Architecture transformed two shipping containers into a fully self-sustaining off-grid cabin in Manton, California. Designed to be secure, mobile, and low-impact, the cabin is a practical solution where permanent construction was not allowed. The interiors are compact yet functional, with a propane-powered kitchen, heating, and lighting, plus solar panels for supplemental power. Durable finishes...

Tucked into the forests of Washington State, this 1,721-square-foot A-frame cabin by Stephenson Design Collective turns a classic alpine form into a bold modern retreat. Its sharp silhouette and standing-seam black metal roof cut a dramatic figure against the evergreens, designed to withstand heavy snowfall while blending seamlessly into the landscape. Inside, the mood shifts...

Designed by Love Schack Architecture, the Freja House in Whitefish, Montana, is clad in prefabricated wood panels treated with järnvitriol, a Swedish iron sulfate technique that gives the home a weathered look while ensuring durability and energy efficiency. Its pitched roof and compact form recall traditional cabins, yet the design feels modern and adaptable for...

Unlike many DIY tiny houses built with cost savings in mind, the FL Tiny Home was conceived as a piece of architecture. Designed as a “refined tramping lodge on wheels,” it complies with NZTA width, height, and weight regulations while remaining fully transportable. Originally planned for a section in Ohariu Valley, the home was designed...

Villa 18, designed by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, is located in Madrid’s La Moraleja district, overlooking the golf course lake. The daytime spaces occupy two staggered volumes, their shift forming a sheltered terrace that captures morning light and offers protection later in the day. A taller volume rises to nearly one and a half stories, while...

This 538-square-foot (50 m²) house in the Netherlands is built almost entirely from glass, with both walls and ceiling designed to bring in light and frame the surrounding forest. The compact footprint,designed by GetAway Projects BV, is just 21 by 26 feet, spread across three levels: the main living area, a sunken bathroom, and two...

Lake Cle Elum from sticklab, on the west side of the Cascades, sets the backdrop for this modern cabin in Roslyn, Washington. The 2,800-square-foot home and 800-square-foot garage occupy a slim terrace above the water, where steep slopes define the site.  The roof is engineered for deep winter snow loads and doubles as a housing...

Perched on the east shore of Lake Garda, Villa Dellago by Jacopo Mascheroni is designed as a pavilion that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The home stretches parallel to the water, allowing every room to open toward sweeping lake views.  The large glazed façades and extended rooflines make the structure feel both weightless and...

Riba House sits in the Puembo Valley, Ecuador, on a curved corner plot shaped around a centuries-old carob tree. The tree became the guiding axis of the project, influencing both orientation and design.  With 520 m² spread across two levels, the house from TEC Taller EC, is conceived as a bar-like structure that embraces the...

On the edge of Lake Washington, Olson Kundig’s Pattern House stands out with its dark industrial aesthetic and glass-forward design. The two-story residence makes the most of a narrow site, with its full-height glazed facade framing panoramic views across the lake.  The telescoping and pivot glass doors are engineered to fully open, dissolving the line...

Belgian interior architect Arjaan De Feyter has transformed two ocean-facing apartments into one striking penthouse on the northern coast of Belgium. Located in Knokke, a town known for its lively atmosphere and access to the Zwin Nature Reserve, the project balances raw industrial accents with the serenity of seaside living. Black steel, slate, and textured...

Located in Melbourne’s Armadale, Huntingtower Road is a boutique apartment complex by Jolson Architecture and Interiors that feels more like a sculptural residence than a multi-home building. Its defining feature is the series of deep arched windows and doors, creating a façade that plays with light and shadow while framing views of greenery. The design...

Set against the hills of Alicante, Spain, Ramón Esteve Estudio’s Oslo House brings a calm, minimalist take on modern living. Defined by two overlapping concrete volumes that appear like stacked blocks, the home balances bold geometry with the serenity of its Mediterranean setting. The house anchors to the hillside with a stone base that follows...

Built into the rugged slopes of Serifos, Xerolithi House by Sinas Architects uses local stone walls that echo the island’s xerolithies—traditional dry-stacked retaining walls. The curving rock façade follows the contours of the hillside, making the home appear as though it has grown out of the mountain itself. The structure’s flowing lines create a dialogue...

Shoreline House by Splyce Design in Victoria, Canada, is a renovation and addition that combine contemporary form with the rugged coastal setting. Instead of demolishing the 1960s structure, the studio retained and reconfigured it, adding a compact single-storey extension designed to minimize ecological impact while embracing sweeping inlet views. The new volume sits lightly on...

House 1114 in Bozeman, Montana, by BEDA Architecture, was fully renovated with a new addition. The exterior features vertical cedar siding with green panels for a modern profile, while a black-framed pergola extends the living space outdoors and connects the house to the landscape The kitchen layout feature a minimalist design with no backsplash, allowing...

Maison TO in Sari-Solenzara, Corsica, was designed by Isabelle Berthet Bondet using local stone and timber. The house is inspired by traditional sheepfolds but updated with broad terraces and a suspended infinity pool that overlooks both mountains and sea. Stone walls anchor the structure to the rugged site, while over 200 m² of timber decking...

Designed by New York–based Mapos Studio, Peconic House is a 4,000-square-foot residence set on a five-acre site overlooking Peconic Bay. The project responds directly to its landscape with a combination of natural materials, a planted roof, and an elongated layout that follows the slope of the terrain. The house is defined by its green roof,...

In Assis, São Paulo, Casa Brise by Sabella Arquitetura stands out with a façade that transforms sunlight into an architectural feature. The 450 m² residence was designed for a family moving from São Paulo city to the countryside, combining modern lines with practical comfort. The upper floor is wrapped in a perforated metal brise-soleil from...

Casa Plaj in Lourinhã, Portugal, designed by extrastudio, is built on a steep coastal plot overlooking the Atlantic. The house keeps a compact footprint of 120 m² but uses height, skylights, and wide openings to bring in light and expand the sense of space. The standout feature is the swimming pool set parallel to the...

Oak House, designed by MUKA Arquitectura north of Madrid, is built almost entirely in exposed concrete. The structure shows raw beams, heavy slabs, and visible supports, leaving little room for softness. Large glass walls bring in the landscape, but the atmosphere inside remains cold and rigid. The architects introduced oak carpentry and furniture as a...

The Sandpiper Cabin by Scott Posno Design is the kind of retreat I’d love to have one day. Its thoughtful design and cedar shingle exterior give it a natural, timeless character that blends beautifully with the forest. The home is composed of two simple volumes joined at the center, creating a clear yet private layout....

The Woodnest treehouses in Norway stand out for their striking shingle-clad forms that seem to merge with the forest. Each façade is covered in overlapping wooden shingles, creating a texture that resembles tree bark and allows the structures to blend naturally into their surroundings. More than a protective skin, the shingles shift with the light...

Set along the western shore of Sag Harbor Bay, this family home by 1100 Architect is shaped by two simple gabled wings set at right angles. The longer volume runs parallel to the shoreline and holds the living, dining, and kitchen areas, all opening to a 125-foot terrace and screened porch. The shorter wing contains...

In the Dutch countryside, a ruined sheepfold dating back to the early 1800s has been given new life. Once a vital agricultural building, the structure had fallen into disuse when sheep farming for manure became obsolete. Thanks to HilberinkBosch Architecten, the sheepfold has been restored and transformed into a modern house. What makes this project...

On the outskirts of Wanaka, New Zealand, Sundance Rise by Condon Scott Architects is a modern home that opens to sweeping views of the mountains and lake. The design emphasizes materiality, where Corten steel panels and dark timber cladding create a bold exterior softened by natural textures. Local schist stone anchors the base, adding weight...

Set in Montauk, New York, the Spinnell Residence by Christopher Jeffrey Architects balances rugged coastal strength with a warm, light-filled interior. The project consists of two shifted gabled volumes that rest on poured concrete walls, creating a composition that steps with the site and opens toward the ocean. The exterior is clad in black-stained shingles,...

Christopher Jeffrey Architects designed a waterfront retreat overlooking Peconic Bay, where the site slopes forty feet down to the wetlands. The project includes a 1,500-square-foot single-story house and a 400-square-foot pool house with an in-ground pool. Concrete walls anchor the home into the slope, drawing the hillside into the interior. Native grasses and wildflowers surround...

Sloping green roofs not only insulate and manage rainwater but also let homes disappear into their surroundings. Camouflaged by grass and moss, these designs hide within nature, merging architecture with the landscape. Green Roof House by Snegiri Architects Blends Into the Forest Slope Russian studio Snegiri Architects designed HillHouse with a sloping green roof that...

Atelier Hajný has renovated a 1970s stone hut in the Sázava region near Prague into a compact countryside retreat called Skylight Hut. The original single-story structure was stripped back to its stone base and rebuilt with a concrete slab and timber frame, topped by a corrugated metal trapezoidal roof. The new form meets the local...

Haus Max by Caramel Architekten sits on a sloping site near Vienna, designed for a family of four seeking both quiet countryside living and a large artist’s studio. The lower level houses the 3-meter-high studio, partly embedded into the slope, with direct access to the garden and a covered outdoor workspace. Above it are the...

A residence designed by OFFICE INAINN sits on the west coast of Norway, 148 meters above sea level. Completed in April 2025, the 127-square-meter home follows the steep slope without altering the ground. The dark timber structure blends with its surroundings and positions itself as part of the terrain rather than standing apart from it....

Patina Maldives, part of the Fari Islands in the Indian Ocean, is a modern retreat set across 10 kilometers of reef on the northern edge of North Male Atoll. Designed by Studio MK27, the resort features low buildings that merge with the tree line and open wide to the sea and sky. Studio MK27’s approach...

Set on a steep Goan hillside, Timber Residence is anchored by bold cantilevers that project the living spaces into the surrounding canopy. Designed by Architecture Discipline, the 8,650 ft² house uses a linear pitched-roof form, with eleven glulam portal frames supporting its structure. The home rests lightly on the terrain, raised on stilts and retaining...

Set into the steep slopes of Lefkada, Greece, the THYTA House by LASSA Architects demonstrates how contemporary forms can be embedded into rugged terrain. The residence is defined by sweeping, elliptical geometries that follow the mountain’s curvature, its volumes partly recessed into the hillside to reduce visual impact from the sea. This compositional strategy allows...