Ignazio Mortellaro has transformed a 300-year-old Sicilian farmhouse into a sustainable, energy-efficient retreat called Casa Balat. Located in Noto, Italy, the project seamlessly integrates traditional materials with state-of-the-art green technology, like a geothermal system for air conditioning and water heating.
Casa Balat features an open-air shala for yoga, a saltwater pool, gardens, and a Bulthaup kitchen, all designed to minimize carbon footprint while providing luxurious and sustainable agriturismo accommodations.
Joshi House is a single-family home in Bengaluru, India, designed by Anahata in 2023. The design balances art and architecture, creating personalized spaces while maintaining common areas for togetherness. The house features geometric volumes, with a cantilevering circular balcony as a standout element.
The interior mirrors this circular volume, enhancing flow and cohesion. Clean lines, natural light, and brass elements characterize the decor, blurring boundaries between personal reflection and shared experiences.
Lake Front Villa by Vanderbuilt Design Group is an extravagant house in Almancil, Spain. Designed in 2023, it showcases a blend of unmatched refinement and timeless grace. The interior, meticulously curated, features double-height ceilings and a harmonious design that combines comfort with luxury, capturing the essence of Quinta do Lago’s renowned outdoor lifestyle.
Catalejo is a retreat in Valparaíso, Chile, designed by Tololo Ugarte in 2024. The house is positioned to overlook ancient trees, creating a strong connection to its natural surroundings. Constructed using materials chosen for visual mimesis, the structure blends seamlessly with its environment, integrating the architecture with the surrounding landscape.
The Three-Courtyard House by Habanero Architecture in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, showcases a Vastu Shastra-inspired design, blending contemporary aesthetics with traditional harmony. The house’s leveled plane creates three courtyards, enclosed by a U-shaped retaining concrete wall. This structure not only aligns with nature but ensures energy efficiency with concrete masonry units and stucco, adding insulation internally.
E House, designed by Setenay Erkul Architects in 2025, is a family home situated on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey. This three-story house, adjacent to a forest, showcases a sculptural and elegant design. The use of natural materials like wood and marble, along with various artworks, creates a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere, balancing sophistication with warmth.
Architectural studio Ayami Takada Architects overhauled a relatively new house in Shizuoka, Japan, by incorporating three translucent spaces and a sunroom equipped with solar panels. The team aimed to create a completely different environment through expansion and renovation, rather than rebuilding, by “taking advantage of the topography of the river breakwater bank and the privilege of having a panoramic view of the landscape beyond.”
Designed in 2023, the 143-square-metre home is characterized by a transparent box forming a junction between interior and exterior spaces.
In Wagstaffe, Australia, architecture studio buck&simple. has divided this 2021 house into public and private spaces through a solid brick courtyard. Known as Permanent Weekender, the home is elevated to maintain its water views and create an artificial ground plane, accessible from the upper floor living areas. A subdued, textural palette enhances the home’s friendly, warm and calm atmosphere, along with abundant natural light and tactile materials like recycled brick and blackbutt.
