Melbourne studio Blur Architecture has added a copper-clad extension to a Victorian townhouse in the South Yarra suburb of Melbourne, Australia, with features such as an elevated lap pool and a glass corridor that connects the old and new buildings.
Blur Architecture used materials including weathered copper, glass, steel, bluestone pavers and concrete for Davis, which was designed for a homeowner who wanted to improve their exercise and swimming routine at the house.
St Johns House, designed by Paul Archer Design, is located in Wivenhoe, United Kingdom. This home was created for an artist seeking a light-filled, energy-efficient space on a plot near the Colne Estuary. The design includes a double-gable roof, dark timber cladding, and metal roofing, reflecting the area’s maritime history. Rooflights and flexible interiors define the contemporary yet historically linked design.
The United States-based Flower design team transformed a 1950s Boulder bungalow into a distinctive getaway featuring preserved steel-frame windows and sleek cabinetry walls. The revamped post-war structure maintains its original facade while introducing an open-plan interior layout that spills onto a deck with Flatiron views. This historic renovation merges past and present, complete with a new primary suite and a lower-level family area opening to a freshly landscaped pool area.
Side Angle Side transformed a 1970s rancher in Austin, Texas, into a spacious one-bedroom home. Designed in 2023, Reynolds Road was remodelled to improve energy efficiency and suit the homeowners’ lifestyle. Additions like solar panels, Tesla backup batteries, and rainwater collection provide reliable energy, allowing the property to go fully off-grid, as during a recent ice storm when power was out in the neighborhood.
The Coach House is a three-bedroom house located in London, United Kingdom, designed in 2023 by Open Practice Architecture. This family home balances comfort and interaction with its original utilitarian outbuildings, and its clean and calming interior explores materiality to reveal an environment celebrating light and aesthetic engagement across the dwelling’s different spaces.
Life Down A Lane, a house in Melbourne’s Richmond neighbourhood designed by Tom Robertson Architects, features a central courtyard. The contemporary family home is surrounded by neighbours, necessitating a design that balances privacy with openness. The living spaces are elevated for increased sunlight, while the interiors contrast monochromatic exteriors with light tones.
Robust external forms open to the courtyard, providing a focal point and ensuring security. Central spaces include a sculpted marble island in the kitchen and a dramatic full-height window for exterior views.
Villa Lev is a house in Tulum, Mexico, designed by the local studio Espacio 18 Arquitectura in 2024. The building comprises three volumes positioned in a horseshoe shape to create a central courtyard and increase its connection with the natural surroundings and ensure more privacy.
The dwelling was constructed using raw concrete, with wooden furniture used throughout the space to give the interior a warmer atmosphere.
The Moon Gate ADU by Cover Architecture, a 620-square-foot dwelling in Altadena, California, offers a retirement retreat for his mother near his family home. Placed at the front of the lot, the ADU introduces two new structural forms that contrast the existing suburban house. Geometric facades, with curved walls and eaves, serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, ensuring daylight and privacy. The interior features a playful design with natural materials for a comfortable and sophisticated living space.
