Ederlezi is a house in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, designed by Práctica Arquitectura in 2022. The residence is organized around a narrow plot and features a unique central courtyard that creates two distinct volumes. Its interior comprises rugged reddish tones, reflecting Mediterranean and desert landscapes. A zigzag pattern on the exterior façade aligns with heritage restrictions, integrating classic and contemporary elements. Emphasizing privacy while offering diverse experiences, the design connects users with the surrounding scenery.
Tiefes Haus is a house in Dreieich, Germany, designed by HGA Henning Grahn in 2023. The building features raw concrete surfaces and a polished terrazzo floor. Set on a narrow plot surrounded by villas and trees, the house incorporates elements from an existing structure. A two-story gallery with large glazing connects the interior, which includes a kitchen and living room with garden views. The facade, with varying window formats, aligns with the design’s concept.
Alicia Luxem designed “Turenne” in 2023, at this Paris apartment, where the interiors are defined by the use of lime-plaster walls and solid wood floors. In addition to the carpentry crafted from metal and locally-sourced, natural materials, this aesthetic is complemented by a “cutting-edge” art collection. Pale, neutral tones create a “calm shell”, accented by bold-coloured furniture found within the space. Vintage pieces with their “own stories” add “a bit of variety of colours” to the design.
Urban Soul Project has completed a set of cave-like holiday suites on the Greek island of Zakynthos. Designed in 2022, Yoma Suites is nestled within a steeply sloping site of the Greek isle. It position was chosen for optimal views to the west, overlooking the sea.
Holloway Li has revamped its Highbury Apartment at a Victorian terrace property in north London. The open-plan layout is intended as an “experimental ground” to develop Holloway Li‘s product ranges and domestic design solutions. The design is tied together by its daring colour palette and adventurous materiality, balancing heritage with hospitality interior extravagance. Holloway Li designed the kitchen in a way that’s informed by London’s fast-food outlets. The furniture at Highbury Apartment was custom-made by the studio to suit the interior.
Uruk is a restaurant in Kazakhstan, designed by Rustam Hamd in 2023. The project’s minimalist interior avoids typical Eastern cliches and instead features recognisable elements of Turkic nomadic culture, like kinetic installations inspired by traditional crafts and everyday objects. The decor evokes an Eastern ambiance with a monochrome “steppe” palette, adras-patterned furniture, and straw lampshades, creating a cohesive and subtle atmosphere.
The Aurora Apartament by Pascali Semerdjian Architects, located in São Paulo, Brazil, is an apartment redesigned in 2024. The architect relied on the clients’ specifications as he created the internal layout. Key details include the varied selection of local materials and distinctive aesthetics, including wooden and brass elements.
As an architect who loves sustainable design, I’ve always liked how warm and unique timber makes a building’s exterior look. Wood has a special way of changing a plain façade into something that seems alive. Today, I’m keen to share what I know about exterior timber cladding – a flexible and beautiful option that more and more modern architects are choosing.
