The Five Cove House by RHAD Architects is located on a Nova Scotia island, connected by a causeway. Designed in 2022, the 1,560-square-foot home, surrounded by five coves, replicates the under-stated typical seaside shed that has been split, pulled, flipped, and extended to create courtyards. The one-storey house was subdivided to present a main dwelling area with a kitchen, living, and dining space, as well as a guest suit, forming a “cottage within a cottage” for added seclusion.
Chez D. is a three-bedroom apartment located in Bucharest, Romania, designed by Jooca Studio in 2021. The designers, Bianca Buruiană and Alexandra Stamate, reconfigured the layout during construction, introducing features like a glass partition in place of a brick wall to invite more light. The interior embraces the New Chic style, blending art and minimalism, with custom-made furniture and creative lighting adding to its characterful design.
Casa Petra is a retreat in Ceglie Messapica, Italy, designed by Alessia Angelini. It combines local architecture with contemporary design, featuring three renovated lamie and minimalist interiors. The retreat includes a raised terrace with a pool, outdoor kitchen, and Mediterranean garden, providing space for relaxation amidst a vineyard and olive grove.
The Studio Gamp! team combined two separate Civitavecchia apartments into this 160-square-metre dwelling, characterised by flowing wooden partitions. Designed in 2020, Casa Darsena features curved walls that echo the exterior lines of the 1990s building, creating a flexible layout and enhancing natural light. A key design element is a vertical oak screen that embraces the living area and transitions into a glazed, pivoting door leading to a home office, promoting interaction and connection throughout the space.
NEW HOW architects designed a modern retreat in Hrubá Skála, Czech Republic, harmonizing with the Bohemian Paradise landscape. Completed in 2023, the weekend house balances traditional and contemporary elements. Set on a south-sloping plot, it mirrors the local architecture, offering panoramic views framed by the medieval Trosky castle ruins.
Résidence des Sables, a single-family house by Agence Spatiale, overlooks Lake Saint-Joseph in Quebec, Canada. Designed in 2022, this H-shaped dwelling integrates with its wooded surroundings, featuring generous fenestration for constant nature contact. The upper floor includes living spaces that open onto rooftop terraces, blending warm interiors with the exterior. The house aims to root itself in the site while providing diverse views and privacy for its inhabitants.
In a mountainous region in Spain, local studio Ábaton converted a labour house into a contemporary cottage that overlooks a nearby forest. Designed in 2024, Cottage in La Vera features traditional architecture and materials but with a modern twist. Dubbed a “non-intervention” in the territory by the studio, the renovation was intended to respect the existing building, using local materials from the land and old surrounding structures.
Designed by Ábaton, the El Escorial Renovation is a comprehensive overhaul of a 1976 house in Madrid, Spain. Situated amid the dense forest of Mount Abantos, the project focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency, utilizing modern technologies and materials. The design prioritizes the connection with the surrounding environment, incorporating large windows for natural light and integrating as much of the original structure as possible. The renovation encourages family interaction, linking indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly.
