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.
Lehit House, designed by MAKHNO Studio in Odesa, Ukraine, embodies lightness and natural beauty with large windows and a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Completed in 2022, the home features minimalist interiors with natural stone, clay textures, and bespoke lighting that reflect Ukrainian culture and MAKHNO’s distinctive style, offering a tranquil yet vibrant living environment.
Loft & Studio for Marcel by MH.AP transforms an abandoned basement storage space in Barcelona into a versatile living area. Designed around two patios, the project features exposed Catalan vaults and thick old concrete walls for thermal comfort.
A custom-made plywood kitchen, oak flooring, and carefully placed outdoor elements enhance the open-plan interior, utilising natural light and vintage tiles for a bright, airy atmosphere.
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.
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.
Fishermen’s House B-10, designed by Marco de Gregorio in 2021, is an historic terraced house located in Spain. It’s part of a small settlement built for fishermen and their families in the late 1950s, designed by Spanish modernist architect José Antonio Coderch y de Sentmenat in an andalusian style.
The renovation preserves the original layout with a simplified design using simple and durable materials inside and out, retaining features like the whitewashed facades and red clay tiled roofs.
Casa Cariño, located in Guadalajara, Mexico, is a serene sanctuary designed by Dinamita Taller. Designed in 2023, this house reflects the artistic passions of its photographer owners. Casa Cariño stands as a testament to the beauty of intentional living and storytelling.
The Villain House, designed by architect Clàudia Raurell, is situated in Barcelona, Spain. Completed in 2023, this contemporary residence stands on the northern slope of Montjuic. The design features a straw-colored exterior and a grey-hued, brutalist interior.
Its unique structure forms an integrated urban silhouette, characterized by a doubling of its street-facing facade. Innovative space allocation removes the need for doors, and a glass-enclosed patio improves climate control.
