The firm Black Rabbit remodeled the Friar Tuck Residence in 2024, embracing sustainability and natural materials while preserving its original form. Located in Austin, Texas, the mid-century house incorporates passive solar techniques and a variety of courtyards.
Casa Serra Azul, a wooden structure and prefabricated panel house designed by Apiacás Arquitetos in 2022, occupies a plot in São Paulo, Brazil. The layout embraces a horizontal form, maximising interaction with the land and providing excellent cross-ventilation. Its cohesive design, featuring a large wooden roof, aims to minimise material waste and introduce new construction possibilities, prioritising environmental concerns.
Grupo Arquitectura designed Four Houses Pinares, a set of four independent residences amidst a wooded landscape in Mexico. The architects adapted the homes to the site’s natural topography, ensuring minimal disruption to existing trees. Each structure features a metallic frame with visible wooden beams and panels.
The Hua Xu Boutique Hotel by Z+H Renhai Design is situated in Suzhou, China. Completed by designer Zhang Haihua, this 2024 project involved transforming three existing residential buildings into a courtyard hotel. The design draws inspiration from the region’s Jiangnan-style houses, incorporating contemporary elements that harmonize with the area’s historical context.
Located in Surat, India, this redesigned house by local studio D’Well’s embraces minimalism and nature. Originally a farmer’s abode, the D’Well’s Den is now a tranquil workspace with a verdant courtyard. Founders Jhanvi and Rakshit preserved the house’s essence, integrating natural elements into the design.
CCB House in São Paulo, Brazil, was designed by Kiko Salomao + Tanaka in 2020. The house features a concrete base to accommodate the property’s topography, organizing three main blocks. These include a social barn with internal gardens, a pool, and an outdoor patio, balanced with a service block for amenities.
The design provides expansive views of the valleys, integrating large glass frames and diverse landscaping to create a seamless transition between spaces.
The House and the Landscape, designed by Inon Ben David, is a home in the Lower Galilee region of Israel. Featuring extensive use of natural materials, the two-story structure accommodates a family of six and includes elements created by the homeowner, who owns a custom metalwork shop. Open to its natural surroundings, the house also offers sweeping views of the valley and Mediterranean Sea.
Studio BV founder Betsy Vohs restored a mid-century house in Palm Springs, California, adding solar panels and systems to enable it to function off the grid. Designed in 2024, Vohs acquired the Casa Amigo property in the desert city’s Movie Colony neighbourhood with the intention of turning it into a personal retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.