Israeli architect Yaron Eldad has designed a minimalistic house featuring a monochrome palette with natural materials and luxurious details, offering a dynamic and inviting living environment. The private home is characterized by exposed concrete, large floor-to-ceiling openings, and a seamless connection between the exterior and interior spaces, complemented by precisely detailed elements. The result is a relaxed, inviting, and homely atmosphere for a family of six.
Objekt Architecten renovated Lamat – a classic detached house in rural Wichelen, Belgium, in 2023. They restored and maintained the crow-stepped gable while adding new window openings, enhancing the garden connection. The interior was transformed with a double-height space and a concrete mezzanine.
Pátio do Meco, a Setúbal home designed in 2018 by Fábio Ferreira Neves, maintains its original identity by preserving its typical Mediterranean elements. The minimal exterior is designed as different volumes positioned according to privacy needs. A verandah connects the main home, where social activities take place, with the private rooms along the perimeter. For shade, the patio, which maintains its original scale, contains Mediterranean elements, such as a well and shading reeds.
Hidden House is a partially underground dwelling in Pimperne, United Kingdom, designed by Western Design Architects in 2023. Nestled discreetly into its landscape, this house maintains distant rural views. The planners agreed to its construction only if it didn’t impact countryside views, requiring the house to be built below the boundary hedge. By leveraging the natural terrain, significant parts of the house sit below ground, with principal windows facing south to capture valley vistas.
The Columbia River Valley Lookout is a ski cabin designed by Twobytwo Architecture Studio in British Columbia, Canada. Designed in 2023, the retreat is nestled in the Kootenay mountain range, aiming to connect family members with each other and the natural landscape. The cabin features a cantilevered steel balcony, douglas fir rafters, and an industrial staircase. Its design is inspired by the surroundings, utilizing a palette of wood and concrete for both the exterior and interior.
Cote Architects highlights local climate-smart features throughout this concrete home in Huế, Vietnam. Designed in 2024, the PVT House comprises two stacked volumes arranged around a lush garden, easing natural lighting and ventilation. Passive cooling methods include open-air patios and a facade with adjustable glass doors, enhancing air circulation. This approach not only ensures comfort but also reduces energy use, resonating with the studio’s focus on environmentally friendly solutions.
The Idea House designed by JHL Design in Lake Oswego, United States, is a family retreat with expansive windows and concrete floors, designed in 2008. Nestled in the trees of southwest Portland, the home blends modern design with natural surroundings, featuring concrete flooring and plywood walls for warmth and grounding.
Raumus, a renowned designer, has transformed a residential apartment in Fukuoka, Japan, into a captivating workspace with a soft and inviting atmosphere. This 2023 project, which was a conversion of a housing unit into an office space, showcases a unique approach to renovation that blends the past and the future. By covering the walls with a thin layer of fabric or translucent paint, the design team has created a space that retains the traces of time while offering a serene and harmonious work environment.
