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.
Hudson Lookout, designed by Kimberly Peck Architect, is a modern watchtower home located in the Catskill Mountains, United States. Completed in 2021, the house features a unique three-story cube design with random-shaped windows to highlight the surrounding mountain views. The interior includes a stacked steel staircase leading to a rooftop deck, and energy-efficient elements like SIP panels and radiant heating.
Fergus Garber Architects redesigned the Modern Maybeck house in Atherton, California, embracing early 20th-century architectural principles. The design, completed in 2022, retains a few outer walls to preserve the home’s expansive footprint and reimagines the layout. The new home, inspired by Bernard Maybeck’s iconic style, features heavy timber specially sourced and assembled on-site, aiming to blend modern refinement with a sense of familiarity and ruggedness.
Costa Rican studio Salagnac Arquitectos designed the Perla Negra House in Puerto Carrillo by the sea to blend into the landscape of surrounding trees, or yayos, with its L-shaped layout, laminated wood details and black colouring. Created in 2023, the structure features piles to adapt to the sloping terrain and a layout that provides a smooth transition with the outdoors and integrated mimetic design elements.
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.
Shadowbox is a mountain house in Whitefish, United States, designed by The Ranch Mine and completed in 2024. The structure, clad in black metal siding, reflects nearby Rocky Mountains and pine tree bark. Inside, a wood-clad recessed entry leads to the great room with 25-foot ceilings, surrounded by windows for natural light. The design incorporates fire-resistant features to withstand the Wildfire-Urban Interface environment.
Casa PM is a single-family house in Maldonado, Uruguay created by VDV ARQ in 2022. This modern dwelling sits just five kilometers from the ocean and merges beautifully with its semi-rural surroundings. The design innovation underscores an abiding sense of nature’s beauty, as well as the necessity for serenity and purposeful living space.
The impressive Studio VARA-designed Fire Country Lookout is a multi-generational home that was completed in 2022. Located in Healdsburg, CA, this architectural treasure features prismatic form to support sustainable living and adaptability to climate change. The house is designed with seamless movement between the inside and outside of the house to provide great views from every point, thus creating an ideal family environment.