Mathison Mathison Architects revamped a midcentury home on Spring Lake, Michigan, focusing on enhancing its connection to the picturesque surroundings. Designed in 2022, the Harbor Point project reconfigures interior spaces for better lake views and functionality, incorporating features like clerestory windows and an expansive deck.
The renovation emphasises natural materials, with warm wood tones, dark stone, and natural steel finishes throughout, aiming to bring more light and openness while respecting the home’s original integrity.
The Pir.116 house, designed by Mardi, showcases sweeping views of Arcachon Bay from its location on a beachfront plot in France. Redesigned in 2023, the 1950s house is set into a dune and characterised by a double-pitched roof and white-plastered walls, resting on a rounded stone base. The renovation opens up the living space to the sea, maintaining the original identity of the house while enhancing its relationship with the scenic surroundings.
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.
Wohnhaus AGM is situated in Montaccio, a small hamlet in the Bergell region, Switzerland. Renovated by Renato Maurizio Architekten in 2024, the house combines historical and contemporary elements.
The design focuses on preserving the building’s original 1719 structure, using rough stone masonry and lime plaster alongside exposed concrete for new structural elements. Old timber cladding and roof beams are repurposed as floorboards, wall cladding, window, and door frames, maintaining the house’s historical character and blending it with modern additions.
House over the wall by Chaoffice in Beijing, China was designed in 2022. The project approaches renovation creatively, blending old and new structures. The house integrates elements like “basket”, “suitcase”, and “cabinet” that provide natural light and fresh air. Its design maintains the site’s original characteristics while enhancing functionality and aesthetics.
Italian architect Matteo Magnabosco prioritised comfortable living spaces, permeable boundaries, and natural materials while renovating this 1950s apartment in Turin, Italy. Designed for a life coach who prioritises wellness, Casa Terracotta celebrates pale wood, blue and brown shades, and features neutral couches, bespoke built-ins, and semi-glossy ceramic tiles.
Storagemilano updated a historic chalet nestled in the stunning Austrian Alps in Kitzbühel, Austria. Completed in 2024, Villa Privata features a harmonious blend of old and new elements, seamlessly integrating characteristic architectural details with contemporary solutions.
Andrea + Joan Arquitectes designed the House on the Woods in Tarragona, Spain. Designed in 2023, the project features the rehabilitation of an old rural dwelling and its surroundings. It is conceived as an occasional residence, intended as a refuge integrated into the forest.
The preexisting dwelling lies within a set of disused stone walls, where a Mediterranean forest of pine and oak trees has grown over the years, creating a synergy between the architecture and the landscape.
