The Periphery is a two-bedroom house quietly embedded in Boulder, Colorado, United States, designed by Locus Studios. This design-build forest project explores the thresholds between habitation and exposure, hovering lightly over the land while anchoring itself firmly to the site’s geologic foundation. It is an example of architecture as “emotional engineering,” prioritizing not only atmosphere as well as performance, but also the home’s focus on the immersive connection to the desert’s light.
In Los Angeles, where the landscape is as much a client as the human resident, architecture becomes an act of translation. This Beverly Hills, CA house, conceived by Whipple Russell Architects, answers a geologic challenge with sculptural serenity — a cascading Mediterranean retreat that follows the natural slope of its ridgeline parcel with grace, restraint, and reverence.
Icicle House 03, a house located in Leavenworth, WA, United States, was designed by Syndicate Smith in 2019. The contemporary property features a three-story design that minimizes land disruption, while a rooftop deck collects rainwater providing extra sustainability.
The Sonoma weeHouse is a minimalist house located in Sonoma, CA, United States, designed by Alchemy Architects and completed in 2016. This compact, ultra-minimal, high-end home features steel frames, glass walls, custom corrugated weathering steel boxes, and Ipe interiors. The project includes two open-sided boxes set on board-formed concrete plinths, showcasing Alchemy’s weeHouse design customized for luxe finishing requirements. The project embodies compact housing solutions with architectural brilliance and high-end design.
Set in Copake Lake, New York, United States, the Copake Lake House is a retreat designed in 2021 by Desai Chia Architecture. The project engages this lakefront property through a series of framed volumetric compositions and material details that capture views to the water. A ritual of leaving behind the bustling urban life begins to unfold the moment one arrives at the carport and enters the home.
Waterfall Residence in Carmel Valley, California, is a house designed by Andrew Goodwin Designs in 2020. The contemporary home features a striking mid-century modern look while prioritizing fire resistance and sustainability. Set amid beautiful surroundings, it offers breathtaking views and uses innovative design solutions, including a raised foundation, to overcome challenges related to its hillside location.
Set against the tranquil scenery of Litchfield, CT, the ZN Prototype House crafted by Desai Chia Architecture unveils a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary living. Finalized in 2021, this architectural wonder is designed as a multifaceted assembly of components, allowing for swift construction at diverse locations, featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a storage room, and a freestanding guest house. The home’s design beautifully emphasizes warm materials, modern aesthetics, and expansive views.
The Ellen Browning Building is a mixed-use residential project located in Portland, Oregon, United States, designed by Hacker in 2024. The building features ten residences and commercial space within a 34,000-square-foot (3,160-square-meter) volume that is clad in terra cotta panels. It is not designed to maximise units but to maximise the quality of urban experience for neighbours.
