House on an Island

Wedged into the rugged coast of an island in southern Norway, the House on an Island is a unique artist's retreat. Careful attention was paid to the topography of the site in order to nestle the structure into the contours of the boulder. Upon entry, the boundaries between the interior and the outdoors are nearly undetectable. The rocky terrain seamlessly transitions into a concrete floor and a prefabricated wood shell encloses the living spaces. Its lattice pattern immerses the interior in the coastal landscape while filtering the incoming sunlight, creating the illusion of sitting outside under a shade tree. While the home is wrapped in an outdoor terrace, a staircase leads to a rooftop deck offering unobstructed views across the sea.

Photos: Ivar Kvaal and Nils Vik/D2 / Atelier Oslo

Chapel of Sound

Disguised as a prehistoric boulder resting in a valley in northern Beijing, the Chapel of Sound takes organic architecture to the extreme. The massive rock is the home to a semi-outdoor concert hall that will serve the capital. Taking cues from its natural setting, the structure is made from concrete and crushed mineral stones formed to resemble the rock formations found in the surrounding mountains. Its design isn't just a clever way to blend into the scenery. The shape is also acoustically-friendly to improve the sound of musical performances. Currently under construction, the venue includes an open-air amphitheater, an outdoor stage, and a viewing platform that overlooks the mountainous landscape as well as the neighboring Great Wall of China.

Photos: Open Architecture

Tobin Island Boathouse

Floating on the waters of Ontario's Lake Rosseau, the Tobin Island Boathouse breaks the traditional maritime cottage mold with its planar design. The waterfront structure is formed by a series of horizontal planes laid in a staggered pattern, mimicking the movements of the lake. Its cedar facade has been charred using the Shou Sugi Ban technique to protect the timber while blending the exterior into the scenery. An expansive dock made from weathered wood surrounds the cabin, creating an outdoor space for gathering. On the shore side, a cantilevered trellis offers shelter from the southwestern sun. Internally, the lower level is used for boats and storage. Above, the upper level houses living spaces where Baltic Birch provides a warm contrast to the exterior. Consisting of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge, and a kitchenette, the interior's expansive glazing affords panoramic views of the lakeside setting.

Photos: Shai Gil / AKB Architecture

Tainaron Blue Tower Retreat

Converted from a 19th-century tower, the Tainaron Blue Tower Retreat boasts some of the best views in Greece. The three-story structure is situated on the coast of the Mani Peninsula. Its original stone exterior has been restored using traditional methods to maintain an authentic look. A terrace in the same material continues the ancient aesthetic while offering guests an infinity pool overlooking the sea. Internally, the former fortress now consists of a shared kitchen, dining area, and just three suites. Modern fixtures have been integrated into the existing stone walls for added amenities without distracting from the historic character. Built to keep a watchful eye on enemies coming in from the sea, each room is afforded expansive views of the coast and the southern slope of the Taygetos mountain.

Photos: Tainaron Blue Retreat

Stellavie Southern Sky Print

A beautiful illustration of the Southern Sky, this unique print is a work of art and an educational tool. Available in black and gold or white and gold the print displays each constellation in the Southern sky along with apparent magnitude and a star guide. Each silkscreen print is hand-printed in Germany using custom-mixed inks and solid-colored premium paper stock. Limited to 500 pieces, the print arrives signed and numbered. Ships unframed in a sturdy poster tube.

Width: 20" / Height: 27.5"

Stellavie Northern Sky Print

A beautiful illustration of the Northern Sky, this unique print is a work of art and an educational tool. Available in black and gold or white and gold the print displays each constellation in the Northern sky along with apparent magnitude and a star guide. Each silkscreen print is hand-printed in Germany using custom-mixed inks and solid-colored premium paper stock. Limited to 500 pieces, the print arrives signed and numbered. Ships unframed in a sturdy poster tube.

Width: 20" / Height: 27.5"

Elon Musk's Brentwood House

Elon Musk's Brentwood House is your chance to live like a tech billionaire. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is parting ways with the 3,000-square-foot mid-century abode that he shared with actress Talulah Riley. Although it's one of his smaller properties, the 4 bedrooms, 4 bath interior is still decked out with a sleek chef's kitchen, massive walk-in closets, and an impressive selection of Musk-worthy smart home features. A highlight is a curved wall of windows. The glazing floor-to-ceiling opens out to a saltwater pool and spa while also showcasing views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.

Photos: Hilton & Hyland

Casa Topo

Not to distract from the Peruvian landscape, Casa Topo was designed for minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The lower level of the home is tucked into a hillside with its stone-colored facade blending into the mountainous backdrop. Containing the main living spaces, sliding glass doors turn the room into an open-air pavilion that spills onto an outdoor terrace. Resting above is a large wooden box housing the sleeping areas. Although it appears to be completely opaque, screens camouflage floor-to-ceiling windows from the exterior while affording expansive views of the lagoon and the stream to the second story bedrooms.

Photos: Juan Solano Ojasi / Martín Dulanto Arquitecto

Tree Tents Fuselage Wilderness Cabin

Lightweight and portable, the Tree Tents Fuselage Wilderness Cabin brings tiny house comfort to the most remote destinations on the globe. Its cylindrical exterior is modeled after modern aerospace design and is made to be mounted on stilts or suspended from trees, allowing it to adapt to any landscape with minimal disruption. The birch-lined interior features bunk beds, a dining booth that converts into an additional bed, marine-grade plywood flooring, and double glazed windows all housed within a fully insulated, aluminum shell. Each one is made to order so customizing your Fuselage with upgrades like solar panels, wood-burning stoves, and kitchenettes is no big deal. Cabins take around six to eight weeks to arrive and come prefabricated and flat-packed, ensuring easy installation in as little as two days.

Photos: Tree Tents

Nebia Spa Shower

The best shower in the world just got better. Nebia has refined its technology and has launched the Nebia Spa Shower 2.0, now available in Matte Black. The company has re-evaluated every element under the hood to perfect the most enveloping shower experience. Nebia 2.0 is 29% warmer than Nebia 1.0, it offers 2X more body coverage and patented atomized droplets that travel 3X faster than standard showers. It wraps your body with millions of tiny droplets for a spa-like shower experience. Nebia also uses 65% less water than a standard shower and pays for itself by saving the average home 20,000 gallons of water per year. It's easy to install yourself and is built from high-grade aluminum. Nebia has partnered with industry leader Moen to develop Nebia 2.0, and it is manufactured in the U.S. They didn't stop there, they've also introduced the Nebia Shelf. At $39 it is the best way to keep your shower organized and finally get rid of those flimsy suction cup shower caddies. Install takes less than one minute, and uses adhesives instead of screws. Nebia is live on Kickstarter, secure early access pricing now.

Presented by Nebia.

Stellavie Maze Print

Hand-drawn and filled with mesmerizing details, this Maze print from Stellavie will draw you and your guests in for hours. Its braided design has at least two solutions, each one offering a formidable challenge, although it's slightly easier to get in than get out. The black silkscreen design is printed with custom-mixed ink on cream-white Italian paper stock and is limited to just 250 examples, each signed and numbered by the artist. Ships unframed in a sturdy poster tube.

Width: 19.7" / Height: 27.6"

Vipp Chair

Vipp has been making power-coated metal for 80 years, but only in the last five have they tried using it for seating. The result is the Vipp Chair. Crafted from powder-coated aluminum, it has a light, airy quality that belies its comfort. It can be upholstered in fabric or leather, the latter of which is a Protected Aniline in black or cognac that will develop a distinct patina over time. Ideal for use in the office, den, or dinner table.

Hooded Cabin

Perched on a mountaintop in Norway, the Hooded Cabin breaks the traditional cabin mold while staying within the strict guidelines of the alpine region. Architects were limited by regulations that included sectioned windows, standing wood paneling, 22-27 degrees gabled roofs, and triple bargeboards along with a cold, windy climate. Its exterior is protected by an ore pine roof. Resembling a hood, the cladding is laid in an angled pattern creating a geometric contrast with the remaining black timber facade and giving the dwelling a sculpted quality. Inside, a warm oak lining complements the natural scenery displayed by expansive glazed openings. Bedrooms are housed in the back and attic allowing for the main living space to take advantage of the sweeping views. When weather permits, sliding glass doors open out to a wooden terrace overlooking the lake below.

Photos: Marte Garmann / Arkitektærelset

Palms Casino Resort Theme Suites

The Palms Casino Resort is betting on a couple of new themed suites for their latest $690 million renovations. First up, the Kingpin Suite is a 4,500-square-foot tribute to the 1996 cult classic. The space features two full-size bowling lanes that come complete with balls, shoes, and an automatic scoring system. Decked out in luxe, '70s-inspired furnishings, it also houses two bedrooms, a pool table, and a bar overlooking The Strip. Even more over-the-top is the Hardwood Suite. The 10,000-square-foot space gets its name from the two-story, Joshua Vides-painted basketball court and the locker room-style bathrooms. Although it comes with two bedrooms, die-hard fans can choose to sleep courtside on three Murphy beds. Post-game drinks happen at the 16-person bar while winners get access to the hidden whiskey room.

Garzon Hotel & Restaurant

Known for his fiery cooking methods, Francis Mallmann has reignited a remote Uruguay village with the Garzon Hotel & Restaurant. The former staging post is now home just 200 residents, making for an ultra-exclusive getaway. At the heart of the venue is the dining room. Here, the Patagonia chef showcases his traditional Argentine style with a menu featuring local fare, all charred to perfection. The inn's five rooms are housed in the derelict general store and share the same quaint charm as the scenery around it. Each one features a king bed, wood-burning fireplaces, and views of the garden and pool.

Rados House

A massive modernist, the Rados House is up for grabs in Rancho Palos Verdes. The home was designed by Richard Neutra and at 5,000 square feet, it remains the architect's largest residential property. It was built for shipbuilder John Rados in 1957 and features original mid-century details like mahogany marine-grade wood beams, terrazzo floors, and wood paneling. The interior includes 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms along with two dining rooms and a lower level bar that opens out onto the poolside terrace. Although floor-to-ceiling windows are found throughout the dwelling, expansive glazing encases the main living area to offer sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin and the San Jacinto Mountains in the distance.

Photos: Deasy Penner Podley

Orum House

Architect Zoltan Pali pulls off some serious Jedi mind tricks to complete a levitating house in Bel Air. The glass and steel home appears to float above the hilltop thanks to a transparent ground floor and a cantilevered design. Its 18,800-square-feet span across three wings, each one fanning out in a different direction to take advantage of views at every angle. Throughout the three floors, you'll find 9 bedrooms and 10 full baths as well as amenities like a 1,000-bottle wine room, cedar-lined sauna, a home theater, and a gym. Its exterior takes full advantage of California living with multiple outdoor spaces that include a kitchen, terraces with fire pits, and a LED-lit pool overlooking Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. The residence also comes with The Cube, a four-bedroom guesthouse complete with four baths and a kitchenette while the garage also doubles as an additional event space.

Photos: Matthew Momberger / Compass Real Estate

La Petite Soeur Cottage

While maintaining its traditional values, a historic Canadian home looks to the future with a modern extension. The new construction reinterprets the form of its wood-clad neighbor with clean lines and sharp angles. While its silhouette is a tribute to the original structure, white-washed wood cladding and a sheet metal roof reflect the surrounding birch trees. Acting as a guest house, the extension welcomes visitors from the main home to the living area. Polished concrete floors and blackened wood planks continue the contemporary dialogue while expansive glazing frames in views of Lake Ouareau. Below, a master bedroom is tucked into the hillside where it takes advantage of incoming sunlight. A glazed walkway quite literally bridges the gap between old and new and keeps the owners and their visitors connected during their stay.

Photos: Adrien Williams / ACDF Architecture

Mirage Gstaad

Reflecting images of the Swiss Alps, the Mirage Gstaad creates its own optical phenomenon with a mirrored facade. The structure was created by American artist Doug Aitken and was installed near the resort town as part of the Elevation 1049 art festival. Its simple form is meant to echo the traditional suburban home of the American West while a mirrored aluminum exterior displays the distinctly European scenery, allowing the home to disappear into its surroundings. The piece is about a 20-minute hike and will be on display until January 2021.

Photos: Doug Aitken / Elevation 1049

Apartment G51

In both color and design, the Apartment G51 is a minimalist masterpiece. The dwelling does so with a monochromatic palette consisting of raw concrete, metal, marble, and wood. Its variety of materials creates a texture that gives the interior depth while maintaining a consistently somber hue. The clean aesthetic is further established by styling the interior with only essential furnishings. An unconventional lighting system spans across the ceilings, creating a glowing geometric pattern that's reminiscent of a modern art installation.

Photos: Leonas Garbacauskas / Hito.lt

Dexamenes Seaside Hotel

Sited on the western coast of Greece, the Dexamenes Seaside Hotel converts a deserted wine factory into a boutique retreat. The original buildings were constructed around 1910 after the country's "Currants' Crisis" and a need to repurpose the abundance of stock arose. All of the structures have remained untouched, allowing for a century of decay to take place. Rather than polishing the ruins, the owners chose to embrace the patina and preserve their existing charm. Rooms are housed in a row of former storage tanks. Each one showcases its raw concrete shell and features a bathroom and double bed. Large sliding glass doors open to a covered patio overlooking the ocean. Follow the horizon, and guests can enjoy the pristine beach of Kourouta.

Photos: K-Studio