Lone Madrone House

Situated on the rocky coastline of Orcas Island, the Lone Madrone House uses local materials to blend into its rustic landscape. The exterior of the home is clad in western red cedar shingles, while a green roof attempts to replace the land that was disrupted during construction. Lined in douglas fir, the main living area plays host to a kitchen, dining, and living room flanked by a pair of sliding glass wall panels. These glazed doors open to create a direct dialogue with the natural surroundings, as well as provide expansive views of the sea to the south.

Photos: Sean Airhart / Heliotrope Architects

Aurelia House

Extending out from the hilly Mumbai terrain, the Aurelia House sits below a rooftop infinity pool. The narrow structure houses two bedrooms, a forest suite with an outdoor terrace, a master suite, and a glass-encased living area. The exterior is dotted with a series of wooden platforms, as well as barbecue pavilion flanked by two grass pods. Along with the main pool, the property is also host to a jacuzzi and a black-bottom lounge pool, each one offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape.

Photos: Photographix / Shroffleon

Moser House

Salvaged from a 150-year-old barn, the Moser House merges a modern interior with an ancient facade. The original building was carefully dissembled and rebuilt on a new site. Aside from some additional glazing, the exterior remains untouched, working as a shell to house the new construction. A kitchen, dining room, and three bedrooms were intertwined through the hand-carved framework, highlighting the historic character of the former structure. A lofted living area takes advantage of the added windows, offering views of the Austrian countryside.

Photos: Wolfgang Retter / Madritsch + Pfurtscheller

Cape Tribulation House

Steps away from the Great Barrier Reef, the Cape Tribulation House is an off-grid retreat nestled on seven acres of Daintree Rainforest. The home was built on a natural clearing, preserving the native landscape. Clad in a black plastic and a mirrored glass facade, the exterior blends into the dense vegetation, while internal walls sheathed in plywood create a warm contrast. South-facing windows take advantage of the lush setting, putting the ecosystem on full display throughout the entire interior.

Photos: Peter Bennetts / M3 Architecture

FSY House

Surrounded by a lagoon and golf course, the FSY House contrasts its lush Buenos Aires landscape with a concrete facade. The exterior carries a palette of varying gray hues, relying heavily on texture from the concrete panels and lapacho wood screens to add depth. Guided by a travertine walkway, the interior welcomes you with an indoor swimming pool and spa on the ground floor. Timber slats separate the space from the main living area, which looks out to the lagoon through floor-to-ceiling glazing. Accessed only by elevator, an upper lever studio opens to a terrace offering extensive views of the surrounding scenery.

Photos: REMY Architects

Peka Peka House

Situated on a hilltop overlooking Kapiti Island, the Peka Peka House is designed with its coastal setting in mind. A trio of rectangular volumes makes up the compact structure. The two blackened cedar-clad forms — one for living and one for sleeping — are positioned to take advantage of views of both the forest and the sea, while also sheltering a North-facing courtyard. Clad in a profiled-polycarbonate, the remaining box houses a garage and workshop and can be seen glowing from a distance after dusk.

Photos: Jason Mann / Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects

Lake Austin House

Surrounded by a grove of towering sycamore, cypress and pecan trees, the Lake Austin House mixes rustic materials with a contemporary design. A series of stacked volumes clad in glass and limestone form a modern silhouette, while accents of wood add a warm contrast. Internally, oak, mahogany, and cedar dominate the palette establishing a serene cabin aesthetic. Glazed panels immerse the interior in the natural landscape, extending the living area out to a terrace and swimming pool where a timber walkway leads to the dock.

Photos: Casey Dunn / A Parallel Architecture

Patio House

Surrounded by a grove of mature oak trees, the Patio House takes inspiration from the vernacular architecture of its native Portugal. At the heart of the home is a central patio. Like the montes settlements of the region, this exterior space is defined by a cluster of white volumes. These structures house the private areas and are connected by an inner ring made up of communal spaces. An internal wall of glass sliding doors encases the courtyard providing a direct link between the outdoors and the interior, while glazed panels on the outer partitions allow for views of the rural landscape.

Photos: Promontorio

Krokholmen House

Set on the shore of a small island in Stockholm's archipelago, the Krokholmen House gives coastal living a dramatic new silhouette. The structure takes on a tent-like form with a grand arched roof line. Clad in a mixture of zinc and unfinished cedar planks, the burden of maintenance is lifted allowing for the materials to weather over time. The warm exterior palette is carried inward with an ash-lined interior, only disrupted by polished concrete floors. Below the curved pitch of the ceiling sits a living area, flanked by a kitchen and an outdoor courtyard. Sliding glass doors on three sides of the home expose the interior to the seaside landscape through sweeping views as well as an access point to three oceanfront terraces.

Photos: Åke E:son Lindman / Tham & Videgård Arkitekter

Sebastopol Barn House

Born in upstate New York and relocated to Northern California, the Sebastopol Barn House is the revival of a classic timber frame structure. The original wooden beams were disassembled and refurbished in Texas workshop. This rustic framework became the centerpiece of the home, highlighted by a series of white partitions, carefully formed around each pillar. Although the integrity of the previous design was maintained through its simple rectangular form, a new concrete extension creates an L-shaped design that encloses a central courtyard. The addition of glazed sliding doors grants access to this outdoor space, while also allowing for views of the wine country setting.

Photos: Anderson and Anderson Architecture

Arts District Loft

Housed in a 1924 warehouse, the Arts District Loft highlights its industrial bones with a modern mix of furnishings. Much of the 2,000 square-foot space was left open, relying on a raised platform to define the living area. Made from oak planks formed in a herringbone pattern, its gray stain complements the exposed concrete floors and ceiling, while wood and leather tones offer a warm contrast. Custom bookcases create a partition between the main living area and the master bedroom. This casework rotates 90 degrees, allowing natural light to flow in from windows facing the south and east — which also afford views of downtown Los Angeles.

Photos: Marmol Radzinger Interiors

Rishpon Art House

Inspired by a passion for art, the Rishpon Art House is a residential gallery. The home sits as a pair of concrete volumes, rectangular in form and connected by a glazed breezeway. The exterior material continues into the inside for a minimalist pallet of exposed cement and blank white walls, creating a gallery aesthetic to display the owner's extensive art collection. Large glazed openings at the rear of both structures provide access to the outdoor swimming pool, while also affording views of the private courtyard.

Photos: Amit Geron / de Lange Designs

WH House

Located in Ukraine's Black Sea coastal area, the WH House is made up of a pair of mirrored volumes linked by a uniform facade. Clean lines and a sleek black and white palette establish a contemporary exterior, while the structures' L-shape creates a central courtyard for dual swimming pools and a spa zone. This outdoor space is bordered by the main living area, consisting of a kitchen, dining room, and living room arranged in an open layout. A glazed staircase leads to the private areas. Each bedroom contains its own bathroom, wardrobe, and terrace overlooking the courtyard below.

Photos: M3 Architects

Tenkawa Fishing Cabin

With a concrete facade and green roof, the Tenkawa Fishing Cabin blends into its riverbank setting. The rectangular structure sits cantilevered over the edge of Japan's sacred Mount Ōmine, where its gray exterior becomes one with the bedrock foundation. Separated by a plywood partition, the interior's linear floor plan consists of a guest bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom on one side, and the master bedroom, living area on the other. Sliding doors at the far end of the home expand the inside out over the river and exposing the mountainous landscape.

Photos: Akira Kita / Planet Creations

Inverted Pyramid House

Balancing on a rural hillside in the Spanish region of Matarraña, the Inverted Pyramid House seems to defy the laws of gravity. Like the exterior, the inside doesn't follow traditional design. Rather than walls and stories, the interior consists of multiple staircases connecting a series of cantilevered platforms — each one housing a different function. More private areas are located in the upper mezzanines, overlooking the communal living spaces below. Earlier renderings see an outdoor pool mimicking the structure's geometric form, while current plans show a centrally located pool with direct passages to the three bedrooms.

Photos: Solo Homes

Hawk's Nest

Perched on a cliffside overlooking the Potomac River, the Hawk's Nest makes its home in an abandoned limestone quarry. The structure consists of a glass and steel volume balancing on a pair of concrete pedestals — flanking a sheltered courtyard. Other than acting as just a foundation, these two pillars are also functional, housing a studio in one and an entry staircase in the other. A linear layout allows every room to take advantage of the floor-to-ceiling glazing, affording views of the West Virginia landscape throughout the entirety of the interior.

Photos: Anice Hoachlander / Wiedemann Architects

Outpost House

Surrounded by nothing but the remote landscape of Idaho's high desert, the Outpost House functions for both labor and leisure. The structure carries a small footprint out of respect to its natural surroundings, covered in a concrete block facade to stand up to the harsh climate. That material also extends around an enclosed garden, creating a lush green contrast to the rigid terrain. Free of partitions, the interior maintains an open layout, consisting of a living area and studio space topped by a mezzanine bedroom. The palette compliments the warm hues of its surroundings with unfinished recycled fir floors and natural clay plaster. This double height space is punctured by a large glazed opening, intentionally placed to take advantage of the nearby Sawtooth Mountains in their various seasonal state.

Photos: Tim Bies / Olson Kundig

Hammock House

Located on a 40-acre farm in North Carolina, the Hammock House adopts an L-shape layout to respect the land's ancient oak trees. Along with the mature oak trees, an old barn also occupies the land. The exterior's slanted shed roof and timber plank cladding compliment the existing farm structures in a contemporary fashion. Internally, the home is split up between two wings — one containing the sleeping quarters and the other consisting of the main living area. Generous amounts of glazing flood the interior with natural light and afford views of the surrounding forest, while a screened sun room creates a sheltered hammock space — inspiring the home's namesake.

Photos: Samsel Architects

Back Country House

Located in New Zealand's Puhoi settlement, the Back Country House is modeled after the vernacular architecture of the region. An exterior of locally-sourced Macrocarpa timber cladding and a slanted galvanized iron roof reference the traditional huts found throughout the area. The two-story volume houses a main living area with a lofted master bedroom above. On either side of the ground floor, folding glazed doors afford expansive views of the rugged landscape, while also opening the interior up to a wrap around deck with an outdoor fire place and sunken baths.

Photos: David Maurice / LTD. Architecture

Photographer's House

Sitting opposite the village shrine, the Photographer's House acts as both a residence and a studio. Sheets of galvanized steel clad the exterior, reflecting the light to create the illusion of a monolithic structure. Its modern form stands out like a showpiece amongst the surrounding traditional Japanese structures. The outer concrete facade bleeds into the interior as flooring and wall accents. This stark palette is contrasted by an office space in warm wood tones. At the heart of the home is a living area that also functions as a gallery space. Free from windows, its high ceiling and blank white walls create the feeling of an exhibition for the owner to display his work, while large openings in the ceiling flood the area with natural light allowing the room to also double as a studio to create new pieces.

Photos: Norihito Yamauchi & Yoshihiro Asada / FORM Kouichi Kimura Architects

Camp Fircom

Nestled in a dense coastal forest, Camp Fircom is an off-grid retreat on Canada's remote Gambier Island. The cabin is built with a great respect for its surrounding landscape, sitting on a foundation of stilts in order to keep the lush vegetation intact. A central sleeping pod provides arrangements for two, while additional accommodations come in the form of open-air bunks and loft. A corrugated metal roof extends out past the structure to shelter not just for the interior but also the wrap-around deck, creating a covered outdoor space where guests can be completely immersed in the natural surroundings.

Photos: SALA Design+Build

Hood Canal Boathouse

Set along the rugged shore of northern Washington, the Hood Canal Boathouse transforms a lifeless shed into a charming waterfront retreat. The former windowless structure is now clothed in a concrete and steel facade. A set of sliding barn doors exposes the interior to the surrounding landscape, allowing for views of both the sunrise and sunset, while also creating an outdoor shelter. Contrasting the exterior's gray hue, marine plywood clad the internal walls and ceiling for added warmth. A retractable wooden ladder grants access to a lofted bedroom where six glazed panels frame in the horizon beyond.

Photos: ​Alex Hayden​ / Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Architecture

West Yard Farm

Surrounded by the vast landscapes of the Dartmoor National Park, West Yard Farm is the modernization of a 19th Century estate. The property consisted of an old granite farmhouse and several barns. In need of renovations, the main house was connected to a neighboring building with a glass extension — adding a contemporary element, while still maintaining the home's historic charm. This addition made room for a new kitchen and living area, allowing the original structure to offer four bedrooms, a sitting room, and dining room. Its glazed facade removes the boundaries between the interior and the outdoors, affording expansive views of the park's rugged moorlands.

Photos: van Elllen + Sheryn Architects

Accidental Wes Anderson

Director Wes Anderson is known for his distinctive visual style, which often features repetitive color patterns and symmetrical framing. Accidental Wes Anderson is a subreddit that celebrates this style by finding examples out in the real world. From beach huts in England to bunkers in Saigon, these photos are worth browsing for both film and architecture buffs alike.

Float House

Located in Purcell's Cove in Nova Scotia, the Float House is inspired by the surrounding landscape. Its name is derived from disconnected pieces of bedrock found throughout the area. Clad in wood planks washed in gray stain, the staggered volumes are meant to resemble the neighboring stones. Backed by large boulders, the residence consists of the main living area flanked by two wings, each housing private sleeping quarters. Mimicking its rocky plot, the interior carries a cool palette created by concrete floors and white walls, while walnut accents add an element of warmth. Large glazed panels open the inside to the outdoors, allowing for views of the surrounding lakes and ocean below.

Photos: Doublespace Photography / Omar Gandhi

Sherman Residence

Surrounded by mature oak and sycamore trees, the Sherman Residence uses glazed panels to display the untouched landscape. The home takes on a u-shaped layout, creating a central courtyard with a swimming pool. Constructed of board-formed concrete, the rigid facade is softened by an oversized low-slung wooden beam roof. This contrasting pallet is continued on the interior with exposed concrete walls, warm wood trim, and tongue and groove ceilings. On the inner portion of the home, glazed partitions offer extensive views of the surrounding orange and avocado trees.

Photos: Grant Mudford / Peter Tolkin Architecture

Topanga Cabin

After a chance meeting with a friend, the Topanga Cabin was born. The tiny house stands at just 120 square feet. Clad in reclaimed wood, the majority of the structure is made from reused materials. The modest interior saves space with built-in storage, bench window seats, pull-down desk, and lofted bedroom. With no electricity or running water, large hinged doors open to allow for airflow, while south-facing glazing takes advantage of the incoming canyon light. Sliding glass doors provide views of the surrounding woods, as well as access to a large deck for taking in the scenery first-hand.

Photos: Mariko Reed / Mason St. Peter

Canal House

Styled after the Adobe missions of southern Arizona, the Canal House pays homage to its southwestern roots in a contemporary fashion. The home is made up of pair identical volumes, connected by a textured brick entryway. Each one is topped by a rusty metal roof and wrapped in a smooth white facade. The two structures are separated by function — one housing the private sleeping quarters and the other the communal living area. The interior forms a rustic pallet with a rusted steel clad hood, tongue and groove ceilings, and copper farmhouse sink, while hand-made ceramic tiles, Dekton countertops, and dark cabinetry provide a modern contrast. Each wing opens up to a private courtyard, centered around a steel clad fireplace.

Photos: Roehner + Ryan / The Ranch Mine