Rimrock House

Straddling the terrain on a bluff in Washington, the Rimrock House respects its cliffside property. The structure bridges over a natural wash, maintaining the site's existing animal path while also elevating the glazed facade above the winter snow. The remainder of the exterior is clad in weathered steel, a material that can handle the harsh climate and also meshes with the rugged scenery. The opaque regions of the home are reserved for the private rooms. Slim windows offer glimpses of the landscape without sacrificing privacy. On the lower level, the main living area is wrapped in glass. This transparent boundary provides the kitchen, dining, and sitting room with panoramic views over Riverside State Park and the north end of Spokane.

Photos: Kevin Scott / Olson Kundig

House Between Pillars

Using traditional Japanese framework, the House Between Pillars turns a vacant Tokyo home into a modular masterpiece. The interior is fitted with wooden pillars, spaced equal distance apart. Between each column, tracks were placed and fitted with interchangeable partitions. This allows potential owners to divide and create rooms to fit their lifestyle. Along with the adjustable walls, moveable furniture adds to the home's adaptability while the mix of plywood and timber provides a minimalist palette that can accommodate any style.

Photos: Kentahasegawa / Camp Design Inc.

House MK

House MK reimagines a traditional Austrian farmhouse by giving it a contemporary new extension. The original structure is a prime example of the region's vernacular architecture with white granite block walls and a clipped gable roof. While these historic characteristics were preserved for the existing residence, the addition takes on a more modern form. The buildings rough-sawn spruce cladding and an asymmetrical gabled roof are reminiscent of a barn, a current complement to the former farmhouse. Inside, the rustic touches continue with timber beams and knotted wood flooring. Sleek white walls and minimalist cabinetry create an updated atmosphere while openings in the ceiling flood the interior with natural light.

Photos: Dietmar Hammerschmid / Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten

Zealand Villa

English country meets modern Scandinavia at Zealand Villa. The structure that previously occupied the site was destroyed by a fire and although the new construction isn't an exact remake of the original, it does replicate some of the former home's traditional features. It's divided into three symmetrical volumes. Clad in white brick, their metal roofs and oak accents give off a barn-like appearance. The kitchen resides in one wing and the master suite in the other. At the center is the main living space. Celestial windows wash the Nordic-styled interior with natural light while glazed doors open out to the Denmark countryside.

Photos: Jørgen True / C.F. Møller Architects

La Dacha Mountain Retreat

Rising through the treetops of a forest in the Chilean Andes, the La Dacha Mountain Retreat is heavy on views and design. Its verticle approach allows for a small footprint, causing little disruption to the natural landscape while the charred conifer cladding compliments the surrounding evergreen trees. Internally, native Lingue wood lines the interior provides a rustic warmth for the worldly mix of modern furnishings. The interior is spread throughout three levels. The main living area has been placed above in the surrounding canopies to maximize views. Overlooking both the Nevados de Chillan volcano and the Valle Las Trancas, strategically placed glazed panels take advantage of the home's V-shape to frame-in distinct scenes of the mountainous setting.

Photos: Felipe Camus, Nico Saieh / DRAA

Zwavelpoort Conservatory

Surrounded by 85-acres of South African farmland, the Zwavelpoort Conservatory highlights the local landscapes with a steel and glass facade. The showpiece of the home is the double-height glazed gabled structure. Sitting at the center of the residence, the conservatory is the social hub where guests can gather and take in views from the light-filled space. Automated doors open the room up to the dramatic scenery turning the area into an open-air pavilion. A glazed panel in the concrete floor reveals a subterranean wine cellar accessed by a hidden trap door. The kitchen sits to the east while guestrooms extend to the west in a two-story brick volume. Each bedroom walks out to a covered balcony — a prime spot to watch the sunset behind the Magaliesberg range.

Photos: Marsel Roothman / Nadine Engelbrecht Architects

Houses A2

Set on the Greek island of Paros, the Houses A2 transforms the ruins of two rental studios into a pair of impressive holiday homes. The new residences take on a modern, cubic form offering a sleek reinterpretation of traditional Cycladic architecture. Its interior layout if flipped, placing the guest rooms on the ground floor and the living spaces above to maximize views of the sea. Much of the exterior is wrapped in a slatted pergola. The expansive shelter offers protection from the sun and wind allowing guests to take advantage of the outdoors all year long.

Photos: Yiorgis Yerolymbos / Buerger Katsota Architects

Payette Lake Cliff House

Sited on a jagged bluff in Idaho, the Payette Lake Cliff House weaves between the existing trees and rock formations, almost becoming a part of the natural landscape. Its exterior blend into its surroundings with a facade of teak, concrete, and weathered zinc. The interior continues the warm, rugged appearance with plaster walls, timber ceilings, a fireplace made from locally quarried stone, and exposed boulders. Concrete surfaces run throughout the kitchen and bathrooms while I-beams hold up the second level. Every room — including the home gym — is afforded expansive views of the lakeside setting through massive steel-framed windows. The outdoors is easily accessible with multiple walkways and terraces tucked between the towering conifer trees.

Photos: Gabe Border & Laura Hull / McCall Design & Planning

Artery House

Inspired by the personal collection of an art enthusiast and his wife, the Artery House is a live-in gallery. Unlike most homes where the kitchen or the living room is the heart of the home, the sub-level exhibit hall is what keeps this dwelling alive. Its white walls are filled with vibrant masterpieces that flow out from the central area and into the surrounding hallways like blood pumping through an artery — hence the name. The main living is contained in the limestone ground floor while five bedrooms cantilever in the timber-clad box above. The artwork isn't just contained to the interior. Its landscaping doubles as a sculpture park featuring delicately crafted pieces intermingled with grass pavers, terraces, and a tension-edge pool.

Photos: Michael Robinson / Hufft Projects

Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Concert Hall

Located in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Concert Hall is inspired by the music that is performed inside it. The building's form mimics the physical aspects of sound waves resulting in a curved glass exterior sitting below a massive suspended canopy. As the home base for the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, the new venue will hold a 1,600-seat concert hall and a 400-seat chamber music hall. The neighboring Weiner Gardens can be viewed from the glazed facade, acting as a backdrop for performances. It also offers a rooftop terrace looking out onto the Church of All Saints. While concerts will be its main purpose, the building will function as a public plaza for the growing city as well.

Photos: Zaha Hadid Architects

Hendrick's Gin Palace

Located an hour southwest of Glasgow, Scotland sits Hendrick's brand new Gin Palace. The custom-designed complex falls neatly in line with the brand's modern use of Victorian design on their packaging, complete with a walled garden that leads to a Victorian inspired palm house. Two new still houses that churn out every drop of Hendrick's are the centerpiece of the new compound that houses all six of the distillery's stills, including an antique copper pot still that dates back to 1860. Two botanical hot houses help cultivate the unique ingredients that go into each bottle of Hendricks, while Master Distiller Lesley Gracie dreams up new recipes in the lab that includes an extensive flavor library, a lecture theatre, and a bar.

Sea Ranch Retreat

Perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Sea Ranch Retreat is a modern interpretation of the Sonoma County community homes from the 1960s. The cedar-clad getaway is comprised of two wings angled at the water. Connected by a corrugated steel walkway, one unit is reserved for the bedrooms while the other is comprised of the living spaces. Each one features a minimalist aesthetic with plywood lined walls and concrete floors. Generous amounts of glazing warm the interior with the coastal sun and highlight views of the California landscape. The site's towering mature trees were preserved to protect the outdoor patios from the noisy highway, allowing for a peaceful area to enjoy glimpses of both the forest and the sea.

Photos: Joe Fletcher / Malcolm Davis Architecture

Teton County House

Built on the remote wetlands of Idaho, the Teton County House was designed to respect the diverse ecosystem that inhabits the land on which it sits. The home features a small footprint, opting for a verticle arrangement. Its exterior is clad in local stone and timber, a combination that compliments the natural scenery. Internally, the dwelling presents a reverse layout with guests rooms on the ground floor and the main living area and master on the second level. This arrangement allows for prime viewing of the pristine landscape from behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. The glazed facade opens to a terrace covered by the oversized roof, creating an outdoor shelter to take in the surrounding mountain peaks.

Photos: Gabe Border / Ro Rockett Design

El Guarango House

Overlooking the site of Ecuador's first human settlements, the El Guarango House is a hilltop weekend retreat. The home resides between two large brick columns made from soil and clay found around the property and handcrafted on-site. Between the two pillars are a pair of bedrooms and an open living area. The interior aesthetic is driven by an industrial palette of concrete floors, a wood ceiling, and the exposed brick. Black framed sliding glass doors highlight the landscape for the exterior while also expanding the inside to a covered terrace that affords views over the Inga Valley and to the Ecuadorean Andes in the distance.

Photos: Sebastián Crespo / SOMA

Czech Forest Retreat

Propped up by an existing boulder, the Czech Forest Retreat is a minimalist refuge in the countryside. The charred timber shelter adopts an abstract form to organically mold around its natural setting. Exterior walls flip up to expose large panels of glass highlighting the wooded scenery. The interior is lined completely in raw plywood. While the ground floor consists of just a wood-burning stove, a set of stairs ascends up the rock, leading to an additional area perched above the forest floor. As a whole, the internal spaces remain ambiguous allowing them to transform into a studio, office, or sleeping loft as desired.

Photos: Jan Kuděj / Uhlik Architekti

Breakneck Gorge House

Perched on the edge of a steep Australian ravine, the Breakneck Gorge House is just as impressive as the landscape that surrounds it. Its exterior has been sculpted into a rock-like form. Clad in Corten steel, its rusty exterior blends into the local scenery. Inside, a sleek interior is dominated by a moody palette created by stained timber planks and dark grey hues. Designed for short stays, the interior consists of just an ensuite and a living space. Large glazed panels spanning across the southern side afford surreal views that can be seen from every corner in the home.

Photos: Jack Lovel / Robert Nichol and Sons

Casa R

Surrounded by hiking trails, lakes, and lagoons, Casa R is an adventurer's getaway. The classic A-frame is hidden in the woods of southern Chile. Its blackened timber facade blends into its forest setting. A traditional chiflonera acts as a woodshed while providing entry to the two-story cabin. Its compact interior is laid out in an open floor plan with the common areas below and a sleeping mezzanine above. A wall of windows afford views of the natural scenery to both levels while welcoming in natural light. Each floor opens out to a terrace, where glimpses of the valley can be admired from beneath the shelter of the oversized roof.

Photos: Felipe Lagos

Maison ERG

Formerly used to house railroad workers, a hundred-year-old Swiss dwelling has been reimagined as a modern mountain residence. Built in 1911, Maison ERG is situated in the Alps of Montreux. Although most of the interior has been completely renovated, the original iron and walnut staircase remains intact. Hallow grids inserted into the walls along the stairs transfer heat and light as well as provide a sly form of communication among residents. Custom concrete pieces along with minimal furnishings give the home an overall contemporary aesthetic while wood finishes offer a rustic warmth. Small timber openings frame is views of the surrounding peaks throughout the living spaces while sliding doors on the ground floor open out to an expansive garden terrace overlooking Lake Geneva and the Riviera.

Photos: Lionel Henriod / Ralph Germann

Light Wave House

Perched above Byron Bay, the Light Wave House is the ultimate hangout spot on the coast of Australia. The project consists of a cabana, swimming pool, and landscape set along The Lighthouse Walk. The structure's sculpted silhouette is like a piece of artwork set on the hillside to captivate the walkers that travel the busy, public walkway. Its folded form is clad in native Blackbutt, giving the shelter a warm contrast to the vibrant blue waters of the infinity pool. Inside, the cabana houses a shower, bathroom, and holding tank that collects rainwater from the roof to fill the pool. Its cantilevered design creates a balcony over the sloped site, framing in a piece of the waterfront while the pool offers expansive panoramas of the entire shoreline and horizon beyond.

Photos: David Taylor / Harley Graham Architects

Dog Dream House

With its clean lines and green roof, the Dog Dream House is for the architecturally-savvy pooch. The design-forward canine quarters features a timber construction and sloped canopy that will make owners envious. Along the side, a planted ramp leads to a grass roof equipped with a motion-activated watering system to keep your furry friend hydrated. Below the walkway is a pull out drawer to stow away toys and treats. Inside, a rubber floor makes for a cushy spot for pups to relax while a solar-powered fan keeps them cool.

La Costa Forest House

The Forest House makes its home in the coastal region of La Costa, Argentina. Surrounded by native acacia trees and maritime pines, the board-formed concrete residence manages its sloped plot with a series of cascading structures. The three volumes are staggered along the gradient, creating multiple courtyards in between each unit. At the top of the hill are the bedrooms. As you descend through the exposed-concrete interior, a small set of stairs leads to the kitchen and dining area. The lowest point of the house is reserved for the main living area. While west-facing windows provide views of the scenery, a massive covered terrace on the northern end extends the gathering spaces to the outdoors among the towering treescapes.

Photos: Federico Kulekdjian / Besonias Almeida Arquitectos

Delphi Lux Cinema

Going to the movies is an experience of its own but the Delphi Lux Cinema adds another layer. Located in Berlin's City West district, the building offers seven distinct theaters. Their personalities are on display as soon as you enter the lobby with exteriors ranging from pink diamond shaped tiles to knotted pinewood. Inside, every auditorium is branded with its own mix of LED lights and geometric patterns. The hue of the neon glow varies from room to room, giving each one a unique, futuristic atmosphere.

Photos: Marcus Wend / Batek Architekten

Rose Coast House

Placed among the wild roses of St. Andrews By-the-Sea, the Rose Coast House is a New Brunswick retreat overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. The home takes shape as a traditional Irish farmhouse, an ode to the owner's family heritage. It's organized as a series of interconnected gabled volumes, with the private areas occupying one side and the public spaces on the other. The two wings are joined by a glass walkway while locally quarried stone and milled cedar clad the remainder of the exterior. As you pass through the interior, the same rustic material palette runs throughout giving the retreat an authentic cottage feel. At the rear, the inside opens up to the exterior with a full-height glazed facade. The walls of windows not only flood the living spaces with natural light but also expose it to views across the bay to Minister's Island and the van Horne bathhouse.

Photos: Acre Architects

Valley of the Moon Retreat

Resting on a wooded slope, the Valley of the Moon Retreat is a summer refuge in the canopies of Sonoma. The board-form concrete and timber home is constructed from a series of volumes. Arranged in a U-shape, the network of structures sit on a concrete plinth forming a central courtyard that faces the forest. The platform extends to create an infinity pool and spa overlooking the valley below. internally, the living spaces wrap around the outdoor terrace. A minimalist atmosphere is established through white walls and contemporary furnishings including the cantilevered bunk beds that put a modern twist on the traditional camp bunkrooms. This restrained palette allows the surrounding treetops to take center stage from the large expanses of glazing found throughout the interior.

Photos: Butler Armsden Architecture

Silo House

A 1955 grain silo transitions into a new phase as a two-story tiny home. Located in Phoenix's Garfield Historic District, the corrugated steel shell retains its original agrarian form. New openings break up the formerly opaque facade, giving the structure a more residential aesthetic. Inside, any trace of grain has been completely wiped out and replaced with 340-square-feet of living space. The circular ground floor is occupied by a kitchen, sitting room, and dining area. A curved sliding glass door washes the room in natural light while expanding the modest interior to an outdoor terrace. A black metal spiral staircase leads to a lofted bedroom. Lined entirely in walnut millwork, the room is a warm, inviting place to cozy up for the night.

Photos: Kaiser Works

Tumble Creek Cabin

Combining sustainable design and a rustic material palette, the Tumble Creek Cabin is a net-zero mountain retreat. The vacation home is nestled within Washington State's Cascade Mountains. Known for its extreme winters, designers had to use a mixture of solar panels, passive solar strategies, and a Tesla Powerwall to allow the residence to operate off-grid. While the oversize sloped roof gives the exterior a modern silhouette, it also filters the sun during the winter and summer months to help heat and cool the house, while its large overhangs offer a sheltered outdoor area. The contemporary exterior is clad in stone, Cor-ten steel, and reclaimed barn wood to compliment the rugged setting. These materials were left exposed to the interior where faulted ceiling make room for open living spaces and a massive board-formed concrete fireplace. Vast expanses of glazing bring in the warm sunshine as well as affording views of the wooded landscape.

Photos: Coates Design Architects

Curve Appeal 3D-Printed House

As 3D printing has evolved, the projects have become more and more ambitious. Case in point: the Curve Appeal 3D-Printed House. Designed by WATG, the 1,000-square-foot residence will be printed using Branch Tecnchology's freeform process, making it the first of its kind. The home features a sweeping curved exterior that is not only easy on the eyes but also provides structural stability. Its interior takes inspiration from the Case Study Houses of the 1950s offering a modernist aesthetic with an open concept and a glazed facade that floods the interior with natural light while creating a constant connection with the outdoors. Along with its revolutionary construction, the structure will take advantage of innovative technologies like solar carving and passive mechanical systems to make it net-zero-energy. The project will break ground later this year in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Calcaire House

Backed by the Rocky Mountains, the Calcaire House is a modern Colorado compound fitting of the surrounding Boulder landscape. A steel and limestone entry is guarded by a pair of towering, mature elm trees. The gabled silhouette is continued throughout the home's network of interlocking volumes. Low stone partitions are placed around the interior's open living spaces, creating a sense of division among the towering vaulted ceilings. The centerpiece of the gathering room is a double-sided fireplace. Sitting on a honed limestone hearth, panels of steel extend to the ceiling to shape the massive showpiece. Sliding doors flank the fireplace, turning the room into an open-air pavilion that seamlessly transitions to a side courtyard. The outdoor space is a prime spot for taking in the scenery, offering views of both the wooded lot and Bear Peak in the distance.

Photos: Surround Architecture