Narrow residential building sites are common in Osaka, Japan. Though the creative design solutions to maximize and empower living spaces displayed here is truly uncommon. Yoshihiro Yamamoto Architects Atelier design of this five level two bedroom modern home makes the site feel abundant. Continue reading →

Nestled amongst the densely packed urban landscape of Barcelona, lies a unique residence by none other than Barcelona’s own – Mateo Arquitectura. What makes this home stand out becomes apparent from the first glimpse of the facade. Continue reading →

Driving through surburbia searching for something that stands out from the crowd can often be an exercise in futility. However, when one passes by the Sorel Residence by Naturehumaine, neighborhood monotony quickly becomes a thing of the past. Who would have thought that by offsetting two rectangular floor spaces and draping them in a gabled roof something so unique would result within the town of Sorel, Quebec. Continue reading →

Many of us who may dream of restoring a home within the Mediterranean countryside would have simply turned our noses up at the site of an age-old foundation and retaining wall. However, Josep Lluís Mateo of Mateo Arquitectura dove head-on into the reconstruction of this Old Country Mansion in La Garrotxa, Girona. The Barcelona-based firm realized early on that this foundation was more than just lost ruins; it was a perfect canvas upon which to create a true work of art. Continue reading →

This oceanview compound is outdoor living at its finest. The recently completed guest house, designed by Bromley Caldari Architects, accompanies the main home, a beach cabana, gym, and outdoor dining pavilion. Using local materials of stone and cedar, the private beach village takes advantage of the ocean breezes through immense expanses of glass. These large openings negate the need for air conditioning and are placed for distinct advantage of the vistas. With close neighbors, the individual buildings nestle together with shared glass walled courtyards that create privacy. Deep overhangs mitigate intense summer sun and maximize the low winter solar gain. Continue reading →

A multi-level family home at the foot of Mount Hiei in Kyoto, Japan, embraces tradition with modern twists. Designed by UZU Architects, the modern house rambles over four levels. The scheme is familiar: a steep gable roof with deep overhangs supported by vertical timber-clad walls. The forms are traditional, yet the materials and colors are contemporary. In bright sunlight, the wooden entry walls glow mustard yellow. Together with a dove grey door, it is a quietly warm and inviting entrance. A narrow horizontal ribbon window pierces the introverted and respectful public side. Small square skylights puncture the coal grey standing seam metal roof. Continue reading →

Simple forms become complex jewels when artfully defined by materials. This modern sleek home, designed by Sergey Makhno architectural workshop, is rich in contrast and light. The larger upper floor, wrapped in ebony steel and black brick, overhangs the lower level walls of natural concrete. A two-story rectangle is framed again in steel, pierced with sheets of glass, and its end walls wear sliced rounds of oak. The wood is a natural unifying element that bridges the highly contrasting hues of brick, steel, concrete, and glass. A separate building with faces of brick, concrete, and timber rings is centered within two steel roofed open areas. One acts as a carport and the opposite an outside living place. Continue reading →

Ah, triangular buildings! This one in Oporto, Portugal was constructed in the 19th century with a footprint of 52 sq.m. A2Office molded the original structure in to a building with four modern studio apartments. Stripping it down to its remaining viable components was the first step. These included the solid log floor joists, which were given a boost in strength. The top floor corner construction was removed, as it did not meet today’s standards. Historic documents guided the creation of facade colors, interior shutters, and new windows. A new timber stair resides where the former narrow and dilapidated once traveled the four levels. Continue reading →

Enveloped by the World Heritage site of the old Jewish Quarter in Budapest is an exciting new bar. Now the entertainment district of this historic site, the Doboz (meaning “box”) bar is a purely modern intervention on the exterior. The design by 81font architects projects up through the enclosed courtyard of the eclectic 1880s stone facades of the former residential buildings. With a storied history as a hospital during World War II and the home of a rabbi and his seven daughters most recently, the buildings lay abandoned and neglected during the late 1900s. Continue reading →

There is such beauty in simplicity. A steeply wooded site in rural Pennsylvania is home to two interlocking rectangles. Designed by Bromley Caldari Architects, it hugs the rocky site that overlooks the Delaware River. At the same time, it’s as if you’re in a treehouse. Continue reading →