At the foot of a hill in eastern Washington, a private retreat shared by two families is built on respect for the site and its resources, economies of scale, and the history and vernacular architecture of the mining area. The families’ wish list also included two main bedroom suites, a bunk room, and an open space for cooking, lounging, and dining. Continue reading →

Cascading down a hillside in an olive grove in Sonoma, California, this 850 sq.ft. home is a study of volumes and the materials that form them. It was designed by Cooper Joseph Studio to be constructed and to reside in partnership with nature and the scientist owners’ agricultural projects which include olives and olive oil and bee keeping. Continue reading →

Architecture that springs from its site as a natural occupant is a rare thing, especially when the home is large, as in 7600 square feet large. The Butte Residence is delicately nestled on its 38 acre bluff in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A driveway meanders through the site’s pine and aspen forest setting the stage for the amazing home that will unfold. Continue reading →

The uses for shipping containers once their travels have ended are a source for unlimited creativity. This is a refreshing and revitalizing transformation that utilizes the structural stability and mobility of the container. This 8’ by 8’ by 8’ retired corrugated metal cube has been converted, by New York-based Castor Design, in to a sauna. Continue reading →

ARKit’s prefabricated wall panels made even this addition to an historic home on a small site painless. These interlocking panels with integral insulation and wood or plaster interiors are precisely crafted for high performance. Using often undervalued short lengths of timber, in this case red cedar, the sustainably sourced lumber also is inherently pest and rot resistant. In this Melbourne, Australia residence the building addition, interior and exterior, was factory built and assembled on site. Continue reading →

Just the location of this new family home in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec overlooking a pristine lake should fulfill any home owner’s wishes. Add to that a clever plan derived from site constraints, and expectations are succeeded. Continue reading →

Picture this…a small town south of Mexico City nestled in to rocky cliffs. The historic town center contrasts greatly with the lush wild country surrounding it. Creative types – artists, writers, musicians – have made it their idyllic retreat for many years. Part of a larger complex of bungalows that can be rented by days, months, or even years if you’re so fortunate, the lounge is a communal space in sharp contrast with nature. At the same time it acts as a liaison between man and the environment. Continue reading →

There are two very fortunate young boys in Tennessee probably enjoying this tree house even as I write. Their clever parents built it for them from standard readily available materials – namely conventional lumber, plywood, and corrugated metal. It’s just 64 sq. ft. plus a tiny front porch deck. Since it’s a stand-alone structure it isn’t what we typically define as a tree house. Yet it meets that definition in every other way. Continue reading →

In Melbourne an extended family who own two adjacent houses created a unique combined home for the entire family. They took this opportunity when both homes were in need of repair. Instead of adding space they united the homes and maximized the outdoor area in their city dwelling. Continue reading →

Nestled on a hillside overlooking the amazing Columbia River in Oregon, this house is born from and thrives on natural elements. Two levels make up 1831 sq.ft. of dramatic and nurturing vistas. Continue reading →