3, 2, 1, lift off! In Fujizakura, Japan there’s a compact house defying the basic rules of gravity. This small single-story family home of 67sqm stands above the ground on a single central pillar. Located on a sloping site, the enigmatic black volume seems completely suspended, floating among the surrounding pine trees. Continue reading →

A house can be an inspirational podium for life: Rufo House in Toledo, Spain evokes this magical state of architecture. Located on a hilltop outside the city limits, this two-story building designed by Alberto Camp Baeza has a project area of 200sqm totally focused on the astonishing views of the surrounding mountains. Continue reading →

If you’re a true nature-lover, then Geuloever will inspire you to build the Eco-house of your dreams. Situated in Gulpen-Witten, The Netherlands this small prefabricated wooden house is full of surprising details. It was carefully designed to become a natural part of the surrounding landscape: a floating wooden structure resting over several poles constructed from local trees – an effective solution for the constant threat of flooding in the area. Continue reading →

In Lorraine, France lies an outstanding example of Eco-friendly architecture: Le Nichoir, one of four ecological forest retreats situated in the deep dense forest of Le Vent des Forets. This small cabin has only 20sqm but is prepared to accommodate up to four people. It’s part of an experimental project, brought forth by the French designer Matali Crasset, and the inhabitants and volunteers of the nearby villages, which creates a place in the forest where visitors can simultaneously experience architecture and environment. Continue reading →

Sometimes renovation literally means turning a house upside down… Just like the Flip House in San Francisco by Fougeron Architecture. This three-story family home didn’t quite fit the sloping topography of the site featuring a few small facade openings. So the architects flipped the house around, re-positioning all private areas in the front and social areas in the back of the building to fully enjoy the astonishing views over the city. Continue reading →

Stacked shipping containers seem to offer an infinite range of solutions: this time the composition serves a retail store in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Decameron Store by Studio MK27 shows us how to transform a universal module into a real piece of modern architecture. With a limited budget, an existing metal warehouse was the starting point of an unconventional solution: two rows of stacked shipping containers combined with polycarbonate panels create a unique showroom for retail. Continue reading →

The Jackson Family Retreat sits among wooded canyon walls in Big Sur, California. Wild nature is now partially domesticated by this unique two-story home of 232sqm. The concept developed by Fougeron Architecture followed a clear intention: construction shouldn’t disturb the existing fragile ecosystem. Therefore, a unique structure was placed on site taking advantage of a lightweight composition of elements, with a butterfly roof and an elevated ground floor to reducing the house’s impact on the land. Continue reading →

La Cabane du Perche is gently embraced by two centennial oaks in Normandy’s dense forest of Perche Natural Park. This beautiful tree house is suspended 4 meters above the ground with most of its height resting on two composed wood pillars. Wood assumes the composition of this small cabin: the construction, material and visual form of the building constitutes a natural unit. Continue reading →

This modern two-story patio house in East Coast Parkway, Singapore keeps a secret inside its perimeter: a hundred year old tree centered in a large grassy courtyard surrounded by a swimming pool. A timber screened volume hides this wonder from the curiosity of passers by, reinforcing the need for privacy in the organization of the 781sqm program. Continue reading →

An almost impossible site for a house seems to defy all urban limitations. House K is the result of an ingenious approach to a site surrounded by a dense urban fabric on three sides and also bordered by a grove of trees. A crescent-shaped volume, serving as a family home, seems to grow out of the ground like a rock while transforming the entire roof surface into a generous terrace area. Continue reading →