In Chicharo, Portugal, an 80’s warehouse was the starting point for a new approach to a conventional domestic brief. The concept was quite simple: designing an independent box volume that will rest over the existing structure. With a gentle ramp leading to the front door, carefully positioned between a pine and a centennial olive tree, the new house enjoys an elevated vantage point with great views from every room. Continue reading →

House in Vila Boim, a weekend home in Alentejo, Portugal, turns traditional values into innovative architectonic solutions. Local materials and traditional techniques, such as white stucco walls and ceramic tile roofing, were used as the main source to obtain the perfect blend between architecture and nature. At first glimpse, this contemporary home seems to deceive us for its integrity and similarity with the surrounding architecture. A second look proves otherwise… Continue reading →

Located on a sloping site in Chamoson, Switzerland, an 1814 old stone house has been totally renovated with a delicate touch of contemporary design. Roduit House by Savio Fabrizzi incarnates the daring challenge of resurrecting old structures into new and fresh architectonic statements. Thick stonewalls express the traditional techniques of local construction, provided by the same rock that defines the surrounding landscape. The original form of the ancient three-story house was left untouched – only the damaged wooden planks that previously wrap the attic were replaced by a new material: exposed concrete. 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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

A double height portico and pine trees as far as the eye can see: that’s San Lorenzo House. In Quinta do Lago, Portugal there’s an exquisite example of how to play with scale and volume to achieve a monumental impression with a simple weekend house program. Continue reading →

A suburban house reveals a peculiar presence in Concepcion, Chile. Pael House demonstrates the ingenious architectonic answer to a common challenge: how to fit a big house inside a small plot. In these circumstances size does matter, so only unconventional solutions seem to resolve such a delicate situation. In this case, a two-story home of 287sqm was developed taking a fascinating approach to the common concept of detached houses. A silhouette of four pitched roofs dominates the large side of a rectangular concrete volume giving the false impression of being more than one house. Continue reading →

In Benavente, Portugal there’s a house full of mystery and grace… A rusty concrete volume celebrates the power of introspective atmospheres in domestic architecture by exploring the concept of the patio. This two-story home of 282sqm carefully integrates interior and exterior spaces. The house is organized by a sequence of three courtyards different in scale and features, with Oak trees defining the surrounding landscape. Continue reading →