Nestled amongst churches, collective housing, and an old mansion in Boudry, Switzerland sits a bold statement in modern architecture. Andrea Pelati Architecte created this 690 square meter multi-family residence that is meant to offer pristine views and serene living, all while the homeowners are nearly encapsulated – isolated from the goings on of the neighbors. As seen from the street, Villa Schuler belies its true size due to the dark-colored exterior that sets the home into the background. Additionally, a portion of the home that would otherwise occupy a lot of space, the garage, tunnels itself beneath the home. Continue reading →

Villa K is a wondrous architectural object plucked from the imagination of ARCHITECTENCSK and placed on the landscape so as not to disturb the natural beauty surrounding it. An unusual floor plan curves around the site, following the natural topography where it can and protruding over when it can’t. Every existing tree becomes a landmark. Every undulation turns into an opportunity. This luxury home takes advantage of site and stage in a way few are able to do – and it does so with undeniable style. Continue reading →

Sometimes the best way to honor what’s come before is to build upon where it left off. That was the notion given to la SHED architecture when they designed this stunning contemporary home in place of a dated, worn, and very much ordinary suburb home. The old home was stripped down to its foundations, which is exactly where la SHED began designing. The result is a stroke of architectural brilliance that is nothing short of extraordinary. Continue reading →

Copenhagen is well known for its immersive and engaging network of canals, waterfront boardwalks and, as you see here, pedestrian bridges. This unique example – designed by famous Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson – takes design cues from surrounding architecture mixed with a formal dedication to the local boating culture. It’s called the Cirkelbroen, and it aims to bring city dwellers closer to the water that is such a large part of the place they call home. Continue reading →

It all starts with a site: a majestic plot of land nestled on a sloped bank of the Pacific Ocean in West Vancouver, B.C. Throw in overlapping cubes of concrete and glass, warm accents of wood and light, and a breathtaking waterfront view and you’ve got yourself a recipe for architectural bliss. Splice Design gives us the Russet Residence – a sprawling modern mansion that emerges from a direct formal and material response to existing topography and native vegetation. And did I mention the view? Continue reading →

“Grow Up” is the name of a breathtaking exhibit created by Katarina Pridavkova, a Slovakian surrealist painter and sculptor. Pridavkova spent a year in Mallorca, Spain and was inspired by its streets and beauty. She in turn created an exceptional piece of miniature architecture that invites its viewers to enter a magical world of colorful homes with sculptured balconies and loosely hanging cables on the rooftops and imagine what it would be like to grow up in such an environment. Continue reading →

The Wind Vault house, by Wallflower Architecture + Design, has quite an interesting presence upon approach. The exterior of the home is visually striking – a merger of interesting shapes derived from the raised “concrete tube” design. The facade is distinctly concrete, however, as if completely hollowed out, the open ends of the home are clad in horizontal wooden louvers that are both functional and aesthetically appealing. Continue reading →

When you hear the word chalet, you likely think of a winter retreat nestled on a hillside in some place exotic, yet off the beaten path locale. As such, you’d likely make an additional assumption that a chalet is a “quaint and charming” European cottage that quite possible skimps on the finer things in life. Well, Chevallier Architectes is here to prove you wrong with the Chalet Dag in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. Continue reading →

Chevallier Architects, of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France, faced a rather unique (yet not uncommon) challenge with Chalet Piolet; the usable volume of the 1442 square foot old shed could not be expanded. Per local planning and zoning regulations, Chevallier had to creatively work within the space provided in their efforts to reflect “boldness, contemporary lines, high quality materials, and environmentally-friendly solutions”. Continue reading →

Mateo Arquitectura has been turning out some of the most spectacular residential and commercial projects in Barcelona of late, and the El Ninot Market is no exception. A long-standing market in Barcelona, El Ninot has always been not much more than a large covered grocer and produce area. Rather than disturb the integrity of the original venue, Mateo Arquitectura decided to conserve and repair the original structure. They were able to accomplish the feat all while bringing El Ninot into modern day. Continue reading →