This progressive villa was originally completed in 1958 and was recently restored/updated by Studio Petra Majantie and Oopeaa, with some lovely touches. More here.
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen Art Storage Museum by MVRDV (Rotterdam)
What really is a museum but a large storage facility? Love how the reflective cladding mirrors the city in a beautifully metaphorical way. More here.
Zero Carbon Cultural Center by Yasmeen Lari's Heritage Foundation (Pakistan)
This pavilion was built by local tradespeople with sustainable materials from the region. More here. Also, love the small surrounded structures too.
House on Fanø: Lenschow & Pihlmann Architects
This Danish firm has unexpected material choices with surprising applications. More here.
Maricel House by Edgardo Marveggio (Argentina)
Interesting forms, colors, overhangs and courtyard in this South American home that has some heavy 60s nods. More here.
HW Studio’s concrete home below ground (Mexico)
I’ve always fantasized about the idea of a sunken or below ground home. My second favorite part about this project is the concrete wall that bends around the tree in the slot path..
Château La Coste Art Gallery / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Renzo Piano is one of my favorite living architects. Everything done in his workshop feels like a fully explored student project with all the curiosity and rigor of a deep examination of many exciting possibilities. See more about this project here.
The Endemic House / ESEcolectivo (Ecuador)
Despite the availability of local materials and the fragile conditions of the Galapagos ecosystem, Endemic House is only the second project built with bamboo in San Cristóbal - most of the island homes are made of metal and concrete. Read more here.
100 Bio-Based House Materials at Dutch Design week
Great examples of int/ext materials in this modular house. The Dutch should be put in charge of greening the world and the company Biobased Creations should lead the way. Read more here.
Tiny Cabin by Barry Connor (New Zealand)
Another nicely designed small structure set against a beautiful backdrop. More info. here.
CH House by ODDO Architects (Hanoi)
I love when buildings are squeezed in between other structures to fit into a dense urban fabric. More about this project here.
Permeability House / Tangu Architecture (PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA)
So much about this home feels like an attempt to take advantage of plant space and the extensive screening appears to piggy-back on that . Read more.
Maja Off-Grid (Helsinki) by Littow Architects
This looks to be just the right size for a eco cabin. More here.
Casa Almudena / Jesús Perales (Spain)
Another simple and elegant home - the vaulted interior + the inside/outside courtyard makes the space feel expansive. The material palette also reminds me of the red clays of Spain. More here.
Artist Studio by Studio Bua (Iceland)
Two observations: 1. Notice how the high window aligns (right) and is the same height as the lower windows, it’s subtle but helps tie together up/down & new/old. 2. Minimal interior window trim allows the views to be clear and unobstructed - making the view more like a modern framed painting. Also, love when kitchen sink window trim can double as top of backsplash and shelf. Check out more about this project here.
Casa Jardin by Al Borde (Ecuador)
Another small rammed earth brick studio with some eccentric touches, especially the glass outhouse. More info here.
LAID House by Delusion (Indonesia)
Lots going on in this one. Designed to allow those inside to better see outside better than vice versa. Read more.
Seed Cathedral at Shanghai World Expo 2010 by Thomas Heatherwicks (UK)
Yes, each rod contains different seeds from around the world, and each rod would eventually be distributed to a different school.
Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020 by Santiago Calatrava
Another impressive kinetic bone-white structure by Caltrava, and surprisingly, it’s LEED certified. More here.
Rammed Earth Bricks by DUST Architects (Texas)
Small, simple and elegant. I’m particularly drawn to structures that are made from local materials, in this case, clay from Marfa, TX. Also, notice how the foundation becomes baseboard and the drywall on the ceiling is offset an inch or so from the walls.