This house located in Hyogo Prefecture in Yamasaki came to us via JA+U (Japan Architecture+Urbanism) and the light-filled, minimalist space is perfect for the often-cloudy location that it’s in. Designed by Yo Shimada of Tato Architects, the main part of the home is partially sunken in the ground, which includes the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.

Now this is an entryway! Designed by the architectural firm Matharoo Associates, the Curtain Door is most definitely a door like no other I’ve seen. The massive door is made of 40 sections of thick Burma teak and sits between the entrance’s concrete walls. Each section has been carved to incorporate 160 pulleys, 80 ball bearings, one wire rope, and a hidden counterweight.

  

L71 House was designed by studio Office AT and is located on the northeastern side of Bangkok, Thailand. Modern and elegant, the residence stands out due to an interesting architecture, a clean interior design and a generous pool with palm trees. Here is more on the project’s structure from the architects: “All of the house programs such as 4 bedrooms, dining room, and family room are placed along the site to face the North. Since the owners have occasional parties, the public areas, such as living room and parking, are in the front of the house, and the private areas are in the back of the house along with a swimming pool. The living room mass was extended to create private space for the swimming pool and the second floor mass was extended to create shading for the swimming pool and terrace. If the house is designed as one big mass it will block ventilation and natural light, so in this house each room is split to maximize ventilation and natural light”. The total costs for building this residence were  13 million Baht, which converts to $420,000 USD.

A team of architects has come up with a crucial safety zone, the Safe House, which is built over the outskirts of Warsaw in Poland. The house is completely secure when compared to any other above-ground home. With a touch of few buttons, the whole building closes into an impenetrable concrete cube. In closed mode, concrete panels as well as roller doors seal entrances and windows, making it as secure as possible. The only way one can get into the house when closed is through a second-floor drawbridge. Looks as though the house can even withstand a nuclear blast when closed, however, it lets in a wide array of outdoor light in open mode.

Here is a contemporary retreat that is sure to stir up your holiday plans. Pretty Beach House is located in Australia, just north of Sydney, in a beautiful natural environment, amongst the trees at the edge of a delightful beach. Consisting of a main home and three surrounding pavilions, each hosting one bedroom, the all-inclusive retreat is a place that inspires complete relaxation. Here are more details from the official website: “The property is set high on the escarpment above Pretty Beach and nestled into the Bouddi National Park. Guests are offered privacy with around-the-clock service. The pavilions Treetops, Bayview and Hideaway have views through a mass of ancient angophoras and native eucalypti down onto the sparkling Brisbane Waters. The décor is simple and strong, with tub chairs in vintage leather, 1930’s travel trunks, hand crafted tables and fine Belgium linen. Local artists have taken advantage of the fallen angophora branches and created sculptures that feature throughout.” We don’t know about you guys, but for us the inspiration given by this retreat far exceeds the field of design.

Danish company Julien de Smedt (JDS) Architects came up with an original way to take advantage of a space that is usually neglected: the roof. They managed to create an incredible rolling rooftop playground and park in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district. The idea of the project was triggered by the fact that courtyards in Nørrebro tend to be narrow and crowded, which was also the case for this residential block (a three-penthouse building, also designed by JDS). The giant roof terrace consists of a grassy hill with curved steps, a playground (with a shock-absorbing surface), a wooden deck and a suspension bridge. A great place for children to play and for adults to relax, this inspiring project takes the idea of a green roof to a whole new level. The total costs for the block were $1.35 million, which we consider to be a reasonable price for a three-floor building with a highly original relaxation space. Have a look at the photos and tell us what you think!

UNVEIL is an exclusive office complex in the Northwest region of the City of Ordos. For this gigantic project, the local government has resolved to put together a big group of architects. This project centers on two plots, T20 and P27 next to each other. In between them is a linear public park plot that will host amenities buildings. Different buildings are connected with a shared and cozy public space, keeping in mind cold temperatures and sand storms. This indoor public space will feature generous openings to assure the essential needs of day light. The above ground area would be dedicated exclusively to office work areas. The cores have been designed as per the orientation as well as size of the buildings. This innovative design concept is truly pioneering.

It’s called the Galleria Centercity in Cheonan South Korea, designed to respond to the current retail climate in Asia. It’s a massive department store that also operates as a social a semi-cultural meeting place – a museum if you will.

This swanky villa has got it goin’ on. Located in Phuket, Thailand, Villa Amanzi combines the best of contemporary design and ultra modern architecture to create a sublime cliffside sanctuary. Built into the granite rock face, Amanzi features panoramic views of the Andaman Sea, an open-plan living area that stretches from the garden entrance to to the infinity pool, and even it’s own mountain stream. This is where modern design meets natural beauty. 

OMG OMG OMG I love these treehouses! Or Treehotel, rather. Located in Harads, Sweden, this unique collection of hotel rooms is sure to bring you back to your childhood days of club-housing and hide-and-go-seek. Nestled high in the woods, there is a room for every personality: the Cabin, Blue Cone, Bird’s Nest, and most intriguing of all, the Mirrorcube (if you can find it). 

Neutral, yes, but far from boring, this versatile kitchen design by Salvarini Kitchen is a great way of expressing your individual style. The Highteak kitchen features a rich medley of materials including characteristically grainy teak, ebony, steel, Corian, and lacquered surfaces available in a rainbow of colors. Customize the composition of your cabinets, appliances and countertops, and finish it with just the right lighting for your own gourmet space. A kitchen is as individual as its owner. With Highteak, the possibilities are endless. 

The Tree House (awarded with honorable mention by Susdesign and a subsequent exhibition at Centro Cultural de Belém) is a project created under the premise of innovation and sustainability made entirely of cork. Cork is rich in thermal insulation characteristics. The main difference from other materials, besides being 100% free of dangerous chemicals, is that it’s not environmentally detrimental. It’s lightweight and quite portable too.