The St Kilda West House in Melbourne, Australia reflects the central relationship between clean contemporary architecture and soft cultural details.
Eucalyptus-inspired Hewlett Street House by MHN Design Union
Standing out amongst Sidney’s traditional homes, the contemporary Hewlett Street House on the Bronte coastline in Sydney, Australia is a curvaceous 3-level family house with a open crossed facade characteristic of the meandering branches of the native Eucalyptus tree.
Contemporary Vista House by Alexander Brenner
Built in 2012 for two art connoisseurs, the Vista House in southern Germany serves both as a wooded hillside retreat and a personal art gallery. Designed by Stuttgart-based architect Alexander Brenner, the home features his characteristic contemporary stacked block volumes, cantilevered roofs, clean lines and crisp mien.
Prachasongkroa Kindergarten: A Dramatic Redesign of Educational Ambiance
Designed by Bangkok-based architect Nutthawut Piriyaprakob of NPDA Studio, the redesigned Prachasongkroa Kindergarten incorporates a stimulating atmosphere by infusing the design with contrasting concepts, shapes, and colors to inspire young developing minds.
Black Cube House by KameleonLab Preserves while Undressing the Void
Designed by KameleonLab’s architects Rafal Specylak and Kuba Wozniczka, the Black Cube House in Wroclaw, Poland was born as an extension of a simple 1970s house on the property. The clients goal was to transform the modest estate into a full-figured modern home that doubled the amount of living space, preserved the original structure and created a dramatic entryway and terrace.
The Al Bahr Towers by Aedas, Wrapped in Solar-powered Mechanical Parasols
Challenged to design two skyscrapers that could energetically handle the infamous heat of Abu Dhabi while still letting in naturally light through its windows, Aedas Architects have devised a clever facade for the Al Bahr Towers that is both culturally relevant and energy efficient.
Zaha Hadid’s Innovation Tower Shifts PolyU’s Reputation for Design
Finally fluttering the lashes of its 360-degree eyes over the rest of Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University is the recently finished Jockey Club Innovation Tower. Designed by starchitect Zaha Hadid, the 15-story high tower boldly reflects the imaginative spirit of design held by the students and exhibits within.
Villa Kogelhof Expands the Horizon while Preserving a Natural Habitat
The Villa Kogelhof in the Netherlands designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects is a self-sufficient and energy efficient yet simple and comfortable living space that was built to respect the ecological preserve that it’s nestled in.
360° Building with Generous Terraces by Isay Weinfeld
Perfectly situated between Alto de Pinheiros and Alto da Lapa, the 360º Building in São Paulo provides Brazilians with some much needed space for relaxation.
Staggering M House by Marcel Luchian Studio
Normally known for his contemporary interior designs, Marcel Luchian has expanded outside into the terrain of architecture with his single family M House in the Republic of Moldova.
Poland’s Reversed Atrium, the Aatrial House
Challenged to design a residence with an awkward access angle, Polish architects Kwk Promes responded with a meandering sunken driveway that leads under and inside the neo-modern Aatrial House.
Phantom Home Reflects Michigan’s Residential Distress
In artistic response to Flint, Michigan’s economic housing crisis, designers from Two Islands have created a reflective memorial of the town’s staggering amount of homes lost to foreclosure.
Cliff House Peers Over the Edge into the Arabian Sea
Designed by Khosla Associates for relaxation and meditative reflection, this South Indian vacation home in the village of Chowara crowns the top of a steep cliff, claiming an uninterrupted view of the Arabian Sea below
Överby Villa’s Invisible Walls Intrigue the Sunlight
The Villa of Överby rests in Sweden atop a steep, naturally rocky countertop overlooking the Kattegat Bay. The home’s modern lines were designed by architect John Robert Nilsson to noticeably diverge from the tumultuous landscape.
Artist Studios to Save Historic Fogo Island
Fogo Island of Newfoundland, Canada is home to many gentlefolk, old european traditions, and untainted landscapes, but it is now one of the many rural communities on the brink of poverty.
Tyrolean Festival Hall in Erl
The Festival Hall designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects has been the long-awaited companion to the Passion Playhouse (Passionsspielhaus) in Erl, Austria. This new addition finally allows the Tyrolean Festival to seasonally relocate and spill into the winter months.
House U on the Dalmation Coast
Designed by 3LHD Architects, the contemporary House U lends itself as a new fixture to the Dalmation Coast in Croatia.
Bharati Antarctic Research Station
India’s National Center For Antarctic And Ocean Research has built its third research center in Antarctica, this time on the northeast side of the continent, and made out of 134 repurposed shipping containers.
A House for a Photographer II
OAB architect Carlos Ferrater has built a minimalistic single-family home in Alcanar, Spain for his photographer brother, José Manuel Ferrater.
Heydar Aliyev Center and More
This is our bi-weekly selection of five exceptional architecture projects around the world from firms doing the great work of keeping our landscapes beautiful. Don’t forget to check back frequently for the latest and greatest!