“Rooms that follow the landscape” consists of a series of room strung in an arc across a small hillside in Japan. Studio ON Design Partners angled each room 15 degrees from the next… Continue reading
Combining two childhood dream abodes, the treehouse and the fairytale castle, the Châteaux Dans Les Arbres make an ideal setting for a carefree vacation. The regal lodgings are scattered in the woods near… Continue reading
This small dwelling was designed by architect Petra Gipp for herself. It sits at the edge of a rocky bluff overlooking Lake Vättern, Sweden’s second largest lake. Visitors arriving at the cottage get… Continue reading
This bright orange guest house sits under a tree in the scenic Algarve region of southern Portugal. It is the first in what architect Arnold Aarssen of Studio ARTE envisions as a new… Continue reading
An abandoned farmhouse was given a new life as a contemporary Swedish summerhouse. The owners were attracted by the traditional look and nostalgic feel of the old building. However it needed some changes… Continue reading
Matthew de Boer restored a derelict train carriage, handcrafting a beautiful and cozy living space inside. Read how he did it… When I came across this old 1969 Queensland Rail workers van, it… Continue reading
Treehouse Riga is a small modular dwelling with two bedrooms in a compact 44 m2 (474 ft2) floor plan. The tiny house was designed by architects Appleton & Domingos for modular home builder Jular. Treehouse… Continue reading
For those looking for something a little bit different, Maringotka is a contemporary version of the traditional wagon dwelling. Created by Prague studio Miramari Design, Maringotka can be used as a vacation home,… Continue reading
This loft-like residence was built within the shell of a decaying old workshop facing a picturesque cobblestone courtyard in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. NZI Architectes designed the transformation, maximizing the use of… Continue reading
Influential architect and designer Charlotte Perriand conceived La Maison au Bord de l’Eau in 1934 for an architectural competition to design a low-cost vacation home for the masses. Though she took second prize,… Continue reading
This small house sits on a forested site at the base of Mount Daisen in western Japan. While designed for modern living, the dwelling incorporates features from old-time Japanese houses. It was designed… Continue reading
Tucked at the back of a suburban lot in Decatur, Georgia, is a small modern structure with a shed roof and a mini “tower” at the back. It was designed by Dencity Design… Continue reading
Situated at the junction of two valleys in the Pennine Alps of southern Switzerland, Le Biolley is a tiny hamlet with just 20 full-time residents and only 22 buildings. Traditionally a farming community,… Continue reading
The island of Vega, on Norway’s northern coast, is located just 100 km from the Arctic Circle. While home to about 1,200 people, it’s an unlikely place for Oslo residents to build a summerhouse,… Continue reading
Quebec’s provincial park system has been introducing a new model of cabin accommodation with a modern design. Chalet EXP (“experience”) is a wood structure with a studio floor plan designed for two.
An avid collector of antiques commissioned this small cottage to replace the rotting log cabin that stood at the entrance to her Minnesota property. She envisioned a garden cottage more in keeping with… Continue reading
“ContainerLove” is a new modern home in a rural area of western Germany, standing out among more traditional gabled farm houses and barns. It was designed by Cologne-based studio LHVH Architekten.
This “bach” is perched on a sand dune on New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast. A bach is a modest vacation home in New Zealand, originally referring to a basic shack built from inexpensive or… Continue reading
A couple transitioning into retirement asked Studio GAON to design their new home in a semi-rural area, specifically requesting a “small and simple house”. In carrying out their assignment, the architects looked to… Continue reading
This off-grid cabin is sited in a deep ravine leading to the shore of Hood Canal, a waterway not far from Seattle, Washington. The ravine closes in on the cabin from both sides… Continue reading
Chilean architects Panorama and WMR collaborated on the design of this small vacation house. Located in the coastal village of Matanzas, it has spectacular ocean views.
This small studio was born of the client’s wish for a quiet retreat surrounded by nature in which to cherish the memories of his wife and the life they shared. The structure was… Continue reading
A 17th century townhouse in the historic center of Leiden, the Netherlands, was renovated to provide a “pied-à-terre” for a couple who spend much of their time traveling. Dutch studio Unknown Architects began… Continue reading
This traditional stone and slate barn stands on the south shore of Loch Duich in the Western Highlands of Scotland. It was originally built to shelter the farm’s working horses, and later used… Continue reading
