"Beauty," Olafur Eliasson, 1993. In this work, a spotlight shines through a layer of mist to create a rainbow that's only visible from certain angles.

Spiekermann and Dulkinys agree that their house—the first they’ve built from the ground up—is definitely different.

1993, Pierluigi Cerri.

LLaumett refers to the extended patio as its own entity—a calm place to sunbathe or stare out to the ocean at any time of day. It is made of pine and covered in an opaque Osmo glaze. The chairs were constructed by the owners.

A closer look at a Wallpiercing.

A closer look at the typography.

The ever-changing daylight, plus the use of curtains and lighting options, means that Ahlgren and Lökaas enjoy a variety of different atmospheres.

The ever-changing daylight, plus the use of curtains and lighting options, means that Ahlgren and Lökaas enjoy a variety of different atmospheres.

The ever-changing daylight, plus the use of curtains and lighting options, means that Ahlgren and Lökaas enjoy a variety of different atmospheres.

A photo of Verner Panton from 1993. © Panton Design, Basel

A closer look at "Power Up."

A closer look at the Gramophone Chandelier.

A wider look at the building's siting.

Vitra Fire Station, Weil am Rhein, Germany, 1993

The Phold series from Menu is a family of flexible containers designed to provide organization for small items, wherever it’s most needed. Each Phold container features a round opening and an attached lid that can be left open to keep contents handy or pushed closed to keep items secure.

The Stem Hanging Planter from Bower NYC presents a sophisticated play of materials. The planter is made from a spun aluminum bowl that rests on an interior stem—a steel rod that travels through the base of the bowl, through the plant’s soil, and above the bowl where it hangs from a waxed black cotton cord. The result is a decidedly sculptural piece that carefully balances components to create an artful hanging planter for indoor spaces.

View of the interior looking toward the door.

The Weiners sit in one of the many large window bays, showing how the reused truck bodies look from within.

Stephen Malkmus looking out the window.

While he was designing the Hazy Wall Clock, Ivan Kasner was inspired by blurred images. For Kasner, the images created a sense of excitement, imagination, and—despite their blurred nature—a sense of clarity. The clock features a translucent face, which recalls the experience of looking through fogged or frosted glass. As a result of the face’s blurry look, the hour and minute hands are visible but slightly distorted.

Looking for the lost reindeer, Máze, 2005

Leroy tools around on his mini turbo tractor while munching on a gigantic cookie; his parents look on with envy.

Another look at the Soft Architecture in action.

Tube Station Never enthralled with high-tech for its own sake, the architects make use of age-old passive cooling techniques like the stone “cool tube” that runs through the kitchen and second floor.

Here's a closer look at the Otto bookcase.

View from upstairs looking to street.

The Deskstructure series from Seletti is a clever take on desktop storage. Crafted in fine porcelain, each Desktructure displays a familiar scene—a cityscape, ocean liner, or warehouse buildings. The structures include storage compartments for pens and pencils, paper clips, elastic bands, and other desk necessities. The components can be lined up together to create one cohesive storage structure, separated in different small groups, or spread across an entire desktop surface.

Created for Y’a Pas Le Feu Au Lac by FX Balléry, the PIK Vase is inspired by stacks of hay. Each vase is comprised of a cluster of three colorful glass cylinders that finish in beech wood cone bases. The varied heights of the cylinders creates an organic sensibility, as they replicate the variance of stack sizes found in fields. The cone bases end in small, austere points, which create the illusion that the PIK is floating slightly above the surface.

The Luster Candle Holders create an instant statement on a mantel or tabletop, and can be arranged from shortest to tallest, in a cluster, or sporadically to create a distinctive, changing look. Each holder is defined by its geometric details—a cylinder meets a circular base. Crafted from a zinc alloy with a black matte finish, the luster candleholders blend a cool modern look with a traditional feel, making them a balanced accent for a variety of interiors.

Danish designer Simon Legald was inspired by the silhouette created in a tree trunk as lumberjacks slowly chop away toward its center when he conceived of this series of Lumberjack Candle Holders. Each holder is carved from a single, cylindrical piece of solid wood. The result is a series of candle holders that blend an organic feel and a refined, sculptural quality, making them an ideal choice for a rustic kitchen or elegant dining room.

The facade is punctured by a variety of differently sized windows: Those flush to the wall indicate the house’s public rooms, while the those for the private spaces are set back.

At the entry looking upward towards a Velux skylight, a vertical "sleeve" is made of stacked end grain plywood. The theme of vertical and horizontal architectural elements providing different environmental perspectives carries through to the rest of the home. Horizontal forms look out to the lake, while the vertical columns look up the sky.

Blacktop originally wrapped around two sides of the building. Today, 10-foot-high sliding windows let in abundant light, and overlook a lush garden with mature trees to the rear, and a 22-foot-wide side yard with water features and alluvial boulders brought in from Long Island. “We had to move them with a huge forklift and almost crushed a car with one of them when they were being lifted off the truck,” says Berridge.

“I wanted more of a skeletal look for this house, and less of a chunky, log-cabin look,” says Panton, who added stark steel bracing across the entire length of the porch’s roof structure.

The Pinwheel pattern reappears in a different form on this graphic silk tie.