When the multi-slide door is open, the kitchen’s barrier to the outdoors completely disappears. “The kitchen is one large open space that almost acts as a ‘stage’ for the nightly cooking process,” say Darci and Dale. Walnut millwork and polished concrete floors anchor the family cooking and gathering space.
The design solution was to soften the concrete and weathering steel walls of the street-facing side with punctuated moments of transparency and overhead daylighting.
To complement the pocket-door wall, there are other expanses of glass that punctuate space while framing vignettes of the outdoors.
“Because of the temperature changes, the home itself creates this aromatic atmosphere,” adds Corey. “The sun hits it and you can smell the cedar. It's pretty awesome.”
The Bend area also experiences dramatic daily temperature swings: a hot summer day can transition to below freezing at night. Cedar cladding provided the durability needed for such conditions.
Back inside, the glass-enclosed living room is grounded by a central fireplace. “When we started designing this project, we always had cedar in mind,” says Corey. “It wasn't like, ‘Oh, it could be metal or oak. Instead, it was, ‘this is a cedar box; we're carving it out.’ ”
Inside, clear-coated cedar dominates the walls and ceilings, seamlessly extending along deep exterior overhangs as well. Continuously running floors and full-height windows also enhance the home’s connection with the outdoors.
The guest houses were prefabricated in a factory, trucked onto the site, and then set on concrete foundations.
Located in the countryside in southern Uruguay, the prefabs overlook a gentle rolling landscape with eucalyptus trees, farm animals, and mountains in the far distance. The owners also have many domestic birds—including swans, peacocks, and ducks that freely roam the site.
A shelving system in the living room displays books, decor, and the couple’s vinyl collection.
"To me, good design is about the ‘less is more’ approach," says O’Reilly.
Rich colors, textiles, and playful artwork decorate the simple architectural palette.
The master bedroom features a custom leather and steel bed, a collaboration by Geremia and fabricator Tod Von Mertens, and a rolled steel and Thassos marble fireplace.
The two bathrooms are sited on either end of the rectangular plan. Each have been fitted with discrete skylights for additional illumination.
The open-plan interior has been sheathed in light-colored wood to create a sense of enclosure, as well as an escape from the modern world. The low-lying exterior decks have been designed to not require railings, ensuring the sightline to the surrounding wilderness goes unimpeded.
"Translucent glass in the sliding doors references the light qualities of Japanese rice-paper screens, creating a sense of enclosure and privacy at night, while encouraging the occupant to open them during the day," explain the architects. "They also prevent birds, including the endangered swift parrot, from attempting to fly through the building and striking the glass."
The 301-square-foot cabin is situated on 99 acres on Bruny Island, an island off the coast of Tasmania. For the exterior, the architects have chosen materials that "comply with the Bushfire Attack Level of 19," they explain, including bushfire resistant wood and zincalume metal. The cabin collects its own rainwater—storage tanks are underground for an uncluttered look—and the roof sports solar panels.
In Anatole’s room, a metal Min bed by Luciano Bertoncini for Design Within Reach has storage added underneath it. OvAbove the desk is a 1970s illustration by Jean-Michel Folon.
"The layout and circulation is straightforward,
Atop the kitchen and bathroom lies an additional sleeping quarter, directly under the sky above.
The birch-clad interior frames views of the outside settings. Strip lights along the exterior walls provide directional focus outward.
A small walnut washbasin is built into the exterior wall.
The simple massing blends into its surroundings—the module's rectangular, dark facade features large, punched openings that wrap around the shelter. Each offering a unique perspective, the openings draw nature into focus. Large, operable walls and glazing connect the indoors to the outdoors.
The simple, rectangular massing is broken by large, punched openings.
The dwelling is fully immersed in nature, surrounded by scenic vistas and greenery.
Baltic birch plywood is installed on the walls of the Mono, eliminating the need for baseboards and trim. The team wanted to make the structures as efficient as possible so that they would leave small environmental footprints.
Although the team states that a Mono can be placed anywhere in North America without a permit—like a backyard—a place with a view is preferred.
The simple black box is broken by operable glazing, drawing the outdoor elements in.
New Zealand–based Build Tiny launches a stylish tiny abode that can be ordered move-in ready or prepped for personalization.
To maximize the classic A-frame structure, A45 creates more usable floor space by taking a square base and twisting the roof 45 degrees, which "raises" the tiny home. The resulting crystal-like shape gives A45 an ever-changing appearance.
An elegant Morsøe fireplace is nestled in one corner, while off-the-grid equipment is tucked away in the back.
The structure is slightly elevated by four concrete piers to give optimal support, and the tiny house can be placed in even the most remote areas without the use of heavy machinery.
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