Is it or isn’t it by the modern master? We figured it out after architects Erik Amir and Dora Chi pulled off a reverent revamp.
“This time around, we have a house that was actually built for its surroundings,” Buttons says.
The front courtyard is flanked by Japanese maple trees—against the better judgment of Jørgensen. “They scare the hell out of me, to be honest,” he says. “They’re so flammable.” But similar ones stood next to the Bartons’ former house, he explains, and Buttons wanted to include them as a connection to the past.
A guest room features a bed cover from Treko and a plaster lamp from Blackman Cruz. The artwork is by Donnie Molls from Coup d’Etat.
Sheathed in dark bronze corrugated steel, Buttons and Ridgie Barton’s boldly geometric home in California’s Napa Valley rises on the footprint of the retreat they lost to a wildfire in October 2017. Working with architectural designer Brandon Jørgensen, the couple turned the loss into a chance to build what is now their permanent home with fire resistance baked into the design. A narrow path (below) leads to the recessed entrance.
The French doors lead to what is technically a dining room, but is utilized as a guest room and storage space.
Every room is flooded with natural light and decorated with objets and artwork that are meaningful to Josephine. In the hallway, she swapped a generic dome light fixture for a lemon-yellow pendant.
The Poroton bricks, as well as the rest of the materials in the pavilion, can easily be repurposed or reused once the pop-up ends in October of 2023.
The living area includes a sofa from Helmut Muebles and a coffee table by La Base, set against a lush backdrop of oleander.
"We love that our multipurpose space can act as a venue for productivity and collaboration in The Loft, while The House invites rest, relaxation, and connection as guests unplug at a quiet retreat in the woods," says Tarah. "The cherry on top is that we can do this from our own backyard, with our kids playing a special role in maintaining the property and hosting guests alongside us."
The living area is oriented around a floating window seat crafted from oak. "We wanted a place for guests to comfortably sit, read, and reflect in the beautiful Colorado surroundings," says Tarah. "We sourced the perfect slab of white oak from a local mill. We kept the edges raw and used a light, matte finish that highlighted the natural beauty without it being over saturated. I wanted it to feel as unfinished and natural as possible."
Caterpillar floor plan
The outdoor living room connects the private and public wings of the house and offers spectacular sunset views.
The lightweight cabin causes minimal disruption to its surroundings at just 9 square meters, or about 97 square feet.
Located in La Unión, a city and commune in Chile’s Los Ríos region, Refugio 3x3 is set in a forest on the side of a new lot of residential houses that were built in response to the recent expansion of city limits.
The well-lit upstairs lounge has dramatic dark walls, a patterned carpet, and splashes of vivid color.
A screen divides an entry porch from the first of several private courtyards and outdoor areas. The home is clad in ebony-stained cedar siding, which contrasts with mahogany casework.
A nighttime view reveals the glow of the pink interior and the entrance open to the backyard.
First built in 1959 as acclaimed architect Jim Olson's first project, this modest bunkhouse in the woods grew into an extraordinary family retreat.
Designed in 1972 by local architect Edgar Waehrer, this home was renovated by creative director Ben Watson and his partner, painter Claudio Tschopp. As a later example of Northwest modernism, the home combined the clean lines and open plans of mid-century modernism with an emphasis on natural local materials and natural light. However, while the 16-foot ceilings in the home gave a sense of airiness, the plentiful wood paneling on the walls kept it dark and feeling damp, and so the couple bleached the walls to better reflect natural light.