The 10 Most Popular Reader-Submitted Houses of 2022
We receive thousands of submissions each year, and these inspiring residences are the ones you couldn’t take your eyes off of.
Our Post a Project feature allows anyone to share their work with the Dwell community—and the past year’s submissions offer a glimpse into the latest and greatest in residential design. From daring renovations and new builds to apartments and ADUs, no project is too big (or too small) to post. Scroll on to see the homes uploaded this year that resonated most with Dwell’s readers.
Domestico by Juan Alberto Andrade and Maria Jose Vascones
Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
Inside Moshe Safdie & Uribe Schwarzkopf’s Qorner building, near Quito’s La Carolina Park, Juan Alberto Andrade and Maria Jose Vascones outfitted a 300 square-foot studio with built-in modules that transform the space into a kitchen, bedroom, or workspace on a whim. "The project is born from the need to solve, through architectural strategies, the spatial and formal limitations of this new way of living, that relates directly to urban and social mobility," explain the architects.
Photo by JAG Studio
Avocado Acres House by Surfside Projects and Lloyd Russel
Encinitas, California
In collaboration with Lloyd Russel, Surfside Projects used a single sloping roof to unify the three pavilions that make up this Encinitas home, where a continual engagement between its interior and the outdoors aims to provide a sense of space that belies the small footprint. Their design strategy prioritizes non-standard shapes, direct connections to the exterior through 9-foot-tall pocket glass doors and functional spaces for the inhabitants.
Photo by Darren Bradley
Dolphin Sands Studio by Matt Williams Architects
Dolphin Sands, Tasmania, Australia
Designed for a creative couple from Los Angeles seeking a quiet retreat, this 380-square-foot sanctuary was conceived as something between a tent structure and a viewfinder: Openings draw focus to specific views across Great Oyster Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula while providing immediacy to the vegetated dunes of Dolphin Sands. From burying the utilities to paving access around the undulating terrain, Matt Williams Architects made every effort possible to minimize their encroachment on the site and blend the structure into the landscape.
Photo by Adam Gibson
Altar by Terreo Studio
Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Terreo Studio aimed to make this seven-unit apartment complex look "unrecognizable, so it stays a mystery from the outside." From the white stone facades, through the interior marble and complimentary soft palette of the furnishings, to the open floor plan that meanders between courtyards, the architects took cues from Grecian architecture: Natural materials are used in abundance to create a structure that embraces the environment.
Photo Courtesy of Alexander Landsberg
The Wriff Residence Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio
Portland, Oregon
Located on a moderately steep site and former Madrona grove, this St. John’s residence designed by Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio keeps an eye on minimalism and site-specific features. Expansive river views from the sunken living room and covered terrace are highlights in this young couple’s home.
Photo by Haris Kenjar
Engawa House Ogawa Fisher Architects
Los Altos, California
Tasked with renovating a 1950s ranch in Northern California, Ogawa Fisher Architects revived an existing Japanese garden at the center of the home as a central organizing element. Low-slung, wide decks (inspired by the Japanese "engawa," or elevated walkway) and deep roof soffits expand the living spaces, frame views, and blur the boundaries between inside and outside. The garden is the second of three courtyards that orients the various wings of the home from front to back, creating a vast sense of openness while also maintaining privacy from other areas of the house and the street.
Photo by Mikiko Kikuyama
Loz Feliz House by The Dinsky Team and Diaz + Alexander Studio
Los Feliz, Los Angeles
Crafted entirely from Alaskan white cedar and Madera Belgian oak, this home by The Dinsky Team and Diaz + Alexander Studio aims to stand out in the Los Angeles housing market. Limestone paving, raised planters, mature olive trees, ground cover, and large landscape boulders help to make the lot draught tolerant. A lower teak deck wraps around a long black bottom pool with integrated lighting. Windows with built-in shadow screens and large open-air decks along the upper story boast views of Griffith Park.
Photo by LA Light Photography
DS House by Planned Living Architects
Blairgowrie, Victoria, Australia
Planned Living Architects designed this seaside residence in Blairgowrie for a young couple to accommodate their growing family and future use as a holiday home. The warmth of the extensive timber balances the strength and raw tactile character of the in-situ concrete walls. Glazing along the north end of the home introduces the sun-filled, secluded backyard and encourages engagement with the coastal landscape, where indigenous vegetation is making its return after bushfire.
Photo by Derek Swalwell
Modern Mountain Home by DJM Architects
Crested Butte, Colorado
In this home by DJM Architects, modern architectural style is paired with warm finishes to complement the mountainous Colorado landscape.
Photo by Timothy Gormley
Refreshing Bungalow by Randy Thueme Design and Donovan Weber
Palo Alto, California
The condition of this bungalow and its context did not align with the distinctive style of the occupants, a young family deeply rooted in the charming neighborhood. In addition to replacing the windows, roof, and siding, this renovation by Randy Thueme Design and Donovan Weber included a new outward oriented arrival, a front yard gathering space, the addition of a front porch and canopy. A small office, built at the rear of the fully renovated garage, completed the full scope of the project.
Photo: Jason Liske
A collaboration between BLA Design Group and Campos Studio, Collingwood House is a new build that draws inspiration from craftsman homes in the surrounding neighborhood. Inside, warm wood and black detailing allow the dwelling to move effortlessly between seasons. Large windows make natural light a key player in the home’s design.
Photo by Andrew Latreille
DeBoer Residence
Ashland, Oregon
Located across from Ashland’s Lithia Park, the DeBoer Residence seamlessly integrates with the surrounding landscape thanks to careful landscape architecture and mature plantings. "Every corner of the residence and yard has been addressed," says architect Carlos Delgado. "Every aspect—from the rear yard to the basement daylight strategies—leaves no space or area compromised in the experience of home or nature."
Photo: Cheryl McIntosh
Gallery House
Buffalo, New York
John Wingfelder Architect turned this dark and cramped 1930s house into a light and bright home. Abundant windows and high ceilings offer the perfect backdrop for the owner’s extensive collection of artwork. An addition at the back of the house (seen here) opens wide to the yard (which includes a sculpture garden) for easy indoor/outdoor living.
Photo: Kim Smith
Highline Residence
New York, New York
A series of folding doors and walls allow this apartment’s living and dining spaces to be reconfigured in multiple ways—while providing a ton of storage space. Manhattan-based Pulltab created a streamlined look with crisp white walls and light wood flooring.
Photo: Fran Parente
House LO
Velehrad, Czech Republic
Designed by Atelier Lina Bellovicova, House LO is the Czech Republic’s first home made of hempcrete, a sustainable material that resists fire and mold. "The roof is covered with a green carpet so that the house merges with nature and is well insulated," states the firm. "Gradually, the space and its natural setting will become one."
Maison De Reve
Woodland Hills, Utah
Designed and built by Davies Design Builds, this sprawling estate in Utah boasts 6 bedrooms and, remarkably, 13 bathrooms. Marissa Pope Design led the interior design of the home, including the formal dining room featured above.
Photo by Jared Medley
Mariposa Garden House
Boulder, Colorado
This indoor/outdoor home "emphasizes energy efficiency, luminous spaces, and deep connections to the landscape," according to architect Renée del Gaudio. A two-story chimney anchors the three-bedroom, three-bathroom interior. Other charming details—like a roof deck and a low-water garden—tie the home back to nature.
Photo: David Lauer Photography
Mocabee Residence
Sonoma, California
This barn-like residence by enjoys sweeping of the picturesque Northern California landscape that surrounds it—including the Mayacamas Mountains, roaming sheep, and Monterey pines. An L-shaped ipe deck connects the home to an art studio and forms a cozy courtyard, complete with a pool.
Photo by Laure Joliet Photography
The Hemlock House
Seattle, Washington
Michael Benjamin Lerner (of the band Telekinesis) collaborated with Seattle prefab builder NODE to create a 392-square-foot DADU in his backyard. NODE took care of design, permitting, site prep, framing, and the foundation—while Michael tackled the finish work.
Photo by Ellie Lillistrom
The Monocular
Nova Scotia, Canada
This waterfront home by RHAD Architects is divided into two buildings: a primary residence, and a volume for seasonal use and guests. Large windows and lofted interiors allow light to dance throughout the interiors.
Photo by Julian Parkinson
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