Alemanys 5 | Girona, Spain

Architect Anna Noguera transformed this historic townhouse in Girona, Spain, the ancient city where she grew up, into a four-level rental. “The main inspiration was the austerity of the environments people lived in during the sixteenth century, when the house was built,” Noguera says.

“The original, centuries-old stone walls make this feel like the perfect place to stay in a medieval European city.”
—Sarah Buder, culture editor

Throughout the home, pared-down materials left with their natural finishes embrace that starkness and spareness. The two-bedroom apartment on the first floor opens to a private yard with a black concrete plunge pool. A narrow stairwell switchbacks up to the three-bedroom duplex, where the updated rooms feature wood, steel, and concrete details. The original stone walls provide a striking backdrop throughout.

JR’s Hut at Kimo Estate | Gundagai, Australia

The eponymous founders of Luke Stanley Architects and Anthony Hunt Design collaborated on this A-frame cabin at Kimo Estate, a working farm situated on more than 7,000 rural acres near Gundagai in New South Wales, Australia. “The brief called for an off-grid hut overlooking the Murrumbidgee River flats,” says Stanley.

The duo chose components made primarily of local building materials such as sustainable, native hardwoods, which Stanley says were “selected for their ability to be constructed by a two-person team on a remote site.”

“What draws me in most are the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the picturesque countryside—and the fireplace. The whole project is an ode to coziness.”
—Ilya Shrayber, editorial fellow

The roughly 300-square foot structure was also designed to be easily dismantled and recyclable. Thanks to its sheltered patio, full-height windows, and cutouts in the roof cladding that offer 180-degree views, guests can take in the Australian countryside from inside or out.

Mini-Mod #3 | Sea Ranch, California

Chad DeWitt of Bay Area architecture practice Framestudio restored this 1960s cabin, originally designed by architect Joseph Esherick, in the storied coastal community of Sea Ranch. DeWitt and his husband, James Cook, wanted the space to emphasize comfort and reflect their hobbies, such as cooking. “We focused on things like a modern kitchen, an old-fashioned, open fireplace, and comfortable furniture to relax on,” DeWitt says.

“I love the exposed timber structure. It creates a warm, rustic feel without overloading the cabin with wood.”
—Jack Balderrama Morley, managing editor

It was also important to them to honor the history of the cabin: “We wanted the aesthetics of the space to reflect the coastal culture of Northern California when Sea Ranch was built.” While they made updates such as refreshing the cabinets and countertops with colored laminate, the couple left many Sea Ranch staples—like the original window placements from Esherick’s design—fully intact.

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