courtyard

At the back of the house, an extended steel downspout is positioned over a boulder to create a waterfall every time it rains. Over the years, moss will grow on the stone, further propagating the local plant life.

Although the width of the stairway walls didn't change, new wood treads and a wider extension at the bottom of the space help make it feel both brighter and less confining.

The recycled bricks were also used to create an outdoor shower.

In Fingal Head, New South Wales, Australia, Blankslate founders Nigel Chouri and Crick King completely reenvisioned a ’50s beach shack and its garage. They spent $911K for the property, and $322K on the renovation. The two structures are connected by a plaza defined by recycled bricks.

The new kitchen, part of the reconstructed extension, takes advantage of ample glass.

The material palette is simple by design: red brick, polished concrete, and wood.

On the east (entry) elevation facing the approaching road, strong horizontal lines in the fiber cement cladding and a cypress accent wall contribute to the house’s relaxed ease in its setting. A ramp provides a zero-threshold, age-in-place entry to the front door.

Of the “stramp,” a combination stair and ramp Mikiten designed, he says, “I can roll up and down a four-inch step, and my wife can walk naturally, even when carrying heavy things.” The stramp follows and accentuates the home’s curved walls.

The large overhangs provide year-round comfort while adding a strong architectural element to the simple massing.

A simple and restrained material palette kept construction costs low.

Located on a quarter-acre site in Amagansett, the house is closely bordered by neighbors but screened by mature landscaping.

Floor Plan of Kyodai House by Imprint Architecture

The couple spent $27, 250 on the interior windows, including the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame the courtyard.

Scott drew on the studio’s inclination for experimentation, including past conceptual projects like the zeroHouse.

A glass entry connects "Cabin 1" and "Cabin 2", creating a sunny space in between.

In addition to using the house as a weekend and vacation residence, the sisters also rent it out. The presence of the 'hinge' corridor allows it either to be rented as one or two units.

The little house has a firepit surrounded by a steel bench that McWhirter designed, and the couple grow vegetables in raised beds. They “sped up the process a little bit,” McWhirter says, on the corrugated steel fence’s patina by using hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt.

"It was really a breezy project,

"Our many ideas were floating around the mountain, and we needed someone to bring them down and turn them into reality,