Exterior

Rachel Nolan and Steven Farrell’s weekend house is located a couple of blocks from the beach on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula. Built with passive principles in mind, the low-slung structure features double-thick brick walls for thermal massing. The vertical wood cladding is unfinished spotted gum, a local timber.

Green and Live House is a minimal home located in Nara, Japan, designed by Akka. The land is surrounded by trees and beautiful scenery, something the architects wanted to expose to the residents by providing large glazings and a balcony. In addition to the balcony, a study is situated adjacent to the staircase which also provide expansive views of the forest. A semi-private courtyard allows the residents to maintain a garden, and seamlessly integrate the outdoors with the interior.

Yamashina House is a minimal residence located in Kyoto, Japan, designed by ALTS Design Office. The region features densely built plots that restrict usable space for gardens or green spaces. The architects wanted to create a sense of space and greenery, thus designed uniquely angled volumes to compensate. By bringing together several smaller volumes and connecting smaller spaces together, it was possible to have green areas dotted around the site, incorporating the exterior area into the building and creating a rich environment even with a limited plot.