exterior vibes

Casa Cantellano sits on a corner lot in a suburban development outside of Mexico City.

Back in the living area, floor-to-ceiling glass sliders open the space to the outdoors.

Divided into three volumes (plus a garage), the single-level residence incorporates steel and stained and natural cedar. The architectural lines were kept simple and paired with the palette they help the house blend almost seamlessly with the site.

The roofs were designed to guide water to the steel channels, which run the entire width of the house. Joan’s painting studio sits nears the back door, where she can easily step out for fresh air or inspiration.

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.

The rock outcropping in the backyard of this house in Victoria, British Columbia influenced the design scheme of the home's addition. To visually integrate the form, architect Bruce Greenway took shorn-off pieces of rock and constructed a curving wall that extends into the house.

The prefab design utilizes a pin foundation system that reduces the project’s carbon footprint by 77 percent, says Wittman.

Angelika and Scot Whitham tapped their son Todd McMillan and his wife Kristen, both principals of the firm Ben Homes, to build a retirement home on their property near the Muskoka River in Ontario, Canada.

The panels come together in a grid pattern to create a weather- and fire-resistant “skin” for the home.

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

A covered terrace runs the length of the home’s common areas.

Snow melt accumulated during the winter months drains off the roof to one side of the home with the help of an integrated scupper.

A 100-year-old oak shades the front of the house, which is clad in weathering yellow cedar.

One of the concrete supports rises from a steep hillside and stands among surrounding trees.

Deep window ledges on the exterior act as small stoops, where the client Wayne Euston-Moore often takes phone calls.