Facade

It is uncommon to build homes without wet cement in Brazil, so constructing Chalet M was quite an achievement for those involved in the project.

The gently sloping nature of the block generated a step in the house levels, which O’Reilly used to delineate living and sleeping zones.

The journey through the dark tunnel to the new, light-filled addition is both a texturally interesting and atmospheric experience, where the contrast between old and new, dark and light, can be felt.

Horizontal slabs of bluestone and vertical hardwood slats on the exterior of the house.

The home is cantilevered out over the hillside site.

The prefab cabin is an arresting sight at night.

Local materials were used for onsite works such as cut timber trunks for the rear wall and locally sourced stone for the platforms.

A perpendicular wing houses the garage. The house has no air conditioning, relying on lake breezes and cross-ventilation for cooling. Each bedroom has a screened door that opens to the deck and an adjustable transom above the hallway door to encourage the circulation of air.

On the fringes of Genk, Belgium, Peter Geraerts of Cocoon Architecten and his wife live in this minimalist abode that wraps around an inner courtyard. Geraerts punctuated the wooden facade with intentionally placed square windows that maximize sight lines. Inside are Zen touches like a Noguchi coffee table and tatami mats.

Like the windows, the front door is also a square.

Floor-to-ceiling glass with sliding glass doors allow access to the decked outdoor space, covered by the roof's overhang.

The living lounge, dining and kitchen are located within the larger of the two volumes.

Named Los Terrenos, meaning The Terrains, this retreat in Monterrey, Mexico, was designed by Mexico City–based architect Tatiana Bilbao to reflect the lush woodland hillside it sits on. The dwelling consists of two volumes made of rammed earth, terracotta clay bricks, and a facade clad in mirrored glass.

A 23-foot-tall brise soleil flanks the entrance of the Parker Palm Springs.

Nestled in Seattle's East Capitol Hill neighborhood, this modern residence "is an economical, efficient, low-maintenance, and modern version of a traditional Seattle house—one with primary living spaces on the main floor and three bedrooms above," state the architects.