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Quadrants are outlined by cedar-clad bands which slice through the ceiling and extend out to meet the courtyard’s cedar cladding.

The kitchen fully embraces one edge of the courtyard with a large opening that blurs the boundaries between inside and out.

Delicate ferns grow beneath a Myrtle canopy in the courtyard, forming a cool microclimate at the home’s center.

The courtyard includes a sun-filled deck, plantings, and a small run of stepping stones that lead towards the home’s entry.

Perforated steel screens provide shading and privacy to the interior living spaces. The garden extends from the inner courtyard to the rear yard with open, connected spaces.

Alloi's design solution for the exterior envelope included exterior rigid insulation to reduce solar heat gain, and recycled newspaper blown-in cellulose insulation at interior and exterior walls, creating an energy efficient and peacefully quiet home.

The expansive grassy lawns features several ponds, fountains, native greenery, and even a tea house.

Designed by award-winning Sant Architects, this four-bedroom vacation rental near Topanga elevates the concept of a mountain retreat to new heights—from its raw, concrete facade and hillside pool, to the Bauhaus-inspired interiors that feature expansive glass walls that overlook the Pacific Ocean. The clean, architectural lines are expressed using iron beams, concrete slabs, timber-panelled walls, and glass, and the sprawling, open-plan living area features a slide-away fireplace and enormous windows that seamlessly transition the property from cosy winter retreat to breezy summer getaway.

A vast terrace overlooks a nearby park, while the ground floor patio (connected to Vanbesien’s office) opens up to a garden.

The balcony is an important part of tropical living, allowing one to enjoy breeze and light but also shade.

Chickens foraging in an enclosed garden with vertical planters.

Although previous owners built a pool at a lower part of the yard near the piano room, the couple decided to build a new one just off the kitchen. “We thought, it would be amazing to have a pool that was kind of jutting out, with the backdrop of the city,” John says. The patio doubles as entertaining space for summer parties.

The remote studio/office that Robert Swatt of Swatt Miers Architects designed for a Healdsburg, California, property is marked by glass walls that provide the feeling of working in nature.

Sharon and Mike Matas work at large wood table in the studio while their daughter plays.

The studio is furnished with a massive wood table, a sofa, and built-in Western Red Cedar shelves.