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New pine and spruce wood from the Pyrenees (both recyclable and PEFC certified) were selected for the façade of the 1,000-square-foot prefab. Smart blinds cover the windows, rigged to open and close depending on the weather forecast.

Bellomo Architects’ modular House Arc, which was just a prototype before, is now being fabricated. The House Arc can be ordered online and shipped to any location, where it can be assembled by the user or community.

A knotted curtain bisects the sleeping area from the kitchen. The compact studio includes a wardrobe rack, modular walls, and a storage-filled bed.

Budapest design studio POSITION Collective employs clever storage solutions, including a wardrobe rack, modular walls, and a storage-filled bed, in order to maximize functional space. Though the 323-square-foot studio is now being leased out on a long-term basis, the clients had originally wanted to turn the small apartment into a stylish and memorable space for design-loving travelers visiting Budapest.

The Uphill Utilitarian sits at the back of a sloping site, which the owners left as natural as possible, while adding a small seating area.

Singita

Stained hardwood floors compliment the stained beech wood cabinets.

Modern and durable open shelves.

The team replaced all the cabinetry and fixtures, and located the kitchen sink directly in front of a large window.

"It’s not uncommon for sellers to throw some new black plastic under the house to conceal any potential water problems,” says Burkholder. “Old leaky pipes are one problem, but a high water level that leaves the crawlspace musty can be an expensive fix as well.”

The dining room before the renovation.

The home's overhangs provide shade. “We wanted to make sure the house was comfortable,” says Ikegami. “You have cross-ventilation, and the interior is filled with light from the clerestory.”

“From anywhere in the house, you have a sense of the outdoors,” says Melonie, “and yet it’s very private.” Ikegami agrees. “The building was really about the landscape—it can dissolve into the background,” he says. In the master bedroom, Japanese Tansu chests from the couple’s previous home flank a Duxiana bed. The full-height windows and swing door are from Western Window Systems.

The glazing in the kitchen area facilitates views of the lush gardens that surround the home.

A closer look at the living area and original brick fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows enclose the room on two sides, with French doors opening to the patio.

Merrill replaced the previous carpet with a similar shag variety.