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The living room extends to a terrace, which has unobscured views of nature beyond.

Available in sizes that range from 646-square-feet to 850-square-feet, this model has a sheltered terrace at one end that’s great for outdoor barbeques or a summer kitchen.

The floorplan of Bundeena House

The kitchen and dining area share the parlor level. The stair runs behind the blue core and the kitchen appliances are tucked into it. Priscilla finds the kitchen more efficient than her prior, much larger kitchen. "It's amazing how little you need,

San Francisco–based Studio PLOW brought its sleek aesthetic from the big city to the redwood forest, transforming this weekend retreat from dark and dated to bright and modern.

A glimpse of Heva's interior and deck.

Located in La Unión, a city and commune in Chile’s Los Ríos region, Refugio 3x3 is set in a forest on the side of a new lot of residential houses that were built in response to the recent expansion of city limits.

The Majamaja Cabin by Littow Architectes was constructed on-site from prefab wood panels and without the use of heavy machinery. The self-contained unit makes for a perfect eco-retreat, especially when positioned at water’s edge in Finland.

This remote cabin in Sullivan County hovers above a steep slope, suspended by the trees that surround it.

“Metaphorically, the cabin’s exterior is like a cut log,” Lane says. “The black-stained Western red cedar is the bark, and the Douglas fir siding under cover is the exposed wood once the log has been cut.” Beyond the house and native sod gardens, a meadowscape blends into the mature pine forest at the lakefront. “We wanted a woodland garden quality,” landscape architect Soren deNiord says.

The full-height glazing places the focus on the outdoors. From the exterior, the lush foliage is reflected. The rest of the building is wrapped in pine board with a natural, black-tone wood oil finish.

Koto combines design influences from Scandinavia and Japan to create minimalist and modern cabins that blend into the landscape.

In Carnation, Washington, Kim and Lou Maxon and their three boys reside in a horizontal, steel-clad house designed by the renowned firm Olson Kundig. Its south end is slightly raised above the bare landscape, accessible via a bridge.

Owner Stacey Hill was instantly drawn to this shipping container’s existing blue color and chose to leave it unchanged. Architect Jim Poteet added floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to allow light in, as well as a cantilevered overhang to shade a window on the left side, which houses a small garden storage area.