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The kitchen bench seating was a popular perch for Ivy, Maple, and Violet, who liked to cook alongside their Mom.

"I've always loved the way buildings look when they're under construction, and the walls of the office are basically like open framing," Davis says.

Requirements for licensed contractors depend on the scope of work and the location of the project.

Nestled in the jungle of São Paulo, Casa de Vidro (or Glass House) was the first built project by architect Lina Bo Bardi. Its glass volume stands on thin support columns that allow greenery to grow into the home.

Sited along the edge of a secluded pond in Maine, the low-slung structure recesses into its surroundings. A zigzagging boardwalk connects the home with a parking area, tracing through the forest and a boulder field while allowing the homeowners to slip into the rhythms of nature.

A large deck lines one side of the home, which is mostly built on piers. “One of the big challenges was finding a way to float the home above the landscape,” Robbins says. “We weren't trying to exaggerate or make a statement in any way. Rather, we wanted the home to sit lightly.”

Connecting the structure with a car park, the boardwalk winds between large, moss-covered boulders. About the pathway, Peck adds: “It was meant to recreate the experience of leaving everything behind. I stare at the immense boulders and most of the stress, for me anyway, just melts away.”

Another view of the boardwalk en route to the car park.

Winkelman Architecture delivers grown-up summer-camp vibes with this unassuming retreat on the coast of Maine.