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Scott Specht of Specht Novak Architects designed a 1,200-square-foot home in Austin for him and his wife, Shiraz Bakshai. The house features 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, and, notably, no exterior-facing windows.

The couple spent $27, 250 on the interior windows, including the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame the courtyard.

This added bathroom, just off the pool deck, was designed to be resilient to water, with Heath Ceramic tiles cladding both the walls and floors. The California Faucet fixtures come directly out of the wall, above a Duravit sink, next to a Pottery Barn Windsor mirror and Quiet Town curtains.

Custom cabinets maximize storage in the kitchen, which has three tones of cabinetry and coordinating hardware.

The new kitchen features green kit kat tiles, a terrazzo-effect rubber floor, white cabinetry, and cherry wood veneered cabinets. The client originally wanted teak cabinets, but 4 S Architecture recommended using cherry wood instead as it is more sustainable but has the same warm tones as teak. “We couldn’t get behind teak as a product so we used FSC certified European cherry that has less air miles than American cherry,” explains architect Julia Hamson. “The client was really pleased with the result.”

A USM credenza holds vinyl and booze. Music flows via a Pro-Ject Debut III turntable, a pair of Elipson Planet L speakers, and a Music Hall Audio amplifier. - Brooklyn, New York Dwell Magazine : July / August 2017

Architect Laura Boutelle designed an addition that extended into the unused driveway to accommodate a new stair to the second floor.

Rice is a must for the family's meals. The rice cooker comes out onto the counter when it's time to cook.

"Architecture can be powerful when it's restrained,

The home's exterior materials of concrete and white metal siding were chosen to help the home defer to its lush natural surroundings. "With the white metal, the trees reflect and create shadow play,

A look at the moody office space, which is outfitted in handsome darker tones.

A side entrance offers privacy for guests of the backyard house.

The design team specified durable, easy-to-maintain, nontoxic, recyclable, natural, and regenerative materials. The kitchen island is engineered quartz and the cabinets are from a local cabinetmaker.

The kitchen anchors the home as the central hub — cementing its importance in the family’s life. With light streaming in from the skylight above, a circular island includes recessed Bocci outlets at the perimeter to power dedicated workstations for Meera’s baking classes. “I love the kitchen. It’s probably my favorite spot,” she says. “Baking brings me joy.”

The home floats gracefully over the landscape, with pine Shou Sugi Ban siding from Delta Millworks cladding the exterior — the dark ebony hue intentionally chosen to help it blend in with nature.

Northcote House by Mitsuori Architects / transition between old and new

Shipping container architecture is certainly nothing new—but this upcycled shipping container nestled into a hillside site in Terrasini, Italy, is an impressive interpretation of the typology. Dubbed the “Container Suite”, it’s surrounded by prickly pears and features an enormous glazed facade overlooking the landscape.