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The entrance is carved into the hillside and leads down earthen steps, past the reading window of the passage and between the two wings of the home to an entrance hall.

The large fireplace in the living area is the only source of heating in the entire home, despite winter temperatures that drop to -10 degrees Celsius.

The kitchen is steps from the garden, which grows as an ever-changing backdrop on the far end of the room.

On the outskirts of Grândola—a small Alentejan town in the Setúbal district of Portugal—a dramatic architectural form sits in the vast, arid landscape amidst cork trees and herds of cows. The whitewashed guesthouse is known as Casa da Volta, which translates as "Home of the Return,

Mac describes adding the fireplace’s Domingue plaster finish as a real "labor of love." "The end result was a credit to the builder and his team. It really pulled the spaces together, and there is nothing better than the natural light playing with the plaster finish," explains the architect.

“The inside is, for the most part, concentrated on the local craftsmanship, because I believe it is very important,” Vanotti says. “It represents our history.” Artisan Vanotti Mauro built many parts of the building, including its most prominent feature: the larch wood accents. A custom fireplace warms the living room.

Birdseye designed the home to be "as visually quiet as possible," says Mac.

Wood paneling balances the crisp, white fixtures.

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

This cedar-wrapped barrel sauna stands apart with its acrylic bubble end cap. Panoramic view saunas are available in lengths ranging from six to eight feet, and the larger ones can hold up to eight people.

Iglusaunas can be found in many interesting spots around the world. The company offers smaller and larger sizes, and the unique shapes feature handcrafted shingled exteriors.

The entrance to House of the Big Arch is a nine-meter-tall passage, which creates a high-pressure system that pulls cool air into the kitchen.

The bedroom is elevated around five meters above the forest floor, and the space beneath has—like the green roof—been given back to the Bushveld. “Naturally, this space is shadier than the surrounding forest, so it creates a different microclimate for different species to flourish in that area,” says architect Ant Vervoort. “It’s an area that we have cultivated.”

A wood pergola offers coverage while allowing light to filter inside.

Glass panels in the hallway frame outdoor views and create an expansive sense of the property.