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The private outdoor space showcases the renovation's south-facing windows, which were installed to connect the indoors with the yard.

The connection to nature is found throughout the home, with the architects taking every opportunity to connect to outdoor spaces that feel removed from the urban context. The bathrooms, for example, feature ample skylights and look onto planted courtyards.

The master bedroom living area is separated from the bedroom by a glass-enclosed, plant-filled courtyard that also provides ventilation to the bathroom and wardrobe.

The master suite also features a private living room, giving Antonio and Estela their own completely separate space to relax in.

Honey-toned timber cocoons the interior. The kitchen cabinetry is IKEA "Akurum" Series with Modern Craft fronts.

Keeping the region’s temperate climate in mind, the architects have inserted sliding doors and operable windows throughout the home to enable ventilation and decrease the need for air conditioning.

The master suite was inserted where the carport used to be.

In the rear, a wooden deck is supported by concrete and shaded by a roof overhang.

City Cabin | Olson Kundig

If you already have a projector, white sheets and some popcorn are all you need to create your own outdoor cinema. Alternatively, you can set up a backyard screening with a monitor, TV stand, and an extension cord.

From the outside, an unassuming 1942 cottage overlooking Vancouver’s harbor is an unexpected place to find Omer Arbel, a designer known for his experimental, amorphous creations for the Canadian furniture and design company Bocci. But inside the 2,600-square-foot home he shares with his girlfriend, musician Aileen Bryant, and a collection of exotic pets, Arbel’s rich imagination and exuberant love of objects are on display. Here, he takes us on a personal tour.

In Oakland, the weather allows for indoor/outdoor living most of the year.

Layered landscaping by Boxleaf Design transforms the property.

In the shower, the Japanese porcelain tiles are all a slightly different finish, creating a shimmering effect. "It feels like movement," says Andrew.

The backsplash is made of large cement tiles that were sawed into smaller pieces and rearranged to give a mottled look. An appliance garage hides the "non-sexy things you want to put away," laughs Andrew—the blender, the toaster, and so on.

"We try to find the straightest line between two points," explains architect Andrew Fischer. "We always want to edit down, and be efficient with space."

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