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A sliver of the landscape is captured between the second-floor deck and the roof at the Lantern at Linkhorn Bay residence. "By borrowing from the scenery, the horizontal emphasis of the building calls forth the qualities of place," reveals the architect.

Genkō-an, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, features two distinctly shaped windows that symbolize enlightenment (the circular window) and delusion (a neighboring square window). "The ‘borrowed landscape’ that is offered by these windows is carefully orchestrated—just as a painter would compose a painting," says Walker.

The Tairyu-Sanso garden in Kyoto, Japan, was designed in by pioneering Japanese garden architect Ogawa Jihei VII, who also laid out the idyllic Heian-jingū and Murin-an gardens. "Here, Ogawa incorporates the distant view of Mount Higashiyama," says garden designer Sophie Walker, author of The Japanese Garden (Phaidon, 2017). "With the carefully composed natural scenes framed by windows and sloping roofs, you would never know that this private property is surrounded by the modern city of Kyoto."

A multilevel deck adds 1,200 square feet of outdoor living space to this retreat in British Columbia. The floor’s deep, reddish hue glows against a backdrop of sparkling blue water just steps away.

Redwood timbers accentuate the home’s ranch-style influences and provide crucial support for a lush canopy of tree-like trumpet vines. Left to its own devices, redwood ages gracefully, acquiring a rich texture and variegated patina that ensures a lifetime of beauty.

Earth tones adorn the living room, which is anchored by a Sisal rug from ABC Carpet. A low-slung Dune sofa from Poliform is an invitation to lounge.

The living area is intentionally spare to accentuate the presence of the mammoth beech tree.

Studio B Architecture + Interiors selected all the finishes and lighting in the home. "By also designing the interiors, the collective vision is realized," says Scott Lindenau, FAIA.

Designed by Studio B Architecture + Interiors, this modern farmhouse in Aspen allows a couple’s art collection to shine with understated finishes and materials. Views and natural light were maximized via large spans of glass to instill a sense of airiness while the same wood used throughout the home added warmth. The minimalist interiors provide a muted canvas for their artifacts collected from travels to Africa and Indonesia, and art which includes 8-foot wooden sculptures, baskets from around the world, and Native American pieces including from R.C. Gorman.

The entry is hidden and only discoverable through a pathway that leads to a red sculpture. It's the only part of the palette that breaks the rules of the monochromatic cloaked facade.

The program is pushed to the property edges to screen adjacent neighbors and directs framed views to a large central courtyard.

Built by Sheehan Built Homes www.sheehanbuilthomes.com