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“You’re drawn deep into the house and given clues where to go,” Herrmann says. “Natural light guides you through the house.”

The architect and owners were in sync on every aspect of the design, including the desire for shou sugi ban siding. “I had been interested in shou sugi ban for a long time,” Herrmann says. “These Japanese cypress boards have been charred, wire-brushed, stained, and oiled. We did a lot of testing to come up with the right dark grey color; it changes in the light.”

Mono in the woods of Montana

"We didn't want to put a lot of furniture out there," says Terry of the east terrace, adding that they sometimes bring the dining table outside for meals. "You can make it work with whatever you want."

The great room is designed for indoor/outdoor living. The floor-to-ceiling glass wall at the back of the space (which is just a slice of the all-glass rear) includes a bi-fold NanaWall door system that opens the home to an outdoor terrace and the lush surroundings.

On the garden level, a bathroom with Moroccan tiles and glass walls simulate the feel of an outdoor shower. "The shower offers one of the few architectural opportunities for a true pause," says Hackett. "It slows down mind-space and body-space at once, and amplifies both."

The master bedroom features a large grid of windows that "gets likened to Dürer’s Device (an early method for understanding perspective)," shares Hackett.

Created as a retreat for scientists and researchers, the Climate Barn in eastern Long Island is the brain-child of owners Jeff Tannenbaum and Nisa Geller. Working with architect Shauna McManus, they’ve created a net-zero-energy structure that showcases affordable, sustainable design.

The living room features a sofa by Medley Home, a rug by Dash & Albert from Annie Selke, Akari Paper Lanterns by Noguchi, and an Aluminum Group Management chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller.

A look inside the sauna, which is made of pine.

Minimalist sliding doors separate the rooms.

The L-shaped kitchenette is outfitted with minimalist black appliances and fixtures.

On the home’s lower level, an open bedroom area includes a Sierra chair by Croft House and a Nelson Bubble Cigar pendant by George Nelson for Herman Miller.

The family room across from the open bedroom features a Nelson Bubble Globe pendant, IKEA Alseda floor stools, and an heirloom tapestry wall hanging.

Stairs from the upper-level entryway lead down to perhaps the home's most dramatic feature: a double-height living area complete with walls of windows and doors along two sides.

This revamped Montreal flat includes a rooftop sauna lined with torrified, or dried, cedar. Outfitted with glass paneling and oriented to capture views of Mount Royal, it is the ideal haven for this hardworking homeowner.