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Floor plan of Starter Home by Lehrer Architects

Hanna’s sleeping suite includes a bathtub by Badeloft. Windows, cut into walls covered with matte white porcelain penny tiles with blue grout, provide views. Only the home’s concrete raft “basement” is windowless; it contains a Tesla battery, the water pump, and storage closets.

Set in the trendy Vista Las Palmas neighborhood, the restored midcentury is recognized for being the largest Alexander-built home—as well as the residence with the largest pool.

Architect: Lloyd Russell, AIA, Location: Encinitas, California

The team installed a more appropriately scaled staircase so that the foyer is a proper entry point to the house. The radial ceiling trim accents a new chandelier.

Third Floor Renovation Plan

Now, the space is perfect for stargazing or taking in the desert views.

Artist Christopher Florentino’s Ghost Loft is a delightful mix of midcentury treasures, Pop art, and Japanese design.

“We designed the house to have beautiful views of the countryside and of the village where our family has very strong ties,” says architect Jan Vanweert.

The pool is lifted up from the forest floor to the level of the home on a single concrete fin.

Crafted as a “humanized cave,” a contemporary concrete home in Leiria combines live, work, and play for a young family.

Architect and surfer Kenichiro Iwakiri transformed a 40-year-old cottage into his own beach house in Shonan, Japan. This region, located south of Tokyo, is known for its surf spots.

The designers were very cognizant of the cottage’s sensitive surroundings when renovating the structure.

Stainless steel—such as this mesh ceiling—gives residential interiors a utilitarian edge, says Michael Fohring of Odami, and it's a material choice he hopes to use in one of the studio's own projects soon.

With views of the San Jacinto Mountains, the half-acre lot serves as an idyllic setting for entertaining and relaxing. In addition to the pool, the fenced-in area also includes an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and detached guest house.

At night, recessed lights trace the structure along the overhang while the pool glows in the moonlight.