Front Yard Privacy

A custom bench in the mudroom is illuminated by a skylight.

Layered landscaping by Boxleaf Design transforms the property.

Built more than a 100 years ago, these two traditional townhouses in Kyoto were restored and transformed into modern, clean-lined serviced apartments.

The workshop is used for messy model-making and creative playtime for the kids.

The residents requested in the project brief that the home revolve around family spaces. To that end, the outdoor area, with its green courtyards, is meant to recall a campground experience.

Bettei Senjyuan in Minakami, Japan

A counterweight pulley system makes easy work of lifting the large glazed walls flanking the courtyard. Brick walls extend from the home's interior out into the courtyard.

Once through the street-level entrance, the property's modern garage door comes into view. Stairs lead up to the kitchen.

Architects Simone Carneiro and Alexandre Skaff transformed a cramped São Paulo apartment into a mid-city refuge for Simone Santos. On the terrace, plants, vines, and pergolas form a barrier against the city’s notorious noise and pollution.

A view looking south toward the penthouse addition. The pergola is planted with wisteria providing a welcoming shade.

The living area features a flush TV cabinet with retracting doors, which preserves the gallery-like feeling of the space. Even though the kitchen is located around the corner from the main living area, these areas are experienced as one space thanks to the glazing that wraps around the courtyard and allows for visual connection.

The floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and windows were the most expensive line item in the renovation. “The house would simply not be the same without them,” says architect Miguel Rivera. “When you are in the living area with the doors open, it creates one large indoor/outdoor space that is simply stunning.” Just beyond the kitchen, a bookcase in the hallway is painted to appear red from one side and gray from the other.