Homes

One of the building challenges was transportation through the steep and windy roads to the isolated site, which is 0.5km away from Cornwall, one of Connecticut's smallest towns.

The bedroom wing steps out to the pool. Cor-Ten steel encases the doors and windows, and forms the custom cantilevered canopies.

The light-filled, park-facing parlor is filled with ornate turn-of-the-century details.

The green roof is planted with local succulents, including cascading pigface.

The Thornton House sits on a steep site in Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand, with a small footprint of just 50 square meters.

A path of restored rock ledges leads to a dry creek, amphitheater, and private gathering space.

The archways progress throughout the interior, leading residents from one room to the next. A second courtyard is situated between the kitchen/dining area and a staircase that leads to the loft. Teak flooring in the kitchen/dining area contrasts with the lime plaster walls, adding warmth to the space.

The addition is clad in timber boards of various widths and depths, adding a subtle layer of texture to the simple, gabled form.

A slatted walnut screen is a centerpiece of the home’s new design. Accentuating the height of the space, the vertical slats come together with metal rods and a sleek handrail, creating a graphic manipulation of positive and negative space. In addition to allowing light to permeate the interior, the screen is visible from most vantage points in the home, providing an anchor of visual interest.

The original pool was rebuilt as part of the renovation. Landscaping runs right up to the water’s edge, creating a pond-like ambiance.

Beyond the living room is an inviting library. Tasteful built-ins flank the gas fireplace, while a long, plush sofa provides ample seating for gathering.

Removal of walls in a former laundry room, hallway, and a small corner room produced an open living space overlooking the Mediterranean.

One of the Alterstudio's latest projects relies heavily on strong geometric elements. The entire structure reads as a single box stretched apart in the middle like two sides of an accordion. Vertical slats span between the two sections and enclose a carport underneath a cantilevering upper level.

Tucked away in the rustic-luxe area of Mandeville Canyon, the 3,164-square-foot home offers ample privacy without sacrificing a convenient commute to Los Angeles.

The elevated porch captures prevailing breezes and provides close-up views of the mature trees in the backyard.

After: The barn’s original framing was kept for its agricultural character. Faulkner Architects applied an exterior envelope of salvaged redwood and added a Cor-Ten steel roof that will patina over time.

RES4’s modular approach provides a Brooklyn family with a beautiful weatherproof retreat on Long Island. Designed as a hybrid between a double-wide and a courtyard house, the 1,650-square-foot North Fork Bay House was prefabricated off-site as two modules. In addition to time and cost savings, prefabrication helped address the restricted building site, which has a very long and narrow footprint limited by FEMA setback regulations and zoning laws.

Floor-to-ceiling windows span the entire width of the living room, illuminating the space with natural light. A sliding door provides access to the wraparound porch and pool in the backyard.