Houses

Surrounded by 1.2 acres of flat land, the contemporary residence is designed to frame a unique, long view of Los Angeles—as well as the mountains beyond.

The pool deck has a resort-like feel.

Designed by Arthur Witthoefft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1961, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom midcentury house is set in the woods of Armonk, New York. The 5,000-square-foot home features full-height walls of glass, a wraparound floating terrace, and a quiet deck that overlooks the site's sylvan surroundings.

The guest house glows night.

Connected by a bridge, the separate studios/residences of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are open to the public. The compound was designed by Juan O'Gorman, an important figure of functionalism in the Mexican art and architecture scene.

At Cuadra San Cristóbal, the water feature serves three purposes: as a drinking fountain for horses, as a reflection pond, and as a swimming pool for horses.

Teph Inlet by Omar Ghandi Architect

The home is elegantly set into its surroundings and overlooks a serene garden patio with a koi pond.

The massive curving wall serves as an alternative to the perimeter fence that's common to the neighborhood, an area which the architects says has developed a hodgepodge of architectural styles.

According to the architects, the house's "thinner dimensions not only display refinement of technique, but also remove visual weight from materials—the position being that lightness is good for the human spirit and visual heaviness is not."

The pitched roof is a classic Prairie style known of Frank Lloyd Wright's design.

A collage of brightly colored, geometric volumes comprise the Ettore Sottsass–designed residence of Lesley Bailey and Adrian Olabuenaga, proprietors of jewelry and accessories company ACME Studio. Completed in 1997, this home is one of few private commissions designed by the Italian architect, who passed away in 2007.

The view of the house seen from the driveway. To the left is the workshop and wood shed connected to the carport by a trellis.

High Desert House is composed of 26 freestanding, concrete columns that look like rib bones.

Protected by a roof overhang, the sunken lounge provides sweeping southeastern views of the city and fjord beyond.