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Collection by Zach Edelson

Houses Architects Designed For Themselves

It's often said an architect's first project is their parents' new home, but inevitably, we'd all like to design our dream home (or whatever can fit within our budget). Tour these five unique homes where the architect and the client were one and the same!

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The first level is designed for the family to socialize. The biggest priority was an open kitchen that would seamlessly connect with the living areas. “When we entertain, everyone is in the kitchen, so we thought let’s just make the kitchen the whole first floor, because everyone’s going to be in there anyway,” Michael says. “We had the luxury of living in the house for a few years to see how we used it and how we lived. Decisions like this were based on experience.”
The first level is designed for the family to socialize. The biggest priority was an open kitchen that would seamlessly connect with the living areas. “When we entertain, everyone is in the kitchen, so we thought let’s just make the kitchen the whole first floor, because everyone’s going to be in there anyway,” Michael says. “We had the luxury of living in the house for a few years to see how we used it and how we lived. Decisions like this were based on experience.”
Cooke clad the building in a black-stained, sustainably-grown Canadian cedar, a durable choice that ages well and requires little maintenance. The dark glazing was chosen so windows appear seamless, accentuating the form of the building.
Cooke clad the building in a black-stained, sustainably-grown Canadian cedar, a durable choice that ages well and requires little maintenance. The dark glazing was chosen so windows appear seamless, accentuating the form of the building.
Scrap steel and reclaimed wood clad the three-story triangular tower, which hovers over a small deck and outdoor space. Photo by Paul Orenstein
Scrap steel and reclaimed wood clad the three-story triangular tower, which hovers over a small deck and outdoor space. Photo by Paul Orenstein
Ample windows cut into the north elevation of the Valentine House, behind which live the architects. The openings reveal lofty double-height spaces inside. The ground-floor garage often serves as a shop for architectural model-making. Photos by: Roger Davies
Ample windows cut into the north elevation of the Valentine House, behind which live the architects. The openings reveal lofty double-height spaces inside. The ground-floor garage often serves as a shop for architectural model-making. Photos by: Roger Davies