Unusual

“We like to approach the design of outdoor living spaces similarly to the indoor living space,” says Clifton. “Using a mix of forms, textures, and finishes adds depth and interest while ensuring that the outdoor space feels like an extension of the home rather than a separate entity.”

The gap between the back wall of the pavilion and the roof is perfectly sized to capture winter sun and summer shade.

Take a look at some of the most exciting, sustainable buildings around the world, and you may notice something they have in common: green roofs, or rooftops covered with a thin layer of soil to allow for grasses and other low-lying plants to grow.

"Our many ideas were floating around the mountain, and we needed someone to bring them down and turn them into reality,

HUTCH Design used organic materials and earthy tones to transform this former concrete pig shed outside of London.

Blue Sky Building Systems worked with CB Architecture to create a modern home for a family of four in Orinda, California.

Much of the home’s exterior was preserved. The siding is painted Benjamin Moore “Dolphin,” and the trim is Benjamin Moore “Mopboard Black.”

After renting in San Francisco for a decade, DIY couple Molly Fiffer and Jeff Waldman bought 10 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where the pair and their friends built a cabin compound complete with sheds, tree decks, a pavilion, a wood-fired hot tub, an outhouse, and an outdoor shower. The cabin is made from locally sourced, rough-sawn redwood, which the couple stained with nontoxic Eco Wood Treatment to give the panels an aged appearance and a dark patina.

Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house's original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily, "we dropped the screens so when you're sitting in the dining room, you can look out and see the bamboo." The divide between the new and old sections is marked by a gap in the roof that lets the sun into a small planted area.

The house reveals itself, built into a hill.

Floor Plan of 4Square House by David Ross

Illustration by Lohnes + Wright