“A building can have far greater impact than the space it stands in.”—William Carpenter, architect and resident

New zoning allowed for a zero-lot-line structure, but required a public storefront, which Carpenter uses as an art gallery.

The crumbling stone walls of a 17th-century farmhouse in the remote countryside of Dumfries, Scotland, presented a unique renovation opportunity for Lily Jencks Studio and Nathanael Dorent Architecture, the teams behind this project. Rather than demolish the old walls, they inserted a crisp, modern home within them, so as to emphasize the site's history and passage of time.

Heva was designed by A6A and manufactured by My Little Loft. A spacious deck and large glass doors allow for seamless indoor/outdoor living.

It's tough to be productive when you're uncomfortable: the 11+ Bottle Humidifier ($90) is a superbly sculptural device that can improve any office atmosphere, visually and literally. Its ultrasonic nebulizer automatically deactivates when its water is completed, ensuring no energy is wasted.

11+ World Desk Clock designed by Yeongkyu Yoo for Leibal, $49 at dwell.com This cylindrical desk clock is inscribed with names of different international cities, telling the time in each. All 24 time zones can be displayed, thanks to a distinctive rolling mechanism.

The same compound of post-war heritage houses is home to Avellana Gallery, designer Jojie Lloren’s atelier, and Artelano 11, a major design destination. In the space, furniture designer and interior designer Eric Paras not only showcases Industria, his collaborative line with Jude Tiotuico, but he has also carefully curated a stellar collection of mid-century pieces, vintage tabletop items and dishware, and standout work from other local designers.

The L-shaped kitchenette is outfitted with minimalist black appliances and fixtures.

Dubbed Small But Fine, a student-built 280-square-foot cabin in Finland connects with the outdoors and features a minimal footprint. Not pictured is a detached outhouse with a composting toilet.

A large bed was deliberately chosen so that Kiki can grow into over it time. The vertically oriented plywood echoes the vertical lines of the hone’s timber cladding.

After: The new fireplace surround is make of Cava Tile and a custom salmon pink grout that Michelle mixed with the contractor. "I could have ordered something off the shelf, but this enabled me more freedom to get the color closer to what I wanted,

A metal roof is adorned in moss that was found on the property.

Local architect Sophie Dries combined two Haussmann apartments in Paris’s Marais district to create a larger, open space for a young family. Impactful paint colors and contemporary art counterbalance the delicate architecture and vintage furnishings throughout the home. In the children’s playroom, a piece by JonOne hangs alongside a vintage map on an acidic yellow wall.

The living room Ortal fireplace is clad in cold-rolled steel with a waxed finish. The side chairs, vintage reproductions from Room and Board, feature shapely walnut arms.

The pyramidal roofs of the cabins allow snow to slide down to the ground.

The 323-square-foot BYG House in Spain updates Paleolithic dwelling typology with bold colors and multifunctional spaces. Madrid-based Gon Architects divided the layout into three distinct spaces designated by the colors teal, yellow, and off-white.

The upper floor of one of the cabins features a wood-burning stove, beanbag chairs, and a hanging paper lantern.