Located 31 miles north of Lima, the C3 House is set in a windswept Ancón landscape that the architects describe as "martian-like."

By knocking down walls, Dominguez was able to open the previously cramped kitchen and add extra cabinetry and counter space. He was also able to make room for a peninsula with a waterfall edge.

The kitchen’s original galley layout was retained, and the walls and utilities were kept in place.

This Beverly Hills kitHAUS is comprised of modernist prefab modules that can accommodate a variety of uses: from yoga studios to home offices, and from weekend retreats to pop-up kiosks and guest rooms.

Wedge by Wheelhaus

The living room and dining area occupy the heart of the "living" volume and are enclosed on both sides by full-height glazing.

In the living room, an 18th century jajim, purchased in Istanbul, hangs behind a Molteni & C sofa covered in woven linen with mohair pillows. The wool rug is from California Carpets.

The restaurant bar provides a casual hangout for guests. The central credenza, usually occupied by the daily breakfast buffet, was designed by architect Isay Weinfeld.

The hotel’s façade is a stunning combination of wood, stone, and glass. Downstairs, the restaurant allows guests to enjoy the view of a pristine natural lake as they dine indoors or outdoors. Local design stores provided the furniture on the outdoor deck. On the floor above, the lobby terrace also overlooks the lake and allows guests to lounge and perhaps enjoy drinks and snacks while soaking in the views.

100 Contemporary Green Buildings, Volume 1 is available through Taschen

After a round of golf on the 18-hole course designed by Arnold Palmer, guests can spend the afternoon on the adjacent Wagon Bar deck. The bar itself is inside an antique train car (hence the name) from the 1930s, which once connected the nearby city of Sorocaba with São Paulo.

The suites are all duplexes, with one room upstairs and another below. The chair is called the Oscar, also designed by Sergio Rodrigues, and the workstation is crafted from Brazilian jacaranda wood.

The bathroom features a Duravit sink and gorgeous Brazilian wood paneling. The metal jar and wooden stool are from local designers.

The deluxe apartments have porches that open up to the lake. If guests should fancy a stroll or a swim, they can just head down straight from their verandas. The comfortable rooms are difficult to leave, though, given the goose-down pillows, Egyptian-cotton linen bedding, and natural design pieces, like the wicker baskets, that were sourced from local artisans. The Lucio Costa chairs were created by Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues.

Another way that guests can enjoy the surrounding views and nearby trails is on horseback. Architect Isay Weinfeld designed an equestrian center with 29 pickets and 230 stalls.

Inspirational spaces

100% Bollocks by The Wooden Truth, approximately 17 x 12 inches, $38

100 Quotes By Charles Eames, $25

While the original home was dark, like other homes of its period, the addition allowed Andrews and his team to let in an abundance of natural light.

Most of the furniture in the lobby came from local antique shops, which yielded great pieces from the late 60s to mid-70s. Among the pieces pictured here are Papa Bear and Easy chairs by Hans Wegner. The oak Danish side tables are from Haslev; the sofa is a Hauner; and the tapestry is a Jean Gillon original from 1980. Hotelier Rogerio Fasano was very hands-on with the design, even going so far as to select all the art, music, and design books on display.

The infinity pool, whose water appears to blend with that of the lake, is a favorite feature of many guests.

The façade of the interwar dwelling was painted bright white and left largely unchanged, with a sole burst of color coming from a yellow DesignByThem “tomtom” letterbox. Though the extension is invisible from the street, architect Christopher Polly says it provides “significant additional freedom for the owners and their three young children to grow into.”

Interior designer Cathie Hong transformed the kitchen of this San Jose Eichler into a bright open space, but kept the wood paneling in the adjacent room, to preserve the warm, midcentury feel.

Photos By Rob Turner Photography

Unité d'Habitation in Marseille, France

British artist Hannah Sawtell and technologist Avi Flombaum created sawbaum.com, where users can create visual collages using multiple vine streams. "We wanted it to look like a visual comic book, with overlapping panels," said Flombaum. "And we wanted it to be fun!" Photo courtesy Rhizome.

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