In 2003, Resolution: 4 Architecture was one of 16 firms who participated in the Dwell Home Design Invitational—a competition to design a modern prefab home for $200,000. Their winning design, constructed in Pittsboro, North Carolina, is a groundbreaking case study that combines prefabricated construction with contemporary, modern design.

Back in September 2012, a UK-wide competition was launched to design a new chair for University of Oxford's historic Bodleian Libraries. After receiving over 60 strong entries, six award-winning designer/manufacturer partnerships were picked to proceed to the next stage of the competition, with the goal of winning the title prize.

This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.

Honorable mention went to Hyontek Yoon of Queens for his design titled Upside Down Bridge, which aims to connect the streetscape with the elevated tracks. Image courtesy of Hyontek Yoon.

Song Deng of Toronto was awarded $1,000 and third prize for this design, which recasts an abandoned elevated track as a complex of small gardens and units that artists can rent "to hone skills and test new products." Image courtesy of Song Deng.

Carrie Wilbert, a graduate of Kansas State University, now lives in Paris, where she is studying at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Belleville. She was awarded the $5,000 ENYA Prize for this design, titled The QueensWay Steps. Image courtesy of Carrie Wibert.

Jessica Shoemaker of Albuquerque, New Mexico, titled this entry Ebb & Flow. She was awarded the student prize and $1,000. Image courtesy of Jessica Shoemaker.

Nikolay Martynov of Basel, Switzerland, was awarded $2,500 and second prize for this design, which he based on the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City, Queens, and the Domino Sugar sign from the old refinery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Image courtesy of Nikolay Martynov.

Black and white kitchen cabinets painted with a triangular pattern add a whimsical touch to this funky kitchen.

"This chair was designed by University of Houston student Abizer Raja for the Wilsonart student chair competition. This year's theme: outer space!"

When Abbie and Bill Burton hired Marmol Radziner to design their prefab weekend home, their two requests were “simple-simple, replaceable materials,” says Abbie—such as concrete floors (poured offsite in Marmol Radziner's factory) and metal panel siding—and “the ability to be indoors or outdoors with ease.” Deep overhangs provide shade and protection from rain, so the Burtons can leave their doors open year-round and hang out on their 70-foot-long deck even in inclement weather. They visit the house once a month, usually for a week at a time, with Vinnie and Stella, their rescue Bernese Mountain dogs. Their two adult children occasionally join them. The couple hopes to one day retire here.

Louise Hederström Willow planter for Nola $880 louisehederstrom.com Based in Malmö, Sweden, Louise Hederström has a cheerful aesthetic derived from a wide array of sources, from the sheet metal she often uses (inspired by the tractors on her childhood farm) to her product names, many of them homages to Elvis Presley. This multifaceted planter is fitted with “branch” pots that can grow a variety of flora in one go. Add a wooden top in oak or birch for a ready-made seat.

The concrete wall mimics the slope of the hill outside as a reference to early Maori structures that were dug into the land. The simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The ceramic works on the built-in seat at right are by Raewyn Atkinson and Robyn Lewis.

After living on and studying a woodsy acre of land in North Zealand, Denmark, architect Jesper Brask cleared a stand of pine trees and, from the timber, built a getaway open to its surroundings. The house, which Brask shares with his wife, Lene, and sons, Kristian, Jens, and Niels, is used mainly in summer, when the weather is optimal for throwing open the glass doors.

Mami and Goo the Kishu dog return from a frolic in the forest, which the couple, along with Hideaki, has thinned and trimmed back over many weekends. It’s an idyllic escape and a world away from the concrete expanse of Tokyo.

In Seattle's rapidly developing South Lake Union neighborhood, the Art Stable is a classic example of urban infill. Built on the site of a former horse stable, the seven-story mixed-use building carries its history into the future with highly adaptable live/work units.

Two in One chair by Björn Dahlström for Nola, price upon request Multipurpose furniture is a go-to for small spaces, and Nola’s lounger-turned-side-chair gets props for bringing the concept to the patio.

Japanese showers are usually set low down so the bather can sit on a stool and scrub, then pour cedar buckets of hot water over their heads for a refreshing rinse. This homeowner in Venice, California mounted a handheld shower head on the wall for added flexibility. The drain is under the removable cedar floor slats, keeping the room design uncluttered. Wood tubs are cleaned with a simple rinse and last for decades, as the antiseptic properties of cedar guard against mold and rot. This ofuro was designed by Santiago Ortiz and fabricated by Bartok Design.

Choosing a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be nerve-wracking, and we understand why—they can be one of the most expensive aspects of a renovation, with the added responsibility of impacting the aesthetics of a space. Read on as we work our way through the pros and cons of seven of the most common countertop materials.

Tanya, Chris, Jackson, and Zeke spend much of their day outside.

Because the house is narrow and long (16 by 68 feet), the design team decided to create a huge open-air space to light the interior naturally. Two retractable motor-driven canvas canopies shelter the space during Singapore’s frequent rains.

Ayanthi Fernand, winner of Friday night's competition.

On the outskirts of Austin, Texas, author Chris Brown and his dog Katsu head to the river; the path was once a dumping ground on top of a long-defunct underground oil pipeline. The green roof was conceptualized by John Hart Asher of the Ecosystem Design Group at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.

“Before, the house turned its back on the landscape,” said Parish. “This renovation and addition really animates the garden.” Sliding glass doors match those of the living room beyond the deck, and both can be completely open to the yard.

Tom Givone’s clients, Rose and Steve Smith, teach overseas and have owned their house for 26 years. They intended to fix it up slowly and retire there. As one problem led to another, they reached a point when they felt their only option, as Rose put it, was to “burn it down.”

In the photos that follow, we take a look at the product offerings inspired by the house, which Yeon designed when he was only 27 years old.

Among the textiles on offer will be handwoven scarves and towels from Loomed, who recently represented Louisiana in our 50 Reasons to Love Design Made in America roundup. Loomed co-founders Paul and Molly Babineaux are part of a handful of New Orleans designers who will be present at the shop's Meet the Designers event on May 9.

Louisiana. Based in New Orleans, Loomed NOLA produces hand-woven, organic Turkish textiles, from tea towels to blankets.

Artist Kiernan Dunn's silkscreen prints celebrate the architecture of New Orleans, as well as camp icons like John Waters and his muse Divine.

Clad in Western red cedar siding and punctuated with floor-to-ceiling windows, this minimalist two-bedroom home boasts sunrise views over the Sonoma hills.

In Los Angeles, homeowner Bill Thompson warmed up his otherwise dark living room with a series of Douglas fir slats applied above the fireplace, as well as other wood accents throughout the room; the slats provide both texture and pattern to the fireplace, acting as a focal point and emphasizing the space's vertical height.

At just 350 square feet, this remote cabin with a view for the Sol Duc River sits on stilts to protect it from flooding and the dampness of the northwestern rainforest. Its shutters can be operated manually by custom steel rods.

A couple takes a minimalist approach to their Brooklyn apartment, focusing on supple materials, subtle gradations of color, and custom finishes by local craftsmen. The Mandayam–Vohra family gathers under one of Workstead’s signature three-arm chandeliers, shown here in its horizontal configuration. Bartenschlager designed the white cabinets and is responsible for the walnut counters both on the kitchen island and near the stove.