Mirror by MAP for Sabi, $160 Not only is it irresistibly cute, Sabi’s mirror is also designed for universal use. Installation is a breeze: Punch out the to-scale template from the packaging and hang it with the included adhesive or easy-mount screw.

The March 1, 1943 issue of Life magazine included one of publishing’s more intriguing fold-outs; the first example of Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Map. Less outlandish today, in an age of Feltron and infographic overload, Fuller’s fold-out projection was an outlier that raised serious philosophical and political points. With no fixed direction and less distortion than then-current maps, the Dymaxion Map sought to do away with judgements based on size and position, and make the underlying point that we’re all together on spaceship Earth. Fuller deliberately presented humanity as "one island, in one ocean," so we could better face our common problems together.

The millwork hides the bed and desk, but it also conceals the air conditioner. “Everything is integrated,” says Losada-Amor. “That’s what keeps it clean.” Even the garage door mechanism is hidden here.

Francesco and Mafalda’s bedroom is open and playful with only a bit of Algue by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec guarding the stairs. The lamp was designed by Francesco himself and the decal on the wall is from My Vinilo.

Villa Hohenlohe by Philipp Architekten won the prestigious Hugo Häring Award in 2014.

Inspirational spaces

A map on the wall shows where MAR pulls its culinary inspiration from. Photo by: Tiffany Orvet

Last but not least, Emily Fischer and Haptic lab also offer these supremely tactile designs: titled Soft-Map City Quilts, they're a series of hand-stitched, all-white designs that outline the streets of major cities: from Boston (seen here), to Brooklyn, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

Designed by Ritika Mathur of Denmark’s Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, "Memory Maps" uses GPS technology and a radio frequency identification reader to enable individuals with early-stage memory impairment to record and map experiences.

The architects removed decorative wood beams and wood paneling, and raised the ceiling to reveal a bright, open space. The existing fireplace mantle was swapped out for Bolection molding, a minimal-yet-traditional profile that allows more space for wall art. Hendricks installed the sconces and Noguchi lantern above the clients' wood table and chairs.

The stairs are one of the best parts of the renovation and were assembled on-site, stretching from basement to the top floor.

The powder bathroom features a custom stone sink and white oak vanity base built by the homeowner.

The designers explain, “These steel windows played an integral part in making the interior feel larger and more open by blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior.” A grey Halcyon Lake area rug, an oak chair from MAP, and Hans Wenger Wishbone chairs make for a simple, neutral palette. The painting over the fireplace is by Kate Hendry.

The dining room table was designed by the couple and manufactured by Carlick Furniture; surrounding it are limited-edition chairs from Fritz Hansen that commemorate the 60th anniversary of Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 design.

The master bathroom is a calming oasis of marble. The couple often relax here for a moment of tranquility.

The kitchen and dining area seamlessly flow from the living room. Designed for entertaining, the space offers a 20-person dining table, three Gaggenau ovens, and a massive central island.

The formal dining room, accessible from the kitchen through a set of walnut doors, features an original stone fireplace that dates to the 13th century.

The master bath has a tiled shower and a double vanity.

The master bathroom is brightened by custom lighting and natural light shining through the tempered glass shower wall.

A mustardy couch and a large map of the world—Whitlock travels all over the place for work—keep the living room bright and cheerful.

The master bath includes double vanities, a freestanding bathtub, and a hidden built-in television.

This prefab house is built around a system of 4' by 4' concrete modules and a reusable formwork to save on costs and materials.

The staircase steps straight through the facade’s metal grid, establishing a connection between the home’s interior and exterior.

A topographic map of Kapiti Island hangs in the tower.

A Map of the World: The World According to Illustrators and Storytellers via Gestalten $60.00 Navigate your way around the world through a series of visual storytelling maps and atlases composed by contemporary designers, illustrators and mapmakers.

The SPUR exhibition Urban Cartography, which is open until February 6, 2015, documents mapmaking in the past twenty years. Eric Fischer's map, one of the myriad pieces on view, documents where locals and tourists in San Francisco take photographs using geotagged images from Flickr and Picasa. Blue signifies locals, red is tourists, and yellow could be either. "His maps are gorgeous," says Allison Arieff, SPUR's editorial director and the show's curator. "It's not immediately apparent what they are showing but a little explanation goes a long way."

Koetter|Kim, OSHER MAP LIBRARY

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.

A peek inside the bathroom, where a raised topographic map doubles as reading material and travel inspiration.

Farnley Hey’s heart is a large, double-height living area, dubbed "the dance floor

In the living room, a Nelson bench doubles as a coffee table, and a wood-burning stove from Cleanburn Stoves set in a white brick hearth keeps the space warm.