"It is something that seems at home in the forest, but at the same time, it’s strikingly strange,” notes Kivi.

z#

A view into the airy, light-filled kitchen of 51 Nebraska by Todd Davis Architecture. The updated midcentury home pays homage to its roots.

A wide and airy bathroom features sliding partition doors and curved panoramic windows.

Evan Z. Crane Evan Z. Crane is a Brooklyn-born manufacturer who combines traditional furniture making techniques with current technology. His designs connect seasoned craftsmanship with enduring sustainability to make modern heirlooms.

The Polaroid Z2300 Instant Digital Camera is the ultimate social media gadget as it allows you to capture, edit, and upload pictures instantly, and it even features an integrated printer. ($200)

Vignelli from A to Z by Massimo Vignelli (Images Publishing Group, 2007). A reminder of the scope and influence of the recently departed Vignelli.

Without traditional legs, the chair is made with four rectangular pieces of wood that are held together in a Z shape with dovetail joints. It is now produced by Cassina.

The Z House's structure consists entirely of concrete. Wood screens wrap around the sides, and Prefa materials top the roof.

On facing adversity: Of course, when I became a draftsman, the next thing is, I said, "I better get to college." I applied to Pratt and was accepted at their night school. I was progressing pretty rapidly in this firm. Quite frankly, I stayed at this firm for a period of four years. The reason I left this firm was my mentor at the firm...had given me all of these assignments. I was the only one that was allowed to work overtime. I was working on an assignment in Atlanta and it came time for someone to go to Atlanta. All of the sudden another person was put on the team and sent to Atlanta. It was a young, white, male architect that basically came into this assignment that I worked on for so long. [My mentor] was protecting me because Atlanta was a racist town. This is where diversity comes into play today. I grew up with that sort of stuff. I don't want to see it anymore in my life. (Above: IBM Watson – 51 Astor Place, designed by The Switzer Group)

On starting his own firm after several interim jobs: I started The Switzer Group in 1975 with the secretary and myself. A big client to start...a fairly decent-sized project. Of course, the rest is history. I built that one client, to my second client, to a client that I have today, which is still my largest client, IBM. We handle [them] from Maine, to Florida, to Texas, Germany. (Above: IBM Watson – 51 Astor Place by The Switzer Group)

Is the design field getting more diverse? Absolutely! Compared to twenty years ago, compared to thirty years ago. I think clients today, most of them, are opening the doors. There's always going to be a certain client that's going to go back to the same architect no matter what. There [are] categories that people get put into. I will say that, the opportunities for this firm have been equally as good as any other firm. If we're given that opportunity, that's all I ask for. We believe we're good competitors and solid citizens in terms of [how] we preform our services. (Above: IBM Watson – 51 Astor Place, designed by The Switzer Group)

A view of the Z House illuminated at night.

Z-Group Architects and Crystal Springs Builders worked closely to bring such a unique design to life.

At the table, a Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy modular sofa serves triple duty as seating for work, dinner, and overnight guests.

Fashion Designers A to Z, designed by Josh Baker for TASCHEN. Don't forget to come meet TASCHEN art directors Baker and Andy Disl as they speak about information design onstage at Dwell on Design on Sunday, June 23.

"Z3" Skyscraper, by Illinois Institute of Technology student Aaron Teefey.

An art historian will guide guests around the museum on a bespoke tour similar to those previously given to the Obamas and Beyonce and Jay-Z.

For a family in Lima, a team from local firm 51-1 Arquitectos built Casa Serpiente, which meanders around 25 existing trees. Husband Irzio’s study is among the few ground-level rooms in the 4,300-square-foot house.

The primary suite has private access to the home's 5.1 acres of outdoor space.

To enable the two families to live independently, and interdependently, Estudio A0 co-founder Ana María Durán Calisto came up with a 5,457-square-foot home that consists of two volumes, set in a Z formation.

A silo ladder in the study leads to the roof deck. Both desk lamps are Tizios by Richard Sapper for Artemide; the pendant is a Zettle’z by Ingo Maurer; and the Kalos armchair and Solo desk chair are by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia.

Faced with a number of challenges, including the protection of a cluster of centuries-old olive trees, 51-1 Arquitectos devised an unusual plan for a house in Lima, Peru. In a twist on Tudor Revival, one of only a few styles permitted in the neighborhood they raised the living area above a terrace. “The layout was all about how to fit the program within the very particular limitations of this site,” says architect César Becerra.

An Ingo Maurer Zettel’z 5 chandelier hangs in the entry hallway; sunlight from the home's expansive backyard is already visible on the white smoked oak floors.

Section Z Z_ (Main House)

The kitchen is “the most exciting room [in the house],” in Sofie's mind. However, the minimal gray interior makes choosing furnishings and accessories extremely important. “You have to be very careful setting the scene, like in a theater.” The dining table and chairs are by Poul Kjaerholm and the light is Ingo Maurer's Zettel’z chandelier.

A fan of Dwells adorn the Ala bench from Poliform with tabletop accents from Z Gallerie.

Jadalnia znajdująca się obok salonu, to modna przestrzeń z ręcznie wykonanym stołem z jasnego drewna. Spełnia funkcję miejsca do spożywania posiłków i przestrzeni do relaksu, z łatwym dostępem do przyległego, w pełni wyposażonego aneksu kuchennego z kremową posadzką.

51 Old Farm Road, Darien, CT

Inhabited Wooden Walls by Aurelie Monet Kasisi p 51

Z House section

Ocean Place, archival pigment print, 18" x 51"

The Edwardian hallway arch had been removed from the original home, and the design team was determined to reinstate it in the renovation. When the project became a new build, they decided to continue with the reinstatement of the arch in a more contemporary way. “We have played with CNC in the past, and the outcomes have been successful,” says Spencer. “So, we decided to create an arch that undulates in the x, y and z planes.”

Z House upper floor plan

Jadalnia z długim, drewnianym stołem to miejsce idealne na rodzinne spotkania przy posiłkach - połączenie praktyczności z elegancją.

Z House ground floor plan