Two Single-Family Residences by Arndt Geiger Herrmann; photo by Thomas Züger

Located on the left shore of Lake Zurich, this seemingly unitary four-storey development is, in fact, composed of two, entirely separate single family houses. At 150-square-meters each, the floor plans of the apartments have been interlaced while maintaining ‘maximum privacy for each residence’ with the parking floor being the sole shared space. Completed in 2010 by a Zurich-based practice Arndt Geiger Herrmann, building’s striking, opalescent façade is made of ‘manually tin-coated copper panels.’ (more…)

Outotunoie by mA-style architects; photo by Kai Nakamura

The Japanese practice mA-style recently completed this compact, single family house located in a residential are of Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture. Composed of two, separate blocks connected by a skywalk-like, glass-clad section, the minimalist, two-storey development comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen/dining area as well as the mentioned connecting space which boasts panoramic views and floods the entire house with natural light. (more…)

Outside In by Takeshi Hosaka Architects; photo by Koji Fujii, Nacasa & Partner

This airy, one-storey detached residence for a family of five was realised by a Yokohama-based architectural practice Takeshi Hosaka Architects. Featuring a minimalist interior, floor-to-ceiling windows and a characteristic, zigzagging roof, the 102-square-meters ‘Outside In’ house was completed in 2011. (more…)

Holiday house Vitznau by Lischer Partner Architekten Planer AG; photo by Roger Frei

A Swiss architectural practice Lischer Partner Architekten Planer AG have completed this concrete-clad, minimalist holiday residence located in Vitznau. Boasting spectacular views of Lake Lucerne, Switzerland’s fourth largest lake, the interior of this two-storey house has been lined with larch wood block panels following ‘the clients’ desire was to live in a timber house.’ (more…)

L House by Architects Collective; photo by Hertha Hurnaus

Vienna-based architectural practice Architects Collective have recently completed this detached 300-square-meters residence whose L-shaped structure was inspired by the traditional architecture of the Austria’s Burgenland region. Featuring a striking, slanted roof and boasting panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the two-storey L House has been developed to ‘merge the needs of it’s residents with the environment’ and features a number of energy-efficient solutions such as triple panel glassing. (more…)

Braga’s House by Atelier Nuno Lacerda Lopes; photo by Nelson Garrido

This angular, white concrete-clad detached house has been developed by an interdisciplinary Atelier Nuno Lacerda Lopes. Specialising not only in architecture, but also in engineering, stage design, design, urban planning, landscape architecture, media and editing, the Portuguese practice have based the project on ‘an idea of a concrete box with a strong geometric complexity’. Composed of three floors, one of which serves as a parking space, the single family residence is located in the northwestern Portuguese city of Braga and it was completed in 2011. (more…)

Kitzbühel Mansion by splendid architecture; photo by Ralf Buscher

Developed to reflect the local landscape and architecture, this striking 530-square-meters detached villa was realised by a Hamburg-based practice, splendid architecture. Clad with recycled Tyrolean wood planks, the two-storey residency is located in the renowned Austrian ski resort, Kitzbühel. (more…)

Dutch Mountain by denieuwegeneratie; photo by Jaap Vliegenthart / John Lewis Marshall

While ‘Dutch Mountain’ might sound like a rather evident oxymoron, similarly, the eclectic and decidedly curious interior of this single family residence doesn’t fall short to live up to its name. Developed earlier last year by a young Amsterdam-based practice denieuwegeneratie, the house has been designed with an aim to minimise its ecological footprint and thanks to a number of experimental sustainable strategies, ‘Dutch Mountain’ is in effect ‘a house in which the total amount of energy produced exceeds its consumption: excess energy can be used for a electric car.’ (more…)