Complex House by Tomohiro Hata Architect and Associates; photo by Toshiyuki Yano

This distinctive, metal-clad single family house located in Nagoya was completed earlier last year by a Japanese practice Tomohiro Hata Architect and Associates. Featuring an angular, alternating roof, the two-storey residence comprises a number of small rooms on the upper floor while a living area and an enclosed patio are situated on the ground floor of the 100-square-meters house. (more…)

Letterbox House by McBride Charles Ryan; photo by John Gollings

While Italians gather in their piazzas and the French take their café au lait, whilst people-watching, seated side by side in front of innumerable brasseries, it is fair to say that there’s no nation with more love for the outdoors than the Aussies. Not only more than 80% of country’s population lives within 50 kilometres of the beach, but Australia’s year-round warm weather also encourages the much-enjoyed alfresco activities. Taking the cue from that particular national penchant, Australian architectural practice McBride Charles Ryan have developed this multifaceted single family house, which they describe as ‘a new version of the good old Aussie verandah.’ (more…)

Stereoscopic House by pencil office; photo courtesy of the architects

With sustainability high on the agenda, a Singapore-based practice pencil office have recently completed this detached, weekend house located on Singapore’s popular resort island of Sentosa. Overlooking the ocean, the Stereoscopic House incorporates a number of environment-friendly solutions such as; low-E glazing, solar hot-water heating, extensive cross ventilation, rain harvesting systems, and evaporative cooling. (more…)

Riverside Clubhouse by Trace Architecture Office; photo by Yao Li

Referencing an icon of modernist architecture, the 1951′s Farnsworth House, this crisp, white detached house has been completed by Trace Architecture Office (TAO) who ‘stretched, looped and folded’ Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s famous one-room chef-d’œuvre. As a result, the Beijing-based architects have achieved a ‘smaller building depth with better views, introversive courtyard space offering more privacy, getting closer to water and accessible roof as extension of landscape.’ Offering serene, panoramic views thanks to the translucent glass façade, Riverside Clubhouse is located in the city of Yancheng, in a northeastern Jiangsu province, China – homeland of this years’s Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, Wang Shu. (more…)

Haus Bold by Thomas Bendel Architekt; photo by Ludger Paffrath

Boasting picturesque views of lush green fields, this rather austere detached house has been developed by a Berlin-based architect Thomas Bendel. Made of precast concrete and featuring a minimalist, glass-and-aluminium façade, the two-storey building comprises a workshop and storage and sanitary facilities which are located on the first floor of the development while the living space in form of two apartments as well as two further office spaces are located on the upmost floor. (more…)

House in a Hungarian Town by Polla Bauer and András Ónodi; photo by Tamás Bujnovszky

A young Budapest-based architect couple Polla Bauer and András Ónodi have recently completed their first joint architectural project, this modern detached house located in a rural Hungarian town. Intercepted into the slope, the single family development boasts a two-storey elevation towards the street, which becomes one-storey at the back due to the steep topography of the site. (more…)

Daylight House by Takeshi Hosaka Architects; photo by Koji Fujii Nacasa&Partners Inc

Some 29 square skylights have been incorporated in the roof of this small single family house providing its residents with an abundance of unobstructed natural light in spite of house’s densely built-up surroundings. Located in Japan’s second largest city, Yokohama, the 85-square-meters single-storey development has been realised in 2011 by an award-winning Japanese architectural practice Takeshi Hosaka Architects. (more…)

House in Barcelos by Rui Grazina; photo by Nelson Garrido

The Mozambique-born, Porto-based architect and designer Rui Grazina has recently realised this extremely photogenic, minimalist detached house in the north-western Portuguese city of Barcelos. Partially located in a green protection area, this this single family development totals 330-square-meters and has two storeys on the eastern side, and just one on the western side due to the steep topography of the site. Additionally, house’s exterior blends seamlessly with the interior thanks to the entrance which is framed by two elongated concrete walls. (more…)