Check out these contemporary architect-built homes that include fresh takes on familiar forms; sustainably built structures that live in harmony with the surrounding landscape; and bold, unconventional silhouettes that expand the definition of what a home is supposed to look like. A monumental concrete wall topped with a three-dimensional zinc hemisphere “references an inverted roof or dome, further transforming architectural conventions into sculptural elements.” Windows aren’t visible from the street, but a fully glazed façade on the other side provides abundant natural light and views of the landscaped garden. Described by the architect as a “villa for the 21st century,” the house is inspired by the surrounding landscape of rolling hills, tree-covered river valleys, and villages of stone houses. It features a cantilevered white concrete roof held up by hand-rammed concrete columns; a large open-plan living space with expansive windows; and five bedrooms that look out onto the natural landscape. The aim was to construct a house that would mirror the constantly moving environment around it. “Invoking the desert as a shapeshifter par excellence, the project began by treating the ground as a fluid material that allows different forms to emerge, then flicker or dissolve into other forms,” the architects say. The architects were careful to position the house out of the way of surrounding mature trees, which helped to provide natural shading and cooling. Carefully placed geothermal wells power the home’s water furnace. Charred cedar on the home’s exterior cuts down on maintenance and is designed to last. The home includes a glazed glass street-level entrance rotunda that allows an unobstructed view of the landscape; a curvy aluminum-wrapped exterior; curved glass windows and doors; and a three-lobed geometric form centered on the trunk of an ancient oak tree. “In contrast to the recently constructed Georgian-style neighboring houses, the new house on this site is clearly a building of its time,” the architects write on their website. “As well as being radically modern in appearance, the house incorporates the latest energy-saving systems, including solar heating and ground source heat pumps which are all concealed from view.” Built using modified shipping containers, the 1400-square-foot homes have a contemporary industrial look. Located in a park-like setting that includes mature trees, shared outdoor spaces, and new planting, the homes include green roofs to increase biodiversity and energy efficiency. The architects optimized energy efficiency and water usage and used high-performance glass, faux stucco, natural woods, and cooling exposed concrete floors, as well as prioritizing water-saving xeriscaping over conventional landscaping.
