The Most Beautiful Houses in the World

Custom home design

2012-02-22T07:04:00.000-08:00

This innovative and creative custom home design stands the highest level of design quality and reflects integrity and taste of its owners. This custom home exemplifies contemporary design; the composition, style and flow of outdoor and indoor spaces make this the ideal home for entertaining and living.

Architecture: KB Design

Luxury golf course home

2012-02-16T04:44:00.000-08:00

The overall design of this luxury golf course home consists of several separate structures, all flawlessly connected by ‘streets’, breezeways and bridges. Complete with an outdoor kitchen, pool, seating areas and fireplaces, the outdoor living space creates a warm and modern appearance blending naturally with the environment.

Architecture: James D. LaRue

Mountain view home

2012-02-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

A refined exterior palette of the mountain view home of cement stucco, smooth concrete, red cedar and aluminum windows is paired with an interior of white slate flooring and gypsum-board with maple; the theme of a two-tone facade is repeated inside by interlocking maple and cherry millwork.

Architecture: D’Arcy Jones

Seaside home

2012-01-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

Tucked right on the water’s edge and against the cliff in Gig Harbor (Washington, USA) this seaside home answered the unique natural challenges of its site. The roof of the seaside home is an extension of the upland lawn and access to the two levels is provided through glass-enclosed elevator.

Architecture: Scott Allen
Photography: Tim Bies

Ocean front home

2012-01-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

The ocean front home situated in California on the Pacific coast. At the upper level are four en-suite bedrooms, open plan kitchen, living and dining rooms, powder room and three-car garage. Lower Level has en-suite bedroom, offices, gym, screening room, bar & lounge and game room.

Architecture: Sagan Piechota
Photography: Joe Fletcher

Small Japanese house design

2012-01-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

Like a bird’s nest, the small Japanese house design is open to the view of the Hiroshima and Inland Sea and is relief from disturbance. The house is protected from the environment and creates a feeling of safety.

Architecture: Kimihiko Okada
Photography: Toshiyuki Yano

Contemporary home design, USA

2012-01-05T05:29:00.000-08:00

The contemporary home design evolved from the client’s desire for a house that is a tranquil place for retreat, art and living. This house is seamlessly open to the ridge-top coastal site via operable glazed walls. The client asked for a master suite, a study for two, one guest room and an informal open living space.

Architecture: Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis
Photography: Ciro Coelho

Timber ventilated facade house

2012-01-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

Timber ventilated facade house (Casablanca, Chile) is a project of renovation of a wooden house organized according to a new helical staircase which, through the overhang of the new room and the extension of an existing deck, allows a visitor to go up to new panoramic terraces on the roof. The function of timber ventilated facade is to avoid accumulations of moisture and water in the structure walls.

Architecture: Renewal (2008) Delphine Ding, Jose Ulloa Davet
Photography: Jose Ulloa Davet

House without walls, Japan

2011-12-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

The house without walls (Japan) has 240 sqm total floor area and is supported by a central core and several extremely thin steel columns. The absence of exterior walls on the ground floor allows the internal area to extend to the surrounding garden on 360 degrees.

Architecure: Tezuka Architects
Photographs: Katsuhisa Kida / FOTOTECA

White home, USA

2011-12-20T07:31:00.000-08:00

This white home (USA) was the first house built in new entirely Modernist Dallas neighborhood. The site is irregularly-shaped and overlooks a waterway and public park. Covered porch leads to a double-height entry that is natural light illuminated from above. The space compresses before the next living double-height volume. The master bath, living space and dining space are arranged enfilade about a center space that leads through a double-height window to a park and sculpture garden.

Architecture and photography: Morrison Seifert Murphy

Floating House, Canada

2011-11-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

The floating house situated near a remote island surrounded by picturesque views of the Great Lakes in Canada. Sauna and boat dock are located on the first floor and a living room, kitchen, office and bedroom on the second floor.

Architecture: MOS – Michael Meredith, Hilary Sample
Photography: Florian Holzherr

Beach house, Auckland, New Zealand

2011-11-22T03:03:00.000-08:00

The owners of the beach house (Auckland, New Zealand) are returning to live in Waiheke Island after a long period in Asia. Perfect design and location make this home a nice place to take a rest for soul and mind.

Architecture: Daniel Marshall Architects
Photography: Ernie Shackles

Openhouse, Hollywood Hills, California

2011-11-10T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Openhouse (Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California) is embedded into a sharply sloping and narrow property in the Hollywood Hills, a site that led to the design of a house that is both open to the city below and integrated into the landscape. Retaining walls of the house are configured to design the second level`s garden terrace and to extend the living level on the first floor into the hillside.

Architecture: XTEN
Photos: Art Gray Photography

Amazing concrete house design

2011-11-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Amazing concrete house design is simple and clear. The circle roof openings spread the sunlight, creating abstract and pure atmosphere in the house. Central patio generates entrance through the staircase and connects the houses three stories. The house relates three exterior spaces: garden, roof terrace and plaza, allowing exteriors for a pretty big area.

Architecture: Eduardo Berlin Razmilic
Photography: Eduardo Berlin & Sebastian Sepulveda

House with swimming pool on roof

2011-10-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

The house with swimming pool on roof is inspired on the Astronomical Observatory Jantar Mantar, built in 1724 in Delhi. The vacation house is situated on the Pacific rocky coast and includes two bedrooms, kitchen and living room.

Design: Gabriel Orozco, Tatiana Bilbao, Carlos Leguizamo
Photography: Iwan Baan

Solar passive house design, France

2011-10-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

Aesthetically, the solar passive house design (France) is very similar to a traditional house. Design of the facades is open to the southern sun, and is closed to the energy loss to the north. The structure of the house is assembled from prefabricated wooden panels.

Design: Karawitz Architecture
Photography: Karawitz and Herve Abbadie

Modern slope house design, Canada

2011-10-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Five levels modern slope house design (Canada) is distributed along a steep mountain slope, developing diverse relations to the surrounding views, the landscape and the internal program or functions of the house.

Architecture and photography: Studio NminusOne

House of Ruins, Latvia

2011-09-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

The House of Ruins is situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Latvia. It is a single family house built inside the ruins of a traditional 19th century Latvian barn. The architects have used the idea of contrast, cold wind from the Baltic sea is opposed with the warmth of the family, rough surface of the old stone is set against perfection of glass. The house provides quietness of the nature and modern life comfort.

Architecture: NRJA

Beautiful cob cottage design, Oregon, USA

2011-09-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

Environmentally friendly and affordable building material - mixture of clay, straw and sand was used to build the walls of the beautiful cob cottage (Oregon, USA). The thermal mass of cob around the wood stove allows save a comfortable warm temperature inside the house for a long time.

Cob cottage design and photography: Artisan Builders Collective

Limestone home, Antilles islands (Caribbees), France

2011-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

This beautiful limestone home (Antilles islands (Caribbees), France) is situated on a thin, high peninsula of the St. Barthelemy island. The facades are sliding glass panels. This creates a seamless connection between the exterior spaces and the main living space.

Architecture: Barnes Coy Architects
Photography: Robert Moore Brown

Beautiful green roof garden home, Singapore

2011-09-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Each floor of this beautiful green roof garden home has a separate garden, located on the landscaped roof of the lower floor. Thus achieved a feeling that each level represents a single-storey home, situated in a green garden.

Architecture: Guz Architects
Photography: Patrick Bingham Hall

Luxury vacation house, Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2011-09-03T02:01:00.000-07:00

Luxury vacation house (Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil) designed to be supported by five pillars, with living rooms/dining rooms/sitting rooms, balconies, en-suites bedrooms and a pool facing the beautiful sight of ocean beach. Preserved vegetation and terrain.

Architecture: Bernardes Jacobsen Architecture
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Corten steel and wood facade house, Leyden, Netherlands

2011-08-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

The plot on which the corten steel and wood facade house (Leyden, Netherlands) is located, is rather narrow and limited to neighboring buildings. Therefore, to ensure effective inner space lighting with sunlight, inside the house was constructed the "canyon", whereby during the day, natural light penetrates into the inner rooms of the lower level.

Design: 24H > architecture
Photos: Boris Zeisser 24H

St. Joseph’s media company office design, Toronto, Canada

2011-08-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

This beautiful office area of 3200 sq. m. is designed for 250 employees St. Joseph’s media company, which produces popular Canadian magazines.

Design: Teeple Architects
Photographs: Tom Arban

Black and white cube house, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2011-08-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

The architect of the avant-garde mind black and white cube house (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) compares it with "coconut", hard and black outside, delicious and white inside.

Architecture: Reza Aliabadi [rzlbd]
Photography: borXu Design

Round passive house, Sweden

2011-08-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

The round passive house (Sweden) is the first eco friendly building which sold as type house in Sweden. Passive houses are largely heated by the energy present in the building – household equipment and people generate a lot of energy. This well-insulated house will have only 25 kWh/sqm of annual energy consumption for heating.

Design and photos: Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture

Luxury house in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

2011-07-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Nightingale luxury house in West Hollywood (Los Angeles, California, USA) is a focus of luxury, situated in a picturesque area of surrounding hills. The house has five bedrooms, a cinema, swimming pool with stunning views of the city and outdoor fireplace for chilly evenings.

Architecture: Marc Canadell

One storey courtyard house, Sweden

2011-07-17T04:10:00.000-07:00

The design of the one storey courtyard house (Sweden) is based on the atrium house typology popular in Denmark in the 60s and 70s years and has an outer gas concrete wall and an inner glazed facade. Living area is in the eastern wing; bathrooms and sleeping quarters are in the northern wing. Several lightwells allow sunlight to penetrate into the house.

Architecture: Johan Sundberg
Photography: Henrik Magnusson

Louvre Museum, Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France (+plan)

2011-07-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

The monumental appearance of the steel and glass pyramid fixed in the middle of the Cour Napoleon provides a focal point that compliments the design and scale of the Louvre. The scale of the large glass pyramid, which is designed to the proportions of the Pyramid of Giza, does not detract from the historical architecture of Louvre rather the juxtaposition of the modern construction and the French Renaissance style of Louvre creates a complimentary effect that increases beauty and each of the design’s details.

Architecture: I.M. Pei
Photography: Greg Kristo, Flavio Bragaia, Reji K. A

Luxury oceanfront beach house, California, USA

2011-07-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

A beautiful airy design of the luxury oceanfront beach house (California, USA) makes it a very comfortable place to spend time. The main characteristics of the project, according to the author, are openness and clarity, which are designed to inspire, encourage spirit and feed mind and body.

Architecture: Richard Meier, Michael Palladino
Photographs: Scott Frances/Esto

Architectural mimicry in rustic log cabin design

2011-06-25T00:57:00.000-07:00

The design of the facade of this rustic log cabin is an example of mimicry in architecture, in this case, imitation of a pile of logs. With built-in wheels, this house, which is a recording studio, can easily be moved to any convenient place.

Design: Piet Hein Eek

Little summer house, Gotland, Sweden

2011-06-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

The little summer house (Gotland, Sweden) designed as simple as possible. In one space is placed everything you need: a place to sleep, a kitchen in the middle, there is a shower outside. Walls are made of lightweight concrete blocks, and a simple roof structure covered with corrugated steel sheet.

Architecture: DinellJohansson - Morten Johansson
Photography: Elisabeth Toll

Villa Dali, Hague, Netherlands

2011-06-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

The design of Villa Dali (Hague, Netherlands) reflected the client`s fascination with art of Salvador Dali.

Architecture: 123DV Architecture & Consult
Photography: Christiaan de Bruijne

Residential house, United States

2011-06-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

This residential house is situated on the ocean coast in Mauntok, United States. Building the house was carried on wood frame technology erection of walls and used green roof.

Architecture: Maziar Behrooz

Dutch floating houses district, Amsterdam, Holland

2011-06-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

History of the Netherlands is closely related to influence of water on people`s life, who build dams to protect their land from water. In recent years, floating houses have become one of the solutions to contemporary housing needs. Channels with floating houses look familiar today in the Dutch cities and floating hotel or restaurant can be easily found. These individual modules are generally more similar to boats than homes.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of floating homes, which have more features similar to land-based housing. Floating homes classified as real property and compete with land-based homes living space and comfort level.

Architecture: Architectenbureau Marlies Rohmer
Photography: Marcel van der Burg, Roos Aldershoff, Luuk, Kramer

Dutch floating houses district, Amsterdam, Holland

WikiLeaks computer center, Stockholm, Sweden

2011-05-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

WikiLeaks сomputer сenter (Stockholm, Sweden) is located at a depth of 30 meters in the rock bunker, which was used during the Cold War. On the area of 1200 sq. m. are two servers and equipment, providing independent power supply for operation of the center.

Architecture: Albert France-Lanord Architects
Photography: Ake E:son Lindman

Zen water house design, China

2011-05-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Zen water house design (China) combines the use of natural materials with simplicity of forms. Stone, water and wood are designed to create a meditative sense of serenity, peace, and bring a contemplative attitude to the environment.

Architecture and photographs: Li Xiaodong Atelier

Small simple stone house, Spain

2011-05-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

This small simple stone house (Spain) is situated on a hilltop, planted cherry trees, which offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. Design of this home is determined by local building codes that allow the construction of facilities for storing agricultural equipment, area of no more than 25 sq m and an underground reservoir for water storage. The main space is occupied by a living room and kitchen, a bedroom over them, and in natural daylight basement located bathroom, studio and bedroom.

Architecture and photographs: Enproyecto Arquitectura - Sergio Garcia-Gasco Lominchar, Jorge Cortes, Borja Garcia

Industrial design minimalist house, Tokyo, Japan (+plans)

2011-05-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Client is an industrial designer, so the industrial design minimalist house (Tokyo, Japan) is not only convenient and ergonomic place to live, but also reflects professional activities of the owner.

Architecture: Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates
Photography: Masao Nishikawa

Luxury private ocean villa, Japan

2011-05-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

This luxury private villa includes a resort, a private museum and a guest house. Rooms are arranged around a large patio, forming a broad, full of light, organic space.

Architecture: Ciel Rouge Creation

Glazed walls house, Arizona, USA

2011-05-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Views to the desert sky and surrounding Arizona mountains naturally radiate through the glazed walls house. A large percentage of the building and construction materials are recycled content such as the concrete flooring, zinc siding and glass.

Architecture and photographs: Circle West Architects

Two story house design, Israel

2011-05-10T03:55:00.000-07:00

Modern and simple design two story house is located in Ramat-Hasharon, Israel. The house is divided into two wings which connected with open staircases.

Architecture: Domb Architects
Photography: Amit Geron

Holiday and weekend house, New Zealand

2011-05-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

This holiday and weekend house is situated on a small island near Auckland, New Zealand. The living-kitchen-dining space is an informal glazed pavilion and is placed between two cedar-clad private rooms blocks.

Architecture: Mitchell and Stout Architects
Photography: Patrick Reynolds

Modern concrete home, Madrid, Spain

2011-05-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

The modern concrete home situated on the slope oriented to the south not far from Madrid, Spain. Overhanging part of the facade on the front side of the house protects the inner space from the hot sun in summer and allow sunlight to fall inside during winter months.

Architecture: Inaqui Carnicero Alonso-Colmenares

Pirate Ship interior design, USA

2011-05-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Pirate Ship interior design has been selected a six-year client, among other options proposed: a spaceship, racing car and an old castle.

Design: Kuhl Design Build

Two bedrooms house, Victoria, Australia

2011-05-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

Contemporary two bedrooms house (Victoria, Australia) situated on a narrow city allotment. The house was designed for an Art Gallery director and provide an extra study for visiting artists and private gallery.

Architects: Nervegna Reed Architecture
Photos: John Gollings

Single family residence, Hawaii, USA

2011-04-19T23:19:00.000-07:00

The single family residence in Hawaii (USA) includes main living space, media room, common areas and master suite. Focal and organizational feature is the exterior gallery corridor along a central axis.

Architecture: Belzberg Architects

Low energy luxury villa, Mallorca, Spain

2011-04-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

In this luxury villa project in Mallorca (Spain) have been used such low energy, sustainable and innovative technologies as geothermal, passive cooling, photovoltaic, daylighting, super-insulated and solar water heating.

Architecture: tecDesign, Sebastian Knorr

Treehouse residence, Seattle, USA (+plans)

2011-04-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

The treehouse residence built on an inaccessible slope lot. This resource efficient and cost effective building designed to minimize long term site impact and use light and view to accentuate the experience of living in the treehouse.

Architecture: SHED

Treehouse residence, Seattle, USA (+plans)

Artist studios, Newfoundland, Canada

2011-04-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

The artist studios situated on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada. The houses recycle their own waste and produce their own power and 100% off-the-grid.

Architectors: Saunders Architecture
Photos: Bent Rene´Synnevåg

Artist studios, Newfoundland, Canada

Modern highland house, Pyrenees, Spain

2011-04-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

This modern highland house in Pyrenees (Spain) stands out among the surrounding mountain scenery and a few buildings in the neighborhood. Location on the slope combines privacy, the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views and breathe the fresh mountain air.

Architecture: Cadaval & Sola-Morales

Modern highland house, Pyrenees, Spain

Rustic natural stone Swiss house, Alps, Switzerland

2011-04-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

The rustic natural stone Swiss house situated in rural mountain area of Switzerland, was designed to combine comfort and work on paintings of owner-artist.

Architecture: Lawrence Savioz
Photos: Thomas Jantscher

Rustic natural stone Swiss house, Alps, Switzerland

Large single-family house design (+floor plans)

2011-04-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Contemporary design of this large single-family house creates an atmosphere of openness and support a visual link with the surrounding landscape through extensive glazing.

Architecture: Architrend Architecture
Photos: Umberto Agnello

Large single-family house design (+floor plans)

Unusual house with underground rooms, Leiria, Portugal

2011-04-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

The house consists of social area and private area, which include living rooms and bedrooms, respectively. The private patios are used to communicate underground rooms with the environment.

Architecture: Manuel Aires Mateus
Photos: FG+SG – Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra

Unusual house with underground rooms, Leiria, Portugal

Contemporary minimalist villa design with indoor patio, Italy (+floor plans)

2011-03-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

The contrast between the dark surfaces of the ground floor and large windows, the white walls of the first floor and lava stone makes the construction of the contemporary minimalist villa design with indoor patio to be light and suspended. The living room has a glass central patio, natural light illuminated, with a green palm tree in the middle.

Architect: Architrend Architecture
Photos: Moreno Maggi

floor plan

Contemporary minimalist villa design with indoor patio, Italy (+floor plans)

Custom residential interior design & decorating, Dallas, USA

2011-03-18T04:03:00.000-07:00

Minimalist style custom residential interior design decorating includes modern elements of art, assortment of wood types and custom pieces to attract the attention of visitors to all the right places.

Architects: Bodron + Fruit

Custom residential interior design & decorating, Dallas, USA

Sails concrete house design, Sydney, Australia

2011-03-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Exterior curved walls of the Australian concrete house was designed for windblown sails facade feeling. The house looks more like a white sailboat, if we look at it from the pool. Large facade glazing allows a lot of natural light in.

Architects and photos: Tony Owen Partners

Sails concrete house design, Sydney, Australia

Modular frame prefab cottage, Michigan, USA (+floor plans)

2011-03-17T03:40:00.000-07:00

The modular frame prefab cottage consists of 2 modules separated and raised for privacy, space and light. An open rooftop deck establishes a direct connection with the outdoors and creates a sense of openness.

Architecture and photos: Garrison Architects

floor plan

Modular frame prefab cottage, Michigan, USA (+floor plans)

Compact glass wall house, Austria

2011-03-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

The compact glass wall house (Austria) made of prefabricated structural panels, which were installed onto the floor slab in a few hours with the help of a crane. The high degree of prefabrication, the application of external shading and calorific value technology as well as the simple form of the building volume all contribute to making this a very ecological and economical building.

Architecture: Caramel Architekten
Photos: Otto Hainzl

Compact glass wall house, Austria

House with big outdoor water pond design, Indonesia

2011-03-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

The compound consists of three sleeping pavilions, center two-story pavilion with living/dining facilities and roof garden.

Architecture and photos: Yoka Sara International

House with big outdoor water pond design, Indonesia

Luxury sustainable green roof house design, Singapore

2011-03-15T01:43:00.000-07:00

Cross ventilation and passive cooling with solar water heaters and photovoltaic cells reduce energy usage of this luxury sustainable green roof house.

Architecture: Guz Architects
Photography: Patrick Bingham Hall

Luxury sustainable green roof house design

Horse riding (equestrian) stables photos&plans, South America, Chile

2011-03-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

This horse riding (equestrian) stables (South America, Chile) project include saddle, cleaning rooms and offices.

Architecture & photos: Pablo Lamarca & Tomas Swett

Luxury ocean villa with pool, Phuket, Thailand

2011-02-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

The living spaces of this amazing luxury villa with pool by the ocean (Phuket, Thailand) are located at three main levels, each of which offers a picturesque view of the Indian Ocean.

Architects: Original Vision Ltd, Adrian McCarroll, Waiman Cheung, Jamie Jamieson
Photos: Marc Gerritsen. Helicam Asia Aerial Photography

Luxury villa with pool by the ocean, Phuket, Thailand

Unique unusual tree hotel, Harads, Sweden

2011-02-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

Unique unusual tree hotel close to the polar circle, near the small village of Harads, Sweden. The exterior mirrored glass reflects the sky and the surrounding trees, creating a camouflaged refuge.

Architects: Tham & Videgard Arkitekter
Photos: Ake E:son Lindman

Unique unusual tree hotel, Harads, Sweden

LEED Platinum sustainable home, Washington, USA

2011-02-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

Design of the LEED Platinum sustainable home (Washington, USA) involve photovoltaic, geothermal, advanced heat-recovery, solar hot water and rain water technologies. Energy consumption of the house is more than 70% less compared to a typical house.

Architect: Coates Design
Photos: Northernlight

LEED Platinum sustainable home, Washington, USA