The Eels Lake Residence designed by Altius Architecture in Apsley, Ontario, Canada. The home immerses itself in the surroundings, drawing from the beauty of the entire site, in addition to the powerful focus of the lake. Clean, modern spaces, rich in material and texture, in concert with a solid sustainable foundation results in enduring architecture.

Through the use of a consistent palette of materials, wall and ceiling cladding link the interior with exterior. The varied textures of the simple volumes and planes provide a subtle but distinct reading of space. [Read more...]

The contemporary beautifully Villa Nefkens in Wageningen, The Netherlands designed by Mecanoo Architects.


The design for the Nefkins villa takes its inspiration from the beautiful views from the living room and main bedrooms and also from the spacious kitchen/lounge area toward the big garden. Large terraces elevate the house to just above grade, making the house appear as if it is floating. The villa’s transition from interior to exterior is gradual and a canopy surrounding the whole house provides beautifully framed views while allowing the outdoor spaces to be enjoyed in the summer and fall. The round forms of the villa express the wish of the family to stay close to nature while simultaneously realising an individual design. (Photography by Christian Richters)

description from the architecture:
Keenan house – the addition of a large kitchen living area to the rear of a century old inner suburban villa presents as a distinctly modern light structure but uses matching roof forms to relate to the old house. A large openable glass window wall faces north, maximising exposure to winter sun for heating and allows complete opening up of the living areas to the garden in summer. Deciduous vines on the steel pergola provide summer shade. A swimming pool completes the close integration of inside and outside spaces. [Read more...]