Beautiful Modern Farm Houses: UK Countryside Conversion

A beautiful modern farm house combining traditional and modern elements, this barn conversion design is somewhat of a local landmark. The home was actually part of a Television show, Grand Designs, where the homeowner and architect Stedman Blower Architects were challenged to create a design that left the original exterior intact while totally transforming the interior of the home. This UK farmhouse is a distinctive “English” charm, from the exterior with its shingled roof, to the interior where the exposed wood-beam ceilings (8.5 meters high!) are visible throughout this open concept home. In a modern touch, this spiral staircase house twists and turns its way up to a catwalk crossing the two-storey living space. Despite its rustic elements, this countryside home has a contemporary style we love. Stedman Blower Architects
via Freshome

Modern Jungle Home in Costa Rica

This modern jungle home is a luxurious getaway for the vacationer looking for something a little extra. The contemporary Costa Rica house design is surrounded by lush landscaping and picture-perfect vistas – those which are captured beautifully by this thoughtful slope house plan. Inside this 2,992-sq.-ft., three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home, the kitchen, living room and dining area meld into one another, and open onto outdoor entertaining areas in a seamless transition from indoors out. Further connecting its residents to nature, this rooftop garden house features its very own integrated landscaping and refreshing pools that beckon on hot, sunny days. They say you can’t buy happiness, but lucky for you, this luxury villa can be rented for $600-$750 per night. Click here for more info.
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Wave Shaped House in Bondi Beach, Australia

This wave shaped house is an ultra-modern and apt addition to the sun, sand and surf. This Australian beach house designed by Brian Meyerson Architects is inspired by the water with its unusual wave shape and cool aesthetic. Set in a suburb of Sydney at Bondi Beach, this contemporary style home strikes a chord with its ultra-modern silhouette and slim, super-tall windows stretching up to the roof, maximizing the views, natural light and cool breezes blowing in off the water. A rooftop garden is overlooked by a sweet retreat – a chic roof top loft, a luxurious to escape the everyday and soak up some sizzling Aussie sun. For more information visit Australian architects Brian Meyerson Architects.
via Freshome

Small Space Living Home Maximizes Minimalist Lifestyle

This small space living home really packs a big punch in its tiny 313 sq. ft. site. Japanese architecture firm Mizuishi Architect Atelier created this narrow lot house design with a wide open mind to creative architecture concepts. And what it lacks in square footage, this compact house makes up for in creativity! Deceiving from the small exterior, interiors are spacious, bright and open. The kitchen and dining area features high ceilings reaching up to the roof and overlooked by a modern loft housing the children’s play area, while the low-ceiling-ed living room has a cozy look and feel. Fully functioning windows on both sides overlooking the bay create a sense of openness. Minimalist interiors give the home a clean, uncluttered and contemporary aesthetic. Mizuishi Architect Atelier
via Freshome

Green Roof Architecture, Singapore Style

Here’s a fab example of modern green roof architecture, Singapore style! Designed by Guz Architects, this green house sits on the island of Sentosa adjacent to Singapore, enjoying stunning city views on the horizon, and sweet serenity right in its own backyard. The architects placed a wall on each side of the home, providing privacy from the neighboring properties. All that’s left to enjoy are the breathtaking views, whether it’s from the outdoor living rooms and terraces, the indoor-outdoor areas, the roof top loft, or the water features. A central staircase takes you up a central light-filled stairwell and leads to the piece de resistance – the loft design idea with walkout to the second-storey garden, while itself featuring its own rooftop garden, creating the intimate feeling of single-storey living on every level. Now, that’s thinking outside the box. Guz Architects via Contemporist photo credit: Patrick Bingham Hall

Modern Indonesian Houses – A Beautiful Balance

This modern Indonesian house designed by architecture firm TWS & Partners is a beautiful balance of nature and man-made, indoors and outdoors, public and private spaces. Surrounded by lush, tropical forest, this Tiki-chic cottage home features Terra Cotta roof tiles and expanses of shuttered windows, for authentic flair and function. The contemporary style home boasts an asymmetrical silhouette with two main volumes of living space. This sweet retreat balances social spaces, like the large open-concept living area on the main floor, and the private bedrooms upstairs. The central courtyard home plan uses a staircase to connect the home’s separate volumes without compromising on privacy and the desired feel of luxury villas. An outdoor living room provides a wonderful sheltered, alfresco space to enjoy the outdoors in all weather. And reinforcing the home’s connection to nature, materials like wood (recycled, of course) and exposed concrete are earthy and effortless. TWS & Partners
via Arch Daily
photo credit: Fernando Gomulya

Small Home Design in Tokyo – angular house by Schemata Architecture

What a modern example of city living – this small home design by Schemata Architecture has been dubbed the 63.02° House for its unusual angle along a main road Nakana, Tokyo. The slant of the home – 63.02 degrees – allows for a wider and deeper view while creating the appearance of more space, both from the outside and in. From its slightly-off angle to its concrete facade, sharp angles and the expansive windows making up a majority of the home exterior, this modern residence is unlike any of its nearby neighbors in this dense urban center. Completed in December 2007, this design of 71.4m2 may be small, but is certainly a great lesson in the use of space. Schemata Architecture
via Dezeen

Modern Cyprus Architecture: An Artfully Divided House

 Like its many levels of living space, this modern Cyprus architecture designed by Varda Studio also boasts many layers of architectural interest. The horizontal arrangement of this interesting design presents a very unusual way to divide space, both inside and out. Its materials – concrete basement, a white-painted main floor and a wood-clad upper – define the home’s three distinctive floors. Welcoming you from the street, this courtyard house plan leads you into the open living room boasting an expansive sliding glass wall that floods the house with warm natural light and a cool, fresh breeze. Lover and upper levels feature floor-to-ceiling glass with sliding shades that offer privacy while still connecting interiors to the home’s many outdoor entertaining areas, balconies and decks. This open concept home has a great unobstructed view and easy-going flow from one living space to the next. But the living doesn't stop at the third floor – topping this house, the rooftop garden provides a sunny retreat with breathtaking Cyprus views. Varda Studiovia Plataforma Arquitectura