Designed by Miguel Marcelino, the House with Three Yards fully embraces the sunny attributes of its location in Benavente, Portugal. Situated in a gorgeous landscape of oak trees, this home is two stories and features a warm, copper-colored facade. The main features of the home are, as the name suggests, the three yards. Each yard is a different size and shape. The first is an intimate courtyard which embraces a large oak tree. The second is a long patio located on the side of the house. This space features a large horizontal opening which frames the landscape. The third yard is a partially enclosed patio which contains a set of stairs leading to the home’s pool. I was first attracted to the gorgeous exterior color of this home. The copper color fits perfectly with the sandy Portuguese landscape; I love how the sunlight illuminates the facade! The organization of this home is also superb. It is great to see a home which incorporates so much outdoor space in the design! The three yards provide an array of outdoor living options. This home is a perfect design for a family looking to make the most of a beautiful landscape and warm climate!

Designed by typically minimalistic, contemporary-modern Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan and his StudioMK27, Casa Osler is composed primarily by two prismatic volumes in reinforced concrete, glass and wood, positioned in such a way as to leave plenty of open space for a swimming pool and garden. The downstairs prism contains the rooms and living areas, and the upper storey houses a kitchen with a privileged view. The house is fit for its location in Brasilia, with its tiled mural designed by Athos Bulcão, who had long years of collaborating with Brazilian modernist architects such as Oscar Nieyemer and Roberto Burle Marx. Photography by Zuleika de Souza & Claudio Dupas.

If white is the preferred color of minimalists, Casa DJ is sure to please. Designed by [i]da arquitectos, Casa DJ is a gorgeous residence in Cascais, Portugal. The geometry and facade of the home is kept simple with clean lines and a monochromatic color scheme. Yet the subdued exterior provides a welcome contrast to the complexity of the different interior spaces. The rooms are organized around a central patio that cuts the structure in two. The ground floor houses the kitchen, living areas and a garden. The bedrooms and terrace are located on the upper levels. I love everything about this home! From the organization of the rooms, to the rocky landscaping, to the placement of the windows; every element melds perfectly to form this lovely structure. I am especially attracted to the courtyard and terrace: they provide the residents with a soothing, peaceful place to relax. Overall, Casa DJ is an elegant home which is sure to please its minimalist owners!

The Soldati House by Victor Vasilev is located in Carrara, Italy. It is a family home covering 530 sq.m over three floors. The owners wished for ultramodern and Milanese look but with contemporary domestic environment where function was not left behind. The featured element of square volumes is highly visible throughout: the geometry of a fireplace, sunken floor, art, bedroom furniture etc. The ceiling’s lighting is also incorporated as if to enrich the concept even further. A special treat built for the family is a private spa area with sauna, a large tub and a massage zone. Travertine marble and Indonesian teak were used as primary materials through which a level of easy elegance is translated. I love that the photographs shown were taken two years after the project was completed, providing us with a hint of lasting ultramodern effect the family desired.

The beautiful Casa del Acantilado is located on a cliff in Alicante, Spain. Designed by Spanish studio Fran Silvestre Arquitecto, the centerpiece of this residence is an long cantilever that stretches towards the Balearic Sea. One side of the white-washed home is nestled along the cliff, while the other reaches away from the rocky setting. The structure is made from concrete, yet the concrete has been coated in stucco for a sleek, clean look. The living rooms and bedrooms are on the upper story, while the kitchen, pool, and terrace are located on the ground floor. This stunning home celebrates its ideal location, yet it does not seek to merge into it. The monolithic structure manages to appear separate from the site, so that it can be appreciated like a sculpture in a gallery. Yet the sharp edges and bright white color of the home contrast with the surroundings; allowing the rocky landscape to become part of Fran Silvestre Arquitecto’s gorgeous sculpture. I am obsessed with architecture which seeks to blur the boundaries between functional building and artistic object. The Casa del Acantildo is a perfect example of architecture as art.

House T is located in a residential area of central Tokyo. Designed by Hiroyuki Shinozaki Architects, this home revolves around the concept of a bookshelf. The structure is a massive box which contains several levels of floating floors. The floors are attached to large columns which span the entire height of the structure. Stacked in this manner, the floors resemble bookshelves, and the living areas they contain look like delicately placed books. The openness of the structure ensures that each piece of the home stands in direct visual relation to every other part. This gives the inhabitant full visual access to every room and promotes a sense of understanding to both the organization of the house and the activities within it. This residence is not only aesthetically striking, it is rich in conceptual ideas! It is rare to see a home which incorporates a strong, singular concept in this way. The idea of a  bookshelf dominates the design of this home, aesthetically and structurally. From concept to realization, Shinozaki’s House T is a huge success. Also, can we please admire the beauty of Shinozaki’s website? I was charmed instantly!

In its own way, the untreated finishes of House D by HHF Architects deliver a quiet elegance in its rawness against the landscape of Nuglar, Switzerland. The architects used what was readily available – glass, wood and concrete, designed minimally so that the real conversation within the living spaces is exchanged with the exterior. It is the little subtle details of this project that I find really alluring. The oversized terrace helps maintain a level of privacy between the openness of the living spaces and the rest of the landscape; the door frames that follow the slope of the roof on the house give a different feel of the scale within the room; the run of the stair alongside a wall of concrete and a wall of glass that in its reflection further emphasizes the expanse of the views. Being minimal doesn’t mean lack of details here; it is an incredibly interesting project when one delves deeper.

The lovely E House is located in Okazaki, Japan. Designed by D.I.G Architects, this home is small in square footage but big on style. The architects encountered difficulties due to the narrowness of the site and its north-south orientation: incorporating natural sunlight was a challenge. D.I.G Architects solved this problem by designing an extended slit window on the second floor. This window angles and turns to wrap around the entire exterior. The interior was then organized around this window to allow the daylight to reach the entire home. The slit window is a gorgeous centerpiece for this home. I love the shape of the window and the way it is naturally illuminated. The interior of this home is also stunning. The blend of materials makes for a rich, tactile experience while still keeping with a minimal aesthetic. Overall, this is an inventive and charming project.

Today I would like to highlight a fashion editorial featuring Andrea Klarin for Pierre Cardin and photographed by Paul & Jo Figaro. We have seen editorials captured in gorgeous settings before but this particular one is a perfect blend of fashion and architecture. As a viewer I am equally intrigued by the clothes and the background. Paul & Jo Figaro are telling the whole story, without overselling either. The architecture is outstanding in its fluidity and almost futuristic essence. The curvaceous geometry is soft and elegant and Andrea Klarin’s poses are confident but vulnerable. I love how each scene allows for my own imagination of what lays beyond the camera lenses.

The House in Futakoshinchi is a narrow, unassuming home in Kanagawa, Japan. Designed by the Japanese studio Tato Architects, the charred cedar facade is positioned at the end of a long driveway. Narrow lots are common in Japan; architects must use innovative design to make the small spaces into comfortable and fully functioning homes. The House in Futakoshinchi is arranged to do just that. Three stories are connected by wooden stairs and illuminated by large windows. The dining, kitchen, and living areas are located on the second floor, with the bedrooms located on the lowest floor for privacy. A gorgeous glass-walled bathroom sits at the top of the house and opens to an airy roof deck. I love the simple elegance of this home. The architects really made the most out of a tight situation. Breaking the home into three organized floors maximizes space and allows the residents a peaceful place to dwell. I also love the interior decoration: clean lines and light furniture reflect the personality of the home as a whole.

Reykjavik House was developed by the Polish architecture office Moomoo Architects, located in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik. This minimalist house stands out for its all white exterior and two glazed walls. Although I think with this project, the environment is almost as important as the building itself, because the combined result is what draws your attention, creating a poetic feeling. The interior is finished using birch wood, a great combination for minimalist interiors in my opinion, because you can achieve a warm and plain space at the same time thanks to this wood. The architects also highlighted: The glazings on both sides of the house are slidable, so during the warmer seasons they can be folded, making the terrace a continuation of the area of the house. This manipulation of the shape of the house blurs the border between the house and the surrounding landscape.

Lately I have been slightly obsessed with the work of photographer James Silverman. His ability to capture spatial qualities and light conditions of stunning homes around the world is endless. Today I would like to go back in time a little, featuring project from 2006 and designed by one of my all time favorite architects, Isay Weinfeld. Casa Iporanga is located in Iporanga, Brazil. Sophisticated layout and elegant use of materials seamlessly translate to incredible ease of living. Every room is connected to the outdoors, maximizing not only ventilation but also the luxury of such stunning environment. Weinfeld does his magic in carving out special zones within the property, combining envy-worthy luxury with casual settings where the comfort of living presents itself just the way it should be.