The homes that blend in with their surroundings emphasize the symbiotic and poetic relationship between architecture and nature.
Some of them merge with the ground through smooth internal and external connections, while others are wings that hover above the ground. Some are sheathed with wood panels, while others are clad in stone, inspired by its settings. Roof lines are flat, sloping, curved, and varied as the terrain.
Here are seven projects from around the world that celebrate places to be and reflect on the beauty of their extraordinary locations. It reveals how our relationship to nature can be as deep as our connection to home.
Crescent H from CLB Architects, Wyoming, US
Gibeon Photography / Krafty Photos / CLB Architects
This large home is located atop a gently sloping hill in northwest Wyoming. The house takes full advantage of panoramic views of the Teton mountain range, and framed views of the highest peak, Grand Teton, through an opening in the trees.
The carefully chosen, yet concise color palette creates simplicity and timelessness while enhancing a connection to its environment. Sedimentary stones from a regional quarry mimic the surrounding mountain ranges and rock formations. Cedar siding breaks up the stone pattern and adds warmth and texture to the exterior. The same stone appears again on the chimneys that define the public spaces within the pavilion.
Wave House by Seppo Mantyla Architecture, Mikkeli, Finland
Cebu Mantilla / Studio Hans Questinen
The Wave House was originally designed for a sloping plot of land in Moscow but architect Seppo Mantyla was contacted to see if the design would work on a new plot of land in Finland.
While curved shapes like these have been used in public buildings, they have proven to require their adaptation to the residential context. The solution was to build the roof using curved steel beams between them.
The structure itself is a log house made of fir wood. However, the walls are made of glass, and offer great views of the lake. The use of glass also opens up the house, creating an attractive view of the natural world outside.
Glass Villa by Mecanoo, Lechlid, United Kingdom
Blue Sky Images / Maria Schott / Meccano
The guiding design principle for architecture firm Mecanoo was to create a home that would combine transparency and sustainability, establishing a strong relationship between the villa and the landscape.
The villa is located in a green oasis of trees and plants that hide the house from view. Terraces on two different levels connect the villa to the land and water, anchoring the house in nature and giving it a welcoming presence. Glass corner windows in the living room, kitchen and other rooms make residents feel as if they are living on the water.
From the rooftop terrace, one can enjoy stunning views as if they are floating peacefully along the lake.
Halves by Moloney Architects, Victoria, Australia
Christine Francis / Moloney Architects
Named because of their separate unicorn shape, Two Halves feature two wings that appear to be independent, but actually live side by side.
The design divides and connects at the same time, separating the “common” open-plan living area from the quiet privacy and seclusion of the adjacent bedrooms and bathrooms. The two wings essentially differentiate the functions of the house, dividing the public and private areas to give the main living spaces the best views and access to natural light.
Where the public areas have an open plan and exterior, the private areas are designed to be compartmentalized.
Half-tree house designed by Jacobschang Architecture, New York, United States
Jacobchang Building / Noah Kalina
This remote off-grid sanctuary is located on a steep slope surrounded by jungle. The terrain presented a tough challenge, and in the end, it was the trees that provided the support, bearing half the cabin’s weight. Instead of disturbing the ground with large plinths and retaining walls, the structure is installed in the upper sloping corners, while the remaining weight is distributed over two existing trees.
To reduce maintenance and enable the exterior to withstand long, wet winters, the cladding panels were treated with traditional Scandinavian pine tar. The interior is simple, but offers a more than satisfactory level of comfort, and is almost Nordic in its design. The heat comes from an efficient wood stove while a portable generator provides a backup.
Okada Marshall House by D’Arcy Jones Architects, British Columbia, Canada
Okada Marshall House by D’Arcy Jones Architects, British Columbia, Canada credit: Sama Jim Kanzian / Darcy Jones Architects
The windows and doors of this H-shaped rock house (also above photo) refer to ancient moss-covered rocks or the Pacific Ocean, creating vibrant contrasts as one moves through the house.
The shape of the house is calm and solid, disturbing its interior complexity and spatial diversity. The outside is covered in “shou-sugi ban,” the Japanese technique of charring wood, which requires no maintenance and will never rot: ideal for the wetter areas of British Columbia.
Even in low light on a windy day, the outdoors will be brighter than the dark tiles on the property, creating a sense of optimism. The home’s white interior acts as a light foil to its brown and black exterior. Carved openings, ledges, and niches strip the site’s faulted volcanic rock.
Kloof 119A from Saota, Cape Town, South Africa
Kloof 119A from Saota, Cape Town, South Africa credit: Adam Leech/Sota
To make the most of its location, the architecture of Kloof 119A is designed to take in as many stunning views as possible (including Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain).
The house is arranged on three levels, each with its own set of gardens and courtyards. Extending from the roof of the mountain down against the house, these gardens screen out the neighboring buildings and intensify the relationship with nature, while allowing light and air to enter spaces that would otherwise be dark and isolated.
In line with this, the exterior is darkened, in order to divide the building’s mass, and push it into the background. Internally, the colors are muted and the use of washed oak wood gives the spaces warmth.
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