YEZO Retreat

Located in the idyllic Hokkaido island, in Japan, YEZO is a small retreat, nestled in a northern mountain range, using its dramatic landscape and an experimental design approach to create a sanctuary in nature. Contacted by an ambitious client, Japanese architecture studio LEAD started work on this unique dwelling, a place where guests can enjoy time for quiet reflection and private enjoyment in a setting defined by wood, stone, water, and light, whilst surrounded by ever-changing natural beauty. The projects´s elegant and fluid space follows a highly minimalist, yet expressive, performance-driven material and construction approach. The wooden roof shell structure is built up from glue-laminated (GluLam) timber beams suspended from a central concrete chimney and clad with regionally sourced black slate. The impressive YEZO Retreat is a winner of the Golden Pin Design Award for the year 2020.

LAKE JOSEPH COTTAGE

Lake Joseph Cottage is the latest project from VFA Architecture, their aim was to seamlessly blend this gorgeous property into the beautiful Ontarian landscape, respecting it and enjoying it simultaneously. We think this was beautifully achieved, the organic and relatively small structure does fill the low profile goal, but it also provides the comfort and fulfills the needs of those who will live in it. With optimal solar orientation and maximized lake views it als...
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HILLSIDE SANCTUARY

Inspired by a treasured stone and wood home lost to fire decades earlier in the hills of Appalachia, this stunning stone dwelling and guest house are set on a gorgeous landscape in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Designed by Hoedemaker Pfeiffer, the new house pays homage to its natural setting, and features simple stone volumes that seem to expand upwards from the rocky terrain. A stone wall and plinth form the rear of the houses, while a wood pavilion rests atop ...
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QUEBEC LAKE COTTAGE

The Quebec Lake Cottage by Matiere Premiere Architecture is a beautiful transformation of a 1950s A-frame cottage in the Eastern Townships. Overlooking a peaceful body of water, this cottage provides a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The owners called on Matiere Premiere Architecture and its affiliated construction company, Nu Drom, to design and renovate the three-season chalet. The design emphasizes an ecological approach, using s...
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