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A Glass Elevator on a Cute Gabled House in Poland

Designed by Architeckt Tadeusz Lemanski, the striking GG House is located in Krakow, Poland on a steep, south-facing slope.

To deal with the steep site, a glass elevator to the side of the house glides you up four floors, moving through the view during ascension.

A glass walkway makes it possible to walk along the side of the building to the glass elevator.

Three small windows to the side of the living room share the light of the glass walkway.

At night, the glass elevator is lit up from within.

Cantilevered decks extend forward from the front of the building.

The generous decks thus created allow for outdoor dining when weather permits.

With most of the glazing to the front of the house, the house depends on the huge gabled front for its light.

But every room can thus take advantage of the views out over the old city to the distant mountains.

A gabled design that references the old world, and a glass extension that is very much new.

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When Extroverted Glitz Meets Introverted Zen

Architecture in South African seems to be always just a bit more extroverted and glitzy than elsewhere.

So when the South African firm Metropole Architects was commissioned to design a Zen-style dream house, the result is quite a bit mixed.

The exuberant result is located on a site in the Zimbali Forest Estate in South Africa.

“Zimbali” is Zulu for “The Valley of Flowers.”

Japanese pagodas appear to float on its assorted lavish pools.

The neutral and highly textured palette is reminiscent of luxury hotels in Tokyo, but the staggering views are pure South Africa.

The headboard behind the bed is just pony height, so the view over the Indian Ocean overwhelms you immediately upon entry.

Water is made a primary component of the lush design, both indoors and out.

An 18 ft deck is cantilevered boldly out over one of the exterior water features.

One of several koi ponds flows under this red cedar plank walkway through the entry.

The koi pond can even be glimpsed through a black glass floor inlay at the edge of the kitchen floor.

Zen is an exacting aesthetic. But the architects cheerfully pile on all sorts of local South African motifs like this fossil-carved ebony pillar.

The combination results in a uniquely sensual and luxurious style of its own.

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A Hip Home with a Warm Welcome in Seattle

Dale Lang photographed this cheery red-trimmed house in Seattle, Washington.

The new house by Stettler Design is for an active Seattle couple.

A cacophony of red rimmed angles marks its exuberant notice-me design.

A red homecoming welcome.

A nice detail: the stair light embedded into the concrete step.

Inside, the red is paired with a retro milk-bar blue and hip ceiling lights.

The hip urban vibe continues with black bar stools lined up at the turquoise island.

Its angular roof subtly references the conventional gable forms of neighboring houses.

All the living and sleeping spaces are on the ground floor, to allow the owners to stay in the house as they age.

Upstairs is an open plan loft like space that will be for use as office space and to accommodate guests.

The striking house is near Seattle’s Burke Gilman bike trail.