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A Blend of Modern and Traditional for a Rural Tourism Retreat in Portugal

You know when you see this, that there’s going to be some lovely shapes in this architecture.

It is part of a rural tourist retreat that gently harmonizes the traditional architecture of Portugal with a modern sensibility.

The Monte Novo da Cruz in Odemira, Portugal is designed by [i]da arquitectos.

The squares in the first image are the outlines of a series of small porches that open in front of the guest rooms.

Each has its own traditional basketry trellis.

On the roof, sunbathers can bask in the mellow region’s balmy light.

A fresh and sweet take on Portuguese traditions continues in the sprightly furnishings.

Bright colors stand out against the all white interior.

Shelving is embedded deeply within traditional thick plaster walls that evoke Portuguese architectural traditions.

Glass separates the shower from the tiniest of courtyards lit by a skylight.

Concrete floors and white plaster walls update the ancient architectural traditions.

Travellers can gaze from the roof over the distant rolling hills.

A peaceful and tranquil retreat.

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A Stunning House on the Costa Brava

A glass box skylight-cum-outdoor pool is the central anchor of an amazing home.

The house by MANO Arquitectura set on a completely flat piece of land overlooking the rugged Spanish coastline from high atop a hill.

A pool enters the house at its center.

Aigua blava is a small beach on the Costa Brava in Catalonia , embraced by low mountains where houses overlook the sea between green pine forests.

The fragility of floor to ceiling glazing throughout the front of the house is contrasted with a thick rammed-earth roof.

Like a huge slice of earth, this roof continues to create a generous porch at each end of the glass house.

The main entry is behind the pool inlet, creating maximum impact upon arrival.

Originally, the clients had bought a very unsatisfactory new house on the site because of the view and disappointed the architect by asking him to simply put in windows so they could see it.

Fortunately, he was able to persuade them to start afresh.

Starting from scratch, he has created something much more worthy of the stunning site.

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A Private and Grand Live-Work Home in Tochigi for a Reader

Shinichi Ogawa & Associates have designed a serenely private home with a high-ceilinged central living room based on a courtyard, in Tochigi, Japan.

Semi-opaque glass diffuses light into a courtyard that brings light to the tall central living room.

The taller central white cube houses a spacious double-height living room, while normal height is reserved for surrounding courtyards and remaining rooms.

The double-height ceilings in this great room at the centre of the house makes a grand space for entertaining.

The slice shows the internal plan of the smaller rooms encircling a central cube.

It’s possible to access to all of the rooms encircling the central living room.

Very low-profile doors exiting the main room to the kitchen and office contrast with the clearly announced entrance alcove.

The master bedroom suite can be accessed through the courtyard, or through a similarly understated door from the living room.

Courtyards at both sides bring daylight into each room, despite the apparently windowless exterior.

Opening off a second smaller courtyard at the back of the house, the bathroom enjoys a blissfully open space.

Full-sized floor-to-ceiling glazed doors that can be fully opened to the outdoor courtyard are only half this room’s extraordinary height.

A very intriguing design – for a client who loves to read, and desired a compact yet grand live-work space in downtown Tochigi – that was totally private.