Miami architect Chad Oppenheim first came up with the concept for what would eventually be director Michael Bay's Los Angeles home after an unrealised proposal he had for a group of Caribbean villas. This explains the resort feel that permeates throughout the 30,000 square foot, three story dwelling that is comprised of the sculptural massing of rectilinear forms and astonishing cantilevers. The project was completed by L.A. firm Rios Clementi Hale Studios and boasts a state-of-the-art home theatre and a massive window wall in the lower lounge that opens by way of an elaborate counterweight system. 

Furniture includes Arne Jacobsen lounge chair (available locally from Cult), Giorgetti sofa (available locally from ECC), B&B Italia beds (available locally from Matisse), white Flexform sofa (available locally from Studio Italia) and kitchen appliances by Boffi and Wolf. 

Via Architectural Digest. 

Looking at this concrete residence by Portugese studio Carvalho Araujo, the piece de resistance is inarguably its rooftop pool which spans the length of the structure and offers expansive views over the nearby Serra d'Arga mountains.  The compact property occupies the footprint of a former ruin on the edge of Viana do Castelo, a coastal village in northern Portugal. The aesthetic of the home is inspired by the domestic water tanks used to supply local houses and is inconspicuous set amidst the rugged landscape. 

Via Dezeen.

The aptly named Ramp House bears all of the trademarks of Marcio Kogan's studio. The living room, invariably the focus of the Brazilian architect's attention, is an elongated right-angled volume sheathed in raw concrete that opens into a sheltered 4m-wide verandah that, in turn, leads into a minimalist landscape. 'The inspiration for this house,' says Renata Furlanetto of Studio MK27, 'was the client's art collection and a ramp. The house was built around them.' Its reification as a solid, three-dimensional house in a quiet leafy São Paulo neighbourhood is gratifyingly breathtaking. 

Via Wallpaper. 

The latest project by Kubota Architect Atelier is the A-house that sits perched on a green hill in Kai City, Japan. The residence uses a seemingly continuous slab of stark white concrete folded over itself to create fragmented polygonal sections that serve the function of roof, wall and floor plate. 

Boasting picturesque, sweeping rural landscapes, this Nashville property provided the ideal idyllic backdrop for a couple's vision to create an inviting family retreat. New York-based firm Meyer Davis Studio rose to the challenge, conceptualising a dramatic contemporary interpretation of a hunting lodge, drawing reference from modernist icons such as the Farnsworth House. The home's striking transparency and simple geometric representation of the natural topography, results in what is essentially a glass box that takes advantage of all available views. Residing purposefully within the landscape on a grass plinth, the Farmhouse exudes a sense of permanence. The fluidity between indoors and out is achieved through spatial playfulness, combined with exquisitely detailed materials, making this a truly special home. The residence also provides welcoming and expansive entertaining areas along with ample space to display the owners' eclectic art collection. The windows offer continual cinematic views of the property and as it changes throughout the seasons it establishes a natural palette, so using authentic, durable materials was important. The rustic finishes used range from thick leather and heavy fabrics to wire-brushed wood and stone that reveal the space's natural character. The result is a simply magnificent home that is destined to become a significant architectural reference point for its era in years to come.

Key pieces featured: Boffi Pipe Shower (available here), Agape Spoon bath and Maxalto Agathos armchair (both from Matisse) and CH24 Wishbone chair (available from Cult).

In the desert landscape of Scottsdale Arizona, local architecture firm Chen + Suchart Studio have completed this 3,000 square foot residence. The house is conceived as three separate volumes whose relationship to one another dictates the use and form of the structure by providing a very private ground level while still allowing enough transparency to enjoy the views of the McDowell mountains. 

Sliding glass walls connect the interior and exterior transforming the use and feel of the spaces on the ground level. Above, the master suite and office look down onto the yard through a wrap around balcony that creates a deep eave to control the intense direct sunlight. The three structures that make up the residence work in conjunction to represent the site to its fullest. 

Studio Christian Wassmann has completed a sculptural three-storey residential extension in Miami Beach. The project establishes a clear dialogue with the site's original 1930s bungalow by way of an open space between the original structure and the new addition. As its name suggests, the "sun path house" uses the sun to foster the vitality and health of its inhabitants with an outwardly spiraling wall that is simultaneously structural, functional and sculptural. 

Via Designboom. 

Located in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps, Gut Feeling -- the name of this narrow house -- sits surrounded by a green landscape and snowy mountains. Available for rent on vacation website Welcome Beyond, the particularly narrow dwelling uses natural materials while keeping the structure clean and neutral. The ground level boasts room enough to pull a car right into the home via an almost hidden garage while two elevated terraces protrude out from the side of the home adding extra square-footage. Dark neutral colours are paired with natural wood giving the interior a warm, cozy feel. 

Vieques bath by Patricia Urquiola for Agape and Charlotte Perriand dining chairs by Cassina, both available locally from Matisse. Outdoor drop chairs by Arne Jacobsen available locally from Cult. Photos courtesy of Florian Holzherr. 

Shanghai office Four O Nine has converted a glass building in Beijing into an eatery using the cafe's organic menu as its influence. With plant-lined walls installed for air purification and to generally promote "healthy" buildings, the natural materials used throughout underline this idea. Architect Lukasz Kos says of the project, "we wanted to elevate that desire for healthy food with a healthy building, thus all approaches we took we ecologically sensitive".

Via Dezeen. 

Comprising nine apartments, this mixed use multi-residential development in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, pays homage to the original brickworks site it is located so close to. The humble material is used to create detailed patterns throughout the building and is a contemporary reminder of the importance of brick in the Australian city. While various efforts have been made to preserve original details of the edifice, timber screens ghost the mass of the previous structure. 

Via Ola Studio.