Designed for an adventurous couple and their four sons, the Sagaponack House by Bates Masi Architects is a stunning example of seaside living, with the Atlantic Ocean and a freshwater lagoon sandwiching the dwelling on either side. Spaces run the full width of the house, with floor to ceiling sliding doors on both sides, allowing both light and air to completely penetrate the house. Both large and small gatherings are easily accommodated, and the lawn, swimming pool, pool house and sports courts emphasise how important the outdoors is to this particular client. 

Looking out over the Miño river in Galicia, Spain sits this modern residence, designed by local architect Quico Jorreto. Taking advantage of the site's southern-faced slope the stunning contemporary home opens out towards the river and surrounding hillside in order to maximise natural light. With much of the abode built into the hillside itself, the pool deck, car park and sun room also double as the roof of the central living spaces, which are hidden beneath the base of the structures above. Living and kitchen areas boast panoramic views, intimate outdoor seating areas and a built-in fire pit while more personal spaces are tucked further into the home, away from prying eyes. 

Via Coolist.

As die hard fans of Studio MK27's work, we were yet again full of praise for the firm's latest creation, Casa Lee. Located just outside Sao Paula in Porto Feliz, this single-story residence boast a dramatic low lying profile, stretching across the width of its site to accommodate a large open-plan living room, four bedrooms, guest quarters and a gym within its walls. Living areas were of utmost importance and thus positioned accordingly, taking pride of place in the centre of the plan and able to be opened out onto the garden on both sides using sliding panels. Bedrooms and spaces requiring more privacy are encased within wooden frames, the louvred Mashrabiya panels able to optimise air flow without sacrificing the hideaway feel that the frame provides. Studio MK27's Eduardo Glycerio designed furniture specifically for the abode, and worked alongside interior designer Diana Radomysler to plan the fittings for each space.

Via Dezeen.

 The Plus house is located on the mountain-side of Izu-san, Japan, with views over the Pacific Ocean. Perched in a pocket of untouched coastal wilderness, the residence was designed with the weekend escape in mind, with simple living spaces at the core of the design. In order to navigate the difficult terrain, two intersecting rectangular spaces are positioned at right angles to each other, like an off-centered cross balanced carefully on a narrow ridge. 

The lower frame contains private quarters while the upper consists of breezy living and social areas that boast wide vistas of the ocean and surrounding forest. Water-polished white marble is used to various degrees both inside and out, and the surface gets smoother as it approaches to the southern/western end, eventually reaching a mirror-like gloss.

House Hafner can be found in the countryside of Büschelhof, Southern Germany, where it  sits on the fringe of a large forest. Modern and minimalist, the residence stands in complete contrast with its lush surroundings, an open cubic design and abstract gabled roof creating a striking presence from afar while allowing for a variety of different living spaces. One part is introverted, and consists of smaller, more private spaces, while the other is open to the outdoors, featuring wide glass windows and large open rooms that extend naturally outside. A stunning example of how the right skew of shape and dimension can make way for a structure with presence and most importantly, livability. 

Casa Cubo is the latest offering from Brazilian architect studio MK27. The project, led by renowned architect Marcio Kogan is, as the name suggests, a concrete 'cube' shape that is perched atop an open plan living area. The ground level can be completely opened up by sliding the perforated metal screens along the perimeter, integrating the area with the surrounding garden and swimming pool. The metal screens appear again on the second floor, where they operate as windows into the private areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms. The interior was completed by Diana Radomysler and features pieces from Moroso, B&B Italia, Eames and Sylvain Willenz.

Nestled between the green hills of Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in a wealthy residential neighbourhood sits the Urca penthouse. Designed by Studio Arthur Casas, the penthouse is the perfect example of contemporary, warm weather living, featuring sliding glass doors that wrap around one side of the penthouse, opening out to a large terrace that boasts views out across the sea towards Rio's glimmering cityscape. Inside, clean lines and minimalism dominate, creating a refined space that's also comfortable and inviting, with wooden detailing softening harsher aspects. An impressive site that's now home to an equally as impressive residence.

The Optical Glass House faces a bustling main road and major intersection in Hiroshima, Japan, a location that would not be considered prime real estate by most home owners. Japanese practice Hiroshi Natamura & NAP however have designed an elegant solution to a rather noisy problem, creating an acoustically protected tranquil oasis behind an expansive glass brick wall. Rather than shutting the outside out entirely and doing away with a great deal of natural light, the glass facade acts as a noise buffer whilst continuing to allow sunlight to flood into a lush, green garden courtyard. A creative and utterly Zen approach to hectic inner city living. 

Via Design Boom

Designed for the tropical climate, the Sentosa House can be found on Sentosa Island, Singapore and is made up of a series of open spaces which are clustered around a core. An open stairwell provides much needed vertical circulation, letting a light breeze float through all areas of the residence. Recycled golden teak, fair faced concrete, stone and metal have all been put to good use in the dwellings structure, extending out seamlessly into the lush, tropical garden and pool area. A modern, considered approach to hot climate living.

Situated in Alicante, Spain, this incredible cliff top residence by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos makes quite the statement, stretching out towards the Balearic sea. The severe, steep clifftop site location wasn't an easy one to work with, thus the architects designed the structure as a single monolithic volume that is nestled against the rockface whilst also projecting out towards the ocean. Living areas and bedrooms take up the upper level of the dwelling, boasting panoramic vistas out over the sea, while an infinity pool surrounded by stucco white walls enhances the clean, white aesthetic. Fran Silvestre Arquitectos have certainly managed to realise a sculpture-like residence that works with the jagged contours of the landscape.