Situated against the snowy backdrop of Mount Hotham, Australia, sits an angular house by architect Giovanni D'Ambrosio. The angles of the house draw reference from typological archetypes that were once used by countrymen and cowboys that lived in the area. The interior and exterior are comprised predominantly of stone, metal and wood - which all enable the house to fit seamlessly within its environment. With double-glazed windows, the architect wanted to give the owners the ability to enjoy the outside surrounds, from the warmth of the indoors. The main living within the home is enjoyed from the ground floor, whilst the bedrooms and spa find a home comfortably on the level above.

Berkley, California-based design firm Cheng Design, designed this home in Menlo Park, California back in 2009. Predominantly made from concrete, the 'Concrete House' as it was named, showcases one of architect Fu-teng Cheng's first ever 'hybrid' structures - exploring the use of both concrete and wood. The interior, which carries classic pieces such as Ligne Roset's Togo sofa by Michel Ducaroy, uses key pieces to add pops of colour, adding vibrancy to the project.

For more work from this design studio go here.

Casa Corallo is set amongst a mountainous forest in Guatemala, and appears very much at home amongst its leafy woodland surroundings. Designed by PAZ Arquitectura, the exterior is comprised of three levels and is made of exposed concrete slabs and rustic wood. With the designers determined that the house must complement its environment rather than compete with it, the owner’s closest neighbours are the surrounding trees, with glass used all throughout the home. Outside elements are further used inside the house with a sizable wooden tree trunk growing up through the living room floor, its branches stretching out into other areas of the home. The interior is equally as impressive as the exterior, as you enter through an oversized, reclaimed wooden door to rooms filled with textured stone, glass shelving, dark wooden floors and the pièce de résistance; a large custom built fireplace. 

Australian architect Andrew Maynard has designed this very unique looking house in Melbourne. Situated on a small north facing site, the brief was to create a house that would suit the requirements of a young family with three small children (in which the spaces could transform to meet their adult requirements in later years). Box like in form, unusually, the facade of this modern home doesn't seem dominated by windows, but rather presents a rather solid exterior. Cleverly, however, the facade opens up by way of shutter system, to let in light. The entertaining aspect of the home is focused around the backyard - the only spot that offered the owners any real sense of privacy from the street front. Internally, the spacious living area's main defining feature is a modern spiral staircase, that pays ode to winding staircases of yesteryear. The landscape, wraps up around the home, with the grass becoming as much of a feature of the home as the architecture itself.

This house in East Hampton, New York, designed by Blaze Makoid Architecture makes the most of its flat section. Closely surrounded by neighbours, the architects designed the layout of the house in a 'C' shape, allowing three space volumes to operate within the home. Upon entering the home through a glass void, the simple interior, with a relatively high-stud impresses. The entry foyer also serves as a separation between public and private sections of the home: the outdoor pool verses the two bedroom bedroom wing to the right. Large floor to ceiling glass, that spans double-height, helps to integrate the external surrounds with the interior of the home, whilst windows strategically placed due North, help to heat the home naturally.

We have little doubt that you own, or have owned the revered Moleskin diary in one form or another over the duration of your career. Renowned for their notebooks, diaries, leather bound or hard covers and cream paper - Moleskin is the notebook of choice for many of the creatives among us. You'll be pleased to learn that Moleskin has come to the party once again with their latest addition: an investigation between the relationship of four great architects, their drawings and hand written notes. Delve into the architectural minds of Zaha Hadid, Bolles+Wilson, Giancarlo de Carlo and Alberto Kalach, and marvel at how they transform a blank page into the creation of their greatest buildings with Moleskin's latest series of notebooks - perfect for any budding architects in our midst.

Architects Felipe Hess and Renata Pedrosa have masterfully converted this original Oscar Niemeyer space into a refurbished contemporary loft. Located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the original 140sqm Oscar Niemeyer creation was completely demolished, except for the columns and shafts, before the duo undertook the new build division. Taking on great challenge such as the refurbishment of a Niemeyer is no mean feat. And we are more than impressed with the outcome. The project set about transforming the original three-bedroom interior into an open loft with no permanent partitions. Felipe Hess and Renata Pedrosa, introduced a central block to the space to divide the private and social spaces. The main divide cleverly houses linen and closets on one side, with the other side hosting an extensive shelving system and built in concrete bench. The entire space encompasses raw, exposed concrete with stark white walls and exposed piping. These industrial finishes perfectly merge with the wide floor boards and wooden shelves which introduce a sense of warmth to the space, resulting in an interior that captures both the aesthetic of modern loft living with the ambience of contemporary living. The expansive view of the skyline through the windows also allows for ample natural light to flood through the loft. The fact that there are no barriers, or walls in the structural design also aids in the open fluid concept of the space. Steel robust open-able sliding side doors act as dividers, which once opened become one with the exposed column and act as part of the design neatly folded on either side.  The exposed columns and slabs have all been retained from the original structure, which help to preserves the architectural importance of the space. Opposite the main bedroom stands an original concrete wall from the 50-year-old historical building, with all the flaws left untouched. 

Contemporary Italian furniture company, B&B Italia have just had their new Tel Aviv showroom completed by Israeli architects Pitsou Kedem. Set inside an industrial harbourside warehouse the 11 metre high space is incredibly impressive with a facade of pillars that create a well defined construction grid.

B&B Italia is available locally here.

Set lakeside in Austin is the 'Shore Vista' project - a two level boat dock by Bercy Chen Studio. The dock is located on a bend of Lake Austin, and the structure reflects this through its elliptical forms, which also maximise the views of the lush surroundings. The rounded edges are able to be peeled away, allowing more of the landscape to be captured in the visual frame. The first floor deck is lined with glass balustrades, which momentarily part for the waterfall to gush down into the lake below. On the lower level, there is a 'beached' area allowing for one to ease into the water, and also provides the owner's children with endless hours of fun playing behind the waterfall.

Tucked away in a private bay on Waiheke Island, a stone's throw from Auckland city, this residence designed by Daniel Marshall a few years ago, sits quietly on the hillside overlooking the water. Marshall explains that 'the concept evolved from the idea of a family group camping, creating space between the functional nodes. This was particularly important in allowing space for the boats and water to move through the valley to the bay below. This space was utilised to give physical separation to the guest house as well as a garage.'

Utilising materials complementary to the surrounding landscape, it was designed to integrate seamlessly into its surrounding, leaving a subtle blue print on the land. The stone used on the walls was sourced locally, with the windows tinted to limit reflection. The owners can enjoy the view from many vantage points within the home, or sit outside in the private courtyard which is framed by a Nikau grove, warmed by an outdoor fire.