Totteridge is a striking new-build contemporary house in a north London conservation area. This substantial property is designed as a long-term family home, replacing an existing dated bungalow that the clients had lived in for years. The design is unequivocally contemporary, and contrasts to the surrounding traditional neighbouring properties – yet references the materials of the local area.

Imagine if every global city was designed and built with human-wellbeing and our brains at the focus of the architecture? The WHO calculated we spend between 80% and 90% of the time that we are awake in a building, whether that is our homes, school, office, mall, hospital, stadium or a neighbour-hood café.

When thinking about home décor, the first things that come to mind are repainting, redesigning, changing up the furniture, and adding architectural elements. But flowers are usually not a part of this long list of things. Sure, everybody wants a plant in their home, but no one thinks about adding peonies to their backyard or having a stunning arrangement of roses on your kitchen counter. 

This exemplary design in Shropshire consists of a 1200 sqm new-build contemporary detached family home set within an inspirational twenty-acre rural site. The concept was to allow the landscaping to blend and interact with the building, blurring their boundaries and rooting the building into its site.

Japan as a gasshukujo, or a “dormitory” in Japanese. It is a renovation project by Naoshi Kondo, the owner, architect, and interior designer – but not the usual gasshukujo nor renovation project you would expect. It embodies the creative attitude of Kondo, who is active in multidisciplinary design fields and always combines a unique sense of humor and edge to his works.

This project was built adjacent to the Mountain Course in the Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, California, in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The design of the central living space has formed a theatrical proscenium, framing the desertscape scene of mountains, trees, and sky.

 “La Grange”, the new residence of the “Terrasses Cap-à-l’Aigle” development, is situated in the magnificent Charlevoix region. Its architecture highlights the rugged charm of the site while framing the breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River. Located atop a ridge and surrounded by the neighboring forest, this large house dominates the site with its two storey height.

There will be a never-ending list of things to do but what remains on top priority is ensuring the safety of the home. Some home improvement projects help you make a haven for your family. However, these home improvements should be carried out before you move into the new house.