We were approached by a retired couple to design a home for them in a residential community outside of Asheville NC. Their lot was split in two by a shared driveway providing access to another lot. The land was heavily wooded and was sloping to the North facing the view down Swannanoa valley.
Project name
Mountain Mint
Architecture firm
Rusafova Markulis Architects
Location
Swannanoa, North Carolina, United States Of America
Photography
Lissa Gotwals, Ryan Theede
Principal architect
Maria Rusafova, Jakub Markulis
Design team
Maria Rusafova, Jakub Markulis
Interior design
Rusafova Markulis / Owner Selections
Structural engineer
Giles Flythe Engineers
Lighting
Owner Selections
Supervision
Greenlight Home Builders, Rusafova Markulis
Visualization
Rusafova Markulis Architects
Construction
Wood Frame, Cast-in-place Concrete Foundations
Material
Concrete, Wood, Cementitious Siding, Membrane Roofing
Client
David & Judith Biery
Typology
Residential › Single Family Home
Tucked within the forested landscape of Hornby Island, British Columbia, the Sandpiper Cabin offers a modern retreat that reflects the island’s quiet rhythm and natural beauty. Completed in 2025, the 2,100-square-foot residence unfolds across two separate buildings connected by a common formal entry.
Architecture firm
Scott Posno Design Inc.
Location
Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Photography
Sama Jim Canzian
Principal architect
Scott Posno
Interior design
Scott Posno Design Inc.
Landscape
Scott Posno Design Inc.
Typology
Residential › Cabin
Floating above a meadow, Whidbey Uparati minimizes visual and physical impact on the natural landscape by blending into the site rather than asserting itself upon it. Upon approach, the meadow vegetation surrounds a winding path up a steady slope to the house. The house is a family retreat for meditation, bonding, and uparati – “stillness” in sansk...
Project name
Whidbey Uparati
Architecture firm
Wittman Estes
Location
Whidbey Island, Washington, USA
Principal architect
Matt Wittman, Jody Estes
Design team
Matt Wittman, Jody Estes, Nikki Sugihara
Interior design
Wittman Estes
Structural engineer
J Welch Engineer
Construction
JADE Craftsman Builders LLC
Typology
Residential › House
The Banánka family house responds to its natural surroundings through a raw and honest use of natural materials, a restrained horizontal form, and the clarity of minimalist design. Living here is defined by a seamless connection between the interior and the outdoors, primarily achieved through large glazed walls that stretch along significant porti...
Architecture firm
Paulíny Hovorka Architects
Principal architect
Braňo Hovorka, Martin Paulíny
Design team
Veronika Ivanovičová, Lenka Kopfová, Radovan Krajňak, Natália Galko Michalová
Collaborators
Structural engineer: Pavol Hubinský. Landscape architect: Martin Sučič. Monolithic structure contractor: Texo Group. Window and glazed walls supplier: KOYA windows. Bespoke furniture supplier: DL INTERIER. Bathroom and kitchen supplier: Design Club. Built-in grill supplier: Gargo. Furniture and lighting supplier: Triform Factory.
Built area
Built-up area 416 m² Gross floor area 300 m² Usable floor area 244 m²
Structural engineer
Pavol Hubinský
Material
Exposed concrete – load-bearing walls, exterior columns, and ceilings with an imprint of board-formed wooden shuttering. Galvanized steel – interior load-bearing columns, gabion baskets. Phenolic foam – wall thermal insulation. PIR boards – roof thermal insulation. Oak – engineered multilayer flooring. Thermally modified pine (thermo-pine) – terrace decking, slatted wall cladding for both interior and exterior, door paneling. Stone – gabion infill used as cladding for interior and exterior walls, fence infill. Microcement plaster – wall finishes, door surfaces. Aluminum – window and door frames, concealed door frames, exterior blinds.
Typology
Residential › House
The Alden Mason House, crafted for the renowned Seattle artist Alden Mason in 1958 by architect Charles A. Marsh Jr. and builder Tom Paulsen, stands as a true Northwest Mid-Century Modern retreat, nestled in the woods like a treehouse.
Project name
Alden Mason House
Architecture firm
Ueda Design Studio
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Principal architect
Nahoko Ueda
Collaborators
Kitchen Cabinetry: Space Theory; Dining table: Chadhaus; Wall sculpture: Alden Mason; Painting (in living room): Simeon Nikolov; Art print (red, @ stair well): Robert Rauschenberg; Painting (in dining area): Do Ho Suh
Interior design
Nahoko Ueda
Construction
Mercer Builders
Material
Concrete, Wood, Glass, Steel
Typology
Residential › House
Defined by flexibility, Puzzle Prefab took on the challenge to build dwellings that minimize environmental impact, while fostering health and connection to nature for the inhabitants. A quarter of the size of the typical 2,000-square-foot American home, the prototype includes 600 square feet of living space attached to 557 square feet.
Project name
Whidbey Puzzle Prefab
Architecture firm
Wittman Estes
Location
Whidbey Island, Washington, USA
Photography
Andrew Pogue, Dan Sutherland (construction) Wittman
Design team
Matt Wittman AIA, LEED AP. Jody Estes, Don Bunnell, Naomi Javanifard, Tristan Walker, Jen Sutherland
Collaborators
Net Zero Energy Consultant: Erin Moore, FLOAT; Mechanical Engineer: Solarc Energy Group
Interior design
Wittman Estes
Structural engineer
Josh Welch Engineering
Construction
Sparrow Woodworks
Typology
Residential › House
Nestled in the historic village of Nikolina Gora, just outside Moscow, this 230 m² house is surrounded by towering trees and fragrant lilac bushes, seamlessly blending into the creative heritage of its storied surroundings — once home to writers, architects, and artists. Originally built in the late 1990s with materials available at the time.
Project name
A family country house rooted in art and tradition
Location
Nikolina Gora, Moscow Region, Russia
Photography
Mikhail Stepanov
Collaborators
Margarita Castillo
Interior design
Irina Tatarnikova, IT-DECOR Studio
Typology
Residential › House
Nestled in picturesque Sun Valley, this residence is a testament to the seamless integration of rustic charm and contemporary elegance. Adorned with authentic hand-hewn heavy timber and stone with big grout joints reminiscent of old-world craftsmanship, the home imparts a warm and lived-in feel appropriate for a full time family residence.
Project name
Pioneer Ranch
Architecture firm
Farmer Payne Architects
Location
Sun Valley, Idaho, USA
Principal architect
Scott Payne
Collaborators
Sawtooth Construction
Interior design
Suede Studio
Structural engineer
Frost Structural Engineers
Landscape
Ben Young Landscape Architects
Visualization
Farmer Payne Architects
Material
Stone, Wood, Steel
Typology
Residential › House
