NATURE / OFFICE

About 3M in diameter the Archipod serves as an alternative office space or outside playroom. Fitted complete with an ergonomic half moon desk and mini skylight the unit provides a welcome change from the regular blandness of home office spaces. More here. Image courtesy of Toxel.

31 BLAIR ROAD RESIDENCE / SINGAPORE

ONG & ONG put together this beautiful concept. The 31 Blair Road Residence brings together unprocessed materials, natural light, a sleek fluidity, and clean yet bold lines. Considering that this all had to be done under a conservation project from the original home what they accomplished is truly impeccable. More about the home here.

Images courtesy of ArchDaily.

MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE / ARM ARCHITECTS

ARM Architects completed the Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company. The project - apart from being absolutely mezmerizing - also served to revive the Southbank area which was known to be notoriously desolate. More here.

LOFTCUBE / NOMADIC LIVING

Self described by the designers as "mobile living units, which can be placed on flat roofs by helicopters or cranes" the Loftcube is truly unique in both conception and design. Priced in the low $100,000's it makes for an absolutely stunning living or work space. The idea behind mobile living units such as the LoftCube is to make use of available roof space in today's mega cities. More importantly it is part of a wave of modern nomadic living spaces geared towards today's itinerant workforce. Designed by Werner Aisslinger.

HOTEL FOUQUET BARRIER / PARIS

Architect Edouard Francois was in charge of remodeling the Hotel Fouquet, which is located in the heart of Paris. The project completed in 2006 - although some work is still being done. The successful fusion of old world architecture with modern design is probably one of the greatest challenges any resortation faces - Mr. Fanchanc however has proven once again that he is worthy of his reputation. Image courtesy of ArchDaily. More here.

THE HOUSE BEHIND THE WALL / SLOVENIA

Normally modern villas with great views are located on a hillside, but this wall-like house not only opens up to a great view, but also blends the living space with nature. The structure of the house restricts the view such that the boundaries keeps out the sight of the surrounding messy structures.

More images can be viewed here, thanks to ArchDaily.

CHAPULTEPEC SPACE

Origionally conceived in 2004 and completed in 2006 the Chapultepec Space in Baja is a shrine to modern minimalism. While the two images here show an interior view and the magnificent balcony the reality is that it is part of a large complex of townhomes. The view speaks for itself.
More here - images courtesy of ArchDaily.

KAMRAN HOUSE / IRAN

The Amordad design group combined traditional Iranian architecture, modern materials, and ancient know how to produce a beautiful environmentally friendly building.

"The concept of designing for the central void is derived from the form and application of traditional wind towers of desert regions of Iran. This void can lead the wind into the spaces in different floors around it. And because of applying the water in the bottom, it would also become cool and refreshed. In addition the void can also lead the natural light through the mirrors which are used in its body. These mirrors reflect the light to each other so that it can move down and get to the spaces even in the ground floor." - ArchDaily

MARCIO KOGAN / PANAMA HOUSE

Of all the homes we at r Lie have posted this is one of our favourites. There is minimal use of walls, closings, and doors making the entire structure seemingly fluid. Architect Marcio Kogan was a film director up until the age of 30. His talent to draw in an audience and guide the human eye is evident in Panama House. Find out more on the Brasilian architect and his firm here.

CONGA ROOM / L.A.

LA's premier latin nightclub, the Conga Room, recently got a facelift thanks to Belzberg Architects. More information and images can be found here.

BF HOUSE / BRASIL

Not for those afraid of heights. The BF House by Humberto Hermeto can be found in Nova Lima, Brasil. Built into the side of a hill the home provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. More here. Images courtesy of ArchDaily.

Carapicuiba House

Intricate design and natural symbiosis are the perfect way to describe the Carapicuiba House in Brasil. "The house is divided into two levels, both below the street level. Its spaces are integrated with the woods, valley, gardens, and pool located at the ground level."More Images here. Photographs courtesy of ArchDaily.

Leça House

Many of the homes featured in our architecture section are behemoths. This 200 sq/m home in Leça da Palmeira, Portugal is an example of how small can be done right. More interestingly this project was part of a refurbishment which makes the final outcome even more praise worthy. Find more images here courtesy of Ezzo and ArchDaily.

Hemeroscopium

The Hemeroscopium by Ensamble Studio. One of the most interesting homes we have seen as of yet. More here.

Sliding House by dRMM

Pharrell Williams Launches Artst.com

The idea behind Artst.com is to form a collective for the creative mind. From animation, to music, to architecture, ARTST gives a voice to the talent which would otherwise go unnoticed. Pharrell describes his idea on video.

Lace Apartments / Slovenia

It's nice to see more and more inspired complex designs that give North American style pre-fabricated homes a run for their money. Communal living doesn't have to be bland and boring, on the contrary, with more designs like this one by OFIS we can see the return to apartment living, albeit much more stylishly. More images and information can be found here.

Outeiro House - Portugal

The latest work by Ezzo can be found in Oporto, Portugal. The above image shows the before and after of the project. The beauty of this project was that although they brought new life to an old building, it was done in a simple and subtle way. Not only does that leave the personality of the neighbourhood in tact, but it allows for a preservation of times past. More images here.

Zira Island

Based on a carbon neutral utopia, Zira Island, on the coast of the Caspian sea seems to moved from concept to reality. Read more here.

Brione House - Switzerland

Set in the Swiss countryside this home resembles medieval ruins. Upon closer observation one notices the amazing craftsmanship that has gone into creating the exterior not to mention the perfectly set pool. The minimalist interior architecture is the cherry on top. Image courtesy of ArchDaily. More on the house here.