Modern Norwegian Architecture - wood and steel house design in Korea

Designed by Finish architect Sami Rintala as part of the Home Design for Anyang Public Art Project, this modern wood and steel house design graces a treed hilltop in Seoul, Korea. With a large main volume of weathered steel, a concrete cellar below, and four smaller adjoining wooden volumes overhanging above, the house is certainly an amazing, contemporary example among its natural surroundings in a river valley. But this home’s connection to nature is clear. According to modern Norwegian architecture firm Rinalta Eggertsson Architects, “Each small space [within] includes a suggestion for use and the symbolic presence of one of the basic elements – fire, water, air, earth.” Large windows and skylights illuminate interiors is unexpected places, adding yet another layer of interest to the contemporary home.

Balsa Wood House - Dome Tea Houses on Display in London

A pair of unusual Balsa wood tea houses with a curious name, “I am so sorry. Goodbye.”, by Heather and Ivan Morison will whet your appetite for ultra-modern architecture, with a spot of tea on the side. Two geodesic domes take organic shape, clad in Balsa wood and topped with a futuristic, hemispherical skylight that softly and naturally illuminates interiors. Inside, a minimalist, contemporary style lends an atmosphere of rest and relaxation. This artful interpretation of the traditional tea house is on display at Radical Nature: Art and Architecture for a Changing Planet 1969–2009, from June 19 to October 18 at London’s

Simple Small House Design in Denmark offers plenty of space and light

Skybox sounds more like an amusement park ride than it does a residence, but this simple small house design by Danish architecture firm Primus is just as thrilling if you’re into contemporary and unusual homes. At 75m2, this modern wood clad house on the coast of Zealand in Denmark, crams all the good stuff into a deceivingly small footprint. “The main focus has been to add spatiality and experience of light,” according to the architect. The simple floor plan of this small house features two bedrooms, with special attention paid to the positioning of public and private spaces to accommodate the two generations of family living here. This rectangular-shaped house is clad in oak, and features floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors that blur the boundary between inside and out – another important objective in this simple design. “Skyboxes”, or skylights, are incorporated all through the home to add a sense of space, light and air to every room. But their purpose is also on for an eco sustainable home – apart from naturally illuminating interiors, the skylights naturally ventilate the house through the chimney effect.

Innovative Brazilian Architecture - concrete house with folded wood walls

What has been dubbed "House 53" is a number-one in our books! It's Brazilian Architecture at its best. This cool wood, concrete and glass house design in Sao Paulo, Brazil designed by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan has so many layers of architecture and interest, starting with its unusual shell. When closed, this organic wooden exterior creates a private, natural enclosure with a uniform, pure aesthetic. When opened, this enclosure appears as a folded feature wall in front of the home's posterior concrete and glass walls. In contrast to the early facade, the main walls are cool and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass walls that open indoor living spaces to the outdoors. The upper-most level of this three-floor home is set back from the edge, resulting in a unique triple-tier look.

Multi Level House Plan in France

Set in the suburbs of Bersee, France, this modern multi level house plan by TANK Architects is set on a narrow and sloping plot – not ideal conditions, but this is where the architect’s creativity kicks in, and the results are functional and aesthetically appealing. To accommodate the lay of the land, this slope house plan is designed in three semi levels. At street level, this unusual house plan is occupied by functional spaces – the foyer, a play room, cellar, a laundry room, garage and the geothermal energy source. Above it, the next level incorporates a kitchen, living rooms and dining room. Upstairs, bedrooms and bathrooms offer privacy. The only issue was that the clients had their hearts set on a single-level home. To make their wish list a reality, the architect designed a central suspended patio where all the levels come together, lending the home a sense of continuity throughout the house. The exterior of this wood clad house boasts a rustic house style that's welcoming.

Eco Wooden House brings sustainability and luxury to the forest

It may be nestled on “Mount Misery” in Sag Harbor, NY, but this rustic eco home is wooden bliss. Designed by the architects at Jendretzki Design and Planning Consultant, this wooden clad house renovation served to open the indoors to the outside environment. Outdoor living rooms expand the home’s square footage beyond its conventional walls. The surrounding gardens and forest become a part of the house by opening up the walls and incorporating parches and terraces that are connected by outdoor stairs, all made of reclaimed wood. These multiple elevations also create a visual and functional flow for this slope house plan. Apart from being largely built using recycled wood, there are also a number of other eco sustainable home technologies, like solar energy panels, rain water recycling, sustainable building materials, energy-efficient appliances and HVAC systems. Interiors are bathed in natural light and feature all the warm, wooden appeal that characterizes the home’s facade, complementing the calm, peaceful, natural surroundings.