Outdoor living

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about outdoor living

Project • By KORDAS Architects • Apartments

Residence in Heraklion

Designing a Private Residence for Family LivingThis contemporary residence interior in Heraklion, Crete explores the relationship between light, materiality and everyday living. Designed for a family of four, the house brings together spaces for gathering, interaction and retreat. Shared family life coexists with privacy, creating an environment that supports different rhythms and moments throughout the day. A Cohesive Architectural LanguageThe design does not seek visual spectacle or formal expression. Instead, it focuses on shaping an environment that unfolds through movement, light and material presence. A consistent architectural language connects every part of the residence and brings the individual spaces together into a unified whol... More

Project • By Whipple Russell Architects • Housing

La Jolla

Located in the coastal community of La Jolla, San Diego, this modern family home brings the comforts of luxury living outdoors, with terraces and gathering spaces on every floor. The home’s main living spaces are on the upper level, where an open-plan kitchen, dining room, bar, and living room invite everyday living and entertaining. Sliding glass walls open onto an expansive terrace, where a sofa arranged around a fire feature makes a comfortable outdoor lounge, and a dining table and built-in barbecue look out over the pool terrace below.  On this same floor, but separated by a glass bridge walkway and skylit lightwell, is the primary suite. Featuring a spa-style bathroom with sauna and steam shower, it opens onto an outdoor... More

Project • By NUTRO studio • Private Houses

CLIFF VILLA

Built into the base of a coastal cliff in Turkey, CLIFF VILLA is a 400 m² residence that treats architecture as a continuation of the landscape rather than an intrusion on it. Designed by NUTRO studio for a young couple seeking privacy and proximity to the sea, the three-bedroom home reveals itself gradually — first the rock, then the architecture emerging beneath its overhang. Caption Caption Caption Caption The façade balances two materials in dialogue: vertical pylons in natural Antolini stone and horizontal Corten steel roofing and canopies. The rust tone of the steel echoes the surrounding dry grasses and the cliffside, while the stone's veining visually ties the structure to the mountain itself.... More

Project • By Studio Eigen • Housing

Ville Thalia

In the landscape of the Euganean Hills, in Abano Terme, the Ville Thalia project reorganizes a plot through the composition of two distinct building bodies: a single-family residence and a two-family building. The intervention chooses a contemporary architectural language, based on the clarity of volumes and the control of proportions, distancing itself from traditional forms to assert its own geometric identity. The genesis of the project starts from an essential and linear floor plan. To prevent this simplicity from translating into visual staticity, the design of the first-floor elevations introduces a decisive three-dimensional variation. The main envelope, characterized by sand-colored plaster, is interrupted and rhythmed by the inser... More

Project • By Studio Eigen • Private Houses

Villa Victoria

In the province of Padua, the Villa Victoria project stands out for a precise stylistic choice that moves away from conventional white standards to explore the richness of dark and enveloping tones. The intervention works on the density of the space, where light serves to enhance the tactile and chromatic quality of the surfaces. The generating element of the internal composition is the chestnut oak floor. This continuous, brown surface acts as a noble base upon which the living area volumes are set, through contrast or assonance. The kitchen is resolved architecturally through columns in liquid bronze metal, whose luminous vibration serves as a backdrop for the central island: a stone monolith with warm veins, a material that reappears pu... More

Project • By JMAD • Private Houses

Wayzata Modern

Modern meets indoor outdoor living. Designed in a flat-roof style, the long overhangs are anchored by two stone chimney masses. This home has a long driveway that wraps around an existing pond, revealing the home as you progress down the drive. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD We designed a steel channel detail on the facia, creating a subtle industrial look and a unique roof edge detail that’s crisp and clean – and not interrupted by gutters or downspouts. Doors from the sunroom take you right out to the terrace and pool areas. JMAD JMAD JMAD More

Project • By JMAD • Apartments

Woodland Modern

While a two-story, our Woodland Modern home looks like a one story. Our use of planes to define spaces also gives the structure to the home. With its horizontal emphasis, we wanted it not to feel large and imposing. We popped out a portion to create a second level and created a roof level. Transom window balance the forms and create a connection to the outdoor living space. Metal and such are primarily used to create lots of contrast with this home. Located in Wayzata, MN. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD More

Project • By PJCArchitecture • Private Houses

Mantoloking, NJ Outdoor Refresh

Nestled along a canal in the borough of Mantoloking, New Jersey, this waterfront property harbored incredible entertaining potential, but its existing condition fell short. The homeowners desired a property where they could spend weekends and summers entertaining friends and family on the property, wishing for a dynamic, multifunctional outdoor space that would allow them to fully embrace coastal living. With ambitious plans for a full outdoor kitchen and living space, they entrusted PJCArchitecture, who had previously renovated their Brooklyn home, to transform this outdoor space. Bjorg Magnea The design team eagerly accepted the challenge, presenting a modern and thoughtful outdoor retreat that honors the property's waterfront allur... More

Project • By JMAD • Housing

White Harbor Retreat

The key thing about this home was the location and the site; it is on a really prominent lot on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota – the type of lot that you don’t come across for sale everyday, so we wanted to of course create a home design that takes advantage of those amazing views.  JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD We wanted to create something classic and timeless in style and form – and shingle style. So the home features an abundance of glass on the back side looking out on the lake with all the key primary living spaces, also the outdoor living is on the back of the house with a pool that you access from the lower level and a screen porch that allows you to live outdoors for a good part of the year. Really g... More

Project • By JMAD • Housing

Colorado Old World Charmer

Situated on a big plot of land, we designed this home strategically on the site to capture expansive mountain views out the front of the house.  JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD Every day, their views are oriented towards to the mountains. Architectural style-wise, we use traditional mountain Architecture elements like stone, but made it modern with lots of big glass and lots of fireplaces. Our clients want a family home, yet one for entertaining. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD We designed a casual Old World rambler, that flows from one gathering space to the next, connecting the interior to the exterior courtyards around the house. With its impressive stone exterior, we softened the inte... More
Rooftop outdoor living spaces, exterior spiral staircase, sunken patio, pool.
Grand entrance with curb appeal.
Luxury pool and patio.
Pergola front entrance.
Two story entry, balcony overlook at the front door.

Project • By JMAD • Private Houses

Del Camino

 Our Del Camino home in Arizona is a modern, multi-level home with a two-story-tall great room space surrounded by floor-to-ceiling window to make the entire home light, open and airy. This openness also creates a connection to the scenic backyard with the great room actually opening up to accommodate indoor / outdoor living. JMAD JMAD JMAD Another way we create indoor / outdoor living is with two levels of rooftop terraces – one accessed via an exterior spiral staircase. The upper level also includes an exercise room (or multifunctional space that could be an exercise room or an additional lounge space) that overlooks and is open to both the front and back of the house. JMAD JMAD JMAD The lower le... More

Project • By OakBridge Timber Framing • Housing

Hayes Pavilion

This stunning pavilion was the perfect solution to a previously disjointed outdoor living space. The owners had two existing large outdoor patios and an outdoor kitchen, which were exposed to the elements and felt disconnected. The goal was to have a covered space, connecting the two patio areas, while providing respite from the sun, which would make the spaces much more comfortable and usable. Now, the pavilion provides large seating areas for dining, relaxing, and entertaining.  The pavilion is charming enough to have a private dining experience and large enough to entertain 20 for a party. Kris Miller for OakBridge Timber Framing Kris Miller for OakBridge Timber Framing Kris Miller for OakBridge Timber Framing Kris... More

Project • By JMAD • Housing

Stone Pier

This modern design utilizes stone piers to suspend volumes of glass to create the interior spaces, and capture views from throughout the home to connect with the natural beauty of the surrounding wetlands. Inside, wood elements are used to give warmth and contrast to the stone to create a welcoming feel to the spaces. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD The cantilevered deck and pool provide a unique experience, with a large glass guillotine window wall on a pulley system, raising to connect the with the interior of the house. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD Green roof decks are incorporated into the flat roof design providing another usable exterior space,... More

Project • By JMAD • Housing

Hillside Modern

Modern forms create a striking visual against the rural landscape in our Hillside Modern. A key feature? It is built into the hillside, so from a front entry perspective, it is subdued or almost hidden.  JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD The back is revealed as a stately, two-level space with a walkout basement overlooking a scenic wetland area. This creates spaces for our clients to host parties and have guests over.  JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD We designed water features throughout for visual aesthetics – but audible comfort as well. So, if you’re working in your kitchen, you can open the window and hear the sound of water. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD The pool is elevated at main leve... More

Project • By JMAD • Housing

Modern European

Situated on a large, private lot with wooded areas and water views called for a home that would embrace the land. In our Modern European home, we wanted to capture the beautiful views of the setting. Architecturally, the sequence and the volume changes of the individual spaces make it more interesting as you approach the house and walk through it. The resulting Modern European home, with a nod to traditional English Tudor homes, does just that. Landmark Photography Landmark Photography Topo LLC It has the massing of an English Tudor, the steep roofs and that stately feel, but it’s stripped down from other details like timber framing and other ornamentation. Large black metal windows, some stretching almost floor to cei... More