Retreat

Located on the traditional lands of the Eora people, tucked behind a traditional semi, Pool House is a hidden backyard gem in the Eastern Suburbs. A statement in simple function, its robust natural materials make it a focal point for leisure and relaxation.Buck & Simple designed a structure that harmonizes with its suburban surroundings while providing a highly functional and aesthetically appealing outdoor living space. Natural elements such as wood and stone enhance its contextual relevance, creating a soothing atmosphere. Prue Ruscoe Prue Ruscoe Prue Ruscoe Prue Ruscoe Defined by a minimalist yet durable material palette, the pool house serves as a retreat for entertaining, relaxing, and gathering. It balances pr... More

In Phan Ri Cua, we refer to the sea with an innocent sense of the waves crashing, the golden sunlight swaying on the sandy shore, and on each boat and basket after the fishing nets return to shore. The randomness we gather along the coast perhaps reflects the simple, somewhat rustic life of the fishing village people, characterized by disjointedness, tilting, coolness, pulsation, rust, undulation, and simplicity. The interaction with the local architectural features, with many disproportionate elements tinged with time, give us new experiences every time we pass by. Nam Vo Nam Vo Nam Vo Nam Vo Nam Vo Nam Vo Nam Vo This scene becomes more vivid than ever at Seaside Nook. The use of materials that have been... More

The new Guesthouse-Hermitage is located within the Monastic Complex of Siloe, which spans an area of 38,000 square meters across a network of hilly pathways. The four living units, designated as external guest accommodations for occasional visitors to the Siloe community, are seamlessly integrated into the natural terrain and have been constructed without altering the surrounding landscape, pioneering a new form of sustainable living. Aurelio Candido Each housing unit, entirely complementary to the monastery's structure, comprises a bedroom with a kitchenette, a bathroom, a balcony on the north side, and a loggia to the south. The design meets accessibility standards. The building features a wooden load-bearing structure and infill, i... More

The existing house (photos featured at the end) has a rich history: it was bombed during World War II and only the half-buried floor with the bedrooms survived. In the 1960s, the upper floor was rebuilt in wood.  Respect for the existing. A regenerative attitude.  Karen Van der Biest Karen Van der Biest The starting point of the design process was to maintain the unique character of this historical building, which boasted the original optimal orientation and clever layout, and preserve as much as possible. The majority of the wooden interior structure was retained, while the old wooden panels on the facade were replaced with insulation and sleek black-stained wooden planks.  Karen Van der Biest Karen Van d... More

After years of intimate involvement with their Buddhist community in upstate New York, our spiritually-minded clients decided to plant roots closer to their Glen Spey temple. Despite the travel-loving couple’s broad geographic search for a second home, they were eventually led back to Glen Spey, where they felt a pull to be near their place of spiritual practice. Brad Feinknopf The expansive site, on 115 wooded acres, was chosen for its proximity to the temple, a short stroll away on the adjacent lot. The siting of the home was driven by three distinct benchmarks: the temple, the sun, and a creek which runs through the middle of the property. Bringing the deeper purpose of the residence into focus, the home’s meditation sp... More

 An undeveloped 5 acre lot had been a gathering place for the client’s family since the 1970’s. This beautiful lakefront oasis, known affectionately as The Narrows, lies just a few miles outside of downtown Austin. The owners insisted on a simple, humble, yet unique cabin to host their family gatherings and quiet weekend retreats. ​ This small cabin, nicknamed ‘Cousin Cabana’, needed to host multiple programs in a small space while maintaining a sense of openness. Only 480 sf, the cabin features a combined kitchen-living-dining room adjacent to a wood deck.  We chose natural materials and methods that would be maintenance-free for years including an ipe wood rainscreen siding, custom floor-to-ceiling face-glazed steel windows and board-fo... More

Uluru is quite literally the heart of Australia – this magnificent rock formation represents the nation’s natural history and heritage and plays spiritual home to the world’s oldest living culture, the indigenous Australians.Fire is at the heart of many indigenous myths and it’s also essential for regeneration of the landscape. It therefore made sense for the element to be part of Longitude 131°, the luxury desert camp overlooking the World Heritage listed wilderness of Uluru-KataTjuta National Park.Originally built in 2003, the retreat joined the Baillie Lodges collection in 2013 and a series of enhancements quickly followed. Most recently in 2016, expansive balconies were added to each of the fifteen luxury tents. Designed by Max Pritchar... More

The Armitage Residence is located twelve miles south of Whistler. The site lies at a forest clearing at the edge of a seasonal marsh that expands, in the rainy season and contracts, in the hot dry summer. There is dramatic view of the Coast Mountains and the extinct volcanic peak of Black Tusk, to the east. The structure rests on a bedrock swale between several large boulders and is organized as two parallel rectangular forms shifted in plan to create a sheltered forest side entry and an open plan oriented east to the view. The materials are straightforward: concrete masonry block walls, polished concrete floors on the main level, engineered glulam structure with Douglas fir decking, baltic birch plywood ceiling, anodized aluminum window... More

Site Vamizi Island, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique. Subtropical climate. Coastal sanctuary. Brief Coastal retreat to sleep approximately 15 persons. Viewing tower, tree house & pool. Approximate area of 500sqm. Local materials. Design & Features Located off the high water line and out of sight in the dense coastal vegetation. Pavilion architecture with individual bedrooms positioned between the trees on site. Difficulties in procurement of hardwood from the mainland a concrete frame structure was favoured, this allowed for quick construction and wide spans for sea views. The concrete frame was scabbled to reveal a texture of local shells and stones that formed part of the aggregate. Hand carved timer screens and wov... More

YOOP brings together the old and new on the edge of the lake. More