If we consider the fact that the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill designed it, there is no surprise that it suggests safety and power. After all, he is the one who lives in a grand loft converted from a cement factory. Completed in 1975, the residence was built on a rectangular platform, around the ruins of an old farmhouse, being surrounded by a landscape of hills and woods.

One of the most interesting aspects is the way the ruins were incorporated into the volumes of the house. There are several pavilions built around a central exterior space, the pool and the main dining room; the high walls that give that impression of comfort protect the corners of relaxation.

The five independent modules are dark brown on the exterior and red ceramic on the interior.  Once you see the residence that looks like a fortress, you also see a rich environment, a large and beautiful yard,  protected by the stone pillars that surround it. Not only the outside is impressive through beauty and strength, the inside is the best example of an open place with warm colors, where you can enjoy time with your friends and family. The rooms are so wide, that you have the impression of being in a palace and everything around is at your disposal, as in a dream.

JW/G Loft in the Flatiron District is a 3200 sf apartment for a young professional couple. The project was a gut renovation with the addition of an exterior terrace. The concept is based on the relationship between “public” and personal space. The loft has some very open and “extroverted” areas for entertaining and also some personal, intimate places for family life.

The space itself is wonderful; really modern and industrial with clean lines and a nice organic touch thanks to the exposed brick and ceiling beams and splendid wood floor. The color scheme is also warm and makes this grand space feel homey. The kitchen makes quite a statement and elevating it like that really puts all its awesomeness right on display. Even though, generally the space is open, the multi level floor plan gives the eye many interesting places to rest.

Located in a landmarked synagogue is this grand triplex apartment with unique spatial qualities. The building was converted into five residences in the 1980s. After purchasing the home, the lucky couple turned it into a modernistâ€s version of the green haven that it once was.

The new layout takes advantage of the impressive double-height space and the private penthouse terrace. A custom-designed stair provides fluidity and continuity of function and spatial quality.

Renovated and redesigned using some cool design elements and materials that have low impact on the planet, the new home sports a downstairs lounge, second-floor library and a third-floor bedroom.

The main bathroom was relocated to the third floor bedroom level, allowing the mezzanine to become a spacious library/ lounge. The exterior facade to the terrace was exchanged to a custom glass sliding system allowing space to flow smoothly from interior to exterior.

Serving as the exterior extension to the bedroom, the penthouse terrace was conceived as a weaving of horizontal surfaces while also keeping to the soft transition curves as mirrored in the bathroom fritted glass wall.

The level of transparency in the construction and the extensive use of glass to bring in the modern minimalist feel have meant that there is plenty of natural ventilation which does away with lighting needs for most parts of the day.

In a small terrain of 16m width by 20m long in the middle of a flat Belgian landscape, raises a 30m high water tower built between 1938 and 1941 for and by the village of Steenokkerzeel. It has been in service until the beginning of the nineties and was used by the Nazis during the 2nd world war as a “tour de guete”.

The exterior of the tower was fully renovated to its initial state. Damaged concrete columns were repaired and painted, brick joints were completely removed and replaced and the windows in the floor top were enlarged.

Moving vertically through the home involves shifting from entry and functional spaces to living and dining areas and terminating in bedroom, shower and private relaxation zones that culminate in an extra-wide, 360-degree zone for enjoying lofted views of the sky and surrounding landscapes.

The first story contains a main entrance and two-car garage, below a second-story equipment, storage and HVAC zone. The third and fourth levels house guest, meeting and work spaces – the fifth features a master bedroom, with a spiral staircase that leads up kitchen, living and dining room areas. Finally, on the very top floor, there is a wrap-around terrace cantilevered out beyond the main structure (in the water-storage core).

Bham Design Studio had to work with local preservation efforts, building codes and the needs of clients to maintain the integrity of the building while making it a useful dwelling. Somehow it still manages to look a good fit for the farmland-filled countryside around it.

Built to last, the original water tower was constructed nearly seven decades ago. The exterior was preserved as best it could be, with the limited introduction of well-scaled windows and respect for the existing concrete and brick on all sides. The interior, for better or worse, was made more modern in style – black and white dominate, but perhaps that works well after all since it provides such compelling contrast with the colorful window-framed environments outside.

Every visible concrete element inside was painted in dark grey in order to mark the old from the new. This choice works in both ways since it makes the contrast created makes both bright and dark stand out.

2 – Guest room & office

An envelope inside the envelope. The combination of vertical and horizontal wengé surfaces delineates the guestâ€s bedroom area with its own bathroom.

3 – Bathroom

A central 4.5 meter high shower was created in the bathroom in order to maximize the water flow experience. Black tainted glass walls surround the walk in shower increasing the sense of intimacy.

Textile as visual separation from the cupboards was introduced to create a balance with the other “hard” materials and enhance the roomâ€s acoustics.

4 – Bedroom

This circular room with a dome ceiling hosts a revolving stairs leading to the upper floor and a full monolithic mirror dressing witch reflects the surroundings and gradually disappears.

Wengé wood flooring contrasts with the cold nature of the mirror surfaces. Light reflection on the wood bounces providing warm reddish tones on the walls.

5 – Living room, kitchen and dining room

Impressive by its circular shape and large surface, the top floor affords some incredible vistas to the airplanes landing on the national airport just a quarter of a kilometer away.

The elevator block integrates a rest room, a library, the cat house and a cloak room. Above the sculptural kitchen furniture, a steel bridge takes you to the terrace.

6 – Panoramic terrace

The terrace provides a full panoramic view and is equipped with raised IPE wood flooring and a shower.

The open loft space splays out to fifty feet at the far end, while the roof‘s angular trajectory culminates in a 24 foot wall of glass through which southern light pours in to illuminate the space.  A row of original long leaf pine columns support the massive antiques beams of this former manufacturing loft, while a fifty foot long storage wall which follows the splayed exterior wall serves a modern interdiction providing privacy for the bedroom and bath, and serving the storage needs of the owner.

This beautiful house is designed by Chilean architects. Itâ€s located in Curacavi, Chile. This Manifesto House is suitable construction firm Infisky. Even though this building is not totally prefabricated, this building is built using premade materials to allow for quick, eco-effective, and sustainable construction.

The cost to build this house is just 79,000€. This unique house is made of two 40-ft. and two 20-ft. repurposed shipping containers. Thereâ€re recycled wooden pallets cladding the homeâ€s exterior. They make the house becomes beautiful and comfortable. They also provide the natural cooling via shade and ventilation.

This modern recycled house features spacious. The airy interior is separated from the outdoors by sliding floor-to-ceiling window. Thereâ€s also an outdoor entertaining area which is sheltered by a large awning. It offers an al fresco living space. This house has geothermal heat pumps in order to heat and cool the room.