Contemporary Style House with a Rooftop Terrace in Mount Baker, Seattle

Boasting sweeping views of downtown Seattle from its 400-sq.-ft. rooftop terrace, Mount Baker House by pb Elemental Architecture embraces the outdoors in its warm, woody, nature-inspired contemporary design. The house strong vertical presence features a facade of windows wrapped in cedar, cement, concrete and marine plywood. Inside, the home’s 2,470-sq.-ft. of living space features four bedrooms, 2.5 baths and an open-concept living area conducive to entertaining or relaxing in luxury style. Spaces are simple, Zen-like, with the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows as their main focal point. The home's upper level features 12-ft. ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows that create large, light-filled spaces housing the kitchen, living room and dining room. The lower level features a separate apartment of 635 sq. ft., complete with its own wrap-around patio. pb Elemental Architecture.

Contemporary Prefab Cellophane House Exhibit at MoMA

It’s clear why the Cellophane House is garnering so much attention. Designed by the innovative architects at KieranTimberlake Associates and on display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art until October 20, 2008, this single-family, 1,800-sq.-ft., four-storey structure is much more than just a house. Based on the notion that a building is “nothing more than an assemblage of materials forming an enclosure,” according to KieranTimberlake Associates, the Cellophane House does not make any claims of permanence. Rather, this modern design is a temporary place to keep your stuff, to put it simply. Built from an unlimited palette of off-the-shelf materials, this customizable, prefab house is easily modified to any site conditions, any style preferences, and any budget. The idea is that these individual building blocks, once they’ve served their purpose, can be dismantled and repurposed. The Cellophane House features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living and dining area, a rooftop terrace and a car port.

Eco-Friendly Mountain Cabin on Wildcat Ridge in Aspen - extreme design

Perilously perched at an elevation of 9,200 ft. in Aspen, Colorado, this mountain cabin design is extreme in every respect, from its location to its views and its look, both inside and out. According to Voorsanger Architects PC, this contemporary cabin design responds to its natural surroundings in three ways – the unique folded roof; an expansive rock wall the divides east wing and west; and the seemingly infinite glass walls that provide for panoramic views without any interruptions, or distractions. With a length of 200 ft., this rustic-looking cabin stretches along Wildcat Ridge, with the mountain peaks rising just outside the windows. This home takes on a distinctly “mountain chalet” persona, only on a much grander scale that what one might expect. The warm woods and rugged rock of the surrounding environment make their way into the house. But the Earth does more than just influence this home’s look and feel, it also powers the house through 60 renewable geothermal wells that heat the driveway, pool and home, independently of other power sources. Voorsanger Architects PC.

Luxury Contemporary Home in Toronto, Canada, for sale

This magnificent contemporary home in Toronto, Canada, sits quietly in the upscale neighborhood known as the Bridlepath. This luxury and spacious design by home builder, architectural firm and design company TAS DesignBuild is a work of art in every aspect. The home’s 18,000 sq. ft. of open-concept living space is occupied by five bedrooms and 10 baths, so whether you enjoy entertaining large groups of guests, or would like to sleep in a different bedroom every weeknight, you’re covered. While the home’s street side is covered for privacy purposes, the home exterior is largely covered by windows for interiors bathed in natural light. Throughout this contemporary house, large panes of glass and thoughtfully placed skylights ensure every detail is illuminated. And with details like these, you’ll want to highlight every last one, from the rich wood and gleaming marble floors, to the simple lines inside that bring a modern, minimalist feel to this larger-then-life design. With every comfort at your fingertips – including a glass-enclosed indoor pool, a games room and outdoor tennis courts – it’s plain to see why here, home is where the heart is. This luxury house is currently listed at $10,800,000 via Prestige Living

Luxury "Cave" House by Architect Marcio Kogan

Layers of warm Brazilian hardwood, stone and concrete edge their way up Mirindiba House – one of the latest contemporary architectural artworks designed by Brazil’s Marcio Kogan. This luxury home low profile boasts covered and open living spaces, embracing the outdoors as an important component of the home’s plan. Large spans of glass form pillarless windows that open seamlessly into the outdoors. An elongated pool stretches along the deck and past the sauna, under the open sky, and flows into a “cave” that houses a cool, shady outdoor living room. Concealed in the far wall, sliding glass windows can be pulled across to close off this living space from the elements. This favorite living and lounging spot lures residents and guests deeper into the house, through a formal dining room and into the far reaches of the kitchen, tucked off the main corridor. Upstairs, the bedrooms and their accompanying ensuites, and the master bedroom with his and hers walk-in closets, complete the upper floor. The piece de resistance is found topping this luxurious yet hospitable home – the cinema room, encased in hardwood and boasting magnificent views of the city at your feet. Marcio Kogan
via Modern Residential Designs

Innovative Bamboo House in Taiwan by ROEWUarchitecture

Like a gilded cage for the nature lover, this modern bamboo house sits in a dense urban district of Eastern Taiwan, where neighboring houses employ metal cages on windows and doors to address the issue of security. Fresh and forward-thinking UK-based ROWEUarchitecture created an innovative, intricate, sculptural bamboo enclosure that brings beauty to function. Sunlight passes between the bamboo bars, casting shadows on interiors that move as the sun journeys across the sky. In the heat of the day – or night – the rooftop deck is a calm refuge that invites cool breezes and company. ROWEUarchitecture
via World Architecture News