Ultra Contemporary House on Australia Gold Coast

Australia’s Gold Coast is the perfect spot for this palatial house. Located at Paradise Point - an aptly named spot for this ultra contemporary house - the home is as much art as it is architecture, boasting a visual wonderland of shape and detail on its white facade. The 14-room house is thoughtfully planned to offer open-concept social spaces and private spaces. The spacious mail level mirrors the modern and geometric elements of the home’s exterior, with high ceilings, simple lines and lots of natural light to flood every corner. As for functionality, this home has it all in its four bedrooms, four bathrooms and six-car parking. Those looking for luxury will not be disappointed either – this fabulous house includes a pool, fireplace and barbecue area, a theater and a glass elevator to usher you to your sleeping quarters. This house is currently for sale with a $3.9-million price tag, which includes the artful furnishings and all the details that make it a true masterpiece.

The Grass is Greener at the Sustainable Whitten House in Oregon

They say the grass is Greener on the other side of the fence – for the neighbors of this sustainable house the same can be said for the house itself. Created by Pique Architects, Whitten House in central Oregon is a modern, sustainable beacon sitting on a rustic 10-acre site peppered with sage and juniper. Taking into consideration the home’s two functions – sleeping and living – the architect created two separate cubes to define these distinct areas. The grounded lower cube houses the sleeping quarters, warmly nestled into the earth. Balanced atop the lower cube, a living area overlooks the treetops and presents an endless view through the gallery-style windows and from the balcony just outside. The surrounding forest was more influential on this design beyond just the views. The house is constructed using fire-proof materials, and the rainwater harvesting system holds a reserve of water stored for landscaping or fighting wildfires. Accompanying beauty and durability on the list, the third magic element of this awesome design is its Green innovations. The smart plan was designed to eventually take this house off the power grid through passive solar utilization, in-floor radiant heat flooring, extensive glazing and passive home cooling technologies.

Sustainable Boomerang House Design comes to Costa Rica

At 1,000 sq. ft., the Boomerang House in Tilaran, Costa Rica, may be small, but it sure is sweet. Aside from its aesthetically appealing architecture and the wonderful, warm, yellow light radiating from its curved, glass entrance, this modern home’s most notable appeal is actually Green. The house is the sustainable creation of innovative designer Jean Paul Cazedessus of Be Green – Sustainable Housing in Costa Rica. This boomerang-shaped house design incorporates a copper standing seam with a grass-covered roof and walls, lending a look of rustic, raw modernism to the structure. The house is actually custom-created with a waste-not-want-not philosophy, “built to human scale, considering wants and needs of occupants"

Beachfront House of Modern Luxuries - a contemporary estate home for $37.5 million

When the surroundings are this spectacular, it would be a crime not to use nature’s inspiration to its fullest advantage. A complete remodel of this magnificent beachfront house along California’s coast has transformed it into a veritable dream home of peace and tranquility. This contemporary estate home just north of Los Angeles features 5,900 sq. ft. of living space, five bedrooms, 6.5 baths, and an excess of modern luxury at every turn. A bright red front door invites residents and guests into the home’s large and light-filled interiors, where a predominantly white palette becomes the perfect backdrop for a collection of fine art and furnishings. High ceilings and expansive windows enhance the home’s spacious appeal and invite views of sand and surf. The open-concept entry level features a private bedroom opening onto a courtyard, and Great Room leading to a raised living room that overlooks the water. A dining area opens onto an outdoor entertainment deck just outside. A secluded bedroom wind features two rooms, each with its own exit to the beach. Upstairs, a New York-inspired loft is enclosed in picture windows framing views of the upper deck, complete with a fireplace. Completed in 2008, this elegant home design at 3443 Padaro Lane is currently listed with Suzanne Perkins at a price of $37.5 million.

Ultra-contemporary Luxury Villa Set in the Slopes of Barvikha, Russia

The ultra-contemporary Capital Hill Residence by Zaha Hadid is a modern, private villa of concrete, steel and glass that uses its unique location to carry out this one-of-a-kind, futuristic design. Set on a steep slope in Barvikha, Russia, overlooking the hillside dotted with dachas and lush forest, the architect created a modern layout that would stand out among its surroundings, incorporating a ground-level living area that follows the landscape; and a second volume of space floating 72 ft. in the sky. Inside, the living quarters are divided into a foursome of functional spaces – a basement devoted to leisure and luxury that includes a den, fitness area, massage space and sauna; a ground floor housing the living and dining room, kitchen, indoor swimming pool and integrated parking; the first-floor lobby, library, guest room and bedrooms; and the master bedroom, a lounge and outdoor terrace located on the top level. The Capital Hill luxury villa is due for completion in 2010. Zaha Hadid

Unique Prefab Design Surprises with Understated Exterior, Ultra-Modern Interior

Carrying a quiet presence among its magnificent Australian countryside setting, the Glenburn House by architect Sean Godsell might even be called “simple,” “straightforward” or “uncomplicated” on passing, but don’t be taken. On entrance, this contemporary prefab design welcomes guests with a world of advanced luxuries and a mix of modernist and industrial style, both unexpected and unimagined from the understated exterior. A number of innovative technologies enhance home comforts while minimizing environmental impact, such as the surrounding hillside that actually shields the house from the sun; double-glazed windows to passively control interior climate; a solar-panel-powered water heating system; and a rainwater recycling system. These components are wrapped in a flexible “skin” that offers insulation without obstructing the view.

Architectural Firm High Modern Homes Delivers Just That

With the belief that “the way we live now should reflect the new century,” the contemporary architecture by High Modern Homes takes our impressions of the futuristic home – complete with the high-polished gallery-style spaces, the gleam of ultra-sleek stainless steel, and a minimal style that speaks volumes – and evolves them into a totally feasible home design. In keeping with modern technology, High Modern Homes is the first to offer its trendy home designs and plans on the web. The firm’s new Foundation Series homes redefine the term, “the comforts of home” by including luxurious features such as bistro-style kitchens, multi-story atrium Great Rooms, multi-car garages, and plenty of functional space for work and storage. Whether you choose the 2,000-sq.-ft., three-bedroom MH2000 model, or the sprawling 5,000-sq.-ft., four-bedroom MH5000 model, no home is complete without a spacious master bedroom, a home office, and exercise room, and an outdoors that includes Zen-inspired water features and optional swimming pools.

Luxury Hidden Hillside Home in Carmel Valley, California with a grass-topped roof

Sitting comfortably on a grassy slope in Carmel Valley, California, House Ocho by Feldman Architects is surrounded by mature oak trees and spectacular views in every direction. The priority for the homeowners was a design that enhanced the surroundings – not something to outdo them – which was the driving force for architect Jonathan Feldman. This modern house seems to get swallowed up into the hillside, with its low-profile, single-level layout, the grass-topped roofs and plenty of natural building materials like wood and stone. The home itself is a warm, light-filled space boasting large windows to take in the commanding views. The house is divided into separate living and sleeping quarters, which are separated by a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace. Feldman Architecture.

Prefab Styrofoam Dome House - Futuristic Japanese design

"The newest building block in contemporary homes is Styrofoam, 'the fourth-generation building material' after wood, iron, and concrete," according to prefab home maker International Dome House Inc. This company, based in Japan, has developed a modern house design that's accompanied by a long list of benefits. International Dome House Inc. claims that the expanded polystyrene material includes active oxygen that leads to the prevention of aging and better health of the home and its residents. The seven-inch-think expanded polystyrene walls also boast ultra-thermal insulating properties that reduce unwanted heat loss/gain and energy consumption. This Japanese Dome House also offers versatility by way of its modular design. The basic dome measures 25 ft. wide by 13 ft. high, with a 475-sq.-ft. floor space. From there, larger and longer domes are built through the addition of more modules. Add to this the structure’s durability, weather resistance, earthquake resilience and easy assembly, and you’ve got a winning design. House kits start at less than $30,000. International Dome House Inc.

Luxury Modern Home in Denver, Colorado

Set in Montclair – one of Denver, Colorado’s most charming neighborhoods – this magnificent home offers the most in modern luxuries, from the ground up. The home facade features a striking combination of hardy paneling, steel, stone, glass and concrete that result in a house that’s equal in qualities of aesthetics, organics and livability – everything a home should be. The three-bedroom, four-bathroom design spans over 4,661 sq. ft., set on a sprawling 8,820-sq.-ft. lot. Three courtyards, two outdoor fire pits and a spectacular 1,000-sq.-ft. rooftop terrace invite outdoor living. Inside, the details are everything. Soaring ceilings and solid teak floors seem to hold up the barely-there glass walls. Throughout the house, exposed steel beams, balconies and a grand stone fireplace add architectural interest and bestow greatness to the open-concept layout. This luxury home is currently for sale at a price of $1,259,000 at Mile Hi Modern.

One-Of-A-Kind Spanish Style House Combines Form, Fashion, Function

Only in La-la Land could you find something so whimsical, so modern, so artistic that it blurs the line between house and art. Originally a 1917 Spanish style duplex, this one-of-a-kind, sculptural structure was drafted by artist and designer Fritz Haeg. The Bernardi Residence which calls Los Angeles, California “home” boasts artfully feminine curves and overhanging walls that shade the expansive windows from the heat of the sun. The exterior is accented with warm woods set into a cool envelope of bright white stucco sprinkled with mica dust that gives it that special sparkle when viewed at just the right angle. Inside, each room has its own color, and almost all furniture is built in, like bench-style seating, tables and shelving units that stretch across the brightly colored walls. Outside, the curiosities continue on the enclosed terrace filled with edible plants – grape vines, citrus trees and rosemary shrubs.

Modern, Sustainable House Goes for the Platinum - Marigardo House by Plumbob in Northern California

Like a phoenix, this magnificent sustainable house rose from the ashes of an area in Northern California previously ravaged by wildfire. Spanning 4,635 sq. ft. across two levels, the Marigardo House in Oakland boasts a unique facade finished with intricate design details hidden among the pair of overhanging roofs, warm wood paneling and a solid concrete base that holds it all together. In contrast, this home’s sleek, modern interiors are bright, white and stretch to no end through the sliding gallery-style windows. What truly makes this beautiful house shine is its energy efficiency. This environmentally conscious design by the architects at Plumbob LLC is now in the running to receive the highest rating from the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System – the Marigardo House could soon be known as Northern California’s first LEED-H Platinum custom home. Solar collectors ensure that this home operates its five bedrooms, five bathrooms and in-law suite off the power grid. This eco-friendly house design also incorporates a green roof, a rainwater collection system, a passive geothermal system as well as passive solar heat gained through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and rooftop solar panels. Plumbob LLC.

California Contemporary Residence with an Old Vintage Feel

The Choy contemporary residence in Noe Valley, San Francisco, may be a renovation of a 1960s house, but it’s managed to retain a certain vintage feel amid the modernity. By removing many of the residence interior walls, and even replacing some exterior walls with windows, flooding every floor of this contemporary multi-tiered home with warm sunlight. Slim strips of ipe wood envelop this house, creating an enticing interior visible from the outside. But the innovative minds at Terry & Terry Architecture have also brought an eco-friendly purpose to this thoughtfully selected material. “The ipe wood skin is devised as a double wall system, in which horizontal ipe strips are placed over vertical, furring strips," according to Terry & Terry Architecture. "This allows ventilation between the skin and the underlying wall, thus avoiding heat build up in the wall and interior spaces.” Terry & Terry Architecture
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Ultra-Modern Home Design in Tokyo - Futuristic Origami-Inspired House

Combining Japan’s art and architecture, this ultra-modern, origami-inspired house by architect Yasuhiro Yamashita of Atelier Takuto captures the essence of shape without any distractions from form. The ultra-contemporary and angled outline is devoid of details, apart from a few strategically placed windows that bring natural light to the interiors. An integrated car port sits tucked beneath this innovative design, which appears to balance on a single point at its base. Nestled on a small plot of land in Tokyo’s dense urban core, this forward-thinking design is the architect’s fashionable solution to the space problem plaguing crowded city centers. Atelier Takuto

Contemporary Ranch Style Home in Portugal Embraces Outdoor Living

This contemporary ranch style home, the Silva Ferreira House, set in Portugal’s picturesque countryside sits on a sunny slope that puts this home in the limelight. But it’s the home’s modern, minimalist architecture style that really sets it apart. Designed by Arquiprojecta, this simple ranch takes an orthogonal shape, enclosed by large panes of glass that invite nature in. Outdoor living areas play a key role in life at this home. By blurring the boundary between indoors and out, these private spaces create peaceful places to take a moment; where time stands still, caught in the reflection of the tranquil pool. Interiors are open-concept by design, finished with rich woods with exposed beams. An open stairway reveals a loft area overlooking the main floor. Arquiprojecta

Wieler Modular Home – The Original Dwell Home by Resolution 4 Architecture

Setting the precedent for Wieler's forthcoming wave of fabulous prefabs, the modern and modular Wieler House #1, otherwise known as the Original Dwell Home, became an educational undertaking on the future of home building. Located in Pittsboro in Chatham County, North Carolina, this factory-made design by Resolution 4 Architecture takes the modular home to happy heights, from its origins on the production line to its destination among thousands of acres of federally preserved Jordan Lake land. A distinctive design boasts elements that give the home’s natural influences a strong, industrial edge. A facade of cedar siding and concrete abuts a recycled-wood deck spanning over 1,000 sq. ft. The 2,340-sq.-ft. interior is large and light-filled, with expansive windows that become the focal point of every room, framing spectacular views of rolling hills. This contemporary, comfortable home’s innovative design does double duty for an underlying environmental cause, with Green features like renewable bamboo flooring and a thoughtful positioning that takes advantage of passive solar power. Wieler


Photo from the north (credit: Jerry Markatos)