The Green Lodge was conceived from an initial request by a long-standing construction client: 'Do whatever you want, but it has to be fast.'
The result of this project is a residence located at the edge of Putney Heath, situated in southwest London. Instead of dominating the land, the house integrates itself into it.
Considering that the lot was sensitive and had high restrictions, the architectural team at Stylus Architects decided to build the structure below ground level. This approach allowed for a discreet external appearance while revealing a spacious family home beneath the surface.
The Treinta y Nueve Árboles house project, designed by Grizzo Studio, is located in the Karilo forest on a richly vegetated plot. Here, sunlight filtering through the canopies of dozens of trees illuminates the ground covered with climbing plants. The main objective of the project was to preserve this natural state, so the house is designed to harmonize with its surroundings, not trying to dominate them, but to integrate and intertwine with the trees.
Thus, the building transforms into an atrium for contemplating nature, guiding visitors into the forest so they can experience its atmosphere. The residential complex offers two ways to explore the forest: panoramic, which passes through the thicket both from inside and outside, and ascending, achieved via glass walkways connecting different levels. These paths allow one to understand the structure of the forest by tracing it from the roots to the treetops.
Since this is a summer retreat house, the experience of staying in the project is realized through two routes. The first runs inside the building: starting from a semi-submerged vestibule, the middle levels lead to the entire program of the house, concluding at a terrace at the level of the tree canopy. The second route invites a walk around the perimeter, first crossing the inner courtyard and the semi-open area with a fireplace at the root level, and then reaching the garden, pool, and veranda of the house.
The choice of materials for the project was made so that they would not attract excessive attention, but rather coexist with nature, allowing vegetation and the passage of time to transform and colonize the structure.
The design team presented the description of this new main residence, complemented by an adjacent guest house. This project was conceived using high-performance strategies to integrate harmoniously into its coastal setting on the Kitsap Peninsula, located in the state of Washington.
The design of the project seeks a reinterpretation of Scandinavian farm structures, allowing for a visual and conceptual connection with the surrounding natural environment. At the same time, it provides a spacious and highly functional area, suitable for the needs of a large family.
A central aspect of the planning is the possibility of aging in place. Therefore, the house was developed giving maximum priority to the comfort of the residents, energy efficiency, and long-term family usability.
The Gentle House project, designed by the studio The Stylesmiths, presents an architectural solution that intentionally defies expectations. From the outside, the house in Brunswick appears as a strict and dark silhouette, where cladding of carbonized wood and precise geometry contrast with the rustic character and creative atmosphere of the neighborhood.
However, as soon as a visitor passes through the entrance door, the setting changes drastically. A warm wooden 'box' greets the guest, the air becomes softer, and the space gradually unfolds. Light, water, vegetation, and then brick, wood, and stone unfold in a sequence of interiors reminiscent of a ryokan in Kyoto.
Patricia Davila, lead interior designer at The Stylesmiths, explained that the main goal was to create a 'pearl with Japanese inspiration.' She clarified that this inspiration is not literal or filled with clichés, but rather reflects the principles of tranquility, proportionality, and material honesty. According to her, it is a house that does not strive to attract attention, but simply exists.
