Designed to offer its owners a quiet spot for peaceful contempla…
Designed to offer its owners a quiet spot for peaceful contemplation, this om-inspiring structure uses simple forms and materials to magnificent effect. The steel-framed glass box is anchored by a U-shaped concrete base, over which the structure cantilevers out into a grove of California oaks.
Architect: Swatt|Miers Architect, Emeryville, Calif.
Builder: Neto Builders, Los Gatos, Calif. This building was also selected as
project of the year for the 2010 residential architect design awards.
McConnell Photography
Built for a pair of art dealers, this 620-foot structure pulls t…
Built for a pair of art dealers, this 620-foot structure pulls triple duty as a guest room, pool house, and art gallery. Two stucco perimeter walls provide hanging space for art, while the other two walls offer access to the pool and yard through full-height sliding glass doors. When needed, a Murphy Bed folds out to accommodate visitors.
Architect: Steinbomer & Associates Architects, Austin, Texas
Builder: MG Construction Works, Austin, Texas
Richard Laughlin
While storage facilities are typically drab, this one is anythin…
While storage facilities are typically drab, this one is anything but. Built to house the owner’s collection of rare hand-illustrated avian books, the structure brought that theme to life with a bird cage facade. Formed of galvanized wire panels, steel tubing, and concrete block, the cages are maintenance-free, yet eminently memorable.
Architect: Jon Pantratz Architect, Fredericksburg, Texas
Builder: Laughlin Homes and Restoration, Fredericksburg, Texas
Neil Landino
Built to accompany a backyard swimming pool, this pavilion offer…
Built to accompany a backyard swimming pool, this pavilion offers elegance, simplicity, and balance. A contemporary take on an Indian pavilion, the structure’s half-open configuration creates two distinct spaces without interrupting the exterior aesthetic.
Architect: Saniee Architects, Greenwich, Conn.
Builder: H&Y Construction, Brookfield, Conn. This pavilion won a
Merit Award in the 2011 CUSTOM HOME Design Awards.
Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
When zoning restrictions nixed any expansion or removal of an ex…
When zoning restrictions nixed any expansion or removal of an existing boathouse, this structure got a facelift instead. Built with a traditional English cottage flavor but the clean style of more contemporary architecture, the structure fits in beautifully with its lakeside surroundings without looking out of date.
Architect: Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Minneapolis
Builder: Artisan Builders, Minneapolis
New homes offer a lot. With their customizable options and made-to-order floor plans, they can give customers what they want in a way that existing homes can never compete with. But even with all the upgrades in the world, sometimes even a new home can’t do it all. That’s when you call in the outbuilding. Whether outfitted as a place for guests, a space for specialized uses, or just a serene spot away from the hustle and bustle of the main home, outbuildings are endlessly adaptable. And given their smaller scale, they offer a perfect opportunity to mix in some quirkier elements that might be too bold for a larger house. Best of all, they give builders a chance to offer buyers something that’s hard to refuse: exactly what they’ve always wanted—whatever that is.
