Schoorl may sound like a misspelt educational institution but is in fact a picturesque village nestled amongst the largest sand dunes in the Netherlands.

You may be forgiven for thinking this is a preview of the villain's lair in the next James Bond movie, but this is in fact a family house which boasts remarkable environmental credentials as well as striking good looks.

Nestled in the forests on the outskirts of Mexico City is an extraordinary house that is thoroughly contemporary yet completely at one with nature.

Barn conversions rank high in many people's dream of country living and this remarkable conversion in Kent by architects Liddicoat & Goldhill reminds us why.

In a highly urbanised country like Japan it is a dream of many to be able to live in the countryside. 

Should one live by the sea or in the forest?

Japanese architects (and their clients) have a well earned reputation for producing adventurous designs for residential buildings.

This house in Lorne in Australia by Whiting Architects sure makes a bold statement.

Elena Chiavi, Ahmad El Mad and Matteo Goldoni have created a poetic floating pavilion in Valletta, Malta.

This delightful weekend retreat is located in a leafy village in the East Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.

In the Far East, bamboo has been used as a building material for millennia, much praised for its strength, versatility and sustainability.

Regular readers may think we are obsessed with industrial style lofts, but in fact we are also partial to small but perfectly formed abodes.