It takes vision and a good dose of daring to conceive a minimalist contemporary extension to a grade II listed cottage. Luckily, the architects at Found Associates have abundance of both.

Designed by Paris-based Stera Architectures on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea in Sardinia is a remarkable house which feels very much at ease with its surrounding environment. 

Melbourne-based WOWOWA Architecture aims to "celebrate Australian culture, the kitsch and a love of daffy colloquialisms translated into architectural ambition". This mission statement is best illustrated by this wonderfully whimsical house in the suburbs of Melbourne.

Perched on the clifftops of Clifton, an exclusive suburb of Cape Town, the Pengilly house is an uber-luxurious home disguised as a Bond villain's lair.

Mention mid-century architecture and images of boxy low slung houses with flat roofs spring to mind. There are, surprisingly, many joyous and exuberant mid-century buildings waiting to be rediscovered. The Antler House in East Hampton is one such gem.

Designed by Gold Coast based Paul Uhlmann Architects, this country escape embraces rural life to the fullest, from its idyllic setting amongst woods and lawns to its iconic barn shape.

When asked by luxury resort operator &Beyond to redesign the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, hospitality design specialists Fox Brown Creative took their inspirations from the magnificent Namib desert surrounding the lodge and made sure it blends into the environment beautifully.

Many people would dream of a secret hideaway nestled amongst towering trees, where the bustle of city life is washed away. This idyllic vision is the reality for the fortunate owner of this treehouse in the outskirts of Mexico City, designed by the architects at Talleresque.

Four couples in Barcelona decided to share a house together. Nothing unusual perhaps, except this is no ordinary house-share. 

When the architects at First Light Studio were commissioned to design a new house in suburban Christchurch in New Zealand, the brief was refreshingly simple: anything but a box. 

From a distance, this building in the South Tyrolean village of Castelrotto, with its boxy shape and steep gable roof, looks just like any other barn in this picturesque region of Italy. Closer inspection, however, reveals intriguing differences.