A dynamic design articulated to respond directly to its specific location. Height, colour, voids and form combine to express the client’s individuality through the architecture.

A dynamic design articulated to respond directly to its specific location. Height, colour, voids and form combine to express the client’s individuality through the architecture.

Inspiration for a large traditional full sun front yard brick formal garden in Atlanta for summer.

As the space is multi functional between a dining table and an island, the space required seating that was dynamic. Responding to this, the designer went with these comfortable mid height cloth barstools. With dark painted legs and beige upholstery, the chairs bring the warm beige tones of the porcelain tile flooring up to the dining table, connecting and balancing the palettes of the room.

Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Bob Ganser AIA, Nate Dodge Photographer: Alyssa Lee www.alyssaleephotography.com
Trendy kitchen photo in Minneapolis

With tiers of hand-made, stereo diamond-shaped crystal blocks hang to the premium metal frame, the captures light wonderfully, casting warm luminosity through your space and delivering charming elegance that you are sure to adore. Due to the cascading design which is composed of hand-made stereo diamond-shaped crystal blocks, this large pendant light dances trippingly and adds a touch of dynamic and fun when responding to the gust of wind. To provide the customer the most natural and modern touch, it uses premium materials to keep a weather-worn look. Let the sparkle shine through the tiered crystal blocks to produce a warm, opulent glow over your dining table, kitchen island, and living room. The light bulb holder that can be twisted makes it more convenient for you to install the light bulb and adjust the direction of the light source.

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

An entirely new construction, the Brake House is a high-end modern custom residential home in Santa Cruz, CA designed by BARC Architecture. It is defined by the dynamic form of two opposing, bent metal roofs that interlock and open in strategic areas. This architectural form allows the custom coastal residence to respond directly to its site conditions by centering the home around a side yard courtyard. This arrangement seamlessly opens the interior to the natural expanse of the Rodeo Gulch watershed, while still providing essential privacy and shelter from coastal elements. The metal roofs bend—or 'brake'—into walls that terminate directly into the earth, giving the structure a deeply planted, anchored feeling. Meanwhile, the vaulted shed roof opens expansively to the south to flood the interior with natural light.

An entirely new construction, the Brake House is a high-end modern custom residential home in Santa Cruz, CA designed by BARC Architecture. It is defined by the dynamic form of two opposing, bent metal roofs that interlock and open in strategic areas. This architectural form allows the custom coastal residence to respond directly to its site conditions by centering the home around a side yard courtyard. This arrangement seamlessly opens the interior to the natural expanse of the Rodeo Gulch watershed, while still providing essential privacy and shelter from coastal elements. The metal roofs bend—or 'brake'—into walls that terminate directly into the earth, giving the structure a deeply planted, anchored feeling. Meanwhile, the vaulted shed roof opens expansively to the south to flood the interior with natural light.

This waterfront home was conceived by the architects as a series of identically scaled, simply articulated gable-roofed elements linked by flat-roofed connectors. From the entrance driveway, the house appears almost as a village of individual granite residences. These two elements – gables and flat roofs – complement each other, establishing a dynamic of light and dark, smooth and rough, grounded and floating. It was critical to the ultimate success of this building that it be well suited and connected to tits content so that it seems like it could not be anywhere else. The home was positioned to capture this view and, in a way, imbue it with power. We responded to this directive by incorporating large expanses of windows that allow one to literally look through the house from the front yard to the sailboats bobbing on the water at the rear. A short bridge passes over an exterior passage connecting front and rear.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

The rear elevation of this custom home by James McNeal Architecture & Design (JMAD) showcases a thoughtful balance of modern European architecture and natural site integration. A series of articulated gable forms with standing seam metal roofing create a dynamic roofline, while large windows maximize natural light and capture views of the surrounding landscape. The mix of stucco and wood siding adds warmth and texture, reinforcing the home’s connection to its wooded setting. Carefully designed outdoor spaces and landscaping further enhance livability, making this a strong example of how architecture can respond beautifully to its environment. Save this for exterior design and backyard inspiration.

This waterfront home was conceived by the architects as a series of identically scaled, simply articulated gable-roofed elements linked by flat-roofed connectors. From the entrance driveway, the house appears almost as a village of individual granite residences. These two elements – gables and flat roofs – complement each other, establishing a dynamic of light and dark, smooth and rough, grounded and floating. It was critical to the ultimate success of this building that it be well suited and connected to tits content so that it seems like it could not be anywhere else. The home was positioned to capture this view and, in a way, imbue it with power. We responded to this directive by incorporating large expanses of windows that allow one to literally look through the house from the front yard to the sailboats bobbing on the water at the rear.

This concept explores a contemporary mountain residence designed to respond directly to a sloping site while maximizing daylight, views, and connection to the landscape. The home is organized as a series of simple roof forms that step with the terrain, creating a dynamic composition that balances modern simplicity with regional architectural influences. The upper level appears lightly positioned above the hillside, with generous roof overhangs providing solar protection and emphasizing horizontal lines. Expansive glazing opens primary living spaces to surrounding views while creating a strong indoor-outdoor relationship. A restrained material palette of light-toned cladding, natural stone, and large-format glass reinforces the home's modern character while grounding it within the site. The lower level is partially embedded into the slope and expressed through substantial stone walls and piers that visually anchor the structure to the landscape. These masonry elements create a sense of permanence and provide a durable base that contrasts with the lighter forms above. The interplay between solid stone surfaces and transparent glazing introduces depth, rhythm, and visual interest across the façade. The result is a contemporary custom home that merges clean architectural lines with natural materials, creating a residence that feels both modern and timeless while responding thoughtfully to the challenges and opportunities of hillside living.