GRAPHĒ

The Venice Architecture Biennale’s 2027 Theme Is a Reality Check

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:56:40 -0700

The cocurators of next year’s exhibition—with the blunt, but open-ended title "Do Architecture"—are squarely focused on the crises that architects face today, from craftsmanship to climate change.

Like global design fairs, architecture’s biennials and triennials are, fundamentally, opportunities to showcase the most pressing ideas in the field; curators provide an expert glimpse into the professional and academic practices that envision what the future might hold. The Venice Biennale—the most prestigious of such fairs—has provided the world with many prospects: In 2023, curator Leslie Lokko’s The Laboratory of the Future invited architects, academics, and artists to imagine a decolonized and decarbonized African continent; in 2021, curator Hashim Sarkis’s How We Live Together exhibition explored how we might cohabitate generously during times of political and social divisions. These underlying themes ask participants to think through how the built environment can shape or play a role in shaping future possibilities. In some ways, many of the most recent editions have been intrinsically optimistic.

The forthcoming edition, which opens in the spring of 2027, will instead ask participants to instead address the here-and-now. Hangzhou-based architects Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, cofounders of the firm Amateur Architecture Studio, were selected in 2025 to curate. Their work, which bridges contemporary buildings with material reuse and historic knowledge, announced their biennale theme this week: Do Architecture - For the Possibility of Coexistence Facing a Real Reality. To be honest, I laughed when I first read the ArchDaily headline; the curators of the world’s most prestigious biennale are asking architects to do the thing that they are trained to do. The duo seems to be tapping into whatever hope and optimism that could exist within that invitation—to simply do—in the context of our warming planet, degrading infrastructure, and artificial intelligence sucking up our natural resources and cognitive capabilities. These curators are turning away from the speculative, asking instead how architects might take action.

The National Archives of Publications and Culture in Hangzhou (left) and Museum of Ancient Animals in Baoding (right) are among Amateur Architecture Studio’s best known buildings.

Left photo: Ji Yun, right photo: Laksana Studio

The invitation to do feels strangely spot-on, and comes with a critique of the common role of speculative design during our current range of daily catastrophes. Reality, as a term, plays an important role: They call it "real reality" outright, making a distinction between the imagined conditions in which many architectural concepts would be welcome (and likely funded)—these might look like sci-fi-esque futures where the problems of humanity like war, famine, and disease, have been eradicated; or, wherein funding for extravagant design propositions is plentiful. Unfortunately for us, none of that is real, and architects instead are often working upstream of the existing political, financial, and climate-related constraints. There’s always a space for imagination, but according to the curators, focusing solely on these fantastical states (and designing solely for them) has larger implications.

"Conceptual experiments driven to extremes are often divorced from reality and overcommercialization tends to be merely popular and short-lived," the curators wrote in their statement. "It will lead to the death of architecture."

The Hungarian Pavilion at the Giardini (left) and the Catalonia Pavilion, titled Catalonia in Venice 2025, are two exhibitions from 2025’s messy biennale.

Left photo: Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images, right photo: Simone Padovani/Getty Images

One can’t help but feel that this thematic choice is a direct rebuke of the Venice Biennale’s most recent 2025 edition. Under the curatorial leadership of Carlo Ratti, a professor at MIT, architecture’s future was shown through his selected theme of Intelligens—artificial, natural, and collective—that hoped to show "how we can adapt to the world of tomorrow with confidence and optimism," per the curatorial statement. The resulting exhibition was described as "daunting and dense": 300 unique installations explored the theme through myriad technological whizzgigs. Visitors encountered robotics in architectural craft, humanoids, algae, espresso brewed with purified canal water, blobs, drones, and much more. It was called a noisy, "tech bro fever dream" by ArtReview; the Guardian characterized the show as unfocused, "like trying to complete the internet." The edition boiled our current affairs down to problems that can be solved with an array of technocratic one-liners. "Don’t fear the climate crisis," the Guardian continues, sardonically, "a harmonious union of technology and nature will save us."

Instead, 2027 cocurators Shu and Wenyu are asking architects to acknowledge the role that their profession plays in such ecological collapse. Speaking at the thematic announcement in Venice this week, they said that "architecture must recognize the depth of the crisis in which it finds itself,’" Designboom reports. But it’s not just the climate crisis that the curatorial vision will touch upon; the thematic announcement also includes issues related to land, material, and craft—the essential elements that speak to a building’s relationship with its specific place and time. It’s unsurprising, considering Amateur Architecture Studio’s portfolio, which has frequently combined recycled building materials and adaptive reuse strategies that speak to traditional building practices, particularly in China where rapid urbanization and demolition has resulted in the large-scale vernacular loss.

At left, the Canal Café project by Diller Scofidio + Renfro turned Venice lagoon water into coffee during the 2025 biennale. The Takashi Ikegami and Luc Steels work Am I a Strange Loop? was exhibited in the Corderie Pavilion.

Photos: Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Venice Architecture Biennale’s 2027 Theme Is a Reality Check
Related stories:

Raw Concrete Meets Refined Details in This $535K Melbourne Loft

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:56:39 -0700

Set above a bakery, the flat has oak flooring, crisp white cabinetry, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Location: 102/1 Wilson Avenue, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia

Price: $750,000 - $800,000 (approximately $535,203 - $570,884 USD)

Year Built: 2022

Developers: Neometro and Milieu

Architect: Fieldwork

Footprint: 969 square feet (1 bedroom, 1 bath)

From the Agent: "Expansive, single-level space framed by a 3.6-meter concrete ceiling and extensive double-glazing creates a bold, warehouse-inspired setting for refined contemporary living in this impressive, approximately 90-square-meter apartment. A substantial interior overlooking peaceful landscaped gardens features a vast stretch of living, dining, and work-from-home space to configure as desired, backed by wide, stack-sliding doors and large-scale glazing. This apartment stands apart in its class through sheer proportion, versatility and quality of finish. Coupled with a secure covered car space and a storage cage on title, the best of Brunswick is at the doorstep—Sydney Road’s cafes and restaurants, Barkly Square shopping, the train station and trams—along with Royal and Princes Parks, major hospitals, and the University of Melbourne."

Courtesy of Neometro

Track lighting illuminates the living area.

Courtesy of Neometro

See the full story on Dwell.com: Raw Concrete Meets Refined Details in This $535K Melbourne Loft
Related stories:

Welcome to the Social Sauna Era—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:56:38 -0700

California considers banning quartz countertops after workers develop lung disease, the House passes a bill to stop major investors from purchasing single-family homes, and more.

Saunas like Othership are becoming North America’s newest social hotspots, turning spa sweat sessions into DJ sets, comedy nights, singles socials, and theatrical wellness performances as guests trade bars and clubs for communal bathing. (Condé Nast Traveler)
California is considering banning high-silica quartz countertops after hundreds of workers developed silicosis, an irreversible lung disease. Safety experts warn thousands more fabricators across the U.S. may already have undiagnosed silicosis from cutting slabs of the popular material. (NPR)
This week, the House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing bill that would stop large investors from buying more single-family homes while still allowing them to build new rental housing. But, the bill’s future remains uncertain, as it’s not clear whether it will pass in the Senate or be signed off by Trump. (CNBC)
Artist Maya Lin is bringing Manhattan’s "bedrock to the surface" with a massive, living stone sculpture at the new JPMorgan Chase Tower. The piece—titled A Parallel Nature—is a large, intricate wall of granite, with native plants and trickling water, inspired by Central Park’s rocky terrain and Lin’s lifelong connection to nature. (The New York Times)

Vintage curators Rarify debuted lighting at Afternoon Light during New York design week.

Photo by Valeria Suasnavas

Dwell’s Sarah Buder and Valeria Suasnavas found that at NYCxDesign’s Afternoon Light Design Fair, "indie-minded" tactile objects stole the show, from glass-like dimmer knobs and brutalist flatware to witchy hand-carved furniture. (Dwell)

Top photo by Ian Patterson

One Night in a Historic Department Store Turned Luxury Hotel—With a Toddler

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:56:37 -0700

I had always thought the best stays were wasted on the young. Could a fancy hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon, convince me otherwise?

Welcome to One Night In, a series about staying in the most unparalleled places available to rest your head.

In recent years, I’ve developed a bit of a philosophy about traveling. Airbnbs are for groups and/or longer trips where you’d benefit from a kitchen, or traveling to a place where the hotels are for whatever reason exorbitantly expensive. Hotels are for everything else. This approach has served me well in planning trips—that is, until I had a child, an experience that, you might have heard, means that most everything you know about how to approach planning most everything has to be reassessed (or even if it doesn’t have to be, inevitably is, however briefly).

My traveling-with-a-child approach was tested on my first family vacation, which I documented for Dwell, glamping at Snow Peak’s first campsite in the U.S. on the coast of Washington. The timing of the flights for that trip meant we’d have one night before going home that, for our sanity, we’d want to spend in Portland, Oregon, proper before flying out quite early the next day. Having never been to Portland, or glamped, I thought this seemed like a great idea—a night in an actual hotel, safe from the elements. But I was also wary about that evening; at the campsite, my partner and I spent a couple of our evenings chilling outside by the fire, and being stuck whispering in a hotel room while a 20-month-old slept next to us seemed…unpleasant. On the flip side, staying at a luxury hotel that would provide more space and comfort seemed like asking for trouble—would children even be welcome there?

After mulling it over—rich people also have children! was one thought I had—and doing some research, I decided we’d try to go the high-end route, and zeroed in on The Nines, a hotel in downtown Portland regularly on best-of lists that would be only a 20-minute drive to the airport at 4:30 in the morning, but also had a cool backstory. The publicist I conversed with about a press stay knows I have a child, but I didn’t go as far as to request anything more than enough space to have her in a Pack ‘N Play. So we’re going into this fancy night blind, and wondering where it will take us.

The interiors of The Nines offer a contrast to its more classic facade.

Courtesy The Nines

Wednesday

12:30 p.m.: The day before arriving, I’d called the hotel to see if we could get early check in, because, as every parent with a young child knows, your day is structured around nap time, and we were going to be in a bit of a strange slot checking in at four. Plus, we had piles of stuff with us I’d rather have put in a room and not in the rental car or with the concierge. I was told someone would be checking out of the suite (! exciting news to me) we were assigned to, so we probably couldn’t get in until two. No matter—our plan would be to slowly make our way from the Washington coast to Portland, which is about a two to two-and-a-half-hour drive. The hope was that she might fall asleep in the car, leaving us unconcerned for the rest of the day.

Well, that hope is dashed, though she is fairly chill. After stopping in Astoria, Oregon, to pick up some salmon jerky at Josephson’s Fish House, as one does, we enjoy a somewhat overcast drive to Portland. And once we arrive at the hotel, we find we can check in immediately, no problem, the best omen you can get on a trip, no matter its length.

The luxe living clicks in immediately. The Nines Portland is located right in the middle of downtown, and straddles the line between old and new, the relaxed energies of this region of the world and the high-end expectations of this level of hospitality. Part of the Luxury Collection of Marriott, a subsidiary of properties the brand calls "the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations," it’s located in an adaptive reuse property: the renovated Meier & Frank Building, built in 1909 on a full square city block to house the department store of the same name. It was originally designed by A.E. Doyle, and the top nine floors were reworked in 2008; it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. The bottom floors were briefly a Macy’s, and now hold a Muji, among other tenants. According to a press release, "The concept of being ‘dressed to the nines’ serves as a guiding narrative, connecting the building’s fashion-retail history to its present-day identity as a refined and expressive hospitality environment." The exterior still looks and feels exactly like the classic department stores of the 1900s, but as I notice immediately, the hotel decor has been funked up quite a bit.

A valet takes our car while a bellhop gathers our belongings to be brought up to our room. Check in for the hotel requires getting in the elevator, which reminds me of a 21c Museum hotel I stayed at once; the property similarly has a bevy of artworks integrated into it, all curated by Portland-based photographer Paige Powell. Behind the concierge is the lounge and Urban Farmer Steakhouse, which sit in a massive, light-filled seven-story atrium at the center of the building.

Note the baby spoon.

Photo by Kate Dries

Once in the room, we see this is certainly a suite, one that, I see later, could put you out a few hundred dollars for a night, season depending. With an entryway, living room, large bathroom, bar area, and massive bedroom with great views of the city all around, there’s more than enough space for the three of us. I also find that the ask about whether we had any dietary restrictions had a purpose—we’ve been left with the most thoughtful care package, which ranges from a diaper pail to stuffed animals and homemade purees for our daughter to wine for us. If this is how a VIP travels—and from what I’ve seen on reality television, it is—I’m sold.

Nothing more exciting than exploring a new diaper pail.

Photos by Kate Dries

See the full story on Dwell.com: One Night in a Historic Department Store Turned Luxury Hotel—With a Toddler
Related stories:

You Couldn’t Begin to Count the Perforations in the Facade of This Bangkok Home

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Thu, 21 May 2026 02:56:36 -0700

Breeze blocks with hundreds of holes make for a mesmerizing exterior, but the climbing wall inside might steal the show.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Architect: Anonym Studio / @anonym.studio

Footprint: 10,000 square feet

Structural and Civil Engineer: Wor Consultants

Photographer: Ketsiree Wongwan

From the Architect: "Sailom House is a four-story home that accommodates members from three families. Anonym designed the inside to look and feel like a service apartment with functional spaces that each family member can use independently on each floor. The first floor consists of common areas like the living room and kitchen, while the upper floors house bedrooms, more living areas, and pantries. Two internal courtyards link the spaces and open into the void running from the ground to the fourth floor.

"The first court is an outdoor space with a climbing wall, a requirement from the owner who climbs as a hobby. The remaining court hosts a walkway for each floor, designed to overlap and bring interesting space variations. The roof is elevated at the upper part of the court, creating a void to facilitate airflow with a transparent material used to welcome natural light. While the courts exist as a part of the house’s interiors, the openings that lead the wind and light into the living space creates a pleasant obscurity, adding the outdoor element to the indoor area.

"The highlight of the exterior is the brick facade that offers natural ventilation, with the material having been arranged in various dynamic patterns. The perforated bricks are used not only because of their ventilation properties but also for their safety, affordable price, the freedom they offer the design, and the privacy they add for residents. The facade is designed to cover the parts of the house exposed to an excessive amount of sunlight. The brick pattern is less perforated in the areas on the ground floor where more privacy is required. For the top part of the facade and higher floors, the patterns become more perforated and airier, corresponding to the surroundings that are more open and unobstructed. The space between the facade and the house is designed as a veranda with potted plants, adding a visually pleasant green area to the living space. The variations of perspective result in the house’s diversified floor plans and functional spaces as the facade diminishes the four-story structure’s rigidity."

Photo by Ketsiree Wongwan

See the full story on Dwell.com: You Couldn’t Begin to Count the Perforations in the Facade of This Bangkok Home
Related stories:

Done With Dairy Farming, a Couple Turned a Cow Barn Into Their Own Home

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Wed, 20 May 2026 00:56:33 -0700

A U.K. couple have converted all five agricultural buildings on their Dorset property into a housing community.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Dorset, United Kingdom

Architect: David Kohn Architects / @officedka

Footprint: 3,186 square feet

Builder: Marks Building Services

Structural Engineer: Structure Workshop

Environmental Engineer: P3r Engineers

Cost Consultant: WT Hills

Photographer: Max Creasy / @maxcreasy

From the Architect: "Suzanne and Peter have lived at Middle Rocombe Farm since the early 1970s. Here they created the U.K.’s first organic ice cream factory, local arts venue the Art Farm Project, and raised a family while managing an organic dairy herd. Fifteen years ago they embarked on their most ambitious project, to convert the farm buildings into a housing community. Cowshed is the last of five buildings to be converted from agricultural to residential use, and now contains an artist studio, office, and a home, with rich connections to the surrounding landscape.

"David Kohn Architects has ensured that the original cowshed, which was built by Suzanne and Peter in 1979, has lost none of its agricultural identity. Like thousands of similar farm buildings it was built simply and cheaply with a concrete floor, concrete columns, blockwork walls, timber trusses, and timber cladding. As much of the original building as possible has been retained for planning, environmental and economic reasons, with two local materials—Cornish concrete blocks and Devon cedar boarding—enhancing the building’s straightforward materials palette. Inside, the exposed structure and surfaces continue this acknowledgement and celebration of Cowshed’s robust character and past life.

"Suzanne’s studio fills the main central space. Here the simplicity of the building acts particularly effectively: this light-filled room acts as the fulcrum of the home and as a backdrop for Suzanne’s artwork, which fills the space wherever one looks. An open-plan living/dining/kitchen area occupies a side aisle where the roof drops down to create a more intimate space, with bedrooms, office and study space similarly arranged around the edge of the main studio.

"One of the Redstone’s main requirements was for a building that would enable to them to live in the light, and feel part of the landscape to which they have been connected for almost fifty years. They also wanted to incorporate large windows and roof lights that fill the interiors with daylight and give views in all directions, David Kohn Architects have harnessed the building structure to create a large sheltered terrace to the entrance, with an outdoor workshop and studio to one side.

"The transition of Middle Rocombe Farm from a dairy farm to a residential community was not without difficulty: other elements were initially refused consent by planners, before a campaign by local residents and national design journalists helped to persuade councillors to approve the project. Cowshed, which proceeded thanks to changes in permitted development rights, now demonstrates how even the most prosaic and cost effective industrial structures can be wholly reused and repurposed to make affordable, playful, and welcoming homes. It represents a reconciliation of contemporary architecture and a traditional rural setting—and the latest chapter in Suzanne and Peter’s work to make Middle Rocombe Farm a place of community and innovation."

Photo by Max Creasy

See the full story on Dwell.com: Done With Dairy Farming, a Couple Turned a Cow Barn Into Their Own Home
Related stories:

Massive Steel Panels Conceal (and Reveal) a Deceptively Airy Home in Tbilisi

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:56:05 -0700

Flanges form an operable armored facade that can open to let in light and breezes.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Architect: TIMM Architecture / @timmarchitecture

Footprint: 5,400 square feet

Photographer: Grigory Sokolinsky

From the Architect: "Located in the hillside district of Okrokana overlooking Tbilisi, the House of Iron Doors reinterprets the typical residential condition of the area through an architecture of enclosure and controlled openness. The surrounding neighborhood is characterized by individual houses hidden behind high perimeter fences, creating a fragmented streetscape defined more by walls than by architecture. Instead of replicating this condition, the project proposes a different strategy: the house itself becomes the perimeter. The building forms a protective architectural envelope that encloses the site and generates a private interior landscape.

"The street facade appears as a continuous rusted steel surface punctuated by a sequence of large perforated iron doors. These pivoting panels function as a dynamic environmental and spatial filter. When closed, the facade reads as a monolithic metal screen, offering privacy and protection from the street. When opened, the panels transform the building into a porous structure that allows light, air, and views to penetrate the interior spaces. The perforations create constantly shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day, giving the otherwise solid envelope a sense of movement and temporal variation.

"Behind this outer layer, the house organizes its spaces around an inward-oriented courtyard. All primary living areas are directed toward this internal garden rather than toward the surrounding streets and neighboring plots. This strategy allows the interior to maintain openness and transparency while preserving privacy from the outside. The courtyard becomes the spatial and environmental center of the house, providing daylight, greenery, and visual continuity across different levels of the dwelling.

"The ground level contains the main living spaces, including the living room, dining area, and kitchen, arranged in a linear sequence along the courtyard edge. Large sliding glass openings allow the interior to extend directly into the outdoor garden. Above, the private rooms continue the same spatial logic, maintaining visual connections to the internal landscape while remaining protected by the outer metal skin. A secondary layer of exterior panels functions as adjustable sun-shading devices for the interior rooms. These movable elements regulate daylight and reduce solar gain while simultaneously shaping the visual identity of the building. Their rhythmic placement along the facade establishes a strong architectural character that changes depending on their position and the angle of the sun."

Photo by Grigory Sokolinsky

See the full story on Dwell.com: Massive Steel Panels Conceal (and Reveal) a Deceptively Airy Home in Tbilisi

Topped With a Colorful Shingled Roof, an Ornate French Villa Seeks $2.5M

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:56:19 -0700

The belle époque property near Paris is over a century old, but it’s in pristine condition with an updated kitchen, a wine cellar, and chandeliers to spare.

Location: Villennes-sur-Seine, Yvelines, France

Price: €2,090,000 (approximately $2,450,000 USD)

Year Built: 1900

Footprint: 2,755 square feet (5 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 0.24 acres

From the Agent: "This delightful listed 19-century belle époque–style property is set in a leafy 985-square-meter plot, just a five-minute walk from the station, near shops and schools. In perfect condition, it includes a spacious entry with a cloakroom, a utility room, and a guest water closet; a drawing room; a living room with a fireplace; a kitchen with dining facilities; and an adjacent pantry. Upstairs are two suites, a study, three bedrooms, a shower room, and a separate water closet. The property also includes a convertible annex, a two-car garage, and an outdoor parking space."

The home is set in Villennes-sur-Seine, a village on the Seine river about 19 miles west of Paris.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Féau Conseil Immobilier, SA./Luxury Portfolio International

The 1900s home pairs ornate belle époque details with contemporary finishes and fixtures.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Féau Conseil Immobilier, SA./Luxury Portfolio International

See the full story on Dwell.com: Topped With a Colorful Shingled Roof, an Ornate French Villa Seeks $2.5M
Related stories:

That ’70s Cabin Just Listed in Wisconsin for $445K

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 15 May 2026 10:56:15 -0700

Timber paneling, wall-to-wall carpet, retro lighting, and three woodburning fireplaces—what more do you need?

Location: 28931 Tall Moon Circle, Danbury, Wisconsin

Price: $445,000

Year Built: 1970

Footprint: 3,062 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 1 acre

From the Agent: "Welcome to Camp Green Pine, a four-bedroom, three-bath cabin offering 3,500 square feet of midcentury-modern style with a nostalgic ’70s camp feel. Set on a private one-acre double lot, this home is designed for gathering, with multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces. Thoughtful updates throughout honor its original 1970s character, elevated by designer touches. The entire property is carefully curated to help you reconnect with nature including the spacious bonfire area as well as a cozy screen porch for rainy days. Enjoy Voyager Village amenities including an 18-hole golf course, private lakes, clubhouse dining, an indoor pool and sauna, tennis courts, a fitness center, a dog park, and hiking, biking, snowmobile, and ski trails. Welcome back to camp."

The home is set in Voyager Village, which the agent notes is a "recreational community encompassing over 5,000 acres of woodlands, lakes, streams and wetlands in Northwest Wisconsin."

Photo by Madelyn Kozlowski

Three woodburning fireplaces are spread throughout the home.

Photo by Madelyn Kozlowski

See the full story on Dwell.com: That ’70s Cabin Just Listed in Wisconsin for $445K

A Private Club Comes to NY’s "People’s Beach"—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 15 May 2026 08:56:29 -0700

NASA reveals Mexico is sinking at an alarming rate, Airbnb plots a return to NYC ahead of the World Cup, and more.

The 1930s-era Jacob Riis Bathhouse in The Rockaways is reopening this summer as the $88 million Rockaway Ocean Club, a members club and hotel bringing pools and restaurants to what was historically known as the "People’s Beach." Some locals worry the club model could threaten public access and the site’s long-standing role as an LGBTQ-friendly space. (The New York Times)
The U.S. housing affordability crisis may be "hiding in plain sight": 22 million older, modestly priced homes already exist across cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago, but a broken mortgage system has left many buyers unable to finance or repair them. Now, cities are experimenting with new rehab loan programs to bring these overlooked homes back to life. (Bloomberg)
New NASA satellite imagery revealed that Mexico City is sinking nearly 10 inches a year as relentless groundwater pumping drains the city’s ancient lake bed, threatening everything from historic landmarks to critical infrastructure. (AP News)

Mexico City, which is built over a lake bed, is sinking at an alarmingly fast rate.

Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

As single women increasingly outpace men in homeownership, many say their financial independence is reshaping modern dating, exposing lingering anxieties around masculinity, money, and the very much fading ideal of a male breadwinner. (The Guardian)
As New York braces for a surge in visitors ahead of the World Cup, Airbnb is courting Black leaders, including pastors and homeowners, through hosting town halls in Harlem, Bed-Stuy, and Queens to push for looser short-term rental laws after years of crackdowns shut the company out of the city. Some are pushing back, arguing the rental company would only worsen gentrification and displacement. (The New York Times)

Top photo by Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock

How Do You Safeguard Your Home From Hurricanes? This Long Island Family Raised Theirs 12 Feet

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 15 May 2026 08:56:28 -0700

After Hurricane Sandy flooded their 850-square-foot East End home, they embarked on a years-long renovation that included a material refresh, better views, and a storage area for water toys.

The rugged coastline and relaxed communities of the East End of Long Island have long drawn residents seeking quiet, scenic retreats. However, increasingly severe storms and hurricanes have threatened these waterfront homes. Now residents are figuring out how to adapt to the changing climate while retaining the charm that drew them there in the first place. How do you welcome the beauty of the natural environment while staying safe from it?

That’s precisely the dilemma that Daniel and Julie faced after buying a home in Lazy Point in 2011. After getting through Hurricane Irene unscathed, next came Hurricane Sandy, and two feet of floodwaters rushed into their 1950s house. They had to immediately address damaged drywall, broken mechanical equipment, and mold. "That’s the price you might have to pay for access to a pretty wild coastline," Daniel says. Realizing they wouldn’t survive another event without extensive renovations, they began a years-long process of planning and getting local permits approved in order to prepare for the next big one.

Their ground floor was only four feet above sea level while FEMA’s newest guidelines stipulate a minimum standard of 10 feet. Working with architect John Berg, they raised their home 12 feet above sea level and in the process upgraded the structure to withstand heavy wind and rain. Since new construction wasn’t permitted on the property, Berg raised the house and rotated it 90 degrees to get the height and orientation he wanted to maximize light and views, per his clients’ requests.

Black-stained hemlock clads the front of the house for a more modern look.

Photo by Simon Lawrence Howell

See the full story on Dwell.com: How Do You Safeguard Your Home From Hurricanes? This Long Island Family Raised Theirs 12 Feet
Related stories:

This Blackened Cedar Home Was Designed to Vanish Into the Trees—Almost

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:56:24 -0700

The all-electric home by OPAL Architecture pairs a striking charred timber exterior with bright interiors to create a forest retreat for a family of four on the coast of Maine.

Half a mile from the Atlantic, down a narrow road bordered by old stone walls, a dark stacked form emerges from the birch, oak, and pine of Maine’s York County. This is the Elemental House, a home for Joe and Katie Edwards and their two young children that was designed by OPAL Architecture to feel as if it had always been part of the landscape.

"We wanted the home to have a dark tone on the exterior that would make it disappear to some extent in the shadows of the woods," explains OPAL design partner Riley Pratt. "The dark exterior and moments of transparency through the home create a lantern-like effect that we find quite beautiful."

The L-shaped plan and detached garage sit within a clearing on the family’s two-acre wooded lot on Raynes Neck, a peninsula located about half a mile from the ocean. The cedar exterior of the home, Gendai Linseed Black yakisugi by Nakamoto Forestry, all but disappears into the surrounding forest.

Photo: Trent Bell

Coming from nearly a decade in small city apartments—including a six-year stint in a basement unit—the couple’s brief was clear. "Our first priority was a house that made us feel connected to the outside world," says Joe. Beyond that, they desired space to grow as a family, the ability to work from home, and the efficiency of a house informed by Passive House principles to minimize ongoing costs.

A generous covered entry porch provides a sheltered connection between the main house and a small garage and workshop. The warm-toned wood soffit creates a striking contrast against the charred Japanese cedar cladding, while the open breezeway beyond frames a view through to the woods.

Photo: Trent Bell

The composition of flat-roofed volumes—clad entirely in Nakamoto Forestry yakisugi sourced from PEFC-certified, air-dried Japanese cedar—reads as a single dark form against the forested landscape, punctuated by carefully placed openings that offer glimpses of the bright interior. At twilight, the entry facade (as seen here) becomes illuminated by warm light spilling from the covered porch and windows onto the gravel path.

Photo: Trent Bell

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Blackened Cedar Home Was Designed to Vanish Into the Trees—Almost
Related stories:

From the Archive: Low and Long, This Rural Home Was Designed to Feel Like Moving Through the Forest

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:56:10 -0700

Built for Bill Moggridge, the designer of the first laptop, and his wife Karin, the property provided a reprieve from the couple’s intercontinental life.

Welcome to From the Archive, a look back at stories from Dwell’s past. This story previously appeared in the January/February 2003 issue.

Heading south from San Francisco on Interstate 280, the "little boxes made of ticky-tacky" (made famous by singer/songwriter Malvina Reynolds in the ’6os) that line the hillsides of Daly City and South San Francisco rapidly give way to rolling green hills that turn a smoldering gold in the summer. Twenty minutes down the road, you can take any number of exits and creep farther away from civilization. As you turn onto Skyline Boulevard and drive through towering redwoods, the city and surrounding suburbs become a memory.

Here, deep in the woods, about an hour from downtown San Francisco, Bill and Karin Moggridge found the land that would become their home. "When Karin found this place, she did a little dance," says Bill, a cofounder of Ideo, the international design consulting firm. "From that moment, I knew it was all over." "It was just so incredible to see it," continues Karin, a fiber artist and clothing designer from Copenhagen. "I’m not a religious or spiritual person in any way, but it was as if something had said, ‘This is it. This is where you should put down your roots.’"

High above the Silicon Valley smog and sloping toward the distant Pacific, the land captivated the Moggridges from day one. Eccentric neighbors (including a helicopter-flying, horseback-riding, earth-moving-equipment-obsessed emergency-room doctor and a Cadillac-driving Neil Young), attracted by the area’s seclusion and beauty, are hidden at a safe distance among the manzanitas.

After Ideo took off in the ’8os, the Moggridges found themselves living the intercontinental life, splitting their time between London, where they owned a flat, and Palo Alto, where they owned a small house. "But everything had to be sacrificed for this," Bill says of their new house.

The Moggridges had long thought about building their own house but hadn’t seriously considered the possibility until 1994. "Basically, our freedom started with the kids leaving home and Ozzy passing on," Bill says, referring to their two grown sons and now-deceased dog, named after the infamous Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne.

With their freedom granted, the couple quickly staked their claim. Just 7o days after Karin first saw the land, the Moggridges were the proud owners of 17 acres of trees, dirt, wildflowers, and their fair share of poison oak, spiders, and mice. The two creative forces quickly got to work on their dreams, setting up a tent in a clearing and spending as much time as possible imagining what could be. "The first thing we did was to try and understand the land," Bill says. "So we got maps and an aerial photograph from the USGS. Then we started exploring the land, surveying the edges to find out where the periphery was, putting little flags every hundred feet."

"We were hoping to design the house," Karin says. "We made this little book in order to find out what we liked. The book got some of the desire to actually design it ourselves out of the way." "It also allowed us to work out our differences and discover what we each wanted," says Bill.

Photo: Catherine Ledner

With the idea of designing the house on the back burner, the Moggridges made a short list of five architects whom they were interested in working with, including the small San Francisco firm of Baum Thornley. "We knew Doug [Thornley]," Bill explains, "from having worked with him on Ideo’s San Francisco office."

The Moggridges sent their 62-page book—containing chapters titled "The Land," "What We Want," "First Ideas," "Where We’ve Lived," and "Planning"—to the five firms and waited to see how each responded. "Most of the well-known ones sent us a copy of the book that they had published. They didn’t try particularly hard, but Doug and Bob [Baum] came to us with a portfolio and then finally presented us with the biggest proof of their interest in doing the job," Bill explains.

Thornley and Baum had been so moved by the site at their initial meeting that they snuck back to it without the Moggridges’ knowledge. They scoured the land, collecting dirt, tree bark, flowers, shedded snakeskin, and leaves, putting them in test tubes and constructing a wooden box to safely hold them all—a crafty presentation of the hues and textures that the architects saw playing a crucial role in Bill and Karin’s home.

"It was the first ground-up residential project for the firm," Thornley says, "so we really wanted to do it. Having worked with Ideo, we knew this house had the potential to be special. We looked at their book and thought, Wow, they’re ready to go. They really thought it through, and it wasn’t just a matter of how many square feet they wanted in the bathroom. It was a whole other level of how they lived, and how they wanted to be."

At the final meeting, the architects placed their creation in the center of the table and told the Moggridges they couldn’t open it till the end of the presentation. When they finally did, the deal was done. "It proved that they understood what we liked about the place—because we really felt that the house needed to have everything to do with the natural qualities of the place, the foliage, the earth, the trees," Bill explains.

Photo: Catherine Ledner

See the full story on Dwell.com: From the Archive: Low and Long, This Rural Home Was Designed to Feel Like Moving Through the Forest
Related stories:

Looking for a Compound? Here’s a Geodesic Getaway in the Sierra Foothills for $724K

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:56:06 -0700

Surrounded by forest, the funky ’80s residence underwent a complete, studs-out renovation over the past three years.

Location: 5043 Virginia Bird Mine Court, Foresthill, California

Price: $724,000

Year Built: 1987

Renovation Date: 2026

Footprint: 2,308 Square Feet (4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths)

Lot Size: 1 Acre

From the Agent: "This fully remodeled, geodesic mountain home sits on a peaceful acre in Foresthill, blending architectural character with modern comfort. Vaulted ceilings, natural light, and forest views shape the living space. On the main level, the primary suite features its own full bathroom, while a second bedroom with a half bath offers flexibility for guests, kids, or a home office. Upstairs, two additional bedrooms share a full bathroom, providing a comfortable space for children or visiting family. Tucked on a quiet court and minutes to schools, recreation, and foothill amenities, this home is an ideal landing place for families relocating and looking for space, calm, and a thoughtfully updated place to grow."

Set in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the home is nestled between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Photo by Sharon Claire

The living area is warmed by two woodburning stoves.

Photo by Sharon Claire

See the full story on Dwell.com: Looking for a Compound? Here’s a Geodesic Getaway in the Sierra Foothills for $724K

This Extended Family of 20 Needed More Than a Home—They Needed a Master Plan

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:56:27 -0700

"For people who don’t like to entertain a lot, there’s not that much we have to do because it’s just so pleasant being in the space," says Kirsten. "That’s the gift. Then anything we manage to rustle up is icing on cake."

Kirsten and Rick will be the first to admit that they’re not big entertainers. "If I had an avatar, she would be really into entertaining, but I only have me, and we really love our time alone," Kirsten says. So, when the couple found this property on two waterfront acres in Silverdale, Washington, they planned to first remodel the existing 1930s brick house into a two-bedroom guesthouse for their family, and then add a separate primary residence for themselves, with a few extra bedrooms for good measure.

That way, in the off-chance that all 18 members of their family visit at once—including their five adult children, their children’s partners, and eight grandchildren between the ages of 6 and 23 (with another on the way)—the couple would be well-prepared.

The idea for the dual residences came from Prentis Hale, principal of SHED Architecture + Design, who suggested it as an alternative to demolishing and rebuilding (or remuddling) the original 1930s brick house to make it big enough for everyone. "I just hated the idea of tearing that house down," says Kirsten. "Prentis talked about how the two houses would speak to one another instead."

SHED Architecture + Design helped the owners of this two-acre property in Silverdale, Washington, develop a master plan. It involved remodeling the existing 1930s brick house into a two-bedroom guest house for their adult children, then building a second home for themselves (and more guests). A mudroom with a yellow Dutch door faces the brick house, as well as a walkway linking the two residences.

Photo: Rafael Soldi

Kirsten and Rick’s property is a former oyster farm, and while the original house has some fancy brickwork, there are still several old, simply framed farmhouses in the area, says Kirsten. "We wanted something that would fit in with the neighborhood," she says. To that end, Hale and the team drew up what they call a "strong gable shape" that was informed by their research into Scandinavian barn and farm buildings—an inspiration for Kirsten, who has grandparents from Sweden and Norway—with deep eaves to protect the house from inclement weather.

One of the gables roughly aligns with the roof of the brick house. "Our instinct was not to say, ‘Hey, this is a cool brick house with a gable. Now let’s put a round titanium sphere to the left of it,’" says Hale.

The home’s cedar reverse board-and-batten siding is stained in Benjamin Moore Arborcoat Wrought Iron. The siding was loosely inspired by the clinker brick on the other house, which is not "totally uniform," says SHED principal Prentis Hale. "We wanted the exterior of the house to be a little shaggier."

Photo: Rafael Soldi

The front door, painted Benjamin Moore’s Viking Yellow, opens to views of the water.

Photo: Rafael Soldi

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Extended Family of 20 Needed More Than a Home—They Needed a Master Plan
Related stories:

Massive Concrete Screens Bring Plenty of Light and Air to This Sandwiched-In Brazilian Home

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Wed, 13 May 2026 09:56:33 -0700

Brutalist grids cover the front and rear facades of the three-story family residence.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Architect: Ateliê GR / @ateliegrau

Footprint: 2,615 square feet

Structural Engineer: ETVL Engenharia

Civil Engineer: MULISANI

Lighting Design: Ricardo Heder

Photographer: Nelson Kon / @nelsonkonfotografias

From the Architect: "The Caetés House is located on an urban plot within a mixed-use zone of São Paulo, Brazil. The street is quiet, characterized by the coexistence of residential, service, and commercial uses. Its proximity to public transportation and easy access to green infrastructure create a favorable urban context. The program accommodates a large family consisting of a couple and five children. The family configuration is ‘tentacular,’ featuring a complex and interconnected structure that moves beyond the traditional nuclear model, incorporating various unions, separations, remarriages, and diverse affective bonds, resulting in an expanded network of relationships.

"The implementation of a compact three-story volume optimizes the use of built areas and their relationship with the exterior spaces, prioritizing natural lighting and ventilation. Each floor was designed with distinct functions and attractions. The layout of each level was idealized to provide maximum flexibility, adopting an open plan with internal drywall partitions. The intermediate level, with direct access from the street, houses an open driveway for two vehicles connected to a vestibule where the main staircase is located. Adjacent to this space, two independent offices, separated by voids, integrate the dynamics of adult work and children's leisure into daily life. The lower floor concentrates the social area, with an integrated living room, dining room, and kitchen facing the backyard, and a patio permeated by gardens. This building level features longitudinal openings along the boundaries, providing light and ventilation to a semi-underground floor, ensuring privacy while simultaneously offering a privileged view of the city skyline. The upper floor is dedicated to the bedrooms, arranged along a hallway that receives light filtered through concrete cobogós (hollow blocks). This floor stands out for its high ceilings and generous cross-ventilation, which flows across the two facades defined by the perforated concrete panels. These large planes feature rhythmic openings that frame the city view.

"The block’s roof functions as a suspended garden, integrated with the city’s flora and fauna. This garden acts as a ‘green sponge,’ absorbing large volumes of water during rainy periods. Integrated into this garden is the residence’s technical area. This space houses the water tank, pressurizer, air-conditioning condensers for the offices, and an electrical panel prepared for the future installation and integration of solar panels.

"The residence adopts a palette of raw materials, such as exposed bricks and concrete blocks, polished concrete floors (laje zero), and precast concrete slabs, which contrast with large glass panes in aluminum frames. Exposed installations—with each pipe color-coded by function—reinforce the building’s ‘brutalism,’ juxtaposing industrial and artisanal elements as a representation of contemporary construction techniques. The project incorporates several references to seminal works of modern architecture, influences that enrich the creative process and the living experience."

Photo: Nelson Kon

See the full story on Dwell.com: Massive Concrete Screens Bring Plenty of Light and Air to This Sandwiched-In Brazilian Home

For $1.5M, You Can Pick Up a Pair of Midcentury Homes in Long Beach

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Wed, 13 May 2026 06:56:40 -0700

Designed by Clifton Jones Jr., the two-bedroom residences share a central dividing wall, and they’re still in pristine, original condition.

Location: 4181 / 4183 Del Mar Ave, Long Beach, California

Price: $1,450,000

Year Built: 1963

Architect: Clifton Jones Jr.

Footprint: 2,414 Square Feet (4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths)

Lot Size: 0.14 Acres

From the Agent: "The single-story Plan A model features a steeply pitched roof at its center, which shelters expansive open plan layouts under lofty beamed ceilings. The side-by-side two-bedroom / two-bathroom homes live more like custom single-family residences than attached units. A central block wall divides them, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and glass walls that face entry courtyards in the front and separate fenced patio/garden areas at the back. These private patios expand the living spaces outward dramatically. The east-facing living area and back patio are bathed in morning light, with the west-facing courtyard and dining room sunlit in the afternoon. The kitchens are both well organized with u-shaped layouts and large window walls to the north and south. The bedrooms feature spacious closets and each has its own en suite bath. Each unit includes a carport as well as a private, direct-access garage with a laundry area. The property is well situated in Long Beach’s desirable Los Cerritos neighborhood—known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, excellent school district, and incredibly quiet, peaceful atmosphere. A vast array of options for shopping, restaurants, and breweries are all in close proximity. The homes are centrally located with easy freeway access for commutes to both Los Angeles and Orange County, and less than 1.5 miles from a metro station."

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light into the living areas of the post-and-beam homes.

Photo by Sterling Reed

See the full story on Dwell.com: For $1.5M, You Can Pick Up a Pair of Midcentury Homes in Long Beach
Related stories:

It’s a Great Time to Be the Giant Maker of Route 66

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Tue, 12 May 2026 06:56:21 -0700

As The Mother Road revs up for its centennial, demand for sculptor Mark Cline’s Muffler Man statues is soaring, transforming a fading folk art into a pop-culture revival.

Everything in artist Mark Cline’s orbit feels a little larger than life. Even his setbacks carry a certain Herculean weight. In the early days of his creative career, before he became known for sculpting the massive fiberglass figures that now define his work and an American landscape, when he was still trying to carve out a niche for himself, Cline was so broke that he sometimes slept on park benches. Years later, his studio burned to the ground—not once but twice—reducing decades of work to billowing piles of ash.

Self-taught artist Mark Cline (pictured in top image), whose background is in sculpture and resin work, started making fiberglass "giants" several decades back. Now his business, Enchanted Castle Studios, which he runs with his wife, Sherry, builds and refurbishes traditional advertising figures, huge dinosaurs, and more, such as Muffler Men (called such because they historically held car mufflers to advertise auto shops) owned by an Ohio collector.

Photo by Scott Suchman

And yet, eventually Cline found his way into a monumental niche: making the oversize fiberglass figures, the iconic "giants," that dot Route 66. When I arrived at his Enchanted Castle Studios in the fall of last year, set amid rolling farmland 40 miles northeast of Roanoke, Virginia, business was booming and on a triumphant scale. Cline and his two-person team have enough giants looming on the docket to keep them hopping for a while. Both the self-taught sculptor and his towering creations appear to be in the midst of a glorious renaissance. That’s fueled in part by the 2026 centennial of Route 66, known as the Mother Road or the Main Street of America, famous for its role in funneling travelers of many generations cross-country.

Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, sparking a new wave of attention to its iconic kitsch and giant figures, most ranging from 14 to 23 feet tall. From left to right: Tire Man Big Brand tire statue in Van Nuys, California, 1991; Stan the Tire Man statue in Mount Vernon, Illinois, 1988; Tire Man statue in Birmingham, Alabama, 1980.

John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

Highway guardians like this had their heyday in the 1960s, when cross-country road trips ruled and a chorus line of colossal statues sprang up along the nation’s roads, beckoning drivers to stop at local chains, franchises, and mom-and-pop businesses. Among the most popular archetypes of the era was the Muffler Man, with outstretched hands poised to grip an enormous car part; his female counterpart, the Uniroyal Gal, often clad in a bikini and said to have been modeled on First Lady Jackie Kennedy; and a popular variation called Paul Bunyan, a beefy lumberjack whose axe was sometimes swapped for a monstrously large hotdog.

"I’m working on giants seven days a week at the moment," Cline tells me as we stroll through the property, his phone buzzing often with requests from small-business owners seeking massive pink doughnuts or chicken-drumstick-wielding cowboys.

The interior of Enchanted Castle Studios is shared by a workshop and a warehouse, where completed projects like dinosaurs and miniature trains stand alongside molds for unique sculptures Cline has restored over the years.

Photo by Scott Suchman

See the full story on Dwell.com: It’s a Great Time to Be the Giant Maker of Route 66
Related stories:

This Might Be the Breeziest Brick Home We’ve Ever Seen

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:56:17 -0700

The indoor/outdoor Brazil residence is elevated slightly on a slab and porous walls enclose a courtyard with a pool.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Brasília, Brazil

Architect: BLOCO Arquitetos

Footprint: 4,520 square feet

Builder: Diretriz Engenharia

Structural Engineer: André Torres

Landscape Design: Mariana Siqueira

Lighting Design: Dessine

Photographer: Joana França

From the Architect: "Tupin House is located in a gated community in the Setor de Mansões Park Way, about 12 miles from the center of Brasília’s Plano Piloto. Set on a generously sized plot with native cerrado vegetation, the residence was designed in conversation with the natural environment and to maximize the integration between indoor and outdoor spaces. The project is organized around a central courtyard that functions as the ‘backyard’ of the house, connecting the social and private areas and concentrating the leisure facilities without cladding, to emphasize the material continuity and honesty of the construction.

"Sections of the floor slabs were designed to be semi-suspended in relation to the natural terrain, allowing the landscape to flow beneath the structure and enabling the passage of small animals. This solution aims to dissolve the traditional boundaries between house and garden, creating an ‘organic’ relationship with the ground. The placement of the slabs defines elevated planes that follow the site’s subtle level variations, reinforcing a sense of lightness and visual continuity.

"The structure rests on twelve main pillars, combined with perimeter post-tensioned beams and internal suspension elements. This system enables large cantilevers and spacious social areas free from structural obstructions, while also reducing direct contact with the ground—improving the home’s thermal performance. Our goal was to achieve an architecture that celebrates the integration between form, technique, and landscape."

Photo: Joana França

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Might Be the Breeziest Brick Home We’ve Ever Seen

Krisel & Palmer’s First Residence Just Hit the Market in L.A. for $3.6M

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:56:44 -0700

The updated Brentwood home is tucked into a leafy site with an outdoor kitchen, sauna, hot tub, and firepit.

Location: 12632 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Price: $3,600,000

Year Built: 1951

Architects: William Krisel and Dan Palmer

Renovation Date: 2011 - 2026

Renovation Architect: Starr Williams Architecture

Landscape Architect: Chris Sosa

Footprint: 2,651 square feet (3 bedrooms, 4 baths)

Lot Size: 0.3 Acres

From the Agent: "Situated in the heart of Brentwood, this exceptional property at 12632 Sunset Blvd presents a rare opportunity to own the first home built in 1951 by noted architects William Krisel and Dan Palmer. The residence has been thoughtfully remodeled by Starr Williams Architecture, blending the home’s original midcentury character with updated design and functionality. The property features three bedrooms and three bathrooms, with light-filled living spaces, architectural details, and a seamless indoor/outdoor flow. The expansive lot offers privacy and includes an architectural ADU, suitable for use as a guesthouse, studio, or workspace. Located along the Sunset corridor, the home is in close proximity to Brentwood’s dining, shopping, and schools, with convenient access to Santa Monica and the Westside. This is a unique opportunity to own a remodeled architectural home in a highly desirable location."

After this initial project was built, William Krisel and Dan Palmer went on to work together on many Southern California homes.

Photo by Noel Kleinman Real Estate Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

A curtain track can section off areas of the living room.

Photo by Noel Kleinman Real Estate Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

See the full story on Dwell.com: Krisel & Palmer’s First Residence Just Hit the Market in L.A. for $3.6M
Related stories:

Wide-Open Land Surrounds This New Texas Build Seeking $3.4M

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 8 May 2026 15:56:31 -0700

Refined country living meets modern accessibility.

404 Blackberry Lane in Washington, Texas is currently listed at $3,450,000 by Cari Goeke at Southern District Sotheby’s International Realty.

Situated within the rolling topography of Washington County, this estate serves as a sophisticated response to the call of Texas. Spanning nearly 18 acres, the K&C Classic Homes-built residence embodies a refined rural aesthetic.

Tucked away down a scenic tree-lined drive, the property is a private sanctuary surrounded by mature hardwoods, offering peaceful seclusion and natural beauty at every turn. A tranquil pond enhances the serene atmosphere, making it an ideal setting for relaxation or entertaining. Inside, find high-end finishes and a sophisticated floor plan that prioritizes flow.

Every space fuses aesthetic with tactile comfort, creating a home that feels both grounded and elevated, fostering a deep sense of retreat while remaining tethered to the cultural pulse of the region. Just minutes away is the historic charm of Chappell Hill and a short, scenic drive to the curated markets of Round Top, Bellville, and Brenham.

Listing Details

Bedrooms: 5

Baths: 5 full, 2 partial

Year Built: 2025

Square Feet: 6,455

Plot Size: 17.84 acres

Courtesy of Southern District Sotheby's International Realty

See the full story on Dwell.com: Wide-Open Land Surrounds This New Texas Build Seeking $3.4M
Related stories:

This $6.9M Rhode Island Home Hits the Market Just in Time for Boating Season

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Fri, 8 May 2026 05:56:25 -0700

Nearly four acres of riverfront access, a 200-foot jetty, and 52-foot heated lap pool define this stunning home.

451 Seapowet Avenue in Tiverton, Rhode Island is currently listed at $6,995,000 by Jessica Chase at Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty.

In the landscape of New England’s waterfront architecture, rare is the residence that balances high-performance sustainability with such quiet, aesthetic restraint. Set across 3.73 acres along the Sakonnet River, this estate is less a house and more a curated lens through which to experience the water.

The interior program is defined by a commitment to texture and light, anchored by a culinary core featuring a Neolith porcelain-tiled island and a Spartherm fireplace. The real focal point is the expansive 32-foot glass wall that dissolves the boundary between the living space and the tidal rhythm of the river. The floor plan is intelligently zoned to support both communal gathering and absolute privacy.

While the main level houses a primary suite designed as a sanctuary of understated luxury, the second floor opens into a flexible living gallery that extends onto a deck with 180-degree panoramas of the water. The property also includes an apartment with a kitchenette and laundry facility, ideal for guests or extended family.

Outside, a 52-foot heated lap pool and a cabana-studio with bath overlook the property’s private maritime infrastructure, including a 200-foot jetty and dual deep-water moorings. True modern luxury is increasingly measured by autonomy, and this residence functions as a self-sustaining ecosystem. Powered by a 22kW solar array and equipped with dual electric vehicle charging stations, the home proves that environmental responsibility and high design are not mutually exclusive.

Listing Details

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 4 full, 1 partial

Year Built: 2022

Square Feet: 4,210

Plot Size: 3.73 acres

Courtesy of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty

See the full story on Dwell.com: This $6.9M Rhode Island Home Hits the Market Just in Time for Boating Season
Related stories:

Paul Rudolph’s Walker Guest House Is Back on the Market for $2M

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Thu, 7 May 2026 03:56:38 -0700

The historic home pioneered a novel counterweighted shutter system, and it helped launch the famed architect’s solo career.

Price: $2,000,000

Year Built: 1952

Architect: Paul Rudolph

Footprint: 600 square feet (1 bedrooms, 1 baths)

From the Agent: "Designed by Paul Rudolph at the age of 33, the Walker Guest House was his first independent commission following his split from architect Ralph Twitchell, and the project that launched his ascent as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. The house’s most distinctive feature is its system of adjustable exterior wooden panels, raised and lowered by 77-pound, red-painted cannonball counterweights sourced from its original site on Sanibel Island, Florida. When closed, they function as shutters; when opened, they form shaded canopies—allowing the structure to continuously transform in response to light, climate, and use. Since its original construction, the house has been privately acquired and relocated to California. This is a singular opportunity to acquire one of the defining works of American modernism, intact and in private hands for the first time in a generation."

Through his interior design studio, HOMMEMADE, A$AP Rocky curated the home’s interiors for a showing at L.A. Design Week. (These pieces are not included in the current listing)

Photo by Matthew Kavanagh, courtesy of Basic.Space

Per the agent, "In 1957, Architectural Record readers voted it one of the most important houses of the century—alongside Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House and Philip Johnson’s Glass House."

Photo by Matthew Kavanagh, courtesy of Basic.Space

See the full story on Dwell.com: Paul Rudolph’s Walker Guest House Is Back on the Market for $2M
Related stories:

In France, a ’60s Prefab Bubble House Just Popped Up for €90K

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Wed, 6 May 2026 02:56:31 -0700

Price: €90,000 (approximately $105,323 USD)

Year Built: 1964

Architect: Jean-Benjamin Maneval

Footprint: 388 square feet

From the Agent: "The Six-Shell Bubble by Jean-Benjamin Maneval is one of the emblems of the visionary movement of the 1960s. Modular and transportable, this habitable capsule is currently displayed in the sculpture park of a private collector. The six shell bubbles are designed from the same mold. Each consists of two walls made of polyester reinforced with fiberglass, between which insulating polyurethane foam is injected. Large, fixed plastic windows provide ample natural light inside. There is one shell for the entrance, another for the living area, one dedicated to wet rooms, and three additional shells housing two bedrooms and a living room that can also serve as a guest room. Accessed via a flight of metal steps, this organic architecture without foundations offers a living area of 36 square meters."

Jean-Benjamin Maneval’s Six-Shell Bubble is a futuristic, prefabricated pod home.

Photo courtesy of Architecture de Collection

The architect produced three hundred bubble houses between 1964 and 1968.

Photo courtesy of Architecture de Collection

See the full story on Dwell.com: In France, a ’60s Prefab Bubble House Just Popped Up for €90K
Related stories:

Their Tiny A-Frame Cabin Is Made of Timber Sourced On-Site

noreply@blogger.com (GRAPHĒ) — Mon, 4 May 2026 18:56:16 -0700

An artist and an engineer build a backwoods getaway with local materials, custom built-ins, and lots of windows.

While living in the Bay Area during the pandemic, Max and Hannah yearned to be closer to family—so they took a cross-country roadtrip in a camper van to Max’s hometown in central Maine. After they arrived, they discovered a 13-acre plot for sale. The lush, wooded acreage is situated on a large pond with a meandering trail. "We were really struck by it," Hannah says. "We just loved the quiet and solitude there."

"We knew we didn’t want to clear a lot of forest, because the trees are so interesting around there," Hannah says. After the cabin was finished, the couple replanted local trees and native plants. "The idea is to fill the space back in with the same species that used to grow there, so in time it will feel like the cabin was just plunked down in the midst of the forest," Hannah says.

Photo by Jeff Roberts

After purchasing the property with a future getaway in mind, they camped on the site in an RV to fully immerse themselves and experience the lay of the land. A few years later, their dreams grew from keeping a vintage Airstream on-site to designing and building a retreat from scratch.

"I’ve always dreamed of designing my house, but I wasn’t sure it would be practical," Max says. He’s an engineer and she’s an artist—and the couple combined their talents to dream up their future forest dwelling.

The roof is made from locally milled hemlock board shingles. The homeowners decided to leave them natural to allow them to weather, and they’ll turn from bright tan to silvery gray over time. Four-foot-long boards in widths of four, six, and eight inches were laid with a deep overhang to give the roof a textured look.

Photo by Jeff Roberts

They approached Portland, Maine–based firm Winkelman Architecture to bring their vacation home to fruition, and what started as an inspiration board of A-frames and tree houses evolved into their very own tiny cabin. The couple collaborated closely with designers Lea Stagno and Alex Lehnen, and the firm handled everything from project management to designing and building the home and installing its kitchen cabinetry.

Oak kitchen cabinetry that was milled from on-site trees is topped with Deer Isle granite. Locally manufactured tile from nearby Camden adds a textured sheen, and Muuto pendant lights hang over the bar.

Photo by Jeff Roberts

See the full story on Dwell.com: Their Tiny A-Frame Cabin Is Made of Timber Sourced On-Site
Related stories: