Set in the rural landscape of Central West NSW, Kavillo Studios reinterpret the region’s building traditions with a modern, sustainable approach. Designed as four studio dwellings, the structures draw inspiration from nearby shearing sheds and historic pisé (rammed earth) buildings. Their striking t

How divided are America’s feelings about California? Ponder a curious poll of 1,000 American adults conducted for Clever Real Estate, which asked about various traits of the 50 states. My trusty spreadsheet’s review of this popularity contest dug into the nation’s love-hate relationship with the Gol

One way Californians cope with pricey housing is by squeezing more than the typical number of people into their living spaces. My trusty spreadsheet identified this affordability twist by analyzing 2024 Census Bureau housing details for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. These latest figure

Set in Melbourne’s Eaglemont, Villa XXIII by FGR Architects draws inspiration from both art and landscape. The site sits just below the grounds where the Heidelberg School painters once captured the Australian bush in the late 19th century. Their legacy of plein air expression, tied to natural light

In Kaunas, Lithuania, this residence by Architectural Bureau G. Natkevicius & Partners takes a bold yet quiet stance. Instead of rising above its neighborhood, the house embeds into a sloping site, its angular roofline echoing the ground’s natural grade. From the street, it reads restrained, but fro

San Diego is the epicenter of surfing in the mainland United States, it’s in our DNA. The greats of surfboard design—Skip Frye, Rusty Preisendorfer, Gary Linden and Justin Ternes—got their start in the city. The fish and the egg surfboard shapes were first pioneered in San Diego waters and are large

San Diego’s home market was as quiet as ever during the dog days of summer. The median home price was $900,000 in July in San Diego County, according to Attom Data Solutions, which combines sales of single-family homes, townhouses and condos. The median has been unchanged for five months and flat an

Here is yet another way to look at the financial challenges of California homeownership: Recurring costs eat up more than half of household income for roughly 1 in 6 owners statewide. My trusty spreadsheet identified this affordability challenge by analyzing 2024 Census Bureau housing data for the 5

Set in a forested landscape outside Montreal, this residence by Desjardins Bherer reworks a 1990s structure into a light-filled retreat. The architects opened the footprint by removing part of the ground floor and enclosing an extension in glass, creating a double-height living area that frames view

In Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Casa Sofía by HACEDORMAKER_ sits on a forested cliff facing the Atlantic. From the street, its concrete facade stays closed and private, but inside, the plan opens directly to a patio, pool, and uninterrupted ocean views. The house is organized by a T-shaped layout. Privat

In Melbourne, Australia, FGR Architects designed the Concrete Curtain House as a calm presence within a chaotic suburban streetscape. The façade is defined by pleated concrete columns, a rhythmic brise soleil that provides privacy, controls sunlight, and sets the tone of the home’s restrained geomet

We don’t spend enough time discussing the financial burden renters face, such as housing expenses eating up more than half of the incomes of roughly 1-in-4 California tenants. My trusty spreadsheet identified this affordability challenge by analyzing 2024 Census Bureau housing data for the 50 states

Set in the open pastures of Drummond, Victoria, the Mingela Polo Residence by FGR Architects is a flat, pavilion-style home designed to dissolve into the Australian landscape. The structure appears to hover above the terrain, defined by a floating concrete deck and floor-to-ceiling glazing on three

In Sydney’s inner-west, the Leichhardt House reimagines an 1882 worker’s cottage as a modern sanctuary. Designed by Porebski Architects, the renovation respects the original structure while introducing bold spatial connections and natural light that dramatically expand the compact footprint. At the

The Fowler & Ward x Base Cabin tiny house turns compact living into an adventure. At just 215 square feet, it swaps a standard loft ladder for a mini climbing wall and opens up with large bifold doors that connect the interior to the outdoors. There’s space for four to sleep, a skylight for stargazi

Set along the rugged edge of Harbor Springs, Michigan, the Lower Shore Residence by Lucid Architecture embraces its position on Lake Michigan with a design tuned to water, wind, and seasonal change. The home is organized into three distinct volumes: two wood-clad wings for private functions and a ta

“Sometimes people say, ‘Hey, I saw your pot on Etsy for $1,000,’ and I probably sold it for about $100. But I would make pots even if I couldn’t sell them. I’d give them away if I had to. At 15, I managed to sneak into the Marine Corps. I was six-foot-one-and-a-half and weighed 200 pounds. They didn

Here’s a smidgen of good news for California house hunters: Mild discounting is underway. My trusty spreadsheet peeked at a Zillow report tracking total home values for the year ending in June and the pandemic era — February 2020 through June 2025. Zillow totaled all of its price estimates for every

Suspended among the treetops of Quebec, this striking cabin by Kariouk Architects looks more like a futuristic mirage than a woodland retreat. Perched on a steel support above a rocky cliff, the cantilevered black volume hovers dramatically over the forest floor, creating the sensation of floating i

Listen to our Ultimate California Mixtape below featuring each artist Some of the most famous musicians on the planet got their start in California—the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Cher, Snoop Dogg, and Fergie, to name a modest handful. But before they were topping charts and selling out stadiums, the