Austin, Texas is the place to be. Check out the latest project by MJ Neal Architects. Entitled the Wolfe Den, they’ve seamlessly blended natural and industrial elements with modern cues. Measuring at 2400 square feet, MJ Neal makes use of every inch while keeping the home airy and spacious.

In addition to its nice aesthetics, Wolfe Den is also eco-considered. As the architects describe, “The house, although conventionally framed, used green methodology and materials: Slab on grade with diamond ground finish. Bio-base (soy) blow-in insulation for the exterior wall and roof. Recycled denim insulation on the interior walls. Recycled rubber flooring on the upper level. Formaldehyde-free plywood. Low-voc paint. Ipe hard-wood from sustainably managed forests. Locally manufactured brick. Fluorescent and low voltage lighting. Geothermal HVAC system. The house is also photo-voltaic ready for when budget allows.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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Within contemporary architecture, you’ll see firms take drastic stands against the traditional designs of their neighbors. For instance a futuristic building might come swerving out of a street corner while adjacent buildings stand frozen in history. Don’t get us wrong, we like our fair share of independent expression on the backdrop of things more orthodox, but we really appreciate it when an architect can bridge the two worlds – when they can take modern elements and fuse them with traditional ones making the entire city block look like a family, no matter how distant the cousins. That’s why 45 Rue Louis Blanc is one of our favorite designs from Emmanuel Combarel Dominique Marrec Architects (ECDM).

As ECDM describes: “The construction of the housing project at 45 rue Louis Blanc in the Xth Arrondissement of Paris is the result of a project launched in 1998 by the Paris city real-estate authority. The property developer was expected to take a piece of land measuring about 600 m² and replace an abandoned squat there which had been slotted for demolition with a low-cost building that adhered to the High Environmental Quality standards still being determined at the time. The building that architects Dominique Marrec and Emmanuel Combarel completed in early 2007 meets this challenge with both efficiency and elegance.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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ODOS Architects hit the sweet spot of modern architecture with their Grangegorman Residence in Dublin, Ireland. Built for a motorcycle enthusiast, the home stands apart from the more traditional stylings of the neighborhood. Using various textures to delineate the floors, the home maintains a simple elegance while proposing a distinct style of its own.

The ground floor of the Grangegorman uses super minimal elements to create a beautiful workshop and showroom for the owner’s bike collection. As you make your way through the home, the upper floors house the living quarters where built-in book shelves, bold lines and open spaces create a comfortable airy atmosphere. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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Space is becoming a prized commodity. The Loft Cube presents rooftop living for the adventurous. At first this seemed pretty out there, but as we read up on these ingenious inventions, they’re pretty cool. With the sudden boom of pre-fab modern housing, the Loft Cube makes perfect sense.

The entire body of the Loft Cube can be customized to the buyer’s needs. From the interior to the exterior, there are tons of options for the modernist in all of us. You’ll have to build this yourself, assembly takes about 2-4 days and the site warns that ‘on-roof’ placement via cranes or helicopters requires extra planning permission. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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It’s that time of year. Monocle releases their annual Top 25 Most Livable Cities. This year’s winner is Zürich. Selected for their notable investments in transportation, low crime rates and easy paced living, Zürich should be proud. Other cities that made the top 25 list include Lisbon, Honolulu, Copenhagen and Vienna. Agree or disagree, we enjoy Monocle’s unique analysis of what makes a city livable. They’ve recorded a brief report on the top 25. Be sure to take a listen.

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If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with modern flair, check out Norman Foster’s recent work – a mediterranean villa. Perched high on a rocky cliff, the structure uses natural obstacles to create an interesting architectural concept.

As Adelto reports: “Working within the constraints of an existing tower-like structure situated on a steep site overlooking the Mediterranean, architect Norman Foster created a seven-level, 6,500-square-foot modernist villa. In the living area, an 18-ton angled retractable glass wall and sun louvers allow the inside and the outside to dissolve into one.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.

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