Summer has always carried a promise of freedom: of time to ourselves, of moments lived differently. Maybe that means a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the sea or the hush of a mountain cabin where only the breeze and birds disturb the silence.
Perhaps it’s plunging into a cool forest lake after a hot hike or enjoying late evenings with friends under a canopy of stars.
Our book Summer Houses captures these feelings and reinvents them as architectural form. Summer Houses presents fifty extraordinary retreats from across the globe, each one an experiment in how we might best reset our lives through architecture.
The best summer houses aren’t defined by size, budget, or luxury. They can be grand or humble, near or far, but what unites them is the sense of connection that they foster to places, to people, and with ourselves. Using elemental materials such as stone, glass, concrete, and wood, and with design that blurs the boundaries between inside and out, these are homes that somehow encourage us to live more simply and more mindfully.
From Harbour Island in the Bahamas to mountain villages in Argentina, from the Greek Cyclades to the rugged coast of Chile – these houses span continents and climates yet are united by the timeless spirit of summer. Each project is brought to life with lavish photography, and the accompanying texts highlight distinctive qualities of each house, making this book both a source of inspiration and a manual for experimentation.
Featured architects include: Tom Dixon, Steven Harris Architects, Adrian James Architects, Olson Kundig, LEVER Architecture, Studio mk27, NADAAA, Norm Architects, OODA, Atelier du Pont, Studio Saxe, Fran Silvestre Arquitectos, Walker Warner Architects, and Antonio Zaninovic.
Featured destinations include: Australia, Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the US.
Summer Houses is an escape in itself, almost a holiday on a page—one that lingers long after summer ends. Here are 5 of our current favorites (and a few of the most surprising) from the book.
The Lake House, 2023, Berlin, Germany - Sigurd Larsen
The Lake House, 2023, Berlin, Germany. Sigurd Larsen. Picture credit: Kkrom services
Berlin is best known for its bustling cityscape, but there are green peninsulas and natural hideouts that provide a different kind of experience. In the context of an adjacent lake, Danish architect Sigurd Larsen’s sports facility offers a modern interpretation of a traditional retreat. Inspired by the local vernacular design of the Brandenburg region, the complex evokes the silhouette of boathouses, harmonizing with—or maybe even imitating—the surrounding forest and water. It comprises five staggered timber volumes with pitched roofs, each thoughtfully designed to serve a distinct purpose. The southernmost structure provides guest apartments with panoramic lake views; the central volume is dedicated to communal interaction and houses the open-plan kitchen; the tallest of the five functions as a flexible hall for exhibitions and events; the wellness pavilion offers a sauna and meditation room for relaxation; and the northernmost structure houses therapy studios. The timber construction, with its timber-clad facades, ensures durability and a timeless aesthetic, while the unusual bricolage of wood-framed windows creates large glass facades that bring to mind a modern variation on a treehouse. The dynamic roof pitches create varied interior volumes that offer intimate nooks and open-plan spaces, always keeping in view the forest canopy and lake. Each volume is oriented on the site to catch specific moments of light during the day, further deepening the relationship with nature and the adjacent lake. Tall wooden columns that support the structure from the inside enhance the magical yet restrained treehouse atmosphere.
The Infinite Rise, 2023, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India - Earthscape Studio
The Infinite Rise, 2023. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Earthscape Studio.
Picture credit: Studio IKSHA
The mountain ranges of Tamil Nadu are home to the village of Anaikatti (meaning “a group of elephants”), which is traversed by the Siruvani River, said to have some of the sweetest water in the world. Situated on a natural rock bed, the residence makes use of preexisting land cut about 20 ft (6 m) deep, allowing the semicircular structure to fit naturally into the landscape. A breathtaking view of the deep valley serves as the focal point for orienting the living spaces, further accentuated by an open courtyard that brings natural lighting and gentle ventilation into the structure. As the region often experiences intense winds ranging from unpleasant to harmful, the architects have introduced a gabion wall constructed with locally sourced rocks. As well as shielding the interior from the harsh elements, this design intervention uniquely frames the panorama, creating indirect views that simultaneously expose and hide. The walls between the spaces are crafted from poured earth that was excavated on-site, simplifying construction and reinforcing the circularity of the materials used. Sustainability is at the forefront of the design, with all wooden elements, ranging from doors to furniture, crafted from reclaimed scrap materials. To maintain a cooler temperature, the interior flooring uses Indian Patent Stone— a cement-based flooring material popular in India—finished with green oxide. A well-placed body of water between the rooms and the gabion wall further cools the air that enters the living spaces. Outside, an infinity pool allows swimmers to merge with the valley’s mountainous backdrop.
Workshop House, 2022, La Paisanita, Córdoba, Argentina - Agustín Berzero + Manuel Gonzalez Veglia (Tectum Arquitectura)
Workshop House, 2022, La Paisanita, Córdoba, Argentina. Agustín Berzero + Manuel Gonzalez Veglia (Tectum Arquitectura). Picture credit: Federico Cairoli
Solitude, tranquility, and isolation define the Workshop House (Casa Taller) by Agustín Berzero and Manuel González Veglia in the forest and mountain environment of La Paisanita in Argentina’s Córdoba region. On the inside, basic functions are accompanied by the comfort of fragrant wood and a fireplace. While the loft like living and sleeping spaces on the main floor feature large windows that open up toward the surrounding landscape, immersing inhabitants in the cinematic silence of nature, the mezzanine floor above provides an intimate space to work and write, with only a small square window possibly distracting from the task at hand. Full introspection is supported by the diffused light from the lower floor. Structurally, the slim, rectangular volume is made of exposed concrete and rests on lightweight stilts, allowing the landscape underneath to remain unspoiled by construction. Conceptually, the stilts run up the building and divide the volume into four equal sections, finally resulting in a raised square structure—think of Sol LeWitt’s Open Cube artworks—that crowns the terrace and adorns the monolithic facade. The house is accessed by crossing a bridge that connects the mountain to the terrace, linking to a staircase that runs down the retaining back wall—an entrance that further enhances the feeling of being far off the beaten track and nestled into nature in a contemplative, protective setting, strong yet gentle. Last but not least, a stunning view of the mountains and lush vegetation all around makes it possible to observe the changing light conditions throughout the day while listening to the river below.
Alma Residence, 2022, Harbour Island, Bahamas - Brillhart Architecture + Garth Sawyer
Alma Residence, 2022, Harbour Island, Bahamas. Brillhart Architecture + Garth
Sawyer. Picture credit: Stephan Goettlicher
Pink sand sets the tone on the namesake beach of Harbour Island, which this property overlooks. The narrowness of the plot allows for intimacy and a surprising arrival experience as one ascends the slim walkway that leads to the house. Rather than a single dwelling, the house comprises six different structures that are grouped together, forming an ecology of tropical island pavilions. This innovative composition has multiple advantages. First, it conditions its inhabitants to use outdoor pathways to move between different functions and spaces, ensuring that the outdoor context permeates the experience at all times. This effect is enhanced through operable windows, which easily dissolve the boundary between indoors and outdoors. At the same time, they provide shelter from winds and storms without obstructing the views. Thanks to the varied positioning of each structure, every space offers distinct qualities in terms of light, breeze, views, and temperature. Striking a balance between comfort and wilderness is never easy, yet in this case, the generous indoor spaces offer a cozy experience that blends seamlessly with the site’s natural surroundings, which include more than seventy native palm trees. Grounding the project even more in its local context, red cedar wood has been used for the roof structure, drawing on the island’s vernacular architecture, which traditionally features exposed rafters and purlins while allowing for impressive ceiling heights. To ensure the privacy of additional guests, a dedicated pavilion sits at the highest point of the lot, where the surroundings become more junglelike and the sound of sea waves fills the air.
Concrete House by the Ocean, 2023, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines - MB Architecture Studio
Concrete House by the Ocean, 2023, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines.
MB Architecture Studio. Picture credit: Miguel Nacianceno
Perched on a cliffside overlooking the South China Sea, Micaela Benedicto’s Concrete House by the Ocean lives up to its name. The brutalist construction by MB Architecture Studio, situated in Nasugbu—within a region known for aquaculture, tourism, and the cultivation of sugarcane, rice, fruit, vegetables and, coconut—is an open-air pavilion. Boundaries between interior and exterior spaces are blurred to a maximum through its strategic placement on the highest point of the plot, which makes it at times seem as if one were on the sea. The concrete was cast in situ using recycled wooden planks, giving the dwelling a rough yet uniform appearance. A main volume in the middle serves as a long, open-plan living area that can be fully opened to the elements, the terrace, and the poolside via retractable glazing on both sides. Above, the roof doubles as a viewing deck, offering breathtaking vistas of ocean and sky. Flanking the central living space are two discreet volumes housing the bedrooms, while the lower ground floor accommodates a caretaker’s quarters and utility area. The use of concrete ledges throughout protects from the region’s heat and rain. While the absence of exterior ceilings or wall finishes may seem like a purely aesthetic choice, it is also a strategy that ensures longevity and low maintenance, as such elements could deteriorate in the humid seaside climate. The thoughtful design and material choices continue on the inside with smooth concrete flooring, exposed wall details, modern furniture, and understated fixtures, ensuring that the panorama remains the protagonist.
