Better know for his furniture design, Danish American Jens Risom is credited with being one of the first designers to bring Scandinavian design over from Europe. This house was built for Risom and his family in 1967 as a summer retreat on a secluded lot out on Block Island. Using a somewhat standard post and beam prefab structure from a local builder and added some design touches of his own. The one main accent which made the house so iconic is a fenestrated facade spanning from the peak of the roof right down to the porch. A glass wall like this ushers in a huge amount of light and also provides an unobstructed view out to the ocean from almost anywhere in the house. In 1967 just after completion the house was featured in LIFE magazine and these two photos are from group, which accompanied the article.

(via Dwell »)

Architects Bosworth Hoedemaker revived this building from a 1950s boat shed into a rich light filled little escape. Obvious inspiration was drawn from nautical design and the utilitarian interior ends up being equal parts function and comfort. The Hood Canal Boathouse as it has been named can open up on warm days to embrace the amazing view or be all shuttered up to greet a storm. Simple explorations in living space such as this are really inspiring to me because they help us understand how we can live with less space and thus a smaller foot print.

(via FFFFOUND! »)

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After a visit to Orcas Island many years ago the client for Eagle Ridge Residence decided she would one day live there. Decades went by and finally she was able to purchase a small forested lot with a variety of trees and views looking out over the San Jaun and Canadian Gulf Islands. Gary Gladwish Architects solved the design for this house by creating equal parts finished and unfinished space. The section that was left raw is for both storage and studio space, but will eventually be converted to more additional living space. Another important aspect of the design are the glass walls, which were constructed in such a way that they can slide out of the way opening the interior to nature and in turn the views.

(via Daily Icon »)

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I find myself posting about Andersson-Wise multiple times per week and I think that is a true testament to the skill.

Amongst ponderosa pines and looking out over a shale cliff onto Montana’s Flat Head Lake this modern cabin is equally a home as it is an observation point. From he protected porch or the cantilevered deck that juts out into the trees I can definitely see how you could just sit back and take in the beauty of the outdoors. An ever increasing need I feel is to have a greater, or at least stronger bond and friendship between architecture and nature.

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