Residential houses, villas, and retreats are increasingly being designed as places of pause—spaces where architecture supports rest, reflection, and stronger connections to nature. Rather than focusing solely on urban living or compact efficiency, these homes are set in remote, scenic, or rural locations, where the landscape becomes an essential part of daily life. Through careful siting, use of natural materials, and open layouts, they offer an elevated standard of living that is both intentional and grounded in place.
Across climates and contexts, from the forests of Germany to the riversides of Vietnam and the islands of Greece, these unbuilt projects propose new ways of shaping domestic space. Whether through courtyards, modular grids, or panoramic terraces, they explore how homes can balance privacy and openness, tradition and innovation, while staying closely tied to their natural surroundings. Each month, ArchDaily's editors curate a selection of conceptual projects around a shared theme or program. Submitted by offices of all scales from around the world, these proposals reflect the diversity and creativity of our global architecture community, whether they are competition entries, early-stage designs, or purely conceptual studies. Submissions are open to everyone. If you wish to contribute, follow the instructions here.
