These waterside homes blend perfectly into their surroundings

Love water, nature and the built environment? Then here are some ideal works of architecture for you

For millennia, the task of most home builders was to keep nature and water out. However, as our new book Living on Water demonstrates, more recently architects have been finding clever ways to bring the sea, rivers and lakes closer, and sometimes even into, our living space. Here are a few of their finest creations from or new book.

 

Newberg Residence (Cutler Anderson Architects), Newberg, Oregan, USA, 2013
Newberg Residence (Cutler Anderson Architects), Newberg, Oregan, USA, 2013

Newberg Residence (Cutler Anderson Architects), Newberg, Oregan, USA, 2013 This single-storey family residence in a densely wooded reserve, was built largely from specially treated timber. In the surface of the reflecting pond, the house, the sky, and the nearby trees coalesce into a singular, idyllic vision of country living. 

 

El Ray (Simon Conder Associates) Dungeness Beach, Kent, UK, 2008
El Ray (Simon Conder Associates) Dungeness Beach, Kent, UK, 2008

El Ray (Simon Conder Associates) Dungeness Beach, Kent, UK, 2008 Located on the Kent coast, not far from the Dungeness power station, the site was occupied by a single re-used railway carriage. Rather than ditch the carriage, the architects chose to construct a highly insulating, natural timber structure around it, ensuring the building is cool in the summer months and warm in the winter. Two enclosed courtyards built into the tulip-shaped plan act as windbreaks. 

 

Summer House (Anttinen Oiva Architects), Helsinki, Finland, 2016
Summer House (Anttinen Oiva Architects), Helsinki, Finland, 2016

Summer House (Anttinen Oiva Architects), Helsinki, Finland, 2016 Positioned between a pine forest and the water, this simple summer house sits parallel to the shoreline and is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. A large, undulating roof—which follows the topography of the site—creates grand eaves that serve as shelter from the sun, rain, and prevailing winds. A sparsely furnished but intelligently organized sequence of rooms allow for almost every space to have panoramic views of the water.

 

Loblolly House (KieranTimberlake) Taylors Island, Maryland, USA, 2006
Loblolly House (KieranTimberlake) Taylors Island, Maryland, USA, 2006

Loblolly House (KieranTimberlake) Taylors Island, Maryland, USA, 2006 Situated between a pine wood and a salt meadow stretching down to the water, the house is elevated on columns—all slightly askew—which are, as a result, camouflaged to blend in with the trees beyond. Composed of tinted glass, this hearthlike structure takes on an orange glow when the sun moves west.

 

Living on Water
Living on Water

For more beautiful waterside real estate, order a copy of Living on Water here.