A mature fir tree would be enclosed at the centre of this conceptual tubular glass house by Kazakh architect Aibek Almassov, which may finally become a reality now that potential investors have been found (+ slideshow). More about Tubular glass house by Aibek Almassov could be built around a full-grown tree
Metal and plastic shutters cover the walls of this residence in Spain's Catalonia region, which is split in two parts to provide seasonal quarters for a family (+ slideshow). More about "Schizophrenic" house in rural Spain provides separate winter and summer lodgings
UK studio Intervention Architecture has converted and extended a dilapidated Victorian coach house near Birmingham, England, to create a live-work space for a writer. More about Intervention Architecture transforms Victorian coach house into writer's home and studio
A pointy shingle-clad roof extends over this residence by Suppose Design Office and its garden, creating a sheltered outdoor area for cooking, reading and napping (+ slideshow). More about Suppose Design Office hides garden beneath oversized shingle roof of House in Anjo
French studio Ateliers Jean Nouvel has built a tower block in Nicosia, Cyprus, featuring perforated walls and wide balconies that are both bestrewn with plants (+ slideshow). More about Jean Nouvel's Cyprus tower has plants bursting through its walls
Corrugated iron and pre-weathered steel clad this shed-like house and stables, completed by Casey Brown Architects in the bushland of Australia's Kosciuszko National Park (+ slideshow). More about Casey Brown builds metal-clad house and stables in an Australian national park
Tectum used a combination of gridded and board-marked concrete for this residence, which is set in a gated community in the foothills of Argentina's Sierras Chicas mountains (+ slideshow). More about Raw concrete and black-painted metal give industrial appearance to house by Tectum
Sliding transparent partitions and a fold-out bench allow the bathroom within this Madrid apartment to become a communal area for all the family to relax (+ movie). More about Husos adds plant-filled "bathyard" to apartment in Madrid
Architect Luciano Kruk and his girlfriend Ekaterina Künzel designed themselves this concrete holiday house, which is set among a grove of maritime pines on the Argentinian coastline (+ slideshow). More about Rooftop pool offers sea views at Luciano Kruk's board-marked concrete summer house
Both levels of this holiday house on Spain's Costa Brava feature rooms that can be completely opened out to the elements, allowing residents to make the most of good weather (+ slideshow). More about Casa 1217 by H Arquitectes features rooms that can be indoors or outdoors
This end-of-terrace house in west London by Liddicoat & Goldhill features a fully glazed rear section that allows daylight to reach neighbouring properties (+ movie). More about Liddicoat & Goldhill adds brick and concrete townhouse to the end of a London terrace
Larch and corrugated metal both clad the triangular gables of this house by GENS: Association Libérale d'Architecture, which was designed to mimic neighbouring properties in France's Alsace region (+ slideshow). More about GENS "hides" a contemporary house inside a traditional but top-heavy Alsatian building
A growing thirst for contemporary design is transforming the market for house extensions in London, according to architects working in the city (+ slideshow). More about Londoners' "tastes have improved" say architects as home-extension market explodes
A wavy zinc-covered roof covers the front of this residence by Madrid practice GilBartolomé Architects, which is dug into a steep cliff face overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Spain's Granada province (+ slideshow). More about GilBartolomé Architects creates cavernous "Gaudiesque" residence with a zinc-shingled roof
Exposed concrete is paired with white furnishings in this two-level Kyoto property that Japanese studio UME Architects has converted into a photographer's home and atelier (+ slideshow). More about UME Architects creates home and studio for a photographer in revamped Kyoto apartment
Fibre-cement shingles cover this gabled barn in northeast France, which GENS: Association Libérale d'Architecture has converted into five apartments (+ slideshow). More about Cement shingles create scaly facade for French barn conversion by GENS
Studio Alexander Fehre used different wall and ceiling finishes to define the spaces of this 45-square-metre flat in central London. More about Alexander Fehre adds bright colours and patterned wallpapers to small London flat
Portuguese studio Aboim Inglez Arquitectos has converted and extended a century-old farmhouse near Lisbon to create a series of holiday homes overlooking the Alentejo plains (+ slideshow). More about Aboim Inglez Arquitectos adds bright white extension to farmhouse in rural Portugal
Mitsuharu Kojima Architects has created a sloped green floor inside a house in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, intended to be reminiscent of a grassy hillside (+ slideshow). More about Mitsuharu Kojima creates curved grass-like floor inside Japanese family house
Cocoon9, an American designer and manufacturer of prefabricated dwellings, has created a collection of micro homes, with the smallest one starting at 15 square metres (+ slideshow). More about Prefabricated tiny homes by Cocoon9 designed to meet demand for "efficiency and luxury"