Described by architecture studio De Rosee Sa as a "magical lakeside cabin", this small black hut in Belgium shares many characteristics with the witch's houses found in fairytales (+ movie). More about De Rosee Sa builds "strangely familiar" black cabin beside a lake in rural Belgium
Aamodt Plumb Architects divided this prefabricated house in Texas into two wings to avoid felling a group of trees, covering one half in black-charred timber and the other in bright white stucco. More about Lakefront Austin home by Aamodt Plumb Architects is split into two wings
Hood-like roofs funnel natural light into these brick terraced houses in London by Bell Phillips Architects, which provide cost-effective homes for elderly and disabled residents (+ slideshow). More about Bell Phillips rolls out a model for public housing on six Greenwich sites
Berlin studio Baumhauer has renovated a traditional farmhouse in the Swiss hamlet of Florins, inserting a timber structure that contains new living areas in place of an existing barn (+ slideshow). More about Baumhauer adds timber-lined living spaces to vernacular Swiss farmhouse
A glass study projects from the roof of this concrete house near Brussels, but it presents an austere windowless facade to the street (+ slideshow). More about Stark concrete house by ISM Architecten is topped with a glass study
Six vaulted skylights form the roof of this west London house by architecture studio vPPR, which also features two sunken courtyards (+ slideshow). More about Vaulted House by vPPR is a London residence topped by six protruding skylights
Behind a simple concrete exterior, this house by Japanese architect Tsubasa Iwahashi contains a complex arrangement of rooms connected by three different kinds of staircase (+ slideshow). More about Tsubasa Iwahashi completes Hyōgo house containing three types of staircase
Designer Greg Haji Joannides used historic photographs as a guide when creating a new contemporary interior for this earthquake-damaged house on the Greek island of Nisyros (+ slideshow). More about Greg Haji Joannides restores interior of ruined 17th-century Greek island house
New York firm Alloy has completed a row of skinny houses in Dumbo, with a concrete, wood and steel facade that is meant to reference the Brooklyn neighbourhood's industrial character (+ slideshow). More about Alloy completes skinny townhouses in Brooklyn's most expensive neighbourhood
New Yorkers are speaking out against a rash of super-tall skinny skyscrapers by architects including SHoP and Robert AM Stern, which they say will overshadow Central Park. More about Wave of super-tall towers in Manhattan sparks protests over shadows
An elevated terrace stretches along one side of this narrow house in Nara, Japan, providing the residents with glimpses into the neighbourhood (+ slideshow). More about House in Nara by Keiichi Sugiyama boasts a raised cedar terrace
New York-based SHoP Architects is designing Brooklyn's first super-tall skyscraper – a spindly structure that will rise 1,000 feet over the downtown district. More about Plans unveiled for super-tall tower in Brooklyn by SHoP Architects
Italian architect Stefano Boeri has revealed designs for a plant-covered 36-storey tower in Lausanne, Switzerland, continuing the "vertical forest" concept he trialled with a pair of towers in Milan (+ slideshow). More about Stefano Boeri unveils plans for "vertical forest" tower in Switzerland
Volcanic ash is mixed into the concrete shell of this angular house in central Tokyo, which was designed by Atelier Tekuto for a pair of chemists (+ slideshow). More about Atelier Tekuto completes crystalline concrete home for two chemists
Chilean studio MAPA has converted a vacant building in Santiago into an apartment block covered in zigzagging brickwork (+ slideshow). More about MAPA updates Chilean housing block with textured brick facade
Beijing-based Arch Studio has renovated this house in the city's Dongcheng district, adding a perforated-steel staircase designed to make climbing to the top feel like "walking into the sky". More about Arch Studio adds sculptural white staircase and glass roof extension to Beijing house
This stripy brick home stands among coconut trees on the shoreline of Ko Pha Ngan, an island in the Gulf of Thailand (+ slideshow). More about Coconut groves surround brick retirement home on a Thai beach by NPDA Studio
At this house for a racing driver, Czech studio Stempel & Tesar has shifted the living spaces upstairs to make room for a car workshop below (+ slideshow). More about Car workshop takes priority at Stempel & Tesar's house for a racing driver
A traditional Japanese construction method was used for this house in Tokyo, which features four wooden columns arranged in a square to support the rest of the timber frame (+ slideshow). More about FT Architects' 4 Columns house features a traditional timber frame and minimal interior
Taiwanese studio HAO Design installed a play area in the kitchen of this family home so the children could spend more time with their parents. More about HAO Design adds wooden slide and swings to family home in Taiwan