Nico Van Der Meulen Architects (or simply Nico) are a team of registered architects with the South African Council and they have a truly impressive portfolio. The first project from Nico we would like to show you is called “The Glass House” and is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The brief included the fact that the future owner of the house wanted a “glamorous contemporary open-plan light-filled house that offered a view to the garden from every room”. The garden is not exactly a classical one, but a modern green space which includes a pool and a decorative round fountain. We will let you enjoy the pictures now and all the elements that make this house a dream crib.- via HDF

In the dusty desert lands of Southern California, two hours east from the city of Los Angeles, lies the Volcano House: a concrete modernist masterpiece that sits on top of a small volcanic peak.  Truss beams and heavily-laid concrete formed the desert dome, which radiates a sort of tongue-in-cheek brutalism that screams 1960s American modernism both inside and out.  For all of its exterior charm and interesting location, what would this location be without ten subterranean floors equipped with henchmen barracks and villainous shark tanks?  Once you get your rocket launching pad permitted, be sure to install a vintage 1960s-era computer to control it’s targeting system… I mean, what’s the use of good interior design if there’s no consistency? – via

In 1961, the Boston Architect Henry Wood purchased this amazing island mansion with his wife for only $3,600 on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Today, the Clingstone House (designed by J.S. Lovering Wharton with artist William Trost Richards) is a warm all-wood home with a 360-degree view of the ocean. Three stories tall, the Clingstone House has a large center hall, ten bedrooms and total of twenty-three rooms total. It would be hard to find a deal like this on today’s market for that little money, despite the fact that the salt and water-wear from the surrounding ocean on the oak beams would make maintenance of this spectacular mansion ridiculously expensive. But hey, you do what you have to do to live in your own version of paradise!

This place is definitely not for those who have a water phobia or who mind seeing a few boats swinging near by when looking out the window.  Located in Lake Union, Seattle, this floating residence is a display of tasteful interior and exterior design. Its room structure was designed so that all the private areas like bedrooms and bathrooms be placed on the ground floor in order for the second story to be dedicated to one large entertainment room. Sliding doors reveal an outdoor terrace for relaxing and enjoying the views. The masterminds behind this project were  Vandeventer + Carlander Architects from Seattle, USA.

Bates Masi Architects is a company located in Long Island whose portfolio includes school, houses, offices and furniture. They say they are not interested in the size or type of their upcoming projects, but rather in  “the opportunity to enrich lives and enhance the environment”. This particular house was elaborated for a couple with a growing family. It has two floors and spacious rooms with high quality interior design. However, the most important role in the project was played by the exterior which does not lack a swimming area, “fireside entertaining”, playing grounds and sport lawns.