As the July 2016 architecture trends reveal, designers are increasingly looking for new ways to bring us closer to the natural world. Whether this means building in a remote location or bringing a bit of green space to an urban metropolis, there is a clear demand for fusing modern architecture with elements of nature.
One of the most unique ways that architects are bringing consumers closer to nature is by building in areas that were once thought to be inhospitable. For example, the German architect Matthias Arndt built a triangular home perched on the edge of a threatening cliff side. Similarly, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff created a series of floating piers located in the middle of Italy's Lake Iseo.
However, the July 2016 architecture trends demonstrate that not everyone is willing to live off-the-grid in order to get closer to nature. As an alternative solution, many architects have found creative ways to add elements of nature to modern buildings. These examples include office towers with terraced gardens, lounges flanked by living walls and villas covered in natural vegetation.
Top 90 Architecture Ideas in July
From Serene Oceanside Chapels to Landscaped Rooftop Terraces:
Katherine Pendrill — Jul 31, 2016 — Art & Design
88
Solar Canopy Designs
Brooklyn SolarWorks Creates Canopies to Make the Most of Rooftop Space
87
Fairy Tale Green Homes
These Green Roof Houses Save on Energy and Look Stunning
86
Triangle Cliff Houses
Matthias Arndt Designs an IncrediblePermanent Tipi-Like Concept
85
Economical Off-Grid Cabins
This Heated Cabin Offers Refuge From the Pacific Northwest Winter
84
Efficient Home Designs
Hennebery Eddy Architects' Home is Loaded with Self-Sufficient Features
83
Monolithic Mountainside Homes
The Rainforest House Surprisingly Blends Into Its Surroundings
82
Passive House Factories
This Sustainable Factory's Design Lives Up to The Company's Purpose
81
Luxurious Co-Working Spaces
This Co-Work Space Adapts to More Modern Work Practices
80
Printed Concrete Micro-Homes
This Concrete Tiny House Was 3D-Printed in Just 24 Hours
79
Minimalist Marble Homes
Fran Silvestre Arquitectos' 'Aluminum House' Project is Monumental
78
Plant-Filled Lounges
Alberto Caiola's Cocktail Bar Has Walls Coated in Plant Installations
77
Modern Indonesian Homes
This Beautiful Home Offers Privacy in a Bustling City
76
3D-Printed Home Concepts
This 3D-Printed Freeform House Maximizes Curb Appeal
75
Modern Barns
AW Works Converted an Old Barn Into a Relaxing Retreat
74
Whimsical Tiny Homes
The 'Moon Dragon' Home Brings Fairy Tale Designs to Small Living
73
Vegetation-Covered Villas
This Eco-Friendly Villa Blends in With Natural Surroundings
72
Floating Sustainable Housing
The Freedom Cove British Columbia House Resides on the Ocean
71
Curvaceous Tiny Homes
This New Rocky Mountain Tiny House Features a Massive Curved Roof
70
Domed Energy Conserving Homes
The Zome Alloy Abodes Utilize Solar Energy in Residential Spaces
69
Tide-Proof Cabins
This Home is Structured to Accommodate High Tide Without Flooding
68
Pop-Up Garden Oases
This Empty Storefront Was Transformed into a Tranquil Temporary Venue
67
Forest-Inspired Offices
This Office Design is Inspired by Its Company's Service
66
Stacked Rectilinear Residences
Johnsen Schmaling Architects' Door County Home Embodies Minimalism
65
Passively Cooled Homes
This Modern Home Employs Passive Cooling Techniques To Reduce Energy
64
Off-Grid Tiny Homes
This Dutch Tiny Home Embraces Contemporary Design and Modern Technologies
63
Modular Architecture Exhibits
RAW SHIFT Shows How Buildings Evolve by Adapting to Crowds
62
Lush Stacked Villas
These Villas are the Second Addition to a Communal Landscape Design
61
Wooden Checkered Pavilions
Jingxiang Zhu Designs a Heritage Pavilion Using Panels and Lattice
60
Slatted Contemporary Homes
Wolveridge Architects' Torquay Residence Boasts a Monumental Facade
59
Renovated Transparent Offices
What Was Once a Factory is Now an Office with a Translucent Design
58
Monumental Mexican Resorts
Mar Adentro Hotel and Residences Embodies Contemporary Elegance
57
Enormous Pier Installations
The Floating Piers on Lake Iseo Offer Stunning Sights of Italy
56
Floating Water Skyscrapers
The Conceptual 'Seascraper' Building Solution to Combat Homelessness
55
Steel Screened Abodes
Diaz Puanetto Arquitectos Adds Artistry to a Window Using Geometric Panels
54
Modern Fortress Homes
The 'Shell House' Combines the Luxury of a Villa with High Security Features
53
Mosaic Tile Homes
This Artsy Home is Completely Covered in Colorful Tiles
52
Geometric Rainbow Architecure
The Design of This High School Provides a Bright Learning Space
51
Modern Suburban Homes
This Standard Home Was Upgraded With More Modern Features
50
Cozy Office Spaces
This Office Manages to Make Cubicles Look Inviting
49
Landscaped Rooftop Terraces
The Shenye TaiRan Building Boasts Stunning "Secret" Gardens
48
Whimsical Tea Pavilions
These Armadillo-Inspired Canopies Create a Versatile and Comfortable Space
47
Glass-Paneled Office Spaces
This Office Has Many Indoor Windows That Give It a Playful Aesthetic
46
Rustic Office Spaces
This Office Combines Modern Amenities with a Rustic Charm
45
Serene Oceanside Chapels
The Design of This Beach Chapel Leaves Space for the Tide to Roll In
44
L-Shaped Homes
In Situ Studio Designs a Contemporary House in North Carolina
43
Airy Contemporary Apartments
Lucas y Hernández-Gil Arquitectos' CC58 Project Boasts Vivid Details
42
Glass-Covered Serpentine Homes
This Serpentine Architecture is Connected With a White Ribbon
41
Triangular Cliffside Homes
This Fictional Home is Perched Right on Top of a Steep Decline
40
Robotic Sculptural Art
This Robotic Sculpture is on Display at the Rose Beton Festival
39
Converted Stable Studios
What Once Functioned as a Stable and Garage is Now a Studio Space
38
Home-Building Robots
This Free-Form Robotic Printer Can Print Construction Materials
37
Landscape-Blending Houses
This Rural Home Design Hides Within Its Snowy Terrain
36
Canopied Train Stations
This Taiwanese Train Station Design Offers Expansive Public Space
35
Galatic Spacecraft Abodes
This Home in Australia is Similar in Shape to the Millennium Falcon
34
Sculptural Spiral Staircases
This Sculptural Staircase Resembles a Tornado
33
Miniature Urban Scenes
Ryan Monogan Makes Mini Sculptures Inspired by Urban Locations
32
Converted Garage Libraries
This Garage Was Converted into a Home Library
31
Furniture Brand Museums
An IKEA Museum is Opening to Showcase the Iconic Swedish Furniture
30
Sustainable Housing Exhibits
'Saving the City' Shows Architects How to Improve Urban Areas
29
Connecting Interactive Structures
This Unique Steel Path Brings Together Separated Spaces
28
Shimmering Island Walkways
The Floating Piers Project Lets People Walk Between Islands
27
Sustainable Park Concepts
This Environmentally Friendly Park Will Be in Downtown Los Angeles
26
Pop-Up Studio Spaces
'Minima Moralia' Provides an Affordable Place for Artists to Work in London
25
Sloping Music Schools
The Conceptual Mevaseret Makes Use of the Natural Incline of the Terrain
24
Pop-Up Religious Buildings
These Buildings Will Accommodate All Religions in Refugee Camps
23
Bookshelf Library Exteriors
The Kansas City Library Was Painted to Look Like a Row of Books
22
Circular Pavilion Designs
This Pavilion is Made Up of Many Circles That Form a Maze
21
Undulated Box Towers
The Annual Serpentine Gallery Pavillon is Comprised of Stacked Hollow Blocks
20
Sustainable Wooden Churches
The 'Excelsior' Parish in Norway Offers a Modern and Ecological Design
19
Confiscated Land Exhibits
This Project Shows the Struggles Faced in Urban Italian Areas
18
Ventilated Home Exteriors
This Home Exterior Features a Prominent Teak Screen
17
Geometric School Designs
The Maritime University of Malmo Takes on a Sculptural Appearance
16
Modern Shakespearian Amphitheatres
Studio Andrew Todd's Circular Theatre is Built Out of Wood
15
Prismatic Tower Designs
Skidmore, Owings & Merril Created a Building with Light-Reflecting Windows
14
Brand-Reflecting Canteens
This Coca-Cola Space Offers Multi-Use with Subtle Company Referencing
13
Wood-Framed High-Rises
This Swedish Architecture Firm Will Design a Cultural Center with Wood
12
Integrated Forest Juiceries
Cold Pressed Juicery Integrates a Living Tree into the Store Interior
11
Upcycled Architecture Exhibits
This Exibit at the Venice Biennale Uses 100 Tons of Recycled Waste
10
Architectural Model Museums
'Kenchiku Soko' is a Destination for Viewing Architectural Models
9
Willow-Wrapped Art Centers
Patrick Dougherty Created a Stunning Sculpture Made from Willow Trees
8
Sterile Dentist Office Decor
Ylab Arquitectos' Valles & Valles Dental Office Embodies Minimalism
7
Milk Carton-Shaped Homes
This Japanese Home Uses a Milk Carton Design as Its Inspiration
6
Trash-Made Bricks
WasteBasedBricks by StoneCycling Embraces Eco Practices in Architecture
5
Glass Airplane Apertures
This US Air Force Academy Features a Skylight Shaped Like a Plane's Wing
4
Glistening Glass Buildings
This All-Glass Office Building in Hong Kong Reduces Energy Consumption
3
Elevated Park Pathways
The 'Loop' by Rastvorgroup Offers an Aerial View of Natural Surroundings
2
Tube-Shaped Theater Buildings
Fuksas Created an Unconventional and Futuristic Exhibition Space
1
Timber Township Developments
Ornsro Timber Town Features Wooden Buildings and Parkland
Related Ideas
Nest-Inspired Urban Houses
This Vietnamese Dwelling Offers Respite From the Concrete Jungle
Japanese Minimalism Portland Homes
SHED Architecture & Design Created the Mori House in Portland
Plant-Based Cabin Constructions
Moontower Design Build Creates the Cross Cabin in Austin
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Plant-Based Timber Cabins
Moontower Design Build Has Created the Cross Cabin in Austin
Comfortable Desert Retreats
IOAN Designs the Landing House with Minimized Nature Disruption
Eco-Friendly Offices
Office@27 by Sanjay Puri Architects is Enhanced by Ancient Indian Principles
Treehouse-Inspired Norwegian Residences
This House Aesthetically Connects With its Surroundings
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Window-Accented Garden Homes
CAN Designs the Verdant House with a Luscious Garden
Discreet Architectural Polish Homes
Mobius Architekci Designs the Loop House in Rural Poland
Charred-Wood Tranquil Pavilions
Temp Designs the 3-to-1 Pavilion in a Rocky Shanghai Garden
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Mud-Plastered Interior Earthy Homes
Studio Terratects Completes the Urul House in Kerala
Eco-Friendly Luxury Villas
Kengo Kuma Designs the Land Villas for Red Sea Global
Landscape-Integrated Hill Homes
Elías Rizo Arquitectos Designs the Casa AV in the Hills
H-Shaped Structural Mountain Homes
Studio B Architecture + Interiors Designs the Villa H
Artful Wooden Pavilions
Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónia Designs the Orchid Pavilion
Everyday Material Colorful Pavilions
Foster + Partners and NEON Create Two Pavilions in London
Topography-Inspired Furniture Capsules
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs the TOPOS Collection
Japanese Garden-Inspired Offices
Flooat Designs the Mitsui & Co Office Space in Tokyo
A-Frame Forest Tranquil Houses
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados Designs a New Forest Home
Town-Like Classroom Designs
Atelier Apeiron Designs the Kindergarten of Museum Forest Building
High Concrete Walled Homes
Cesar Mancillas Creates a Linear Home with Tranquil Elements
Off-Grid Oceanside Homes
Campos Studio Designs a Sculptural Cliffside Home in Mexico
Modern Desert Architecture Projects
Toll Brothers Debuts an Amenity Center & Cottages in Arizona
Anticipatory Architectural Homes
The Vulcan House in Perth Has a Sensible Design Process
Modern Office Environments
The MOL Campus Project Was Designed by Architecture Firm Kinzo
Garden Oasis Renovated Homes
Sam Crawford Architects Designs the Hidden Garden House
Planted Balcony Home Designs
4site Architects Designs the House of Greens in Bangalore
Wavy Metal Facades
SO-IL's 9 Chapel Residential Tower Offers a Istinctive Architectural Vision
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Juxtaposing Minimal Artful Homes
Hino Studio Designs the Oceana Retreat in Florida
Bamboo Luxe Pool Houses
Baldó Arquitectura Designs the Godai Pavilion with a Hanging Roof
Wooden Surrounded Concrete Homes
Omer Arbel Presents Designs for a Range of Washington State Homes
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Fiji Ocean-Front Estate Homes
A Tesm of Designers Join Forrces to Create the Reef House
Paper-Inspired Artful Museums
Bjarke Ingels Group Designed the Museum for Papirkunst
Minimal Philosophy Toronto Homes
Burdifilek Designs the Sleek Forest Hill Residence
Terraced Garden-Surrounded Homes
Arkitito Arquitetura Designed the Lechuza House in Brazil
Sleek Contemporary Brazilian Homes
Tetro Arquictectura Designs the Laguna House in Nova Lima
Greenery-Packed Museum Buildings
This Science Museum is Designed Around a Central Park
Hidden Urban Oasis Cottages
Winwood McKenzie Adds an Extension to the Quarry House
Elevated Timber-Clad Homes
Habitable Form Designs the Victory Bay House on Kiawah Island
Slopped-Base Green Tiled Homes
Bak Gordon Arquitectos Integrates a Home with Surrounding Buildings
Greenhouse-Topped Residences
Moe Architecten Adds a Greenhouse on Top of the Wooden House
Modern Minimal Concrete Homes
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados Designs the Copas Home
Relaxing Wooden Holiday Homes
Norm Architects Designs the Heatherhill Beach House
Hollow Terracotta Pillared Gardens
Formafantasma Creates the Biodiversity Island in Champagne
Bright Balcony-Defined Apartments
Austin Maynard Architects Designs the Nightingale Village
Nature-Leveraging Home Designs
PAE Designs the Casa Coaba Tucked in the Hillsides
Oasis-Like Urban Hotels
Montalba Architects Renovates the Nobu Hotel in Palo Alto
Bamboo-Clad Residential Homes
i29 Designs the Open Park Villa to Connect with Nature
Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuur Atelier Designs the Green Arc in a Garden
Nature Blending Modern Homes
MODU Designed the Mini Tower One Residence in Brooklyn
Charming Angular Contemporary Homes
Studio KUNZ Presents the Trapezium House in Brazil
Robust Monolithic Walled Homes
H Arquitectes Completes the Casa 1736 in Barcelona
Curved Garden-Surrounding Linear Homes
Denis Joelsons designs the Casa dos Terraços Circulares
Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio Designs The Sea of Cortez Research Center
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
Serene Wooden Garden Pavilions
Byró Architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion in Prague
Futuristic Curved Islandic Homes
The Collective Studio Co., Ltd Designs the Nest Residence
Natural Light-Centric Timber Homes
Studio Varey Architects Designs the Huron House in London
Concrete Boxes-Overlapping Homes
FujiwaraMuro Architects Designs the House in Tsurumi-ku
Nature-Connecting Tranquil Homes
José Roberto Paredes Designs the Al Suave House
Contemporary Nature-Inspired Homes
Fuller/Overby Architecture Designs the Nebo House
Natural Japanese Art Galleries
Brazil's Yayoi Kusama Gallery Features a Nature-Inspired Design
Log Cabin-Inspired Minimal Homes
Gartnerfuglen Arkitkter Designs the Årestua Home in Telemark
Local Craft-Shown Bamboo Pavilions
AtArchitecture Designs the Northeast Pavilion for an Art Fair
Rocky Garden-Nestled Serene Pavilions
Temp Designs the 3-to-1 Pavilion in a Rocky Garden
Brutalist Concrete Tower Apartments
Archmongers Renovates the Trellick Tower in London
Elevated Treetop Modern Cabins
NAMO Architecture & i29 Architects Create the Buitenverblijf Nest
Self-Cooling Exterior Buildings
Modu Creates the Promenade Building to Control Air Temperature
Exposed Concrete Stealthy Homes
OFIS Aritekti Designs the Villa Eternal Way in Slovenia
Elevated Park Nature Lookouts
LYTT Architecture nad ADEPT Join on the Amager Nature Park
Nature-Connecting Office Spaces
Hawkins\Brown Designs the Here + Now Office Buildings
Tranquil Functional Home Designs
Atelier Varun Goyal Designs the Modern Courtyard House
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Curvaceous Brick Forest Homes
Blurring Boundaries Designs the Asmalay Home in a Forest
Raw Concrete Industrial Homes
Studio Cochi Architects Designs the House in Nishizaki
Lakeside Thatched Holiday Homes
RAPA Designs the Summer House on Lake Balaton in Hungary
Woodland-Inspired Timber Office Spaces
Atelier du Pont Completes the Pavilion Jardins Building
Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium
ODA Presents a Look at the Terrarium Cheong-Dam Design
Tree-Centered Cubic Home Designs
Moises Sánchez Designs the Tonalli House in Jocotepec
Tranquil Aesthetic Bungalow Renovations
OWIU Design Created the Echo Park Hillhouse
Sustainably Designed Mumbai Offices
Sanjay Puri Architects Designs the Office@27 Workspace
Beach-Overlooking Picturesque Homes
teamSTAR Designs the Villa A in Japan's Yokosuka-City
Japanese Outdoor Teaching Spaces
Heatherwick Studio Designs Spaces at the British School
Angled Concrete Forest Homes
Nendo Designs the Block Wall House in a Japanese Forest
Textured Local Stone Residences
Point27 Architects Designed the Atrium House in Greece
Clover-Style Conference Center Designs
MAD Designs the ZGC International Innovation Center
Cozy Gaden Cabin Retreats
BYRÓ architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion with Wooden Detail
Light-Filled City Center Gardens
ROOM + Design & Build Designs the Secret Garden in Vietnam
Hidden Garden Timber Pavilions
Tikari Works Designs A Room Around a Tree in London
Cutout Roof Cement-Clad Homes
Edition Office Designs a Home with a Focus on Tree Views
Orange Tonal Concrete Homes
Álvaro Siza Designs the Colien House on a Sloped Site in Spain
Hotel-Based Garden Terraced Columns
WOHA Designs the Pan Pacific Orchard with Garden Terraces
Garden-Focused Victorian Terrace House
Austin Maynard Architects Designs the Helvetia House
Poetic Habourfront Nature Centers
3XN Created the Centre for Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing
Traditional Sustainable School Designs
Heatherwick Studio Showcases Plans for Universidad Ean
Nature-Themed Modern Workspaces
The New Natwest Office in London Features Greenery Throughout
Log Cabin-Inspired Modern Homes
Balbek Bureau Renovates a Home in Ukraine with Steel and Concrete
Waved Metal-Wrapped Buildings
SO-IL Designs the 9 Chapel Residences Located in Brooklyn
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Warm Wooden Interior Homes
OYO Architects Designs the Derelict Dune House in Belgium
Grey-Praised Minimal Residences
Antonino Cardillo Designs the Elogio del Grigio House
Nature-Immersive Tranquil Resorts
Stilt Studios Designs the Treehouse Villas in Bali
Tranquil Subdued House Extensions
Heliotrope Architects Adds a New Extension to a Historic Home
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Gabled Forest-Side Homes
Théque Atelier Designs the Frame House in Hungary
Sand Terrazzo Floor Apartments
Modektura Adds New Flooring to an Apartment in Kyiv
Roman Architecture-Themed Pavilions
Pratique and Fanum Design the Forum des Vestiges Pavilion
Interconnected Brick-Clad Buildings
David Chipperfield Architects Blends Three Housing Typologies
Brutalist Minimal Apartment Designs
Zalc Arquitetura Reimagines the JF Apartment in Brazil
Urban Natural Expansive Buildings
Atelier Delalande Tabourin Designs Office National des Forêts
Sustainable Custom Luxe Homes
Schenkar and GA Arquitectura y Construcción Join on a Structure
Courtyard-Style Californian Homes
Schwartz and Architecture Designs the Modal Home in Cali
Botanical Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuuratelier and Archipelago Create the Green Ark Pavilion
Trapezoidal Coastal Beach Houses
Emergentes Architectures Sàrl Designed the Dreal House in Chile
Industrial Warehouse-Inspired Offices
Carr Designs a New Office Block with Industrial Themes
Oversized Thatched-Roof Health Resorts
Ingenhoven Architecture Designs the Lanserhof Sylt Resort
Holiday Mountain Village Chalets
Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures Designs the Perfect Day House
Open-Air Perforated Concrete Homes
MM++ Architects Designs the Anchor House in Vietnam
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Minsuk Cho Designs the Archipelagic Void Shelter in London
Nature-Connecting Design Installations
OMCC and Diez Office Unveil the Vert Installation
Sloped Concrete Roofed Restaurants
RAD+ar Completes the Aruma Restaurant Design in Jakarta
Dynamic Concrete Modern Buildings
Atelier Matias Mosquera Designs the Shire Building
Bright Renovated Seaside Apartments
Toledano + Architects Renovates an Apartment in Biarritz
Geometric Red-Brick Suburban Homes
OFIS Arhitekti Designs the Frame House in Ljubljana
Greenery-Surrounding Lush Homes
Ho Khue Architects Creates the Nest House in Vietnam
Whimsical Flowing Woodland Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the 3 Bedroom Balinese Villa
Nature-Inspired Floral Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Luxurious Blue Water Lily Villa
Nature-Merging Geometric Homes
Reigo & Bauer Designs the Neville Park Residence in Toronto
Architectural Tranquil Cabin Retreats
Snøhetta Designs the Bolder Lodges in Lysefjord
Regional Modern Tropical Homes
Lijo Reny Architects Designs the Stoic Wall Residence
Terraced Naturally Lit Homes
Unknown Works Designs the Bright Oasis Home in London
Philosophically Designed Modern Homes
c.dd Designs the Boundaless Residence in Guangdong
Glamorous Urban Tranquil Villas
GROWTO DESIGN Presents the Natural Villa in China