15 Intriguing Homes Perched Above the Earth
From the earliest times, humans have often opted to live in
structures above the ground — whether ihigh above in trees, in
cliff-face caves, in stone towers or on stilts above the water. Back
then the decisions were made for practical reasons: convenience,
economy, isolation and protection from floods, marauding armies or wild
animals. As towns developed, it made sense to live in rooms above
street-level shops. In rural areas people lived in rooms above the
animals' quarters. The 20th century brought the development of vertical
stacked high-rise buildings with ubiquitous penthouses and their
wraparound outdoor terraces.
Today living above the ground can open up all sorts of possibilities, from simply allowing views over a garden wall to maximizing amazing views, making the most of a small plot and taking advantage of cool breezes. The constraints of a tight plot can be overcome by putting a house on columns. A house on stilts can allow for buildings above water. In a tropical climate, a tree house can provide protection and refreshing breezes.
However, this style of living isn't for everyone. Some of these houses infringe on neighbors' privacy. Others have issues with universal access. Take a look at these stunning homes perched above the ground. Could you live in one of these spaces?
Today living above the ground can open up all sorts of possibilities, from simply allowing views over a garden wall to maximizing amazing views, making the most of a small plot and taking advantage of cool breezes. The constraints of a tight plot can be overcome by putting a house on columns. A house on stilts can allow for buildings above water. In a tropical climate, a tree house can provide protection and refreshing breezes.
However, this style of living isn't for everyone. Some of these houses infringe on neighbors' privacy. Others have issues with universal access. Take a look at these stunning homes perched above the ground. Could you live in one of these spaces?
1. Apartments, Paye Basque, Spain
Living units stacked one above the next with a workshop, tavern or shop at street level are typical in older cities. French windows with a simple wood guardrail overlook the narrow streets and provide light and air to the living units here. Often, the apartments opposite each other are within touching reach.
Living units stacked one above the next with a workshop, tavern or shop at street level are typical in older cities. French windows with a simple wood guardrail overlook the narrow streets and provide light and air to the living units here. Often, the apartments opposite each other are within touching reach.
2. Villa Savoye, by Le Corbusier, Poissy, France
This single-family house, raised on pilotis above the ground, embodies the contemporary idea of living above ground. It also exemplifies Corbusier's famous Five Points for a New Architecture, which many architects have followed with varying degrees of success.
This single-family house, raised on pilotis above the ground, embodies the contemporary idea of living above ground. It also exemplifies Corbusier's famous Five Points for a New Architecture, which many architects have followed with varying degrees of success.
The interior boasts an early
example of universal access: Both spiral stairs and a ramp lead from the
ground floor to the upper levels.
More about this house
More about this house
3. Modern House, Guimares, Portugal
This modernist house perched on pilotis is on the edge of the dense city core of Portugal's medieval capital, Guimares. The living spaces are raised above the recessed ground floor, and the main outdoor spaces are up on the roof.
This modernist house perched on pilotis is on the edge of the dense city core of Portugal's medieval capital, Guimares. The living spaces are raised above the recessed ground floor, and the main outdoor spaces are up on the roof.
4. Lovell Beach House, by Rudolph Schindler, Newport Beach, California
Rudolph Schindler's Lovell Beach House presents a double-height void at street level; the living areas are high above to maximize views to the ocean.
More about this house
Rudolph Schindler's Lovell Beach House presents a double-height void at street level; the living areas are high above to maximize views to the ocean.
More about this house
5. Laboratory House, by Randy Browne, Omaha, Nebraska
The cube-shaped living space of Randy Browne's Laboratory House projects out into the landscape for a stunning view. Bridges and stairs connect the disparate elements of the house.
The cube-shaped living space of Randy Browne's Laboratory House projects out into the landscape for a stunning view. Bridges and stairs connect the disparate elements of the house.
The children's bedrooms and playspaces are on the ground level, but the main gallery upstairs embraces the landscape.
More about this house
More about this house
6. The Boat House, by AR Design Studio, Cotswolds, England
This living room extension, suspended above a lake in the English Cotswolds, is a good distance away from main house. Full-height glazing on three sides creates the sense of being afloat on the lake.
More about this house
This living room extension, suspended above a lake in the English Cotswolds, is a good distance away from main house. Full-height glazing on three sides creates the sense of being afloat on the lake.
More about this house
7. Pond House, by Elliot and Elliot, Maine
Elliot and Elliot's Pond House is another example of a house anchored to the land on one side and extending out over the water on stilts. This time the house references wharf-side buildings.
More about this house
Elliot and Elliot's Pond House is another example of a house anchored to the land on one side and extending out over the water on stilts. This time the house references wharf-side buildings.
More about this house
8. Surfside House, by Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects, Bridgehampton, New York
The main living level of the Surfside House is raised above the horizon line, giving the impression that the house is hovering above the dunes. Its lightness and transparency is emphasized by the glimpses of the ocean visible beneath and through the house.
The main living level of the Surfside House is raised above the horizon line, giving the impression that the house is hovering above the dunes. Its lightness and transparency is emphasized by the glimpses of the ocean visible beneath and through the house.
9. Bamboo House, by Simon Evans, Bali
Simon Evans' Bamboo House in Bali is partially closed at the ground level but fully open above to make the most of the beautiful views of the surrounding forest.
Simon Evans' Bamboo House in Bali is partially closed at the ground level but fully open above to make the most of the beautiful views of the surrounding forest.
Upstairs is a lounge, office and sleeping area that overlooks the forest. Obviously, the owner is not prone to sleepwalking.
More about this house
More about this house
10. Didden Village, by MVRDV, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Dutch architecture firm MVRDV extended the main body of this redbrick house upward to provide additional bedrooms and an outdoor living space.
Dutch architecture firm MVRDV extended the main body of this redbrick house upward to provide additional bedrooms and an outdoor living space.
The extensions sit up top like
upscale Monopoly houses. The sense of fantasy is further emphasized by
the bright blue exterior finish.
More about these architects
More about these architects
11. House NA, by Sou Fujimoto, Tokyo
A series of stepped transparent platforms comprises Sou Fujimoto's steel and glass house in Tokyo. The architect has compared living in the open, perched structure to living in a tree.
More about this house
A series of stepped transparent platforms comprises Sou Fujimoto's steel and glass house in Tokyo. The architect has compared living in the open, perched structure to living in a tree.
More about this house
12. Tower House, by Frederick Phillips Architects, Chicago
This architect squeezed his home, a steel-framed glazed infill building, onto a tiny plot in Chicago by stacking the house functions. As with Villa Savoye, the ground is dedicated to the car and entrance, while the roof is dedicated to the garden. The living spaces are raised above the bedrooms.
More about this house
This architect squeezed his home, a steel-framed glazed infill building, onto a tiny plot in Chicago by stacking the house functions. As with Villa Savoye, the ground is dedicated to the car and entrance, while the roof is dedicated to the garden. The living spaces are raised above the bedrooms.
More about this house
13. Keret House, by Centrala Architects, Warsaw, Poland
Vertical living is taken to an extreme in this skinny little space in Warsaw, by architect Jakub Szczęsny of Centrala. At street level a staircase drops down from a hatch to allow access to the house.
Vertical living is taken to an extreme in this skinny little space in Warsaw, by architect Jakub Szczęsny of Centrala. At street level a staircase drops down from a hatch to allow access to the house.
A ladder leads to the sleeping platform overhead. The dining table and chairs are cantilevered from the side wall.
More about this studio
More about this studio
14. Forest House, by Kube Architecture, Great Falls, Virginia
Kube Architecture's tower in the forest is a four-story extension of an existing house. A playroom and bedrooms are on the lower levels, and an office and media space is on the upper level.
Kube Architecture's tower in the forest is a four-story extension of an existing house. A playroom and bedrooms are on the lower levels, and an office and media space is on the upper level.
The tower extension is designed so
that framed views of the forest are revealed in each direction as one
climbs through the house. Here the office and media room appears to
reach into the woods through the double-height window.
More about this house
More about this house
15. WoZoCo, by MVRDV, Amsterdam
For this extraordinary housing project in the Osdorp neighborhood of Amsterdam, the architects cantilevered 13 additional housing units from what might otherwise have been an ordinary slab housing block.
More about these architects
For this extraordinary housing project in the Osdorp neighborhood of Amsterdam, the architects cantilevered 13 additional housing units from what might otherwise have been an ordinary slab housing block.
More about these architects
Living above the ground is taken to an extreme in the science fiction movie Oblivion; the Skytower residence is 3,000 feet above the polluted earth below. It has all the classic features of a supercool modern home: wraparound decking, fully glazed walls and, of course, a heliport.