Become green with envy with the world’s most spectacular modern homes!
With their sleek lines, dramatic cantilevers, walls of glass, and breathtaking interiors, these modern marvels are the epitome of style and substance. From an Australian home resembling a spacecraft to a luxurious Bel-Air villa and a geometric German masterpiece, these are the world’s most extraordinary modern homes.
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Alkira Resort House, Queensland, Australia
Resembling a spacecraft just landed, the Alkira Resort House in Queensland, Australia, is a breathtaking architectural feat. Nestled within the lush embrace of a rainforest, this iconic Brutalist masterpiece was brought to life by renowned architect Charles Wright in 2013.
Formerly named Stamp House, the property was commissioned by stamp dealer Rob Perry. The home playfully incorporates elements of his profession, evident in the concrete façade adorned with stamped-like indentations.
This UFO-like property spans an impressive 11,398 square feet (1,059sqm), featuring a vast central living area and six private bedroom wings. The main communal hub encompasses a kitchen, lounge, and entertainment spaces, all unified by a striking, geometric concrete ceiling. In contrast, the bedrooms offer serene retreats, characterized by natural timber and glass walls that provide a peaceful escape from the central activity.
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Stradella Ridge, California, USA
Embodying the pinnacle of Los Angeles luxury, this extraordinary new home was crafted by South African architectural studio SAOTA and brought to life by David Maman. Nestled high on a dramatic triangular site in Bel-Air, the house commands breathtaking canyon vistas stretching from Century City to the Pacific Ocean.
The home’s bold, angular form is a direct response to the plot’s geometry and orientation. The upper level is enveloped in vertical white aluminum screens, while a monolithic concrete base firmly grounds the structure. The interior, meticulously curated by Belgian designer Dieter Vander Velpen, is equally captivating.
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Expansive glass walls command attention, framing the breathtaking views, while contemporary furnishings, dramatic lighting, and a refined palette of stone, timber, and bronze elevate the interior to a realm of luxury. The master bedroom reigns supreme, its sliding glass doors opening to a private balcony offering unparalleled vistas.
Casa VO, Oaxaca, Mexico
Casa VO in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, is a surreal architectural marvel. Designed by Ludwig Godefroy Architecture in 2020, this extraordinary home is a direct response to the region’s tropical climate. The building’s sloping concrete walls offer robust protection from the sun and rain while creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience.
The concept was to seamlessly blend home and garden, eliminating unnecessary elements such as finishes, doors, and even windows. Architects focused solely on the essentials, resulting in an interior comprising a sitting area, kitchen, dining space, two bedrooms, and a bathroom.
The pool seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor living, blurring the lines between the two. A dramatic void in the sloping exterior wall offers celestial vistas and floods the pool area with natural light while preserving privacy.
Grand Designs retreat, Golden Bay, New Zealand
This stunning property will be familiar to fans of Grand Designs New Zealand. Featured in the show’s eighth season in 2023, it was the ambitious project of homeowners Mark and Liz Ahern. The couple sought to capture the essence of a traditional Kiwi bach – a simple, laid-back holiday home. However, the final result is a far cry from modest.
The couple acquired a charming yet challenging sloping plot. Their vision included a main house positioned lower on the incline and a secluded adult retreat higher up. To bring this concept to life, they enlisted architect Greg Young, who crafted a striking, contemporary cubist structure reminiscent of stacked shipping containers.
Constructed from steel, glass, and timber, the home is robust and secure, essential attributes for this exposed New Zealand location. The interior is a harmonious blend of brightness, modernity, and coziness, featuring a standout kitchen, a delightful living room, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Natural materials like wood, wicker, and rattan infuse the space with warmth and organic charm.
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Ipeak House, Ontario, Canada
This angular residence is a striking architectural statement, featuring a sharp, sloping roof, a dramatic cantilever, and expansive glass walls that give it a blade-like appearance. Nestled on a sprawling 100-acre plot just an hour from Toronto, this remarkable home boasts a stunning 10,300-square-foot interior featuring vaulted ceilings, timber accents, vibrant pops of color, exposed steel beams, and premium finishes.
Award-winning Kariouk Architects crafted this exceptional property, while renowned interior designer Karin Bohn brought the interior to life. Inside, a breathtaking open-plan living space and a designer kitchen adorned with green marble take center stage, complemented by five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
Indulgences abound with a dedicated gaming room, home theater, guest suite, and infrared sauna. The master suite is a serene sanctuary featuring a double-sided marble fireplace, a sloping ceiling, and breathtaking views, creating the ultimate private retreat.
It’s no surprise this property commanded a price tag of CAD$13.5 million (approximately £7.6 million or $9.9 million) when it was listed with Chestnut Park Real Estate in July 2024.
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Custom-built villa, Marbella, Spain
This angular villa in Marbella, Spain, is a bold architectural statement. Its distinctive façade, resembling a futuristic helmet or a Transformers robot, makes it a standout property perfect for an eccentric millionaire.
This coastal retreat boasts an impressive 8,083 square feet (751 sqm) of interior space and enjoys a prime waterfront location in Los Monteros Beach, one of Marbella’s most exclusive residential enclaves. The property offers all the amenities you could desire, including a kitchen, dining area, living room, six bedrooms, and six bathrooms.
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The home is equally impressive in terms of space and design. Numerous living areas open onto a spacious terrace offering breathtaking sea views. Modern touches, such as integrated and recessed lighting, lustrous marble floors, floating fireplaces, and custom-built cabinetry, are evident throughout. The lower level houses a five-car garage and a versatile multi-purpose room ideal for a gym or cinema.
Rose Villa, Cape Town, South Africa
Completed in 2020, this mesmerizing property showcases the design prowess of SAOTA, renowned for creating extraordinary modern homes. Perched on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, Rose Villa is more than just a house with a view; it’s a breathtaking architectural statement.
Spanning an impressive 16,145 square feet (1,500 sqm), the luxurious villa adopts a trapezoidal form that harmoniously follows the contours of the sloping land. Constructed from a rich palette of stone, timber, metallic steel, plastered walls, marble, and glass, the home boasts a fluid interior masterfully designed by Cape Town-based studio ARRCC. The internal spaces are subtly divided by bespoke elements like dual-sided fireplaces and sliding pocket doors.
Divided into distinct wings, the house boasts a stunning open-plan living area encompassing a cozy sitting space, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are also distributed throughout the property. The luxurious master suite is a standout, featuring floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls that offer breathtaking, unobstructed views of Table Mountain.
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