Artist Isamu Noguchi and architect Wallace K. Harrisonu2019s 1940 design for a glass-and-birch house, the sinuous lines of which echo the Maine coast on which it sits, embodied the concept u201csite-specificu201d long before the term was popularized. In the late u201990s, however, the dazzling dwelling completely burned to the ground, and the owners enlisted a trio of talents to rebuild an exact replica in its stead: contractor Dan McGraw of Atlantic Builders; sculptor and woodworker Mark Loftus, who re-created Noguchiu2019s dining table (shown); and master woodworker Jim Robinson.
Photograph by TRIA GIOVAN
Conceived in collaboration with Kovac Design Studio, the Los Angeles home of Lori Kanter Tritsch and her partner, William P. Lauder of the Estu00e9e Lauder Companies, features sliding glass walls that open up to spectacular views.
Photograph by Roger Davies
In the ritzy Trousdale Estates section of Beverly Hills, designers James Magni and Jeremy Graef crafted a minimalist refuge for kombucha mogul G.T. Dave. Located adjacent to Daveu2019s residence, the immaculate entertaining pavilion designed by the team enjoys spectacular views overlooking Los Angeles out to the Pacific Ocean and boasts a dynamic collection of blue-chip art by the likes of Anish Kapoor, Sterling Ruby, Antony Gormley, Chris Burden, and Jaume Plensa.
Photograph by MATTHEW MILLMAN
Surrounded by water and protected landscape, this breathtaking Hamptons residence was crafted by Leroy Street Studio and decorated by Victoria Hagan, who seamlessly integrated major artworks by El Anatsui and Maya Lin into the design. Sheathed in gray-gold Palestinian limestone, the dramatic architecture is accompanied by an outdoor infinity pool as well as sweeping views of the Southampton shoreline.
Photograph by SCOTT FRANCES
Perfectly reflecting the subtle palette of the surrounding desert landscape, this modern masterpiece in Palm Springs is the vision of Southern California architecture firm Marmol Radziner. Pictured is one of the abodeu2019s corridors, in which shadows cast a graphic pattern against a site-specific installation by artist Phillip K. Smith III, made of mirrored glass and LED lights, which changes color throughout the day. The Azadeh Shladovsky rosewood-and-sheepskin bench is from Jean de Merry.
Photograph by Roger Davies
For her serene Palm Beach escape, designer Lillian Fernandez sought inspiration from a modernist seaside villa conjured by Hugh Newell Jacobsen in Casa de Campo, a secluded oasis in the Dominican Republic where her family has a retreat. To help realize her vision, she called upon local architects Stephen Roy and Virginia Dominicis, as well as designer Fernando Wong, providing them with a succinct set of directives for an artful one-bedroom house, plus a separate guesthouse, emphasizing connections to the outdoors.
Photograph by FRANCESCO LAGNESE
Architect William T. Georgis revamped this midcentury marvel in Southern California that was originally designed by Homer Delawie, a venerated regional architect. Dating to 1963, the revived post-and-beam house now features a stunning collection of art, including works by George Condo, Kenny Scharf, and Tom Sachs (shown).
Photograph by RICHARD POWERS
Major art collectors Linda and Jim Lippman tapped architect Steve Giannetti and designer Anna Busta to conceive this stunning residence at the Madison Club in La Quinta, near Palm Springs. Adding visual punch to the entrance gallery are one of Anish Kapooru2019s concave mirror works, a painting by Willem de Kooning, and a Richard Hudson sculpture displayed atop an Atelier Viollet table; an Alison Berger bench rests beneath the floating staircase, designed by Giannetti.
Photograph by NIKOLAS KOENIG
Known for his muscular brand of architecture, Seattle-based Tom Kundig conjured the Rimrock House perched on a basalt ledge overlooking Washington Stateu2019s winding Spokane River. Clad primarily in weathered steel, the cliffside dwelling is as breathtaking as its woodland surroundings. Kundig even likens the home to u201ca Tootsie Popu2014hard on the outside, soft on the inside.u201d
Photograph by BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER
As Americau2019s most beloved architect, Frank Lloyd Wright devised hundreds of buildings across the country from the 1890s to the 1950s, deploying an uncanny ability to distill a siteu2019s essence into pragmatic structures that never skimped on aesthetics. For the David and Gladys Wright home in the Arizona desert, the architect incorporated elements of his Usonian ideal to conjure a u201cA Modern Castle in the Air,u201d as House Beautiful magazine dubbed it in 1955. The interiors are no less stunning, with floor-to-ceiling windows, concrete floors, and a mahogany ceiling, all of which have been graciously preserved by the current owners.
Photograph by Antoine Bootz
