With their clean lines, bold cantilevers, walls of glass and jaw-dropping interior design, these dreamy modern homes offer both style and substance.
From an Australian home shaped like a spacecraft to a luxury villa in the heart of Bel-Air and a German home that's all angles and glass, these are the world's most spectacular contemporary cribs.
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Akin to a spacecraft that's just touched down on Earth, the Alkira Resort House in Queensland, Australia, is unlike any home you might have seen before.
Nestled in the depths of a rainforest, the iconic Brutalist-inspired home was designed by famed architect, Charles Wright, in 2013.
The property was originally known as Stamp House, since it was built for stamp dealer, Rob Perry. In fact, there are playful nods to his profession throughout the home, in the punctured indents that adorn the concrete façade.
The property was prefabricated from robust concrete, steel and glass and boasts cantilevered sections that seem to float over the water surrounding it. This design was chosen not just for aesthetic purposes. The house lies in a region known for its devastating tropical cyclones, so the structure's cantilevers and building materials help to minimise the impact of flooding and flying debris.
The UFO-like property stands proud at 11,398 square feet (1,059sqm) and features a huge central living space and six wings, each housing a private bedroom. The main social hub of the house features a kitchen, lounge and entertaining zones, all topped by a dramatic, geometric ceiling of bisecting concrete beams.
In the bedrooms, however, natural timber and glass walls allow for cosy and tranquil spaces away from the bustle of the central living area.
Even more impressive, the home comes with a central swimming pool, which mirrors the silhouette of the One Pound Jimmy postage stamp, in honour of the Aboriginal heritage of the region.
What's more, the residence occupies a unique position, where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Epitomising luxury living in Los Angeles, California, this remarkable new home was designed by South African architectural studio SAOTA and developed by David Maman.
Located in Bel-Air, the house finds itself perched high on a steep, triangular site, with striking canyon views extending from Century City to the Pacific Ocean.
The home's robust and angular design was inspired by the geometry and orientation of the plot itself. The top floor is wrapped in vertical screens of white aluminium, while a monolithic concrete base anchors the property to the ground.
Of course, the interior is every bit as mesmerising as the façade and was curated by Belgian interior designer, Dieter Vander Velpen.
The home's extensive glass walls certainly take centre stage, drawing the eyes outside to the view, but the contemporary furnishings, dramatic light fixtures and simple palette of stone, timber and bronze create a luxurious finish.
The master bedroom is perhaps the finest room in the house, thanks to its sliding glass doors, which connect it to a private balcony with jaw-dropping scenery.
The home also benefits from plenty of amazing extras, including a circular bath tub, which was carved from a single piece of marble, and a stunning infinity pool that allows for city views while you do your laps.
This property in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, is so unusual that it almost doesn't look real. Known as Casa VO, the pad was designed by the team at Ludwig Godefroy Architecture in 2020 and was crafted to protect the residents from the region's warm, tropical climate.
The home's sloping exterior walls and concrete construction mean it provides shelter from the sun and rain, while also creating a unique indoor/outdoor flow.
The idea was to create a home that was beautifully integrated with its garden and all unnecessary features have been removed, including finishes, doors and even windows.
Instead, the architects retained only what they deemed essentials. Inside, there's a sitting area, a kitchen, a dining space, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
The simplicity of the home isn't just seen in the interior layout, either. The material palette blends concrete, wood and bricks to dramatic effect. Bespoke elements, such as columns, skylights and shelving add to the home's striking finish.
The pool truly captures the indoor/outdoor lifestyle, with no boundary between it and the indoor living spaces. A huge hole in the sloping exterior wall provides views of the sky and allows natural light to filter into the pool area while maintaining some degree of privacy.
If you've fallen in love, then you can stay here whenever you like, because it's available to rent on Airbnb.
Fans of Grand Designs New Zealand might recognise this stunning property. That's because it featured on the eighth season of the iconic TV show, in 2023.
According to an interview, homeowners Mark and Liz Ahern wanted to capture the “spirit, character and magic” of the traditional Kiwi bach (a small and often modest holiday home or beach house). However, the end result is far from pared-back or simple.
The couple purchased a pretty but steeply sloping site and planned an elevated main house at the lower level, with a private adults' retreat further up the hill.
For the task, they hired architect Greg Young, who designed a striking, contemporary cubist structure that resembles stacked shipping containers.
Built from steel, glass and timber, the home is sturdy and secure – which is essential in this exposed part of New Zealand. As for the interior, it's bright, modern and cosy, with a statement kitchen, an idyllic living room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Natural materials, like wood, wicker and rattan can be found throughout, adding to the home's warmth and organic finish.
From the living area, large pivoting doors lead out to a deck, with a teppanyaki-style BBQ, an outdoor dining area, day beds and a fireplace.
The project took 18 months to finish and cost the couple NZ$960,000, which is £458,400 ($584k). They still own the property but now rent it out to lucky tourists, via Airbnb.
This incredible home in Ancram, New York, is almost too surreal to be true. Built from a combination of shou sugi ban wood, concrete and glass, Sleeve House was designed by architect Adam Dayem of actual / office in 2017 and, thanks to its unusual aesthetic, the construction phase took several years to complete.
Positioned on a 46-acre (18.6ha) sloping plot with dramatic views of the Catskills Mountains, the house was built to slot into its surroundings. The idea was to create two elongated volumes – one nested inside the other like a Russian doll – sitting on a cast-in-place concrete base. It takes inspiration from agricultural buildings in the region.
Charred Accoya wood wraps the house like a skin. As well as looking amazing, this wooden sleeve acts as a waterproof, insect-proof and fire-retardant cover, ensuring the exterior will stand the test of time. The wood is also resistant to rot and decay.
Inside, the 2,500-square-foot (232sqm) home is split into two distinct spaces. In the larger area, you'll find a living room, dining zone, kitchen and bathroom.
In the second interior space, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. All of the rooms are sleek and contemporary, finished with exposed concrete and charred wood accents, as well as dramatic windows, soaring ceilings and statement fixtures.
While formally and aesthetically innovative, the house was also designed to be liveable and practical. The kitchen contains everything necessary for cooking and entertaining, yet it also blends perfectly with other finishes in the house.
As well as being ultra-modern and durable, the property is also eco-friendly, with triple-glazed windows, a solar system, battery back-up and a heat recovery ventilation system that keeps the interior cool in summer and warm in winter.
Nestled on almost four acres (1.6ha) in the English village of Radlett, Hertfordshire, this show-stopping mansion sits behind secure gates and is approached via a sweeping driveway that only adds to the drama.
Measuring 8,000 square feet (743sqm), the pad was designed and finished to an exquisite standard, incorporating cutting-edge technology and eye-popping interior design.
The front door opens into a gorgeous entrance hall, complete with a bespoke spiral staircase and Flos chandeliers.
The space flows through to a formal living room, Siematic kitchen, study, luxurious cinema room, home gym and indoor swimming pool – complete with a Jacuzzi.
On the first floor, you’ll find the master suite – one of six bedrooms – which boasts a dressing room, an ensuite marble bathroom with a free-standing tub and a balcony overlooking the garden.
As you might expect, the house also comes kitted out with Crestron Home Automation, designer lighting, automated blinds and a state-of-the-art security system.
As for the garden, there’s an extensive patio for alfresco dining and entertaining, as well as an outdoor kitchen. The property even benefits from an au pair suite.
The house was for sale in July 2024 via Fine & Country for just shy of £10 million ($13m).
When it comes to wow-factor design, Ipeak House stands head and shoulders above most. Located in the Ontario town of Caledon, this show-stopping Canadian home offers style, space, scenery and seclusion in one.
The angular residence is truly unique, with a sharp, sloping roofline, dramatic cantilever and endless glass giving it the look of a blade.
Enclosed on a 100-acre (40.5ha) plot, the remarkable home is just an hour's drive from Toronto and comes complete with a stunning, 10,300-square-foot (957sqm) interior, with vaulted ceilings, timber accents, pops of colour, exposed steel beams and top-quality finishes throughout.
The pad was designed by award-winning architecture firm Kariouk Architects, while world-renowned interior designer, Karin Bohn, took on the task of creating a dreamy interior.
Inside, there's a stunning open-plan living area, a designer kitchen decorated with green marble, five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
As for plush extras, there's a gaming room, a home theatre, a guest suite and an infrared sauna. Plus, the master suite is an oasis of calm. With its dual-sided marble fireplace, sloping ceiling and spectacular scenery, it's the ultimate VIP retreat.
It's no wonder the property was on the market in July 2024 with Chestnut Park Real Estate for CAD$13.5 million, or £7.6 million ($9.9m).
Over in Stuttgart, Germany, you'll find this unusual glass home. Built in 2014, the property sits on a slope and could certainly be described as a house of two halves.
While the front is decorated in white render, the rear is covered in glass, allowing for amazing views across the city below.
Known as H36, the three-storey property has been described by Sotheby's International Realty as an "extraordinary monolith villa in the best semi-high location".
Built without joints and additional layers of insulation, the house was formed using single-shell insulating concrete, interrupted by large glass surfaces.
Amazingly, the home extends 20,236 square feet (1,879sqm) and boasts four bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as spacious living rooms, which impress with their high ceilings and custom window elements.
There’s even a staircase that was designed as a delicate work of art, suspended from steel mesh. Yet the home's finest space has to be the master ensuite...
With its concrete palette, built-in sunken tub and glass basin that's affixed to a window, it's the ultimate luxurious bathroom. Another highlight of the home is its garden floor, which benefits from a wellness area.
The house was for sale with Baden-Württemberg Sotheby's International Realty in July 2024, for just less than €7 million, which is £5.8 million ($7.6m).
This sharp, angular villa in Marbella, Spain, could definitely be described as unique. With its unusual façade that resembles a helmet or Transformers robot, it's a luxe home fit for an eccentric millionaire.
The coastal crib benefits from a staggering 8,083 square feet (751 sqm) of inside space and sits on the waterfront in Los Monteros Beach – one of the most exclusive residential communities in all of Marbella.
It also comes with everything you could need and more, including a kitchen, dining area, living room, six bedrooms and six bathrooms.
The house packs a punch in terms of space and design, too. Many of the living spaces open up to a large terrace with sea views, while modern design details can be found throughout, including integrated and recessed lighting, shimmering marble floors, floating fireplaces and bespoke built-ins.
There's also a basement with a five-car garage and a multi-purpose room that could be utilised as a gym or cinema.
Plus, there's an absolutely stunning backyard and a private rooftop terrace, where dreamy sea views can be savoured. The latter comes with a Jacuzzi pool, numerous lounging areas and dining decks for sunbathing and entertaining in style.
In July 2024, the property was on the market with Hamptons International for a cool €12.5 million, or £10.5 million ($13.7m) and we just know it would be worth every single penny.
Constructed in 2020, this mesmerising property highlights the design skills of the architectural studio SAOTA, which is known for creating truly otherworldly modern homes.
Rose Villa is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, but it isn't just its view that will make your jaw drop.
Stretching 16,145 square feet (1,500sqm), the luxurious villa takes the shape of a trapezoid and follows the contours of the sloping site on which it sits.
Constructed from a palette of stone, timber, metallic steel, plastered mass walls, marble and glass, the house features a free-flowing interior, designed by acclaimed Cape Town-based studio, ARRCC. The internal spaces are softly segmented by custom details, such as dual-sided fireplaces and sliding pocket doors.
Broken up into wings, the house boasts a stunning open-plan living room with a sitting area, dining space and kitchen, as well as numerous bedrooms and bathrooms.
This gorgeous suite benefits from floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls, that allow for truly unforgettable views of Table Mountain.
Of course, there are plenty of outdoor living spaces, too, with some of the bedrooms opening up to private balconies. There's also a backyard, complete with a swimming pool, sunbathing deck, dining area, outdoor kitchen and plenty of sitting areas for soaking up the scenery.
Like something from Selling Sunset, this dreamy property highlights just how mesmerising modern homes can be.
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