Designed by Vilela Florez, this luxury bamboo home was constructed in Brazil's rural northeast for a couple who had spent the best part of a year on a sailboat traversing the Mediterranean islands. Oriented towards the site's prevailing winds, its clever design creates a natural passage of air across the gardens and into the bedrooms, cooling the thick tropical heat. 

The dramatic exterior features eco home building materials, including bamboo stick panels arranged in a striking herringbone pattern. Finished in only 10 months, it spans 1,938 square feet, encompassing three ensuite bedrooms and an outdoor kitchen and living zone.

This unique property, which was brought to life by architect Matthew Barnett Howland alongside Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton, is crafted entirely from cork. The home uses a new self build construction system, designed to be easily disassembled and moved elsewhere. 

The unusual home has an exceptionally low carbon footprint and impressively, all of its parts can be reused or recycled. Featuring a solid cork wall and roof, the innovative property was shortlisted for RIBA House of the Year 2019 and we can see why! The building is made up of five pyramids and is supported by a timber frame, with no need for cement, glue, plastic or render. 

Inside, the design is simplistic with the rustic cork walls and a wood-burning stove taking centre stage. Combining lightweight components, plenty of insulation and natural materials, this groundbreaking home could be the future of eco-building. We think it's genius!

Architecture firm dRMM designed this self build project for a client who wanted to realise their dream retirement home, where they could grow food, entertain and enjoy the landscape. Made up of three structures which include the main house, a garage and a guest annexe, the home has a rather unexpected feature...

The sliding enclosure functions as a covered terrace in the grounds when it's retracted. Meanwhile, when it's slid over the buildings, it helps extend the interior of the main house, adding a handy outdoor living area. With red and black wood cladding and swathes of glass, this transforming home is a standout project.

Nick Fisher and Jo Jordan-Fisher built this remarkable farmhouse in Suffolk, England, with the couple undertaking most of the work themselves. Finished in 2011, beautiful Belle Grove Farmhouse, otherwise known as the Dragon House, was just under four years in the making.

The home has two ensuite bedrooms, while an unusual twisted elm tree trunk in the centre of the property supports the staircase. Unsurprisingly, this unique home has gathered several prestigious accolades over the years and in December 2011 the farmhouse was declared the overall winner of​ The Daily Telegraph Homebuilding and Renovating Awards.

Architect Will Winkelman and landscape architect Todd Richardson worked alongside self builder JT Bullitt to bring this house in Washington County, Maine to life. Designed to blend into its surroundings, the hidden home is a striking angular wooden structure nestled into the natural landscape.

Almost every room in the main house looks over the old apple orchard, offering views over the bay and beach towards Petit Manan Island. Spread over 1,700 square feet, the house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a meditation room and an open-plan living and dining space that flows into the galley kitchen. 

Pennie and Charles Denton designed and built this home in Dorset, England with the help of Ström Architects. The result was this striking modern home that replaced an old bungalow. The aim of the elongated property was to make the most of the views while minimising the impact on the scenic location. 

Inside, the gravity-defying home has three bedrooms, plus an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area at the centre of the house. The interior palette is pared-back and minimalist, with rustic stone flooring and streamlined kitchen cabinetry.

This grand Scottish Baronial-style fairytale castle looks like it's been around for centuries, but it was actually built just over 10 years ago by Border Design Centre's Ian Scott Watson for homeowners John and Sarah Cullen. The Cullens had lived on the estate for years and longed to do something with the old tower, the only surviving piece of the original stately home. 

Stylishly decked out, the interiors are packed with period features and antiques, adding to the 'olde worlde' illusion. No wonder the castle has won industry awards for its modern approach to traditional design.

Designed by Patkau Architects, this spectacular oceanside home in Canada's British Columbia was completed in 2012 for Eric Peterson and Christina Munck. The contemporary house, which juts out over a cliff, is perched a dizzying 44 feet above the ocean.

Stunning floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, while narrow skylights bathe the interiors in plenty of light. If that wasn't enough, there's also a glass-walled terrace where you can savour the waterfront vistas.

One of the world's most awesome off-grid homes, La Héronnière in the Quebec countryside was designed by Alain Carle Architecte for an eco-minded family. Built as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life, the Canadian vacation home is located in the Laurentian Mountains overlooking a forest and was completed in 2014.

Reclaimed materials have been used to great effect within the home, increasing its sustainability credentials even further. And best of all, La Héronnière is miles away from any wireless signal, so it provides a genuine escape from the outside world.

Based on Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, this fantasy chocolate-box cottage in Olalla, Washington was built over a period of 30 years by amateur builders Richey and Karen Morgan. In June, the quirky home was snapped up for £460,000 ($605k). 

Inside, the enchanting house comprises four characterful bedrooms, complete with charming doors, stained-glass windows, plaster icicles and stone fireplaces, plus rustic reception rooms and a kitchen that's accessed through a hollow tree trunk. Pretty unique!

Taking upcycling to the extreme, self builder Francie Rehwald purchased an old Boeing 747 and set about transforming it into a state-of-the-art converted home on 55 acres of land in the remote Santa Monica Mountains. Located just northwest of Malibu, the project was achieved with help from David Hertz Architects.

The roof of the house appears to float, with swathes of glass secured to steel brace frames that connect to the wings, where engines were previously mounted. The home had to be registered with the Federal Aviation Authority so that pilots flying overhead wouldn't mistake it for a crashed jet. 

Built by a couple from New York City who wanted to realise their ideal retirement home, this cutting-edge self build was designed and built with the help of architects from Mapos Design and Architecture Studio. Stretching 3,500 square feet, the asymmetric property in New York state's Ghent is nothing short of show-stopping.

The four-bedroom house features concrete flooring with radiant heating underfoot, plus LED lighting throughout. Designed as a low-maintenance home, the property was built with a limited budget yet there's no shortage of wow-factor. Swathes of insulated glass frame the natural landscape, opening out onto the deck and pool terrace, while a retractable shade keeps the home cool in the summer months.

This stunning container home near Maghera in Northern Ireland was built by architect Patrick Bradley and appeared on British homebuilding TV show Grand Designs in 2014. A budget-conscious project, it cost just £133,000 ($176k) to construct.

Four shipping containers were purchased in the Welsh town of Bangor, transported to the site in County Londonderry and affixed to a steel framework. The upper level of the house cantilevers over the lower storey, featuring a balcony surrounded by steel fins that shield the interior from the glare of the sun.

The contemporary masterpiece, which includes two spacious bedrooms, lots of bright, open-plan living space and a large office, has been lauded by critics and has won several awards, including a regional accolade from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

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