#coastal-architecture

#coastal-architecture

The East River Residence by Omar Gandhi Architects sits along the Atlantic shoreline of Nova Scotia, a long, low house set lightly across a rocky depression that faces the open water. Designed for a couple relocating from Montreal, the home supports a slower routine tied to the rugged coastline. Approached through dense coastal forest, the project appears gradually between granite boulders and scrub. The building stretches between two raised banks, touching the ground with a small footprint while the terrain passes beneath.

Casa da Rocha Quebrada by SO Arquitetos stands on the southern coast of São Miguel in the Azores, occupying the final open plot along a line of older houses facing the Atlantic. Set against lava rock and open water, the house addresses a landscape shaped by salt and wind, where buildings are designed to endure the coastal elements. The project was conceived for the parents of one of the studio's founders, a circumstance that allowed decisions to remain close to daily use and long-term inhabitation.

The house balances outside and inside, living in the garden of a coastal village.

Ross partnered with architect and designer Suchi Reddy to reimagine the interiors, continuing a creative dialogue that has unfolded over more than a decade. Their shared interest lies in neuroaesthetics - the study of how environments affect emotional and physical well-being - and Standing Wave becomes a built expression of that. Rather than adding architectural flourish, the transformation focused inward: the existing floors and ceilings were preserved while walls were repositioned, rooms resized, and sightlines recalibrated to boost views of the ocean, rocks, and sky.

The Zaremba Residence is a bold architectural statement that embodies the playful, adventurous, and cozy lifestyle of a family of five. The clients quickly became enthused about the project with a key goal to create an iconic home for the unique location at the tip of Buddina with the Ocean to the East and Mooloolaba Marina + northern coastline to the North West. The house achieves the client's street appeal requirements by boasting identifying curves, creating a visually striking effect that is truly unique and iconic to the area.

There's something mesmerizing about watching waves crash against a harbor, the way they ripple and fold into themselves with an effortless rhythm. Japanese architect Kengo Kuma must have spent some time observing this when designing the Busan Lotte Tower, because he's managed to bottle that exact energy and stack it into the sky. Rising from the former City Hall site in South Korea's bustling coastal city, this skyscraper isn't your typical glass-and-steel rectangle reaching skyward.

Fowóralé II extends the calm, coastal character of the original building, completed in 2024 along the quiet, sun-dappled sands of Ilashe. This extension unfolds as a natural continuation of the first phase, with spaces thoughtfully oriented to capture natural light, coastal breezes, and views of the shoreline. The design balances areas for communal gathering with quieter moments of retreat, supporting everyday activity in harmony with the sea.

From the very first step gesturegrasping the main doors with both hands and opening them inwardthe sea asserts itself as the absolute protagonist of the house. That was the owners' clear request: for the landscape to be revealed in a single motion. Located in Bahia de Banderas, Mexico, this house for a retired foreign couple unfolds over a 2,350 m2 plot.

Taiwan's Jialeshui coastline is getting a major makeover, but you might not even notice the changes. That's exactly what MVRDV had in mind when they designed "Nature Rocks!" - a tourism project that's meant to look like it grew straight out of the dramatic rock formations that already define this spectacular stretch of coast. Located in Pingtung County at Taiwan's southern tip, Jialeshui has always been a magnet for visitors drawn to its wind-carved cliffs and ocean-sculpted stones.

Casa de Puerto is a miniature-scale multifamily building, consisting of two flexible housing units, located in the port area of Progreso, Yucatan.