Earlier this week, there was only time to highlight the first half of Curbed's list of must-know innovative homes, so here now begins part two. Glass, steel, and stone help to make the Jodlowa House (above), on the outskirts of Krakow, Poland, something like a post-industrial version of Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House. The airy structure is ringed by nearly frameless walls of glass, organized around two squat towers of raw stone, and elevated off the unkempt bramble. The 1,500-square-foot house is surely a sight to behold and was designed by Britain's PCKO Architects, with assistance from local firm MOFO Architects. Situated on a grassy, treed lot, the five-story tower at the heart of the structure allows for treetop views of the nearby Tatra Mountains.
Photos: Minarc
? As the prices of real estate have skyrocketed in desirable Santa Monica, Calif., the residents have become expert at utilizing the space they've been given. This narrow three-bedroom is a perfect case study. Employing lots of glass, off-the-wall features like a rubber staircase, and eco-friendly construction techniques, this place combines green building and high style to great effect. The design is by an Icelandic duo known professionally as Minarc.
Photos: Architizer ? In order to maximize the space in the second bedroom of a cramped Parisian flat, h2o architectes devised this unconventional lofted bed that provided private spaces for two children within the one room. The result is a playful design with a variety of crevices and nooks that should keep kids entertained, so long as they don't grow out of it. Trouble is, this design, with its hard edges and uneven layout, might not pass muster with protective American parents.
? The same firm, h2o architectes, repeated their success with kid-friendly architecture with this renovation of a previously-neglected carriage house. Designed for a "teenager looking for his independence," the miniature triplex features built-in storage and even what appears to be a shower tucked into the landing.
Photos: Crosby Doe? Commercially, this prefab desert house by the lauded L.A.-based firm Marmol Radziner has been an out-and-out failure. It came on the market in 2008 for $1.85M and has been chopped all the way down to $599K without finding a buyer. Still, the sleek structure is one looker of a house. We think the location in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., the black sheep to Palm Springs's golden lamb, has something to do with the lacking sale.
· Innovative Residences You Need to Know Right Now: Part One [Curbed National]
· Stunning House with Fully Glazed Steel Frame Structure: the Jodlowa House by PCKO [Freshome]
· Leone Living [Architizer]
· Eva's Bed [Architizer]
· Chatou [Architizer]
· Marmol Radziner's Desert Dream House Price Chopped to $600K [Curbed National]