This Earth Day, we’ve curated homes from around the world that remind us what living with nature can look like. From material selection to placement within the landscape, see 10 projects completely immersed in their natural environments, emphasizing materials, forms, and spatial strategies that blur the boundary between the built and the natural world.

1. Kuscutopia House - Salagnac Arquitectos, Nosara, Costa Rica

This contemporary tropical home in Nosara, designed by Salagnac Arquitectos, is conceived as a serene retreat immersed in dense greenery. Kuscutopia House pairs clean concrete volumes with warm wood finishes, featuring high ceilings, polished concrete floors, and expansive openings for natural ventilation. Framed by tropical vegetation and a reflective pool, the home creates a calm, climate-responsive connection to its surroundings.

2. A Lodge in the Pigüe - Mestizo Estudio Arquitectos, Pastaza Province, Ecuador

This compact lodge in Pastaza Province, designed by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura, is immersed within the Amazon rainforest and carefully positioned over a ravine to preserve the natural terrain. A Lodge in the Pigüe combines recycled industrial elements—such as metal pipe piles and mesh—with natural materials like wood, bamboo, and stone to create a raw, site-responsive structure. Elevated above the forest floor and built around a living Pigüe tree that passes through the roof, the design fosters a direct, immersive connection to its surrounding ecosystem.

3. Sinfonía Verde - Studio Saxe, Península de Osa, Costa Rica

This off-grid residence in the Península de Osa, designed by Studio Saxe, is set within a rainforest clearing formed by a fallen tree. Sinfonía Verde takes on a circular form with a central oculus, combining elevated steel structure and warm materials like teak and cork to create a minimal, climate-responsive footprint. Raised on stilts and wrapped with permeable screens, the home promotes passive ventilation and immersive indoor-outdoor living, offering a continuous connection to the surrounding canopy and wildlife.

4. The Pavilion House - Malan Vorster Architecture, Cape Town, South Africa

Set within the sloping landscape of Cape Town’s Constantia estate, this contemporary residence by Malan Vorster Architecture is carefully embedded into its surroundings. The Pavilion House features a sandblasted concrete core, planted roofs, and expansive glazing that frame panoramic views toward Table Mountain. Inside, an open-plan layout, natural stone finishes, and terrazzo flooring create a tactile, light-filled environment that seamlessly connects its architecture with the surrounding terrain.

5. Casa Cajuí - TROOST & PESSOA Architects, Manaus, Brazil

Nestled in the Amazon rainforest near Manaus, Casa Cajuí by TROOST + PESSOA Architects is raised above the terrain to protect the existing ecosystem and forest floor. The design combines exposed concrete and timber within a light, permeable structure that promotes natural airflow and passive cooling. Its sloped roof and fragmented geometry adapt to the trees, forming a sequence of shaded terraces.

6. Bridge House - Wallmakers, Karjat, India

Wallmakers’ Bridge House in Karjat is set across a rocky hillside, spanning a seasonal stream with a structure designed to gently engage the terrain. Built using reclaimed mud blocks, stone, and salvaged wood, the home forms a sculptural load-bearing system that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing strength. Its arched vaults and rhythmic geometry frame views of the Western Ghats, creating a living experience that feels grounded in the landscape yet elevated above it.

7. De Chill House - X11 Design Studio, Vietnam

Around 3,200 SF in a humid coastal landscape in Vietnam, De Chill House by X11 Design Studio is arranged as a sequence of porous volumes that prioritize airflow and shaded outdoor living over enclosure. Raw concrete planes are softened with timber screens and terracotta accents, while deep overhangs and staggered openings break down sunlight and frame the surrounding vegetation. A network of courtyards and semi-covered spaces stitches the house together, turning circulation into an open, climate-driven experience in lush plantings.

8. Casa Santa María del Oro - MCxA Group, Nayarit, Mexico

Set along the volcanic lake of Santa María del Oro in Nayarit, Casa Santa María del Oro is a low-impact retreat that follows the natural slope of the land, submerging itself into the earth. Concrete, stone, and timber volumes are arranged to frame expansive lake views while maintaining privacy within the dense landscape. Deep overhangs and cross-ventilated spaces create a calm home that is in constant visual and spatial dialogue with the surrounding lake and vegetation.

9. Looking Glass Lodge - Michael Kendrick Architects, Hastings, United Kingdom

Looking Glass Lodge is nestled within a secluded woodland in Hastings, designed as a reflective retreat that merges with its forest surroundings. Clad in mirrored glass and dark timber, its angular form visually dissolves into the landscape while capturing shifting reflections of trees, sky, and light. Inside, a restrained open-plan layout with warm timber surfaces and full-height glazing allows the forest to visually dominate the interior, turning changing light and movement outside into the main spatial experience.

10. Residência Kiaora - STRANG Design, Florida, United States of America

The Kiaora Residence by STRANG Design is a 9,200 sq ft, two-story modern tropical home located in Coconut Grove, Florida, designed to blend with its lush, wooded site. Featuring stacked interlocking volumes, the home prioritizes biophilic design with raw materials, timber-clad ceilings, and expansive glazing to connect with its oak and banyan tree environment.

Happy Earth Day from Greenitecture!

Curated by Seth Calmes

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Celebrating Earth Day - 10 Homes That Live With Nature