The 2021 edition of Record Houses features six impressive residences, each of which respond to diverse contexts and reframe the typology’s otherwise conventional notions.

On Great Barrier Island, Herbst Architects reimagines the classic New Zealand beach shack with movable layers that can be deployed to let in the breeze or protect against harsh weather.

Architect Ignacio Urquiza responds to a rugged site in Oaxaca by designing a residence as three open pavilions.

On a blustery Oregon beachfront, architect James Cutler creates a dwelling that offers both a sheltered courtyard and dramatic views.

Partners in design and life, Takaaki and Yuko Fuji tailor their own home for living on a tight Tokyo site.

Barclay & Crousse juxtaposes plein air living spaces with cell-like sleeping quarters in Peru.

Bates Masi + Architects’ Long Island house astutely combines the modern and the traditional, incorporating unexpected materials, from weathering steel to terra-cotta to thatch.

This year’s winning residences, located across the Americas, honor the spirit of their diverse settings while reflecting the sensibilities of their designers and values of their owners.

An intimate dwelling offers views of the Brazilian jungle.

A getaway high above the Coachella Valley in California takes advantage of its site’s unusual topography.