Excerpt: Residence Whitestone by Architectural bureau Better reflects a philosophy of living in harmony with the environment, focusing on openness, serenity, and privacy through thoughtful design. Built from natural stone, the residence blends seamlessly into its surroundings, offering a sense of tranquility. The architecture prioritizes light, fluid spaces, and unobstructed views, creating a strong connection between the indoors and the landscape.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Whitestone Residence is the architectural opposite of a fortress. Instead of isolation, it embraces openness. Instead of hiding from nature — it dissolves into it.
Set in the middle of endless fields, surrounded by gentle hills, wild herbs, fruit trees, and the sound of wind in the wheat — this project is rooted in its site. The location itself offers an almost meditative calm, far from the noise of highways and the rush of urban life. And the house becomes a continuation of this serenity.
Approaching the residence along a long path lined with orchard trees, the first impression is of a tall stone wall, mirrored in a still water basin with aquatic plants and koi. It leads the visitor to the monumental pivot entrance, setting the tone: natural, grounded, welcoming.
The volumes are sculptural but never aggressive. Built from natural stone, they blend into the landscape as if they have always been part of it. Inside, the architecture continues this dialogue with nature through a rhythm of atriums, skylights, and green courtyards. The central patio, around which the home’s logic is built, brings light and life into every corner. High windows frame curated landscape compositions and open the interior to sunrises, skies, and the seasonal changes outside.
The master suite is oriented towards the rising sun, with panoramic corner glazing that offers uninterrupted views of dawn. The bathroom is designed as a meditative spa: open-plan, centered around a sculptural basin and flanked by a tropical rain shower and freestanding tub — all aligned to the courtyard view.
The lower level features a wellness zone with a large outdoor pool and a waterfall cascading between terraces. This vertical shift not only enhances privacy but adds a cinematic dynamic to the spatial experience. The sound of falling water becomes part of the atmosphere — a constant, calming backdrop.
While the house is radically open to its surroundings, private areas remain intimate thanks to internal gardens and perforated walls that filter light and shadow into soft, moving patterns.
Social spaces flow into one another: the office, atrium, and living room are aligned to allow seamless visual connections and daylight penetration throughout the day. The rooftop patio becomes a sunset gathering spot — complete with a bar and lounge area — blending functionality with sculptural elegance.
Whitestone is a house for someone who does not need to hide, who draws energy from the earth, water, fire, and air. With no fences, only the vastness of the landscape, it allows for deep breathing, clear thinking, and connection to place. It reflects Better Architecture’s core mission: to create architecture in harmony with its environment — not just visually, but emotionally. We were gifted a stunning site, and we did everything we could to make it even better.
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