[imagesource: Mecanoo]

Trends in architecture seem to be moving away from building designs that reshape spaces into monuments to cities and human industry.

Rather, buildings that merge with nature and complement their surroundings seem to be what more and more people are after, especially if they have the luxury of a natural setting and some killer views.

As CNN puts it, some homes are “sheathed in wood boards, while others are clad in stone, drawing inspiration from their settings. Rooflines are flat, sloped, curved, and as diverse as the topography.”

A mission to find some of the most beautifully integrated buildings in the world culminated in this list, and we’ve picked our favourites.

Wave House by Seppo Mantyla Architecture, Mikkeli, Finland

Image: arkkitehti Seppo Mäntylä

The wave house was initially designed for a sloping lot in Moscow, Russia, but ended up in Finland.

The curved shapes aren’t unique to a natural setting, having been used in a range of buildings in cities, which is why Architect Seppo Mantyla had a tough time adapting it to fit into a residential and natural context.

I reckon he nailed it.

Kloof 119A by SAOTA, Cape Town, South Africa

Image: Adam Letch/SOATA

And, representing South Africa…

Designed by Cape Town-based firm SAOTA for director Greg Truen, Kloof 119A is a cluster of spaces arranged to maximise “the visual connection with its setting”, says Dezeen:

“The architecture is shaped to take in as much of the surroundings as is possible,” said the architecture studio.

Image: Adam Letch/SOATA

“The house presents a stone wall to the busy street that it sits on, revealing very little about its interior”, said SAOTA. “At night, the inverted pyramid roof glows, adding to the intrigue”.

The house has three levels, each with its own garden spaces that extend from the mountain surface down to, and against, the house.

On the second floor, you’ll find an infinity pool with wooden decking and a spectacular view.

Material choices become lighter as the move up the house, with the ground and first floor finished in heavier concrete and stone contrasting the second floor’s light wood ceiling and extensive glazing.

Image: Adam Letch/SOATA

You can see why it made the list, and why CNN can’t get enough of the “light and air in spaces that would otherwise be dark and isolated”.

Find more images of Kloof 119a here.

We have some seriously beautiful buildings, and views, in South Africa.

It tracks that they’re attracting the attention of lifestyle journalists from around the world.

Once completed, Cabine du Cap’s Caracal getaway, in the Klein Karoo and less than three hours drive from Cape Town, may find itself on lists like these.

Glass Villa by Mecanoo, Lechlade, United Kingdom

Image: Blue Sky Images/Maria Shot/Mecanoo

Architecture firm Mecanoo was tasked with the job of combining transparency with sustainability, thereby creating a strong relationship between the building and its natural setting.

The product of that brief is a stunning glass home nestled amidst the trees with terraces that connect the building to both the land and an expansive lake.

The Glass Villa is also the image featured right up at the top of the page.

I’m sure we could all use a rustic vacation at this stage, but it’s even better to live in that setting full-time.

[sources:cnn&dezeen]