The Salzburg resident from Maria Alm has a laid-back and likeable demeanour, and he’s younger than you might expect. You wouldn’t think at first glance that Josef Schwaiger, also known as Sepp, runs three hotels and a concept store, but he does, and he does it with immense passion, even more creativity and huge success.

The district where film stars like to congregate is now the setting for one of the biggest environmental projects in the USA: “One Beverly Hills” is creating green towers and gardens alongside legendary VIP hotels. A green “triangle” with master plan by Foster + Partners will offer public zones and – naturally – new luxury …

Just north of the bustling city center of Copenhagen, Norm Architects has carried out a full renovation of a private family home overlooking the water and a grand marina. With a focus on bringing out the house’s inherent modernist qualities and putting it on display, the home is now a calm refuge of clean lines and natural materials to retreat to in a busy everyday life.

Elegantly set in the beautiful East Anglian landscape, on the border of a working farm in Suffolk (UK), the Pavilion House is a real inside-out construction. The shapes and materials of the interior all carry a certain tranquillity and simplicity, while every room offers a different glimpse of the outside. There is a certain humility within the architecture, acknowledging that the big-ticket item in the setting is indeed the countryside; it doesn’t try to compete with it, but frames it instead.

Situated deep in the Swedish forests, close to a tiny winter sport area, a small traditional wooden retreat sits on top of a ridge formed millions of years ago. Besides the pine forest covering the fault, the surrounding landscape is a low undulating region of heaths and ridges that rise above gently sloping sandy beaches and small beach towns. Now completely remodeled, the space feels entirely intertwined with nature – both in terms of materiality and outlook …

South Tyrol is characterised by the fusion of Alpine tradition and Mediterranean flair, which may seem like contrasts at first, but actually result in a harmonious blend of architecture, cuisine and natural highlights. A true gem in this area of northern Italy is Merano, just the tonic you need to celebrate lighter, warmer days after the lethargic winter months.