A Mexican forest haven to a Florida dream home: 10 stunning buildings 'blended' with nature

Here are some of the world's best new buildings that are immersed in their wild surroundings.

The impulse to be immersed in nature at its most wild and untouched is a powerful one for many of us. It goes hand in hand with the human longing for tranquility, and the urge to escape the city and the modern world, along with pressing concerns about the environment.

And buildings that blend with their natural surroundings are increasingly sought after, according to the World Architecture Festival (WAF). Architects are allowing their imaginations to run free, and are exploring new, expressive ideas – from dwellings immersed in the jungle or with roofs open to the skies, to residences seemingly cradled, nest-like, among the trees.

The annual festival – taking place in Florida this year – is spotlighting many nature-inspired projects, as its shortlist demonstrates. "There's an increased interest in incorporating nature into buildings in terms of external landscape, and via balconies, terraces and rooftops," Paul Finch, WAF's founder, tells the BBC. "And there's an assumption that good buildings will be environmentally considered rather than this being exceptional."

Here are 10 projects from the shortlist, all deeply rooted in nature. 

This 40,000-sq ft resort occupies a sloped terrain, and one of its aims is to minimise its impact on the landscape. The complex, designed by Aslam Sham Architects, comprises closely grouped buildings, and fills a plot with a curving perimeter. Its buildings include villas, a restaurant and swimming pool, and their roofs support soil and indigenous vegetation. These help to camouflage the resort. The complex's orientation controls the degree of sunlight it's exposed to. The main, east-facing façade is bathed in gentle sunlight in the mornings, while the west-facing rear protects the complex from harsh sunlight and greatly cools its interior.

The low-rise, horizontal form of this house by Atelier Design N Domain (ADND) complements the flat terrain of the surrounding, sprawling coconut grove. As its name suggests, it's grounded in the landscape ("terra" means land in Latin). The unobtrusive house is concealed by towering coconut trees but isn't cut off from the sky since its roof is punctured with openings, letting daylight flood in. Light and air further permeate the interior thanks to a series of interconnected courtyards. Materials typically used in construction in Kerala help link the house with its location. A locally quarried stone called laterite clads the exterior while other surfaces are rendered with terracotta, adding warmth.

This project by Lacime Architects nestles in the southern foothills of Mount Emei in the inland Sichuan province –a Unesco World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. The mountain has a spiritual significance as one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. The centre borders the scenic Guanshan Lake, and is part of a private wellness resort but also open to the public. It incorporates a reception, rooms for community activities, wellness facilities and a dining area. The roof's complex geometry references different elements of the landscape. It undulates above arches, echoing the foothills' rounded silhouettes, while its angular spike nods to the mountain's peak. And the roof's gleaming, gunmetal grey cladding mirrors the silvery sheen of the lake's surface.

This two-storey family home designed by Strang is in a leafy, subtropical Miami suburb and comprises two interlocking, rectangular structures. These connect to a large garden with swimming pools, helping to dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, an effect enhanced by trailing plants cascading over windows. An upper-level comprises shared living spaces, and the lower one private rooms. An abundance of wooden screens with decorative diagonal openings allows cool air to circulate inside.

This house by Desai Chia Architecture stands on raised ground on land also used for farming. From its elevated position, it has views of the Catskill Mountains and of heavily wooded countryside – expansive windows at the front and back reveal a vista of the mountains. The upper part of the façade is clad in corrugated metal, partly chosen as the material is frequently used in contemporary farm buildings.

Jacobsen Studio's clients hankered after a home that blended into the surrounding forest landscape. The building appears to hover against its backdrop of dense, lush vegetation. The house is largely supported by a tree-shaped structure, reducing its contact with the ground. It's mainly hidden from view, accessed from a street behind it, and is entered via the roof that doubles as a garden. 

This is an urban project but, aesthetically, decidedly organic. The architects Lyth Design's brief was to design a street with character, where students would want to spend time beyond hurriedly grabbing a meal. Food is served from modular units dotting the street. Writhing, soaring, tornado-like structures, made of highly sustainable bamboo – playfully likened to a ravenous caterpillar – provide much-needed shade when temperatures hit 38C (100F), as well as protection during the summer monsoon. 

This crafts market is a government-funded project used by the local community to sell artisanal goods and fresh produce to visitors exploring nearby Mayan archaeological sites. Located in the municipality of Nicolas Bravo in the state of Quintana Roo, the project by Aidia Studio doubles as a community centre. It comprises three key elements – a lightweight steel structure, pigmented concrete block walls and clay bricks cladding the roof and paving. Its gracefully vaulted roof collects water used for irrigation, and the building enjoys unobstructed views of the adjoining countryside.

This park is another a government-funded initiative by Aida Studio – in this case a venue hosting an annual livestock and agricultural fair. It's now also a venue for concerts and features amusement rides and craft markets. The 10-hectare fairground is enveloped by subtropical jungle. Slender, olive-green columns and undulating wooden elements were chosen to help integrate the park with the surrounding subtropical forest.

This project by Sp(r)int Studio performs a dual function. It conserves the ruins of an 11th-Century Viking-era farm which was buried and preserved under volcanic ash – one of Iceland's most valued archaeological sites – and extends the site thanks to the creation of a larger shelter made of untreated larchwood, galvanised steel and recyclable polycarbonate. An original timber frame in poor condition that once protected the ruins was retained, reinforced and used as the project's core structure. The shelter now offers new amenities, including a sitting area and platforms for viewing the ruins, raised from the ground to avoid disturbing the terrain.

The World Architecture Festival takes place in Florida, US, on 18-20 November.

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