From ancient to modern times, stone houses have represented the idea of the perfect shelter, sturdy enough to withstand fire and floods as well as the damage caused by passage of time. This selection of architectural projects showcases the huge variety of modern stone house designs that use this material as a building block for urban homes, modern farmhouses, compact retreats, and more. As varied as the textures of their walls, these stone house designs highlight not only the genius of talented architects but also the beauty of the natural material.

Some of these stone modern house designs offer a fresh take on traditional, rustic dwellings. Examples include contemporary farmhouses with gabled roofs but clearly modern details like floor-to-ceiling glazing or asymmetric fenestration. Other projects pair stone and timber walls in a harmonious design. Some of these houses are new while others are restored, renovated and upgraded stone dwellings that keep their charm yet offer the comfort of modern living. A few of these projects represent the best of adaptive-reuse architecture. Think stone ruins that architecture studios have brought to life with innovative interventions that celebrate their beauty and character.

Built in breathtaking landscapes, these houses call woodlands, coastal areas, rocky cliffs, meadows, and bucolic hills their home. While they’re distinctly modern and creatively designed, these structures seamlessly blend into their setting; from partly buried buildings that almost disappear into a hillside to houses with green roofs or contemporary designs that pay homage to vernacular architecture. Finally, these houses almost always feature locally sourced materials. It can be stone from a local quarry or from old ruins, reclaimed to help build something new – walls that create shelters used as family homes or weekend retreats.