When it’s finished, this ascetic residence – imagined by Trahan Architects for an ultra-challenging site in New Orleans – should exemplify the theory that the greatest designs often emerge from the tightest constraints. Currently under construction, the 515-square-metre, one-bedroom townhouse is intensely private, set back from its property lines in both the front and the rear. Even so, it features a full-height and -length, 244-ton Corten sculpture wall that sets the monumental tenor for the house’s other elements. These include triple-height ceilings, skylights that bathe the second-floor living space in natural light and a matching custom dining-room table.

Project: Magazine Street Residence Location: New Orleans, USA Firm: Trahan Architects, USA

Team: Trey Trahan, Conner Bryan, Shelby Downs and Brad McWhirter with Adrian Fehrmann, John Hand, Tim Huth, Michael Ludvik, Ricardo Pittella, Doug Reed, Stanton Stafford and Zach Zanolli