This book presents houses that serve as a shelter from the fast pace of modern life and evoke a sense of privacy. They were created by designers and architects from all over the world, inspired by the ideas of wabi-sabi. The contemplative gaze of this aesthetic movement, which originated in Japan, extends to all geographical territories. The projects selected in the book allow us to consider how, over time, obvious textures, natural materials and tones that call for calm acquire special value.