. . . on the ocean

Carmel, Calif., house is perched on Pacific cliffs. Anshen & Allen, architects.

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. . on a lake ... in the mountains

House at Hunter, N.Y., has a central, glass-walled living room oriented toward a view of the distant Cats kill Mountains.

Bartos & Klein, architects.

. . . on the dunes

Fire Island, N.Y., house is built on short posts driven into the sand dune. Deck has canvas panels for shading and privacy. Peter Copeland, designer.

Frank Lotz Millar

... and in the woods

Waveland, Miss., vacation house is a long and narrow screened porch. Lawrence, Saunders & Colongne, architects.