The identity of a lakeside house centers upon its relationship to the water: beautiful views, one-of-a-kind wildlife, and glimmering light reflecting off the surface. But some lake houses take those connections to the next level by eliminating as many obstacles between the home?s inhabitants and the lake as possible, creating liminal spaces between land, air, and water. What better way is there to take full advantage of this desirable setting than by enveloping the home in glass walls and placing it right above the shallow banks"

Besides, the benefits of gazing out onto this scenery from three levels of living spaces easily beat out the concerns about prying eyes. On top of that, the glass panels are just reflective enough to partially camouflage the home into its environment from afar. Aquatic plants alternate with stepping stones along the shore to guide visitors to gardens, and the bridge connecting the lakeside villa to the road curves to allow nearly every tree on the site to remain intact. Terraces on all sides of the home provide plenty of room for sunbathing, diving, and barbecues. The rooftop terrace even boasts a glass balcony so “one can enjoy panoramic views as if floating quietly over the expanse of the lake,” according to the architects. Inside, private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms are contained within opaque volumes that help divide the open-plan spaces without cutting any area of the home off from the surrounding environment. A full-...