The best kind of payback We know architects can design some pretty awesome homes for themselves, but every so often, they also give back to the people who really gave them their starts: their mothers. Below, take a look at a handful of charming dwellings architects have designed for their moms, from dandy backyard shelters to a beachfront stunner and more.

Setting the bar high for architectural gifts to mom, the Garden House by Amsterdam-based builder Caspar Schols was designed to fulfill all of his mother?s needs, including spaces to paint, meditate, and host dinner parties. In response, Schols designed a transforming cottage with two layers that can slide in and out to form an open pavilion, closed shelter, or something in between. ?Photos by Jorrit 't Hoen via Dezeen

Simply named ?House for Mother,? this minimalist residence was designed from the ground up by architect Björn Förstberg, in collaboration with Mikael Ling, co-founder of their firm Förstberg Ling in Malmö, Sweden. The airy home is for Förstberg?s mother, Maria, a librarian and weaver, and features a cozy mix of exposed beams, tiling, and raw plywood. There is also a small greenhouse to the side.
?Photos by Markus Linderoth via Designboom

For his mother who loves art, architecture, and Thai gardens, Aussie architect Tim Angus completed glass box of a backyard addition. The extension, a strikin...