Editor’s Choice

Host Unusual’s Most Architecturally Stunning Stays Around the World

Fine architectural gems aren’t just jaw-droppingly beautiful to look at (though that’s a huge plus if you’re an Instagram fan!)

Designed with imagination and crafted with care, these mesmerising retreats also breathe in harmony with their surroundings, for a sumptuous stay that’s completely unique to its location.

Come and see exactly what we mean, by browsing our list of the most architecturally stunning stays the world has to offer.

Author: Nina Jervis
Main image: Futuro House at Marston Park | Somerset

Kaywana Hall Luxury B&B

Kingswear, Devon
Hidden in 12 acres of private Devon woodland, this striking 1960s architect-designed butterfly roof house has been modernised as a luxury B&B.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 2 per room
From
£210 / night

The Stonehouses

Ullapool, The Highlands
Modern luxury, exceptional design and views to die for await at The Stonehouses - two truly unique holiday homes in the magnificent North West Highlands of Scotland.
Bedrooms: 2 per property
Sleeps: 3-4 per property
From
£175 / night

Kudhva

Tintagel, Cornwall
For a true escape to pure wilderness, come to Kudhva - an incredible wild camping experience in stunning Tintagel, Cornwall.
Bedrooms: Studio
Sleeps: 2 per unit
From
£45.60 / night (tree tent), £122 (kudhva)

The Box House

Prospect Bay, Nova Scotia
A stunningly secluded, contemporary Atlantic oceanfront retreat with your very own beach, privately situated in Canada's beautiful Nova Scotia.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£840 / week

Five Acre Barn

Aldringham, Suffolk
Shake off any preconceptions of old-fashioned holiday rentals - at Five Acre Barn, you'll enjoy modern accommodation, peaceful surroundings and exceptional hosting just a mile from Suffolk's sensational coast.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 2 per room/11 total
From
£1300 (3 nights offpeak)

Art Hangar

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany
Stray from the beaten Tuscan track at Art Hangar, in an industrial hangar transformed into a unique loft space that's perfect for creative dreamers.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£1,655 (7 nights)

The Mirror Houses

Bolzano, South Tyrol
The Mirror Houses are a contemporary duo of master-designed holiday homes that reflect the breathtaking natural beauty of Northern Italy.
Bedrooms: 1 per house
Sleeps: 2 (+2) per house
From
£175 / night

SWEETS hotel

Amsterdam
Take your pick from one of the unique bridge house suites, beautifully scattered along the canals of Amsterdam.
Bedrooms: 1 per house
Sleeps: 2 per house
From
£117 / night

Backwater

Wroxham, Norfolk
A timber framed, architect-designed scenic haven that provides total immersion in the serene beauty of the Norfolk Broads.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£795 (4 nights)

The Onion House

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
A breathtaking work of art in natural architecture, perfectly positioned on Hawaii's awe-inspiring Kona coast.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: Up to 6
From
£330 / night

Minimal Blue

Chamolia, Attica
An architect-designed villa infused with style and sophistication, overlooking the tranquil shores of Greece's East Attica.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 9
From
£258 / night (low season)

Ty Cwch

Aberporth, Ceredigion
A unique, award-winning architect designed ‘boat house' that's ideal for an adventure-packed beach break, next to the invigorating Welsh Coast Path.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 12 (or 4 per cabin)
From
£100 / night / cabin (cabin sleeps 4)

Balancing Barn

Thorington, Suffolk
A Dutch architect-created rural haven, rich in design-led originality and poised dramatically over calming Suffolk countryside.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£1,100 (4 nights)

Culture Campsite

Rotterdam
An ingenious collection of upcycled, ‘tiny house'-style sleeping pods, on a creative campsite in the heart of Rotterdam.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 1-4 per unit
From
£55 / night

The Houseboat

Hamworthy, Dorset
An awe-inspiring, award-winning architectural masterpiece, featuring spectacular beachfront views out to Lake Pier and Poole Harbour.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 10
From
£1,956 (7nts)

The Sea House

Camber Sands, East Sussex
An award-winning, architect-designed haven, expertly crafted from natural materials and set right on the magnificent beach at Camber Sands.
Bedrooms: 4 (+ optional studio)
Sleeps: 10 (+2)
From
£2,000 (3 nights)

Pilot House

Drimnin, The Highlands
A unique aluminium cabin for two, architect designed and perfectly set in the remote Scottish Highlands, for spectacular views over the Sound of Mull.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£160 / night

De Bossche Kraan

's-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant
An architect-designed ‘luxury hotel room' in a crane nestled above the water, with rotational Old Town and city views from the south of the Netherlands.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£171 / night

Villa Domus

Noto, Sicily
A jaw-dropping retreat with an infinity pool and panoramic nature reserve views, architect-designed for a sumptuous, tranquil holiday in unspoilt south-east Sicily.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 10
From
£1,355 (7 nights)

Rink Hill

Galashiels, Scottish Borders
A glorious, architect-designed bolthole for two, gently nestled into the magnificent Scottish Borders landscape with views that stretch out for miles.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£775 (3 nights)

Casa Eterea

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
An off-grid, art-inspired ‘theatre to nature' hideaway, camouflaged on the wildlife-steeped slopes of an extinct volcano by the UNESCO World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allen
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£358 / night

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