Last spring, Airbnb quietly launched a new category of homes: design. The qualifications that these Airbnbs have to meet? Each listing had to have architectural and interior panache, whether a modernist mansion in Los Angeles or a tiny wood home in Hudson that blends into the landscape. From a geometric eco-home in Rhineback, New York, to a mirrored glass cabin reflecting an Arctic lake in Norway, these are homes that stand out for unexpected, innovative and noteworthy design.
This week, Airbnb shared the most wishlisted design properties across the platform. These Airbnbs are quite literally all over the place: there’s a bamboo house in Bali, an eco-friendly home in the Brazilian jungle, and a cabin built into a cliff in Colorado. A common thread? Every single one is surrounded by nature, highlighting our desire to go to remote places away from it all. Many also are in a competitive price range and within a reasonable drive from metropolitan areas. What more could you ask for? Low-key weekend getaways, it seems, will always be in style—especially ones hidden away in untouched pieces of the world left to be discovered by most.
Below, the most wishlisted design-forward Airbnbs, for your next trip into the wilderness.
1 / 7
Chalet Micro-Element (Quebec, Canada)
This Airbnb in Quebec, Canada, is akin to a modern igloo: surrounded by forest and with views of Beauport Lake, it requires a four-wheel drive to reach in the winter. But those willing to make the trek will be rewarded: the floor-to-ceiling windows create an immersive getaway in nature, and just outside your door are miles of hiking trails.
2 / 7
Aura House (Bali, Indonesia)
Nestled in the jungle between Canggu and Bali is Aura House, a bamboo home that’s built facing east so you can watch the sun rise over the tropics each morning. With its petal-like roof, it effortlessly blends into its natural surroundings: take a dip in your private pool and enjoy the spectacular scenery Bali is famous for.
3 / 7
Casa Acra (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Tucked away in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest (an area twice as large as Texas) is Casa Acra, an Airbnb designed to leave as small a carbon footprint as possible. There are two bedrooms, a living room with a large table perfect for dinner parties, as well as several yoga mats so you can meditate at a moment’s notice. Less than a hundred yards away, meanwhile, is a natural swimming pool complete with a waterfall.
4 / 7
The Bloomhouse (Austin, Texas)
In the 1970s, two architectural students from the University of Texas decided to build a home resembling a giant seashell just outside of Austin—and after being restored in 2017 by a former local mayor, the property is now one of the most wish-listed homes on Airbnb. Book for a night and bask in its biomorphic glory.
5 / 7
Canyon Cliff House (Cortez, Colorado)
As the name suggests, this Airbnb on the cusp of Mesa Verde National Park is built into one of the red rock cliffs the region is known for. (Quite literally built into it: a natural formation even juts out into the living room.) Wander out and take in the desert landscape—including the petroglyphs nearby, a true relic of Southwestern history.
6 / 7
Eco-Retreat (Rhinebeck, New York)
Sitting 30 minutes outside of Rhinebeck in the Hudson Valley, this geometric home was designed by architect Stephen Holl. It sleeps three, yet its radical open-floor plan means it technically has no bedrooms. Go for an avant-garde architectural and leisure experience in Hudson that’s irreplicable.
7 / 7
Mirrored Glass Cabin (Akershus, Norway)
The mirrored exterior of this Airbnb makes it appear at one with its Nordic landscape: a door reflects rocks and trees while a wall reflects an arctic lake. Spend your days canoeing, hiking, or bird watching—the region is home to over 270 different species—or just drinking wine by the fire. An added bonus? The property is only 25 minutes from Oslo and its cultural attractions.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
