When the hectic city life starts getting to me, and I’m exhausted from the everyday hustle and bustle – the cabin life begins to call out to me. Cabins are hands down the most relaxing and quintessential getaway option out there. If you’re looking for a peaceful and zen-like vacation that truly allows you to unwind and connect with nature, then a cabin retreat is the best bet for you! And, we’ve curated a collection of beautiful and comfortable cabins for you. From an all-black cabin in the woods designed to support a slow-paced life to a tiny hiker’s cabin perched above the Italian Alpine Valley – these stunning cabins deserve to be your next travel destination!
1. Forest House
Nestled in Bowen Island, British Colombia is a beautiful cabin in the woods designed by SM Studio. Named Forest House, the cabin is deeply influenced by SM Studio’s philosophy of creating low-energy sustainable homes that are built by causing minimal disturbance to the site they are located on
Why is it noteworthy?
Vancouver-based SM Studio uplifted the traditional cabin form and gave it a more contemporary and modernized feel. Surrounded by Douglas firs, and elevated above the rocky landscape – the Forest House is definitely a far cry from the usual cabins we come across. In an attempt to reduce the impact of the home on the forest floor, SM Studio designed it like a bridge, one that connects two massive outcrops, leaving the space below quite clear, and minimizing the need to create a foundation on the rocks.
What we like
- Built while maintaining a serene relationship with the landscape around it
- Supports a more slow-paced life
What we dislike
- The home can accommodate only 3 people, hence it can be considered a small space for certain families
2. Bivacco Brédy
Architecture studio BCW Collective designed an aluminum-clad hikers’ cabin overlooking the Italian Alpine Valley. Called Bivacco Brédy, the bivouac shelter is located in the Aosta Valley and was conceptualized by the family of Claudio Brédy, a local politician and Alpinist who died in 2017 during a mountain excursion.
Why is it noteworthy?
The minimal cabin is perched on a rock slab, 2528 meters above sea level. It has a massive window that provides views of the Grivola and Gran Paradiso mountains and the Gran Paradiso – which Claudio Brédy climbed. The interiors of the cabin are marked with pale timber and feature two large windows which create the sensation of being at one with the surroundings. The windows provide an immersive experience.
What we like
- The space has been optimized for maximum functionality
- The cantilevered form of the cabin was adopted to evoke the absence of an important member of a family and community
What we dislike
- Could be considered a really tiny space if there are multiple hikers
3. Hermitage Cabin
Positioned on the edge of a hill, surrounded by the Apennine Mountains, and overlooking the Trebbia Valley near Genoa, is a minimal off-grid cabin called the Hermitage Cabin. This beautiful wooden cabin was built for “contemplation and introspection”, and occupies only 12 square meters. It can function as a secluded little home or even a cozy yoga retreat!
Why is it noteworthy?
Italian architecture studio Llabb drew inspiration from Scandinavian cabins and Japanese teahouses while designing the Hermitage. The cabin is raised on four wooden and steel supports, which stand on a base of sandstone beds. It features an intriguing modular form created from Okoume marine plywood in Llabb’s carpentry workshop!
What we like
- The cabin creates minimum impact on its surrounding landscape
- Completely off-grid
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. Base Cabin x Matt Goodman Architecture Office’s Cabin
Tiny home builder Base Cabin collaborated with Matt Goodman Architecture Office to create this super minimalistic tiny home on wheels inspired by the simplicity of livestock sheds. The clean and simple home was designed to beautifully merge with farms, vineyards, or even the Australian bush.
Why is it noteworthy?
The aim was to ensure that the residents feel one with the surroundings and that there is no sense of separation between the home and the landscape. The design doesn’t detract from the actual picturesque landscape but provides shelter for the humans to occupy.
What we like
- Although the home occupies a tiny footprint, it is made to feel more spacious than it is, owing to the placement of operable windows, that provide lovely views, irrespective of where you are standing
What we dislike
- The house has enough sleeping space for only two people
5. Shiship
The utility of shipping containers in architecture is quite established now – whether for building shelters for homeless people, beautiful modern homes, or even cabins in the wood! And one such stunning seasonal cabin made from a repurposed shipping container is the Shiship Cabin by Repère Boréal. Shiship quite literally means ‘duck’ in the indigenous Innu language, and the cabin is located in Quebec, Canada.
Why is it noteworthy?
The 31-foot long and 8-foot wide cabin is the modern version of a wilderness cabin and has been packed with space-saving custom-made furniture designs, as well as other smart features. The exterior of the cabin has been clad with durable cedar wood planks, creating a thick frame, that provides a natural yet contemporary aesthetic to it.
What we like
- The kitchen and bed have a subtle connection in the form of a built-in wine rack, which also functions as a night table, hence uniting the two spaces
What we dislike
- The cabin is a bit cramped
6. Find Sanctuary
Charlie Hammond spent years working in London’s start-up culture, which led him to feel perpetually exhausted and stressed. He knew he needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan city, and he finally zoned in on the West Coast. He moved to Los Angeles since it provided not only the comfort of a big city but also quiet access to nature. His time in LA, and the peace of mind he acquired there, inspired him to provide a similar experience to other frazzled workers!
Why is it noteworthy?
Hammond then brought to life his idea, ‘Find Sanctuary’. Find Sanctuary is a renewed and revamped version of remote working. It includes a collection of 40 tiny cabins in Big Bear, California that can be rented, providing exhausted employees with an opportunity to work in a peaceful environment, and regain some of their composure.
What we like
- Amped with stunning views of the surrounding mountains
- The wooden cabin has been equipped with high-speed WiFi, and a built-in desk with a stunning view as well, to make your workday efficient and serene
What we dislike
- It’s not released yet!
7. The Boundary Point Cabin
Ethereally floating above a lake in British Columbia, the Boundary Point Cabin was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson as a vacation home for an extended family to gather and spend the summer every year. Perched on the hillside, over a rocky outcropping, the cabin features an intriguing wedge-like form, that allows it to harmoniously integrate with its landscape.
Why is it noteworthy?
The 2500-square foot home was constructed in 2020 on a slope marked with beautiful trees – from Douglas firs to cedars and pine trees. It features black cedar siding which enables the home to simply merge with the trees around it, creating a living space that is completely at one with its surroundings. The original cabin was quite modest and rustic and was transformed by Jackson into a contemporary cabin with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and narrow angular slats.
What we like
- Designed to allow residents to stay connected to nature
- The interior of the home is an interesting contrast to the exterior
What we dislike
- We would love to have a glass-paneled wall to enjoy the picturesque views more easily than a traditional balcony!
8. Tind
David and Jeanette Reiss-Andersen, cofounders of the Oslo-based tiny home company Norske Mikrohus, decided to build an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to the pricier standard-size homes available on the market.” We wanted to create something for people looking for a way out of the rental and mortgage markets—something for those who want easy access to nature and to live with fewer possessions,” said David. And their efforts led to the birth of ‘Tind’ – a beautiful wood-wrapped tiny home built in Norwegian style.
Why is it noteworthy?
Not only is Tind built from environmentally friendly Nordic materials, but it was also designed to withstand Nordic weather conditions. Tind was designed with one important goal in mind – to encourage flexibility and freedom. It’s a home you can move around in and take wherever you want to.
What we like
- Sustainable + eco-friendly
- Inspired by Norwegian aesthetics
What we dislike
- Measuring only 70 square feet, the home promotes a solitary lifestyle with no option to expand the space.
9. The Buck Mountain Cabin
Situated on Orcas Island, which is a part of an archipelago called San Juan islands, is the Buck Mountain Cabin. The beautiful cedar-clad cabin was built by embracing the original site and its conditions, and by ensuring that minimal disturbance was caused to it. A steep grade and a narrow clearing created by a rock outcropping were a few of the challenges faced by the architects, but they encouraged the clients to focus on these features as they are unique to San Juan.
Why is it noteworthy?
The grassy basalt-rock outcroppings set within a Douglas fir and Pacific madrone forest were used to enhance and elevate the cabin. The east side of the 1527 square feet cabin is anchored to an outcrop, while the west side interestingly cantilevers over the entire site, almost 22 feet above the ground, and provides beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. The large trees around the site weren’t torn down which also ensured that the site was minimally disturbed. The addition of cantilevers, and point-load wooden columns with small footings helped this cause as well.
What we like
- Large protective overhangs and south-facing clearstory windows allow sunlight to generously stream in, especially during winter
- A stunning patio floats over the site and can be accessed via a glass door
What we dislike
- The designers avoided precious or complicated materials and systems, taking away from the luxury element the interiors could have
10. The UHU Cabin
Located in the midst of a boreal forest, in the heart of Charlevoix, Canada is a tiny cabin raised on stilts called ‘UHU’. Quite literally translating to ‘owl’ in the Innu language, the UHU cabin is nested 12 meters in the air, with stunning views of the Saint-Laurence river to greet you every morning. Designed by Repère Boréal, UHU is the ultimate weekend getaway you’ve been searching for.
Why is it noteworthy?
The triangular cabin features a glazed facade which allows for generous views of the surrounding forest and green landscape. You can enter the cabin via an enclosed spiral staircase, and a 6-meter bridge. Although compact in size, the UHU cabin is equipped with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and cozy stay.
What we like
- Supported by stilts, allowing it to be comfortably positioned 12 meters in the air, so the views from within the cabin are going to be undoubtedly exquisite
What we dislike
- Can be considered an extremely tiny space, especially for those who fear heights
