Whether nestled in Egypt’s remote Siwa oasis or embedded in the Italian Dolomites in a small commune in South Tyrol, these marvellous hotels spanning from Chile to Sweden are more than just a resting place. Their design and architecture are intended to create experiences that are harmonious with the surrounding natural environment, to striking effect. Take a look at these six marvellous accommodations from across the globe.
Banyan Tree Alula resort, Saudi Arabia
Deep in Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley is the Banyan Tree Alula resort, aesthetically intended to make guests feel connected to the rugged landscape. Designed by AW2 Architecture & Interiors, the resort comprises 47 villas, each built on a platform structure and covered by a canvas tent in the same colour scale of the surrounding standstone. While almost bare from the outside, each tent is lavishly decorated inside, displaying traditional Arabian handmade furnishings.
Arctic Bath, Sweden
Floating in the heart of Swedish Lapland is Arctic Bath, designed by local architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi. The circular main building, which floats on Lule River and houses the extensive spa, was designed to reflect the region’s logging history. Its construction conjures imagery of logs jammed in rapids; a common occurrence for local timber transporters of the past, while 12 surrounding cabins, including more exclusive suites, offer an immersive river-side experience.
Tierra Patagonia, Chile
The long and curved Tierra Patagonia hotel, which sits on the edge of Lake Sarmiento in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, is practically invisible from a distance, weaving itself into the landscape’s craggy mountains and wild terrain. Largely constructed from wood, the facade features floor-to-ceiling windows that create a sense of open space, reflecting the broad and immersive views of the vast planes beyond.
Adrère Amellal Eco-lodge, Egypt
Nestled in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa is this peaceful retreat that lives up to its authentic nature through and through. The Adrère Amellal Eco-lodge could be mistaken for an architectural relic – its unassuming structure, built entirely with local materials, includes 40 rooms, a restaurant and bar, a swimming pool and lounge. The walls are plastered in a traditional mix of dried rock salt, clay and straw, as though carved out of the surrounding earth, while the absence of electricity means the rooms and surroundings are lit with beeswax candles and the stars of a dark desert sky.
Hotel Hubertus, Italy
Nestled in the South Tyrol commune of Olang in the Italian Dolomites is the Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus, designed by local firm, Network of Architecture (NOA). The hotel was transformed from its origins as a modest guesthouse into a luxury mountainside retreat that is both inspired by and takes full advantage of the surrounding topography. Among its architectural attractions are the 25-metre infinity sky pool and the rooftop spa, the latter appearing as a visual illusion, in which the bottom structure is a mirror image of the one on top.
Perivolas Hideaway, Greece
This private guesthouse in Greece, built in a secluded cove on the island of Therasia that has the feel of a private island, was constructed on the site of a pumice mine that dates back to 1850. Its airy white interiors typically associated with Greek island getaways contrast with the exterior, which retained its traditional earthy-red aesthetic, blending in with the surrounding rocky hills. Its discreet location positions it right across from the caldera and whitewashed houses of Santorini.
