Hotels that impress both with the uniqueness and the architecture
Maths was never my favorite subject. I didn’t really struggle with it when in school but it never filled me with the same level of excitement and curiosity as, well basically all other subjects. That is what it was a somewhat negative revelation when I was in the process of applying for universities andI was considering architecture until I realized that it is basically almost all about maths. So instead of becoming a creator of beautiful buildings I accepted my faith of being a life-long lover and admirer of beautiful buildings.
Often when I travel and select hotels to stay at, I don’t only look at what is on offer on the inside but the exterior is also a factor the plays a huge part. I must admit, being a lover of beautiful things, I do the same when choosing a bottle of wine or a book, even though I know a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover. But I have realized that great books often also look great on the outside. And this is the same with hotels. I can’t think of a hotel that I have stayed at and loved that had a great exterior, that was also equally beautiful on the inside.
Below I have listed 5 hotels that architectural gems. These places are really something extra:
Shishi Iwa House / Karuizawa, Japan
Shigeru Ban is the architect that is the mastermind who has created this beautiful, all wooden hotel in the mountains between Tokyo and Nagano. Stunning, unexpected choices, solid materials, curious shapes and buildings that harmonize with the surroundings. A real architectural masterpiece.
Read more about the my stay at Shishi Iwa House here
OLM Nature Escape / Campo Tures, Italy
This circular shaped hotel is located in a valley in northern Italy. The architect that has created this is local Andreas Gruber. What makes me so fascinated with this hotel is the round shape and how the side facing out is more secluded, while the inside of the circle is more or less only glass so you can see how people are moving around on the opposite side of the building. The hotel is built around an inner courtyard where you’ll find a natural pool. A hotel, although it is a unique design, somehow still manages to melt into surroundings.
Read more about my stay at OLM here
Juvet / Valldal, Norway
I believe this must be one of the world’s most famous boutique hotels. It was first featured in the movie Ex-Machina and later in HBO series Succession. It is a collection of houses built to disappear into the surrounding nature. The architect firm that created this truly unique hotel is Jensen & Skodvin. They have made a hotel that I would like to go back to over and over again.
Read more about my stay at Juvet here
My Arbor / Bressanone, Italy
High up on a mountain in the Italian alps is where you’ll find this powerful hotel. A hotel made to look like a a prolongation of the forest where the main body is resting on a number of pillars made to resemble tree trunks. The architect that created this magnificent hotel is local Gerhard Tauber.
Read more about my stay at My Arbor here
Bolder / Lysefjorden, Norway
The most famous architect firm in Norway is called Snøhætta and they are the ones who have created this hotel, which is a number of different sized cabins, resting on stilts, high up on a cliff with views of the dramatic Lysefjorden, in western Norway. It was an amazing feeling to wake up, pull the curtains apart and being hit by the view, feeling like you were almost levitating.
Read more about my stay at Bolder here
So, these are five of my favorite architectural hotels. Do you have any that you would like to recommend? Please write me.
/RG
