by 
When the hectic city life begins to get to me and I am exhausted from the hustle and bustle of every day, life in the cabin begins to call to me. Cabins are without a doubt the most relaxing and quintessential getaway option out there. If you are looking for a calm and zen vacation that really allows you to relax and connect with nature, then a cabin retreat is the best option for you! And we have selected a collection of beautiful and comfortable cabins for you. From an all-black cabin in the woods designed to support slow-paced living to a small hiker’s cabin perched above the Italian alpine valley – these stunning cabins deserve to be your next travel destination!
1. Forest House
Located on 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 sustainable, low-energy houses that are built with minimal disturbance to the site on which they stand.
Why is it remarkable?
Vancouver-based SM Studio elevated the traditional booth shape and gave it a more contemporary, modernized feel. Surrounded by Douglas firs and elevated above the rocky landscape, Forest House is definitely a far cry from the usual cabins we come across. In an attempt to reduce the house’s impact on the forest floor, SM Studio designed it as a bridge, one that connects two massive outcroppings, leaving the space below fairly uncluttered and minimizing the need to create a foundation on top of the rocks.
What we like
- Built maintaining a serene relationship with the surrounding landscape
- Support a slower life.
what we don’t like
- The house can accommodate only 3 people, so it can be considered a small space for certain families.
2. Bredy bivacco
Architecture firm BCW Collective designed an aluminum clad hiker’s cabin overlooking the Italian alpine valley. Called Bivacco Brédy, the bivouac shelter is located in Valle d’Aosta and was conceptualized by the family of Claudio Brédy, a local politician and mountaineer who died in 2017 while hiking in the mountains.
Why is it remarkable?
The minimal cabin stands on a rock slab, 2,528 meters above sea level. It has a huge window that offers views of the Grivola and Gran Paradiso mountains and the Gran Paradiso, which was climbed by Claudio Brédy. The interiors of the cabin are marked with light wood and have two large windows that create the feeling of being in harmony with the environment. The windows provide an immersive experience.
What we like
- The space has been optimized for maximum functionality.
- The cantilevered form of the hut was adopted to evoke the absence of an important member of a family and community.
what we don’t like
- Could be considered a really small space if there are multiple hikers
3. Hermitage Cabin
Perched on the edge of a hill, surrounded by the Apennine mountains and overlooking the Trebbia valley near Genoa, is a minimal, off-the-grid cabin called Hermitage Cabin. This beautiful log cabin was built for “contemplation and introspection”, and it occupies only 12 square meters. It can double as a secluded little house or even a cozy yoga retreat!
Why is it remarkable?
Italian architecture studio Llabb drew inspiration from Scandinavian cottages and Japanese teahouses when designing the Hermitage. The cabin stands on four wood and steel supports, which rest on a bedded sandstone base. It features an intriguing modular form created from marine Okoume plywood in Llabb’s carpentry shop!
What we like
- The cabin creates a minimal impact on the surrounding landscape.
- Completely off the grid
what we don’t like
4. Base Cabin x Matt Goodman Architectural Office Cabin
Tiny home builder Base Cabin collaborated with Matt Goodman Architecture Office to create this super minimalist tiny house on wheels inspired by the simplicity of cattle barns. The clean and simple house was designed to blend beautifully with farms, vineyards or even the Australian bush.
Why is it remarkable?
The aim was to ensure that the residents felt at one with the surroundings and that there was no sense of separation between the home and the landscape. The design does not detract from the actual picturesque scenery, but does provide shelter for humans to occupy.
What we like
- Although the house occupies a small footprint, it is made to feel more spacious than it is, due to the placement of operable windows, providing beautiful views no matter where you are.
what we don’t like
- The house has enough sleeping space for only two people.
5. boat
The usefulness of shipping containers in architecture is pretty much established by now, whether it’s for building homeless shelters, beautiful modern houses, or even log cabins. And one such stunning seasonal cabin made from a repurposed shipping container is Repère Boréal’s Shiship Cabin. Shiship literally means “duck” in the indigenous Innu language, and the cabin is located in Quebec, Canada.
Why is it remarkable?
The 31-foot-long, 8-foot-wide cabin is the modern take on a wild cabin and has been packed with space-saving, custom-built furniture designs as well as other clever features. The cabin’s exterior has been clad with durable cedar planks, creating a thick frame that gives it a natural yet contemporary aesthetic.
What we like
- The kitchen and the bed have a subtle connection in the form of a built-in wine rack, which also functions as a nightstand, thus uniting the two spaces.
what we don’t like
- The cabin is a bit cramped.
6. Find the sanctuary
Charlie Hammond spent years working in London’s start-up culture, which led him to constantly feel burned out and stressed. He knew he needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan city, eventually settling on the West Coast. He moved to Los Angeles because it not only provided the convenience of a big city, but also quiet access to nature. His time in Los Angeles and the peace of mind he gained there inspired him to provide a similar experience to other burned-out workers!
Why is it remarkable?
Hammond then brought his idea, ‘Finding Sanctuary,’ to life. Find Sanctuary is a revamped and improved version of remote work. It includes a collection of 40 small cabins in Big Bear, California that can be rented, giving exhausted employees a chance to work in a quiet environment and regain some of their composure.
What we like
- Expanded with amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
- The log cabin has been equipped with high-speed WiFi and a built-in desk with a stunning view, to make your work day efficient and serene.
what we don’t like
7. The Limit Point Cabin
Floating ethereal 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 each year. Perched on the hillside on a rocky outcrop, the cabin presents an intriguing wedge shape that allows it to blend in harmoniously with your landscape.
Why is it remarkable?
The 2,500-square-foot home was built in 2020 on a marked slope with beautiful trees, from Douglas fir to cedar to pine. It features black cedar siding that allows the home to simply blend in with the surrounding trees, creating a living space that is completely one with its surroundings. The original cabin was quite modest and rustic and Jackson transformed it into a contemporary cabin with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and narrow angled slats.
What we like
- Designed to allow residents to stay connected with nature.
- The interior of the house is an interesting contrast to the exterior.
what we don’t like
- We would love to have a glass paneled wall to make taking in the picturesque views easier than a traditional balcony!
8. tin
David and Jeanette Reiss-Andersen, co-founders of Oslo-based small housing company Norske Mikrohus, decided to build an affordable, green alternative to the more expensive 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 live with fewer possessions,” David said. And their efforts led to the birth of ‘Tind’, a beautiful tiny timber-clad house built in the Norwegian style.
Why is it remarkable?
Tind is not only built with eco-friendly Nordic materials, but was also designed to withstand Nordic weather conditions. Tind was designed with one important goal in mind: to encourage flexibility and freedom. It is a house in which you can move and take it wherever you want.
What we like
- sustainable + ecological
- Inspired by Norwegian aesthetics
what we don’t like
- At just 70 square feet, the home promotes a solitary lifestyle with no option to expand the space.
9. The Buck Mountain Cabin
Located on Orcas Island, which is part of an archipelago called the San Juan Islands, is Buck Mountain Cabin. The beautiful cedar-lined cabin was built with respect to the original site and its condition, while ensuring minimal disturbance was caused to the site. A steep slope and a narrow clearing created by a rock outcrop were some of the challenges the architects faced, but they encouraged the clients to focus on these features as they are unique to San Juan.
Why is it remarkable?
Grassy basalt rock outcroppings located within a Douglas-fir and Pacific strawberry tree forest were used to enhance and elevate the cabin. The east side of the 1,527-square-foot cabin is anchored to an outcropping, while the west side interestingly cantilevered over the entire site, almost 22 feet above the ground, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. The large trees around the site were not felled, which also ensured that the site was minimally disturbed. The addition of cantilevers and point-loaded wooden columns with small footings also helped this cause.
What we like
- The large protective overhangs and the clear windows facing south allow the sunlight to enter generously, especially during the winter.
- An impressive patio floats above the site and can be accessed through a glass door
what we don’t like
- Designers avoided precious or complicated materials and systems, taking away the element of luxury that interiors could have.
10. The cabin of the UHU
Located in the middle of a boreal forest, in the heart of Charlevoix, Canada, is a small cabin built on stilts called ‘UHU’. Literally translating to ‘owl’ in the Innu language, the UHU Hut is nestled 40 feet 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 looking for.
Why is it remarkable?
The triangular cabin features a glass façade allowing generous views of the surrounding forest and green landscape. You can enter the cabin through a closed 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, which allows it to be placed comfortably 12 meters in the air, so the views from inside the cabin will undoubtedly be exquisite.
what we don’t like
- It can be considered an extremely small space, especially for those who are afraid of heights.
