Little Boxes On A Hillside
Arranged on a hillside about 40 minutes outside of Ensenada, Mexico, in the heart of Mexico's emerging wine country, are 20 little cabins that make up Eco Hotel Endémico Resguardo Silvestre, a new green hotel from Mexican hospitality company Grupo Habita and Tijuana-based designer Jorge Gracia.
10 Travel Hotspots for 2012
Chic nomads always go where the action is, so we've put together our list of 10 handpicked travel hotspots for 2012. From design shows to local festivals to the Olympic games, we've got them all covered. Happy trails, nomads!
Disney by Design
Great design and…Disney? The two aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, the Walt Disney Company has always dabbled in the architectural avant-garde, hiring architects such as Robert Venturi, Philip Johnson, and Michael Graves to design buildings for their theme parks, resorts, and corporate campuses. Influential mid-century artists such as Mary Blair were also on the Disney payroll, as Walt himself recognized that talent, creativity, and attention to detail would always surpass cost-cutting gimmickry, especially when it came to crafting superb vacation experiences for guests.
A Beach of Glass
It may not happen often, but occasionally the site of human waste becomes a place of unique beauty through the ministrations of Mother Nature. Case in point: Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California.
Cape Cod Modernism
Before Cape Cod became, well, Cape Cod, it was known for its isolated beaches, rolling sand dunes, picturesque New England fishing towns, and bohemian, "anything goes" attitude: basically, the perfect backdrop for a gang of young, self-taught architects inspired by European design to play around with form and space unnoticed by the establishment. The result is a collection of almost one-hundred examples of early modern design dating from the 1930s to the 1970s, tucked on the wooded back shore of Wellfleet on the Outer Cape. It is here, within the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore, where you will find summer homes that meld the philosophy of modernism with the practicality of New England.
An Enchanted Boat
Agua Moura is an elegant solar-powered yacht sailing the friendly waters of the Barragem de Santa Clara, a reservoir in southern Portugal. It's an additional facility attached to Villa Encantada, a wonderful villa for rent from the Boutique Homes collection. However, we thought Agua Moura was so cool it deserved it's own article. We e-mailed Agua Moura designer Victor Vincente with a few questions about this very special boat and he was kind enough to respond in great detail. As it turns out, Agua Moura is more than just a pleasure yacht – it's a remarkable piece of design steeped in the rich culture and history of Portugal.
A New Tourism Concept for Iceland
Iceland's had a rough time of it the past couple of years. First their entire economy collapsed, negatively impacting the solvency of many of Europe's major financial players. Then caldera Eyjafjallajokul started spewing out ash at a pace that shut down airports across Europe and had stranded travelers cursing the name of that blasted ice-covered volcano (if they could figure out how to pronounce it). Now, non-profit, grass roots organization Vatnavinir ("Friends of Water") is aiming to give Iceland's tourism economy a boost with a concentrated wellness initiative based on the salubrious waters of Iceland and the unique Icelandic cultural tradition of outdoor bathing. MORE >>Very Small Hotels, A New Collection
In the past, everyone thought the future was going to be big: big buildings, big machines, big everything. But now that we're living it, we know that the future is actually small. As in, small computers, small cars, small homes, small carbon footprints. And now we have small hotels.
MORE >>
High Art Hotels
It's always been our dream to spend the night in a museum, surrounded by the art we love. Well, it looks like our dream has become reality! We're thrilled to announce that the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation will be offering stays in their famed New York City museum starting at the unbelievable rate of $125 per night. Reservations are currently available exclusively through Boutique Homes. Guests will have a choice of 3 rooms, each one a stunning combination of high design and functionality. MORE >>
Rethinking Vacation Home Rentals
This collection of amazing vacation homes gives you the chance to rent anything from a beach house, cottage, city apartment, cabin in the mountain or an architectural gem, from California to Tasmania and anywhere in between. Vacation in a house with style, with the right furnishing and the right accessories to make you feel at home – away from home.
