Our Inspired Design series looks at spectacular homes that have been profiled by Dwell and pairs them with Tablet hotels that share a similar aesthetic — so you can experience the style for yourself.
Surrounded by the astonishing landscapes of Southern Iceland, a summer home by architecture studio Gláma Kím underscores the region’s natural beauty at every turn. The house itself is beautiful, but it’s understated — made of concrete and wood — focused instead on giving its inhabitants optimal views of the scenery. In a breathtaking place like this, the ideal type of lodging must frame the spectacular vistas from every angle.
Here’s how Gláma Kím did it (hint: the glazing helps, a lot):
All photos appear courtesy of Nanne Springer and Dwell
View the full story by Jennifer Baum Lagdameo on Dwell
Hotel Inspirations
If you’re looking to enjoy a maximalist environment, stay in a minimalist hotel. The same concepts utilized by Gláma Kím in Southern Iceland provide similarly ideal lodgings in stunning landscapes around the world.
ION Adventure Hotel
Selfoss, Iceland
Itself set in Southern Iceland, sporting concrete walls and furniture of reclaimed driftwood, the Ion Adventure Hotel is as close as you’ll get to the holiday home built by Gláma Kím. The largely monochrome interior design is just the right, understated complement to the unearthly landscapes of lichen and lava fields that surround it. And of course huge glass walls line the common areas — the views are the emphasis here.
Consolación
Monroyo, Spain
Sometimes compared to Tuscany — but without the hordes of tourists — Matarraña’s a region of Spain near enough the Mediterranean to support a lush, verdant landscape, with views you could pour yourself into for days on end. A boutique hotel called Consolación takes full advantage, putting each room in a wooden cube at the edge of a bluff. Once there, each guest has their own own glass wall (and accompanying terrace) open to the view.
Awasi Patagonia
Torres del Paine, Chile
A cardboard box with a hole cut in it would do just fine in Patagonia, where the main attraction is the ephemeral mountain landscape. Fortunately, Awasi Patagonia provides just a tad more luxury than the hole-in-a-box concept. From the outside, the blond wood and geometric forms appear minimal. Once inside, the design is mind-blowing — a 50/50 blend of rustic charm and modern gloss. But the point always remains in a place like this: you cannot compete with the landscape, only complement it.
See all entries in our Inspired Design series.