Looking for an extraordinary home to isolate in? These clandestine properties from around the world take privacy to the extreme. Camouflaged in dense jungles, suspended from cliffs and tucked into hillsides, you'd be hard-pressed to spot these incredible hidden homes. Keep your eyes peeled and let's jet off. Click or scroll for more...
When Stockholm-based architect Hans Murman of Murman Arkitekter and his partner Ulla Alberts decided to build a country retreat on the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea, the house had to overcome a particular design challenge. The island's local authority decreed that no modern architecture should spoil that landscape so they came up with an ingenious solution to help this house disappear into a grove of trees.
The house uses a double façade, with a printed vinyl cloth stretched around the entirety of the timber building. Steel rods hold the fabric 40 centimeters away from the wood cladding, with parts of the screen extending out to hide private areas such as the outdoor shower. Inside the cladding has been painted white with sliding doors seamlessly connecting the outside with the interior.
The evergreen trees that were used on the printed pattern also reach just one foot away from certain parts of the 538-square-foot house, which further blends the straight edges into the natural surroundings. The screen is translucent, allowing light to pass in and out of the small windows on the two end walls.
With typical Scandi elegance and restraint, this house manages to be both perfectly in line with the wooded landscape from the outside and cozy and stylish inside. The larger windows and inner courtyard are positioned to be completely private, and generous sliding glass doors on the western façade are used as the main entrance.
At first glance, this roadside spot in Chile is home to woodlands and tranquil waterfront views. However, hiding below the trees, you'll find an ingenious concrete house designed by architects Felipe Assadi. Barely perceptible, this modern masterpiece flies completely under the radar of passersby.
A unique façade, the property has an array of openings in various sizes, framing the best of the surrounding natural landscape. A partially covered terrace runs along the side of the structure, allowing residents to enjoy the great outdoors whatever the weather.
This has got to be one of the coolest concrete houses in the world. Inside, the design has a modern minimalist interior that faces out across the shoreline. Concrete dominates the design, while the layout is arranged to perfectly frame the stunning vistas.
A large pivoting door concealed in the concrete reveals a modular home created by architects Modscape. The idea behind the design was to create a private haven sheltered from the road below, while making the most of the stunning rural landscape. It almost looks like a zombie-proof house!
Facing out onto the terrace and swimming pool, the rear of the property is clad in striking black timber. Swaths of glazing frame the beautiful tree canopy, while the enclosed outside space allows residents to soak up the great outdoors in complete privacy.
The striking home comprises a suspended box that hovers just above the ground amongst the dense woodland, in harmony with the surrounding natural landscape. Large panes of glass help to reflect the trees and camouflage the unique structure.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom house offers no end of luxurious accommodation, with bare concrete walls and a striking minimalist aesthetic. From almost any room in the house, you can look out into the pine forest, which spans 2,470 acres, blurring into sand dunes along the rugged coastline.
We've seen some gorgeous homes hidden inside forests, but this is next level offering wilderness living at its finest – you won't have to worry about the neighbors in this secluded spot. You can swim on your own private rooftop pool, explore the nearby forest or take a walk down to the beach. The options for relaxation are endless.
Perched on the edge of a steep cliff face, this futuristic house designed by Kois Associated Architects has an infinity pool on the rooftop where lucky residents can enjoy panoramic views over the Aegean Sea without sacrificing any privacy.
Situated on a steep rocky plot, the single-level residence has been skillfully integrated into the landscape. Built using materials from the local area, the rear walls are made from retained earth and are covered in layers of vegetation that help to regulate the interior temperature.
The incredible rooftop pool is how the property earned the moniker Mirage House. From a distance, the almost seamless expanse of water merges with the tranquil sea beyond, obscuring the house from passersby.
Beneath the elevated pool, a cozy sheltered terrace is the perfect vantage point to soak up those breathtaking ocean views. Decked out in soft white furnishings and rustic wood accents, the pared-back scheme allows the natural vista to do all the talking.
This innovative design by Make Architects was part of rendered plans for a hidden eco-house in the north of England for English soccer star Gary Neville, who bought the $11.4 million plot back in 2007.
Designed with the highest environmental efficiency in mind, the house was set to be a zero-carbon underground home. Shown in the initial plans, the living area has floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalistic furniture to complete the pared-back feel.
Set across one story, the design encompasses 8,000 square feet of floor space and features a unique layout in the shape of a flower. The petals are organized around the kitchen at the heart of the house, leading off to various wings for relaxation, work and play.
Outside, the patio area is connected to the interior with swaths of glass, drawing the outside space in. The unusual sunken design means that the house would leave no real trace on the horizon. Despite this, after a prolonged planning battle, Neville abandoned the ambitious project in 2017.
Found in Texas, this ingenious house, designed by Bercy Chen Studio, sits comfortably under a patch of grass. Based on the vernacular of the pit house, which is one of the oldest housing types in North America, the sunken property was built on a rehabilitated brownfield site.
A groundbreaking design, the building is dug under the earth's mass in such a way that it utilizes heat from the ground to keep the property at a comfortable temperature, while still allowing enough sunlight to stream in.
The kitchen is filled with natural light from the huge windows, but the thoughtful design, which orientates the house around a sheltered courtyard, ensures privacy is protected. The interior scheme is minimalistic with neutral colors and sleek streamlined surfaces for a thoroughly modern finish.
The hidden courtyard is a theater for observing hummingbirds, butterflies and even ant colonies, and the perfect private place for relaxing in the sunshine. The architects also introduced over 40 native species of wildflowers and grass to the home and its grounds to help preserve the local eco-system.
Designed by architects OPA, this incredible futuristic-style overhanging home has been proposed for construction in a cliff face in Beirut, overlooking the ocean. Just imagine the views from that staggering cliff edge!
The most impressive feature is probably the glass-bottomed pool on the roof, which dapples beams of light throughout the rest of the home. Set to be constructed with simple materials such as wood, glass and concrete, the structure has been designed to blend into its rugged surroundings.
The design includes six bedrooms and underground parking for up to three cars. The bright, open-plan living space will feature a concrete-cast dining table with warm wooden benches for sociable dining.
The unusual camouflaged design has been likened to a James Bond lair and we can certainly see why! Casa Brutale is rumored to be in the middle of construction, and while it's not for people with a fear of heights, just imagine waking up to that vista every morning.
This clever five-bedroom house is a conversion of a former water reservoir in Sidmouth, south-west England. Its unusual structure features swaths of glass walls, allowing light to stream into the unconventional interior.
Previously on sale for $1.1 million, the home towers above the central courtyard which is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating each individual living space. The structure has been dug into the ground to maintain a low profile and protect the homeowner's privacy.
The façade of the house slopes upwards, framing the best possible view of the breathtaking mountain ranges on the other side of the valley. It's the perfect place for keen skiers or simply those who want to escape the hustle and bustle.
The spacious interior has been furnished with a mix of sleek modern furnishings and eclectic statement pieces by Dutch designers. You’ll need a bit of spare cash for a family trip though, as you’re looking at up to $4,000 per person for a week’s stay.
Nestled into an alcove in southeastern Utah, this prehistoric-looking cave house is only 20 minutes from a local town, despite appearing as though it's in the middle of remote desert shrubland.
The 2,100-square-foot property consists of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, three garages and 12 acres of dramatic red rock landscape. Hidden in plain sight, the property's neighbors are just over a mile away.
Constructed in 1986, the property was designed to imitate traditional Anasazi cliff dwellings. It's pretty cozy on the inside, and even comes with its very own mature orchard and vineyard – just in case living in a cave doesn't quite cut it.
The vast majority of the property is cut into the natural rock, however, floor-to-ceiling windows ensure rooms are bright and airy. Although the property is completely off-grid, it boasts all the amenities required for modern living, from solar panels for energy to a phone line and Wi-Fi.
Designed for the picturesque fields of Hampshire in south-east England, this unusual design looks almost like an eye embedded in the landscape, but only when seen from above. The land, complete with planning permission for this extraordinary eco house, sold for $2.2 million. Now, that's not much for your own subterranean haven now is it?
This is a truly subterranean house. As you approach the driveway, the house is almost completely hidden from view and barely visible from all angles – including from the air – as it merges seamlessly into the landscape.
Inside, the south-facing kitchen is perfectly positioned to get the best of the day's light, while the whole building was sited to maximize the position of the sun, all day, every day. The six-bedroom home will feature tunnel access from the garage, a natural swimming pool and a decked sun area.
A concept in development, the Cliff House by Modscape was designed for a client who wanted to build a modular home on an extreme parcel of coastal land. Not for the faint-hearted, the five-story property hangs on the side of a cliff along the coast in Victoria.
This angular property can be found in the heart of Cheshire, England in an area that can only be described as the 'soccer-star belt', so you can imagine why homeowners would appreciate their privacy in these parts!
With 13,000 square feet of space to play with, this is no modest home. The property is spread across five enormous floors and features plenty of open-plan rooms, including the leisure room which is illuminated in blue light and features a football table for family tournaments – and let's not forget the sports bar and indoor pool.
Welcome to the Jungle House; the ultimate paradise home for nature lovers. This incredible rainforest project is located on the Paulista shore of the rainforest in Brazil, among mountains and dense vegetation.
Designed by architects Macio Kogan and Samanta Cafardo for Studio mk27, the home's elevated positioned ensures residents can look out across the ocean while enjoying the rugged jungle landscape too. And what better way to enjoy all of this than taking a dip in the infinity pool on the building’s roof?
The dramatic main level of the house is built into the mountainside, cantilevering outwards over a precipice. A flagged pathway winds through the forest to the front door – talk about making an entrance!
Only accessible by foot or horseback, the hunting lodge was designed by architects Snøhetta. Measuring a tiny 53 square feet inside, it has room for up to 21 people. The structure is made from two curved steel beams which are connected by a layer of hand-cut logs for a unique blend of new and old.
Covered in grass, the curved roof appears to grow up out of the landscape. The rustic façade has been crafted from local stone, tar-treated wood and glass which blend beautifully into the natural surroundings. We can think of worse vistas to wake up to!
Inside, a central fireplace with a statement funnel hood is framed by beds along the wood-clad walls that can be used as seating during the day. A narrow nook by the entrance has space for cooking equipment and extra storage. For a snug space, this secret home is pretty savvy!
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