MagazinE
Articles and insights about houses, people and the latest news.
In Conversation When property owners say no, we do the opposite: Johanne and Lena Nalbach
A dynamic duo – in the latest of our Friday interview series, we spoke to Johanne and Lena Nalbach from Nalbach + Nalbach. They talked about the pitfalls of architecture and the hotel business, their appetite for spontaneity and flawed nostalgia.
New
Recently published
Positions Further on there’s no way forward
There are places that have fallen into a deep sleep or have never been on the tourist radar. Photographer Olaf Unverzart presents one such place in his new photo book: the Upper Palatinate. An unflinching portrait of his homeland.
On the road Centro de Portugal
The Portuguese cities of Aveiro and Ílhavo impress with form, colour and function. A stroll past coastal buildings and canals, across educational campuses, through museums and industrial quarters.
Inspirations Drawn to the water
From azure to aquamarine, refreshingly cool or sun-warmed, with secluded coves or endless expanses – here, surfers and beachcombers alike will find a maritime selection of houses by the sea. From nearby to right on the shore.
In Conversation
Would you like it to be a little more personal? Eh voilà: We regularly talk to designers, architects, artists and hosts from our network.
In Conversation Jonathan Tuckey: “Building new things wasn’t in my DNA”
Friday afternoon – time for a phone call! This time, London calling. A reflective conversation with Jonathan Tuckey, founder of Tuckey Design Studio, about his convictions, architectural influences, beer brewing and the charm of hand drawings.
In Conversation Kasper Egelund (Vipp): »My whole concept grew out of failure«
Time for a chat! We talked to Kasper Egelund, third generation co-owner and CEO of the Danish design brand Vipp about architecture, design and his passion for holiday houses.
Insights
In the “Insights” section, we present hosts who present their houses or their surroundings in a way that particularly inspires us.
Insights Building in existing buildings: The fairy tale of the ugly duckling
Plattenbauten [prefabs, common in the former GDR] do not have a good image and are mainly destined for demolition. Palais Brut shows the qualities that can arise when their potential is carefully developed. This prefab could set a precedent.
Insights Book recommendation: Immerse yourself in the world of the 1920s
With Tautes Heim, Katrin Lesser and Ben Buschfeld have created a rentable museum for architecture and design from the 1920s. In their book “Tautes Heim – Stories & Details”, they allow readers to delve deep into the history of its creation and the design details.
Insights Flirting with Le Corbusier
Swedish art curator Sofia Mavroudis on the legacy of olive trees, the intriguing identity of a place and how this all turned into an architectural crush on Le Corbusier amidst the Cretan wilderness.
Positions
Positions Netzwerk Zukunftsorte – the rise of pioneering rural third spaces
Founded in 2020, the Netzwerk Zukunftsorte e.V. association supports and connects people involved in rural, third-space rejuvenation projects. URLAUBSARCHITEKTUR sponsors the association. We interviewed its team to find out more about the underlying concept and their plans.
Positions Wöltje’s World
Vacancy is a word that wants to be filled with relevance. With the “Happening Places”, Munich’s idea architect Gregor Wöltje not only created exciting projects in the Bavarian metropolis, but also made lasting statements with them.
Press
Press Award Best new hotel
In the May issue, Monocle announced the winners of the Monocle Design Awards 2025. In the ‘Best new hotel’ category, kleiner Löwe in Bregenz on Lake Constance was honoured – congratulations!
Press Experiencing nature in Scandinavia
On a remote archipelago island, Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimäki have created a refuge close to nature with Project Ö – Skjulskäret. Swiss publisher Archithema presents the house in the 5/2025 issue of Das ideale Heim.
Press Welcome to Berlin!
In a new series, Swiss daily NZZ focuses on tips for great rooms available at fair prices in European cities. One of the hot tips for Berlin: Wilmina, “one of the most unusual and tasteful hotels in the city”.
Press Evident passion for design and recycling
“Today, Palais Brut offers a striking perspective on the architectural heritage of the GDR.” CC/Magazine describes the fascinating transformation of a former WBS 70 prefabricated building into vacation accommodation.
HomeStories
We let hosts and architects have their say and provide a glimpse behind the facade of the houses – putting them in a very personal light and, in a sense, telling them from the inside out.
HomeStory Free as Oscar
The South Tyrolean architect Martin Gruber allows his thoughts to fly, pushes back the horizon and meets Oscar Niemeyer at the Copacabana. An ode to the creative power of imagination.
HomeStory The world is a gentle place ‑ The Schgaguler
At the heart of lively Kastelruth there is a quiet house that has placed zeitgeist and a thoroughly essential architecture in front of the majestic Sciliar. The timeless presence of the rock massif is omnipresent, the holiday concept is wholesome, warm and grounding.
HomeStory Breac.House – The texture of place
Outside wild, unspoilt nature, inside a soft, warm and most comfortable shelter. A new beginning in Donegal.
On the road
On the road Architectural Cosmos Vals
The Graubünden mountain village has developed almost mythologically into a hotspot of outstanding architecture. A story between tradition and innovation, bold visions and happy vistas. A visit to Vals.
On the road Provençal Symphony – (Architectural) Art and Landscape
Azure blue sea, dazzling lavender fields, gentle pine hills and golden shimmering vineyards – the Provence Côte d’Azur region enchants. On the road to places where art, culture and landscape merge into a symphony.