Designed by architects for travel enthusiasts: Our curated collection of outstanding holiday accomodations — also via map. Do you already know our new entry?
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Designed by architects for travel enthusiasts: Our curated collection of outstanding holiday accomodations — also via map. Do you already know our new entry?
In winter, you prefer to have your water in frozen form – and a perfect view of it from a suitable house. Here are eight of them.
in November 2025
Skiing reimagined
You don’t always have to be out in the snow on skis in winter: at Lake Wörth, you can also spend your winter holiday on the water – for example, SUP paddling or water skiing on the lake, which is also offered here on request throughout the winter.
But let’s be honest: of course, you don’t just go to the south of Austria for the winter water skiing experience – you also go because this house is a very worthwhile destination. Traditional charm and modern open-plan living come together on two levels under a gabled roof – with space for up to six people. With a timeless, minimalist design both inside and out, exposed concrete and larch wood dominate. The open-plan kitchen with dining area that leads into the living room forms the communicative centre, while panoramic windows open up the view to nature – which radiates great tranquility, whether with or without snow. Upstairs, a bright gallery with a “black core” invites you to retreat. If you do happen to fall into the lake while water skiing in winter, the sauna is a reliable way to warm up again.
This house is not only surrounded by impressive nature – it is also carved from the same wood, as it were. To be precise, it is built of regional spruce. Felt curtains made of sheeps wool provide cozy warmth. But that’s not the only reason why it’s perfect for a winter vacation.
Because, of course, the vacation resort of Mellau in Vorarlberg offers more than just great architecture with these two houses for up to 14 people. In 2006 the village of Damüls – whose ski area also includes Mellau – was awarded the title of the world‘s snowiest place. Whether climate change will eventually melt this promise away cannot be verified from afar. One thing is certain: to date, no other place has officially surpassed the village in the Bregenzerwald. Children learn to slide on two boards here in free ski lessons. The Islen holiday home is ideally equipped for guests who enjoy skiing, cross-country skiing or tobogganing: on the ground floor, there is a drying room where wet sports equipment and clothing can dry perfectly. And upstairs there is a sauna exhausted winter sports enthusiasts.
The perfect winter destination if you like architecture, snow, and relaxation is, of course, Vals in Graubünden. Not least because Peter Zumthor’s thermal baths are as appealing as ever. And because you can stay in hokiday homes designed by the same architect. And because snow is pretty much guaranteed in this remote valley. There are plenty of good reasons to visit.
The Oberhus [Upper Haus], Türmlihus [Tower House] and Unterhus [Lower House] are located just above Vals in the village of Leis and are the result of Zumthor’s long-standing interest in and study of the typology of Graubünden farmhouses. Staying here also invites guests to engage with the local building culture. However, you don’t have to do this all on your own: the Vals tourist office also offers architectural tours of the village. Oh, and then of course, there’s the snow: the slopes are open from December to early April and there is also an ice rink with both skating and curling equipment available for hire. And then, of course, there is the legendary thermal spa, where you can relax in the warm water and gaze pensively at the snow-covered slopes.
The Holzhaus am Auerbach is located where theRiver Inn marks the border between Germany and Austria – and here you can really feel a little detached from everyday life: the house is only four metres wide and stands on a foundation that houses a garage. The furniture, fixtures and kitchen appliances in the house are all of the highest quality.
So why leave the Holzhaus [Wooden House] am Auerbach at all during your holiday? Well, because the wonderful winter weather all around invites you to experience different kinds of extremes. For example, by turning night into day on skis – after all, the local Hocheck mountain has been awarded the title of best night skiing resort several times. If you’re looking for a bit of a thrill without skis, you can also opt for winter canyoning, where you navigate your way through a bizarre winter landscape on zip lines. Unlike classic canyoning, this doesn’t take place in water, but by climbing over boulders covered in snow and ice. If one of the maximum number of four guests doesn’t really feel like so much excitement, he or she can simply relax in the cozy warmth of the outdoor sauna in the garden. And enjoy the view of the mountains in the distance.
Of course, winter holidays don’t always have to be about downhill skiing. But what if they are? At the Halbhaus in Andermatt, downhill skiing is always an option: in the morning, you get ready, grab your skis, and walk two minutes to the cable car. And in the evening, you glide back on your skis to the front door – into a fairy tale of old and new.
The Halbhaus [Half House] dates back to 1780 and half of it burned down 40 years ago – a car park was built on the site (how romantic!). The other half was renovated by London architect Jonathan Tuckey with great sensitivity for himself and his family – and for renting out. For this reason alone, the house really does feel like home and can accommodate up to six people. But they mainly come to Central Switzerland to enjoy the slopes – right? So it’s very convenient that the valley station of the cable car is just a two-minute walk from the house, transporting you up to the 2,962-metre-high Gemsstock – the mountain with the most panoramic view in Central Switzerland. The Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski area offers a whopping 80 kilometres of slopes. And although it couldn’t have been about skiing, even old Goethe raved about his stays in Andermatt.
A new building that reinterprets the typology of the Allgäu barn – this is the property in which the two chalets Lara and Louise are located. Made entirely from local spruce, the wood is also showcased in the interior. The large windows offer a view of the snow-covered landscape.
And in winter, this landscape offers many opportunities to enjoy the snow and ice. The entire standard repertoire – downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing – is possible here. There is also plenty of culture: Neuschwanstein Castle is just around the corner, as is Hohenschwangau. And there are many Baroque and Rococo churches. For dinner, you can shop at one of the numerous cheese dairies, butchers and bakeries in the region – or enjoy the warming Allgäu cuisine in one of the many traditional restaurants around Lake Forggensee. Hot water is also provided – at the “Königliche Kristall-Therme” [Royal Crystal Spa] in Schwangau, you can enjoy it to the fullest and close your eyes while doing so.
There is virtually nothing you can’t do in winter in the area surrounding Königswarte Strata – for example, the cross-country ski trails start right at the front door. But there are other options too, such as ice skating or curling.
Back in one of the holiday apartments at Königswarte Strata, you have a wide range of options for how to spend your time after being active outdoors: in the extensive wellness area with organic herbal sauna and rock crystal aroma steam grotto? In the swimming pool with children’s section? Or with a gentian marmot oil bath? Perhaps a Vita Swiss stone pine massage, or a mushroom-based gold mask facial treatment? The best thing is that you really have time for it here, because even though you are staying in a holiday apartment, you can leave the cooking to others – thanks to the adjoining Hotel Rainer, half board is available. Or you can simply make yourself comfortable on the sofa with a good book. Parents also have a real choice here, as the resort offers childcare in every season.
You really can’t get a more panoramic view than this: located at an altitude of 1314 metres, this house overlooks the Puster Valley and the Dolomites. You don’t even have to leave the house to discover something new every day – even away from classic winter sports such as skiing or ice-skating.
In South Tyrol, too, you don’t necessarily have to be a fan of the slopes to enjoy the snow in winter. For example, there are several festivals here in winter – one for snow sculptures, for example, and one for ballooning. Thanks to the latter, you can glide over the white landscape at lofty heights in January. A month later, in February, it’s worth experiencing the South Tyrolean carnival customs with their archaic parades. But December is also a great time to visit South Tyrol, as many villages have small but charming Christmas markets to explore. Back at the house, you can enjoy winter in a different way: stock the fireplace with the abundant wood and listen to the crackling of the logs. Cook something in the well-equipped kitchen or, thanks to the raclette machine, move the cooking to the communal area and the table, as it were.
Text / Compilation: Barbara Hallmann & Anne-Birga Niepelt
Photos: Iuliu Illes Lal via unsplash.com (cover picture), Markus Rohrbacher Photography (Heumond), Adolf Bereuter (Ferienhaus Islen), Ralph Feister (Zumthor Ferienhäuser), Florian Holzherr (Holzhaus am Auerbach), James Brittian (Halbhaus), Michael Mährlein (Lara und Louise), Alex Filz (Königswarte Strata), Gustav Ludwig Willeit (Panoramahaus 1314)
Anne-Birga Niepelt
Anne-Birga Niepelt is an online producer in the URLAUBSARCHITEKTUR team. After completing her training in craft, she studied interior design.
Barbara Hallmann studied in Weimar and Lyon and completed a traineeship at ARD. Since 2009, she has dedicated herself to writing about architecture, urban planning and design. She also developed an upscale boutique guest concept and was jointly responsible for the successful identity campaign of a slow travel destination that was previously not very visible. She lives in Germany and France - and likes to be found by stories when travelling.
The Bregenzerwald is known for its modern wooden buildings and high quality craftsmanship. An example of this architecture, combining innovation and tradition, is the house Islen in the municipality of Mellau.
The Andermatt Chalet in the historic center of the Swiss mountain village goes by the name of “Half House”. Its other half was destroyed decades ago by a fire and then replaced by a parking lot.
The name Heumond is a reminder of summer life in the countryside. The modern interpretation of a traditional timber house is surrounded by fragrant hay fields and rough pastures on a sunny plateau not far from Lake Wörth.
Situated in the Upper Bavarian Inn Valley, this holiday home is only four meters wide. but the solid wooden house offers five levels that are stacked semi-staggered on top of each other. A wood-burning stove and the clay walls create a cosy atmosphere.
Strata in the South Tyrolean Dolomites is a fantastic examples of innovative alpine architecture that brings design into perfect harmony with nature. The Strata wing, which is an extension to the Residence Königswarte, blends in harmoniously with the surrounding topography.
Natural consistency: Les Chalets Lara & Louise at Lake Forggensee give a new interpretation to the archetype of the traditional barn - with a focus on local wood, alpine views and sunbathing time in the pergolas.
On 1314 metres above sea level, the Panorama House 1314 rises out of the dark green coniferous forest high up on the mountain in St. Lorenzen, from where you can view all the highlights of the South Tyrolean landscape.
In the mountains above Vals in Grisons, at an altitude of 1500 metres, architect Peter Zumthor has built three wooden houses that integrate perfectly into the hamlet of old-black wooden buildings.
Compact living, amplified. The minimalist house in the Uckermark region offers great freedom in a small space. Its secret: compact on the outside, versatile on the inside. Like a stage set that can be changed in an instant to suit any desired scene.
A blend of New York loft flair and historic heritage, contemporary art and endless staircases: Loft Montemerano in Maremma promises exciting architecture in an authentic setting.
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