Some of the most fascinating destinations in the world can be found in unusual places. For example, a hotel or a restaurant built in a cave is unique. There are several cave structures worldwide, and we have put them all together in this article. There are also plenty of other exciting projects, so dare to explore and learn more about them.
Most of these structures were built in caves. This makes them unique not just because of the location but also because of the organic designs and the views. For other structures, it’s not necessarily about the location but more about the actual design. Whether it’s one case or the other, they are all one-of-a-kind structures. Let’s see what makes each one special.
01. A Hotel In The Caves Of Matera
We’re going to start with Le Grotte della Civita. It’s a beautiful getaway destination and a Sextantio Albergo Diffuso group project. It’s a remarkable hotel found in the caves of Matera in southern Italy. Here, in this beautiful historic town, time seems to go slower. Here, you can find ruins from the Neolithic age and many interesting and unique attractions.
The developer of this project aimed to create something unique, revitalize the village, and attract tourists. Although the project seemed simple in theory, completing it was a real challenge. First, the caves of Matera were in terrible shape, and everything had to be restored to build a hotel there.
Eventually, what was an ambitious plan became a reality. Now, the caves house a fantastic hotel. The new structures benefit from more than just an unusual and beautiful location. Inside, the hotel has many unique features. For example, one of the guest rooms has an ancient stone basin sink, while others have old floors and rough stone features.
02. A Medieval Hotel In Italy
We remain in Italy and present you with the beautiful Sextantio Hotel. It’s one and a half hours from Rome, in the middle of the Apennines. In Santo Stefano di Sessanio, hotelier Daniele Kihlgren bought and revived a series of buildings. The entrepreneur is firmly committed to restoration using only local materials, which was the case for the hotel we’re discussing.
As you may have already noticed, this is not a typical hotel. That’s because its uniqueness is deeply ingrained in its foundation. However, once you step inside, you will see that it is better expressed and more visible. You will find rooms with stone walls, rough finishes, and an organic interior décor. The atmosphere inside differs from that in most hotels, making this place unique.
03. In the Rock
We will now explore another fascinating Italian region, Margreid. Here, you can find what could be the most unusual fire station you’ve ever seen. Bergmeisterwolf Architekten built the fire station in a cave. The façade is a concrete wall with three caverns behind it. This wall is the main architectural element of the structure and was designed to protect against falling rocks.
The fire station contains two garages with folding glass doors, an office and administration wing, and a glass cube. Its interior design is simple and built with simple materials like glass and steel. These materials were chosen for their durability and for creating a modern and airy feel.
04. Restaurant Set Inside A Cave In Southern Italy
Italy has so many beautiful locations and destinations that we decided to stay a little longer, so we found this place. It’s called Grotta Palazzese, a fantastic restaurant in the town of Polignano a Mare in southern Italy. Here, you can have a unique dining experience, not just because everything is delicious but also because of the unusual location.
The restaurant is built inside a vaulted limestone cave and offers splendid sea views. Given its location, it is only open during the summer months. Grotta Palazzese is part of the Grotta Palazzese hotel, just above it. It is a marvelous attraction. Enjoy a romantic dinner in a room with stone walls, ceilings, organic forms, and subtle lighting while listening to the water crash against the shore. It would be an unforgettable experience.
05. Kokopelli’s Cave
We are leaving Italy and focusing on a region north of Farmington, New Mexico. Here, you can find Kokopelli’s Cave, a unique destination built in a cave. The Cave we’re talking about is not a natural creation. It was blasted in the ’80s and transformed into a stunning, inviting one-bedroom space.
The 1,650-square-foot space has a fully equipped kitchen with everything one needs, including a double-door refrigerator, a microwave oven, and a washer. It’s beautifully furnished and luxurious, as the bathroom has a jacuzzi. Here, you can enjoy a fantastic vacation. You’ll be staying in this inviting, quiet, and relaxing space, and you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacular views. It’s a very peaceful place that offers luxury in an unusual form. {found on explore}.
06. Desert Cave
Let’s now move on to another beautiful and unusual hotel. This is The Desert Cave Hotel, an underground structure offering guests a unique experience. The hotel allows you to experience dug-out style living, and it offers, besides inviting rooms, a series of underground shops, a bar, and beautiful views. Located in the heart of Coober Pedy, the hotel is surrounded by sandstone, a unique accommodation.
As guests, you can stay underground or choose one of the above-ground rooms if you prefer something less unusual. All the rooms in the hotel have high ceilings and stunning interior designs. The underground rooms are more than just regular spaces in an unusual location. They are very relaxing, and they offer their guests the opportunity to unwind and spend some time away from everything that’s going on on the surface.
07. Inside Cave
These fantastic hotels offer a unique experience and make you wish to enjoy that feeling daily in your home. You wouldn’t be the first to have such an unusual home. Here’s a perfect example: a hybrid home built inside a cliff. It resembles a cave, but it’s pretty different.
The house has several levels and uses geothermal energy, which makes it sustainable. It’s functionally structured and contains the living area in the front, the bedrooms above this space, and a large recreation area in the back. The overall design is simple and organic but also modern. The antique furniture gives it a charming look, and the stone walls and other similar details make it a unique residence.
08. Costal Feel Cave House
Next on our list is this stylish home located in a small coastal village in the Tramuntana region of Majorca. It’s the hole of French fashion and furniture designer Alexandre de Betak. As you can see, the design of this place was inspired by cave dwellings: the interior design and décor feature organic forms and nature-inspired elements. Moreover, the views of the Mediterranean Sea only make the whole place seem even more beautiful.
Inside, you can see rustic wooden beams and wooden doors and furniture, which add warmth to the space and create a lovely balance with the stone surroundings. The house is also an eco-friendly construction. The most challenging part of this project was finding the perfect location for the house. Once it was finished, it was like a dream come true. It’s a unique home that ignores most rules and follows its path. {found on TMagazine}.
09. Flintstones Style House
Speaking of unusual and organic houses, we found one that looks charming. When you first look at it, it resembles the structures from the Flintstones TV series. It’s a modern version of those dwellings, located on a remote headland in Malibu. The house is a spectacular retreat.
Sitting on 22.89 acres of land, this house offers fantastic panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, Boney Mountains, Serrano Valley, and Los Angeles. The house contains one bedroom, two bathrooms, and a kitchen. It’s surprisingly tiny but looks pretty spacious once you enter. The architect who designed it tried to connect the landscape and the exterior beauty. The rooms have huge windows and feature organic forms and shapes, making this a one-of-a-kind structure. It’s not just visually striking but also very relaxing and beautiful inside.
10. Cave House
Not many people would think that an empty lot with a sandstone cave would be the perfect place to move into, but when you think about it, it could be a unique opportunity to have a one-of-a-kind home. This property’s owners immediately saw this estate’s great potential. Initially, it was just a three-acre space with an empty cave in Festus, Missouri.
But with some imagination and determination, the Cave became a home. Initially, the plan was to build a larger home on the plot, but then the family decided to exploit the potential of the Cave. Now, they have 15,000 feet of naturally insulated space they can call home. The Cave’s walls were left untouched, but they shed sand, so interior roofs and umbrellas were placed over areas such as the kitchen. The Cave became an inviting and cozy home with a stunning interior. {found on archdaily}.
11. A Cave House On The Island Of Filicudi
The house was carved out of sandstone and has a unique, organic design. It used to be a space without any functional purpose, but it became an impressive and inviting home. After its owners decorated it with artwork, personal artifacts, and paintings made by themselves, it became an even more inviting and cozy space. It’s a very charming space with a design and interior décor that has character. Of course, the location alone makes this place amazing, and if you also consider the other elements, you get a spectacular home.
12. Truffle House
The last destination/structure we will analyze today is the Truffle House. Ensamble Studio designed and built the house, which is molded from fabricated stone made of rough concrete. This gives the house a fascinating and organic look, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the landscape.
The plan was to build the house with a hollow space in the center. To do that, the team working on the project has to put the hay inside the structure to obtain the hollow space after the concrete has dried. In addition, the hay also added a lovely texture to this space. This structure can now serve as a tiny home. Even though the interior is tiny, it could be an exciting getaway and a nice place to spend time alone. You can find a bed, fireplace, and sink inside. The house integrated beautifully into the surroundings.
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