Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve. Equador.
Open-air sky tram, eco-hotel in the jungle, brunch on the rim of a volcano? Sign me up. While most people would venture to the 2,600 acres of protected jungle to observe the exotic flora and fauna of coastal rain forest, I’d be perfectly happy basking in the tree-filtered sunlight through the massive glass windows of my modern bedroom.
Opening in April 2012.
(Source: mashpilodge.com)
The Redwoods Treehouse. New Zealand (north of Auckland).
Oh, I’m so proud to work for a Kiwi company (http://www.icebreaker.com) and perhaps one day we will have a corporate event at this fine dining modern birdcage establishment. I’m such a sucker for treehouses. Too bad they don’t have sleeping accommodations.
Private events only.
URBN HOTEL. Shanghai, China.
After a depressing stay at the tastelessly designed Radisson (smokey dining room, breakfast buffet 5 days in a row, and blinding beige marble, brass and glass), I needed a clean breath of air.
After an effortless check-in at Urbn Hotel on the quieter side of downtown in a historic residential neighborhood, I was in smokeless and eco-focused nirvana. An enclosed bamboo courtyard opens into a 26-room boutique hotel, complete with organic cleaning products, warm wood against cool stone, chic menu and crowd.
My ‘atrium’ room had a bamboo and stone garden window, an endless runway bathroom, and a sunken TV area. Fast free wireless internet - who needs a ‘business hotel?’ Next came a free in-room massage, quick room service that arrived in an laser-etched box, and they even packed me a free breakfast to go for my early morning departure.
URBN rules. About $220/night.
(Source: urbnhotels.com)
Bulgari Bali. Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia.
*sigh* This is where my husband and I spent our honeymoon. It was the most special and romantic splurge, perched on a cliffside overlooking an endless sea. (We even saw whales from the restaurant on our last day!)
We often wonder why we opted for Italian instead of Balinese…but as you know, I’m a fool for modern.
About $800/night. Andiamo!
(Source: bulgarihotels.com)
Berkeley, California.
32 Ft. high windows and a dome skylight with unobstructed view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge you may “Lose Your Heart” in the Berkeley Hills. Designed by protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright the 5 bedroom/4 bath Villa hidden in the green hillside and terraced gardens blended with natural materials is reminiscent of Wright.
5 bedrooms at about $10,000/week (1 week minimum). Youch!
Napa Prefab in Napa Valley Wine Country, California.
Featured in Dwell Magazine and on HGTV, this modernist hilltop retreat is a peaceful retreat in Napa County. Unique in its design aesthetic and construction.
Sleeps 6-10. About $800/night.
itHouse in Joshua Tree, California.
The Off-grid itHouse is an architecturally significant house, recently listed in the Los Angeles Times as one of the best houses of all time in Southern California. This is the prototype for the pre-engineered system known as the itHouse that has had much acclaim.
The fireplace alone makes me cry. From $350/night, sleeps 4.
Rosa Muerta in Joshua Tree, California.
My eternal fabulous friend, Travis, was generous enough to share this place with me last year when he spent the holidays here. The house is rooted in modernism, but details are both structural and ornamental with hearts and flowers everywhere… all in shades of black.
Luke, come with me to the Dark Side. Sleep 4 people. From $220/night.
Acido Dorado in Joshua Tree, California.
This is the gold incarnation of darkside Rosa Muerta. Acido Dorado - sits in a 180 degree nook of a small mountain of rocks and presents on the outside a long and low chopped and channeled profile with huge mirrored overhangs, hearts, flowers, and 3 colors of acid-tinged metallic gold. Inside, it’s all preppy-glam; a beige and tweed country club strung out on gold and mirror accents.
I think Midas was here…at least he had a sick party.
Sleeps 6. From $420/night.
