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…
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Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden
When Stockholm-based architect Hans Murman of Murman Arkitektur 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.
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Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden
The house uses a double facade, with a printed vinyl cloth stretched around the entirety of the timber building. Steel rods hold the fabric 40 centimetres 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.
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Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden
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.
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Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden
With typical Scandi elegance and restraint, this house manages to be both perfectly in line with the wooded landscape from the outside and cosy and stylish inside. The larger windows and inner courtyard are positioned to be completely private, and generous sliding glass doors on the western facade are used as the main entrance.
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Casa Bahia Azul, Los Vilos, Chile
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.
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Casa Bahia Azul, Los Vilos, Chile
Perched on the craggy cliffs of the Los Vilos coastline, the front of this modernist property hangs precariously over the water. Sloping down to follow the shoreline, the house is flanked by a dense forest and a rock garden filled with cacti.
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Casa Bahia Azul, Los Vilos, Chile
A unique facade, 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.
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Casa Bahia Azul, Los Vilos, Chile
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.
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Concrete hideaway, New South Wales, Australia
This may just look like a run-down, concrete building in the middle of the bush, but this unassuming structure in New South Wales, Australia, hides a stunning secret behind its blank Brutalist-style walls…
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Concrete hideaway, New South Wales, Australia
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!
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Concrete hideaway, New South Wales, Australia
Visitors enter through a large double-height timber-lined walkway – talk about making an entrance! At the heart of the house sits an open-plan living area decked out in a natural palette of timber, concrete and zinc. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead out to a sheltered courtyard.
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Concrete hideaway, New South Wales, Australia
Facing out onto the terrace and swimming pool, the rear of the property is clad in striking black timber. Swathes of glazing frame the beautiful tree canopy, while the enclosed outside space allows residents to soak up the great outdoors in complete privacy.
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L4 House, Costa Esmerelda, Argentina
This remote retreat is a fantastic place to escape reality. Set among lush greenery beside the coastal landscape of Costa Esmerelda in Argentina, the property is intricately sculpted from concrete and glass.
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L4 House, Costa Esmerelda, Argentina
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.
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L4 House, Costa Esmerelda, Argentina
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.
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L4 House, Costa Esmerelda, Argentina
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 neighbours 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.
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Mirage House, Tinos Island, Greece
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.
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Mirage House, Tinos Island, Greece
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.
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Mirage House, Tinos Island, Greece
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.
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Mirage House, Tinos Island, Greece
Beneath the elevated pool, a cosy 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.
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Subterranean house, Bolton, UK
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 £9 million ($11.35m) plot back in 2007.
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Subterranean house, Bolton, UK
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.
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Subterranean house, Bolton, UK
Set across one storey, the design encompasses 8,000 square feet of floor space and features a unique layout in the shape of a flower. The petals are organised around the kitchen at the heart of hte house, leading off to various wings for relaxation, work and play.
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Subterranean house, Bolton, UK
Outside, the patio area is connected to the interior with swathes 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.
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Edgeland House, Texas, USA
Found in Texas, this ingenious house, designed by Bercy Chen Studios, 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.
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Edgeland House, Texas, USA
A groundbreaking design, the building is dug under the earth’s mass in such a way that it utilises heat from the ground to keep the property at a comfortable temperature, while still allowing enough sunlight to stream in.
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Edgeland House, Texas, USA
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 colours and sleek streamlined surfaces for a thoroughly modern finish.
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Edgeland House, Texas, USA
The hidden courtyard is a theatre 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.
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Casa Brutale, Beirut, Lebanon
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!
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Casa Brutale, Beirut, Lebanon
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.
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Casa Brutale, Beirut, Lebanon
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.
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Casa Brutale, Beirut, Lebanon
The unusual camouflaged design has been likened to a James Bond lair and we can certainly see why! Casa Brutale is rumoured 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.
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Woolbrook Reservoir, Devon, UK
This clever five-bedroom house is a conversion of a former water reservoir in Sidmouth, south-west England. Its unusual structure features swathes of glass walls, allowing light to stream into the unconventional interior.
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Woolbrook Reservoir, Devon, UK
Previously on sale for £925,000 ($1.1m), 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.
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Woolbrook Reservoir, Devon, UK
The interior is stylishly decked out with wooden floors and a balcony on the upper floor that looks down onto the living area. A spiral staircase leads to the first floor where there are six luxurious bedrooms including the master bedroom, which comes complete with an ensuite bathroom.
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Woolbrook Reservoir, Devon, UK
Outside, the grounds of the house feature a raised pond, covered barbeque area and a garden store. Framing the property, dense woodlands extend to almost an acre, making this a truly remote rural retreat.
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Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland
Escape to the hills of Switzerland – if you can spot this next clandestine property that is! Dug into the side of a mountain, the unique subterranean home is situated next to the famous Therme Vals hot water springs.
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Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland
Completed in 2009, the plan for the design was to integrate the villa into the landscape so as not to disturb the local eco-system. Consequently, to negate the need for roads, access is only possible through a tunnel that runs through the mountainside, with the entrance concealed in a local barn.
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Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland
The facade 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.
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Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland
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 £3,400 ($4k) per person for a week’s stay.
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Cliff Haven, Montezuma Canyon, Utah
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.
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Cliff Haven, Montezuma Canyon, Utah
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 neighbours are just over a mile away.
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Cliff Haven, Montezuma Canyon, Utah
Constructed in 1986, the property was designed to imitate traditional Anasazi cliff dwellings. It’s pretty cosy 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.
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Cliff Haven, Montezuma Canyon, Utah
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 WiFi.
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Wishing Park Estate, Hampshire, UK
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 £1.8 million ($2.2m). Now, that’s not much for your own subterranean haven now is it?
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Wishing Park Estate, Hampshire, UK
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.
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Wishing Park Estate, Hampshire, UK
Sitting on 43 acres of land, the one-of-a-kind eco-home will come complete with its very own fishing lakes and woodland, so there’s no need to step a foot outside of the grounds to get your fill of the great outdoors.
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Wishing Park Estate, Hampshire, UK
Inside, the south-facing kitchen is perfectly positioned to get the best of the day’s light, while the whole building was sited to maximise 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.
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Cliff House, Victoria, Australia
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-storey property hangs on the side of a cliff along the coast in Victoria.
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Cliff House, Victoria, Australia
The house is accessed through a carport on the top floor, where a lift connects homeowners to the rest of the levels. Interior furnishings are minimalistic, with floor-to-ceiling windows ensuring those staggering ocean views are the star of the show.
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Cliff House, Victoria, Australia
According to Modscape, the design was inspired by the way barnacles cling to the hull of a ship. Unfortunately, we don’t know how much this extreme house would set you back, but you’re likely to need deep pockets, plus your own cliff to hang it off!
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Steppingstone House, Cheshire, UK
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!
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Steppingstone House, Cheshire, UK
Shielded from the outside world by the surrounding hillside, Steppingstone House cannot be viewed fully from any one direction, with its clever design obscuring the structure within acres of rolling private land.
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Steppingstone House, Cheshire, UK
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.
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Steppingstone House, Cheshire, UK
Just outside the front door, a private helipad and free airspace mean that London is just 55 minutes away by private jet. You might have trouble finding this semi-subterranean property on the way home though!
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Jungle House, Paulista, Brazil
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.
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Jungle House, Paulista, Brazil
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?
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Jungle House, Paulista, Brazil
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!
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Jungle House, Paulista, Brazil
Inside, the home isn’t short of wow-factor either. The intimate interior features neutral, warm tones and plenty of texture, making it the perfect place to hibernate during the rainy season. Spread across three floors, the house is full of little surprises – breathtaking views can be glimpsed from almost every room.
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Åkrafjorden Cabin, Hordaland, Norway
This hunting lodge in the municipality of Etne, Norway, was built in 2013. Nestled in a remote spot, shrouded by mountains and flanked by an untouched lake, the structure seamlessly blurs into the rugged surrounding landscape.
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Åkrafjorden Cabin, Hordaland, Norway
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.
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Åkrafjorden Cabin, Hordaland, Norway
Covered in grass, the curved roof appears to grow up out of the landscape. The rustic facade 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!
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Åkrafjorden Cabin, Hordaland, Norway
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 smart!
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