3 Incredible Homes to Stay in Around the World
Comedian and architecture buff Tim Ross appreciates striking design, no matter where it might be. Here are the grand designs and idyllic interiors he wants to see for himself.
Slow Beam
West Hobart, Tasmania
Each trip to Tasmania feels like a reset for the soul and it’s held a special place for me since my first visit in the late ’90s, when I was working at Triple J. The colour of my hair might have faded but my enthusiasm for Hobart hasn’t and the idea of spending a weekend at this home less than three clicks from the CBD seems like pure joy. A design-lover’s dream, it’s a majestic set of black boxes nestled into the slope of a hill, filled with enviable furniture (including a Featherston chaise longue) and custom-made carpet by artist Esther Stewart. Purpose built as a holiday rental with bush and river views, it screams weekend getaway. So pour me another glass of Tasmanian pinot because I’ll be eating my weight in triple-cream brie.
Pictured top. Image credit: Lauren Bamford
Secular Retreat
Image credit: © Jack Hobhouse/Living Architecture
South Devon, England
In 2006, world-famous philosopher Alain de Botton came up with the fabulous idea of getting some of the best architects in the world to design holiday houses in the UK and make them available for anyone to rent. The company he founded, Living Architecture, now has eight properties on its books. It’s not easy to snag a reservation but if you luck out you could be staying in this spectacular farmhouse by legendary Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The rammed-concrete pavilion has commanding views of the countryside and five spacious bedrooms, each with ensuite. I’d recommend bringing nine mates and not leaving one of the finest houses in the world.
Casa Tusci
Amalfi, Campania, Italy
It’s impossible not to be seduced by the magic of the Amalfi Coast, where the rugged cliffs have been tamed to allow almost everything to have a picture-perfect view. This petite but architecturally renovated one-bedroom holiday rental frames that famous vista and more. With crisp-white walls contrasting against vibrant tiles, this is the ideal place to call home during a trip full of boat rides and wine-fuelled lunches, which are walked off on those wonderfully steep steps.
