LIVING ON THE EDGE

The idea of staying in a bunker has become increasingly attraction, and these hotels offer a glimpse of life far from the maddening crowds. The serene Pedras Salgadas Spa and Nature Park in northern Portugal features modular ecohouses and treehouses designed by architect Luis Rebelo de Andrade. Built in harmony with the lush surrounding, the spartan interiors put the emphasis squarely on nature.

Formerly an inn for workers of a power plant in Selfoss, Iceland, this abandoned building was transformed by Minarc design studio into Ion Adventure Hotel (pictured above). The boutique hotel’s stark architecture uses an environmentally friendly prefabricated panelised building system; its eco ethos can be seen in every detail, from the fair-trade organic linen to the water-saving shower systems.