One of the best things to do a the weather gets warmer is to escape to a summer cabin. This collection of summer cabins may inspire people to do just that -- or to build one of their own all together. Filled with stunning architecture that focuses primarily on nature, there are designs that let nature in, help sustain nature and so much more.
Yet what really makes these summer cabins stand out are the contemporary twists many architects have taken the liberty to play with. From rectangular silhouettes that stray away from the more traditional triangular ones to the use of concrete in place of wood, there are a number of ways they've brought summer cabins into the 21st century.
50 Examples of Summer Cabins
From Nature Embedded Architecture to Sustainable Cottage Residences:
Meghan Young — May 16, 2015 — Eco
50
Multi-Purpose Outdoor Homes
Broadhurst Architects Inc.'s 'The Crib' is Versatile
49
Deceptive Cottage-Shaped RVs
The ESCAPE Luxury RV Cabin is Not Your Average Mobile Vehicle
48
Camouflaged Forest Cabins
This Timber Cabin Blends in with Its Natural Environment
47
Luxurious Eco Abodes
Eentileen Arkitektur's Denmark Cabin Features a Sustainable and Chic Design
46
Deceptive Cottage RVs
The Escape Cabin by Kelly Davis is a Tiny House on Wheels
45
Eco-Friendly Cedar Cabins
The Stealth Cabin Combines Modern and Traditional Design Philosophies
44
Nature Embedded Architecutre
The Nahahum Balance Associates Architects Home is Set in Nature
43
Rural Off-Grid Cabins
The Tintaldra Rural Cabin Blends in Seamlessly With its Rugged Surroundings
42
Mobile Log Cabins
These Modern Mobile Homes Have a Rustic Feel Inspired by Log Cabins
41
Modular Outback Cabins
The Modscape Cabin Functions Off The Grid
40
Contemporary Forest Residences
Chile's CBI House Blends Modern Design with Natural Topography
39
Contemporary Dutch Cottages
Zecc Architects Designs a Countryside Cabin Using Shuttered Walls
38
Sustainable Cabin Residences
Lang Architecture's Hudson Woods Home is Eco-Friendly and Elegant
37
Modernist Country Cabins
Tomek Michalski Contemporary Cottage is Customized and Cozy
36
Cozy Oceanside Homes
The Provincetown Beach Cabin Brings Comforting Decor to the Seaside
35
Rustic Trailer Residences
Heirloom's Mini Mobile Cabin is a Hipster's Dream Home
34
Leaning Cabin Residences
Uhlik Architekti's Compact Vacation Home is Supported by a Standing Rock
33
Tropical Cozy Cabins
This Tiny Hawaiian Wood Cabin is Only 200 Square Feet But Feels Airy
32
Removable Eco Pods (UPDATE)
IN-TENTA Upgrades its Previous Design to the DROP XL
31
Cozy Backyard Bunkies
The Collingwood Shepherd Hut Offers Comfy Permit-Free Overflow Accommodation
30
Single-Room Residences
This 1960s Log Cabin Brings New Meaning to the Term Open-Concept
29
Sleek Tourist Cabins
The Rabot Tourist Cabin Shelters Hikers in the Mountains
28
Deceptive Concrete Residences
The AV House by BAK Arquitectos Shows Cement Can Have Warmth
27
Woodsy Prefab Cabins
Chris Pardo Design's Small Prefab Home is Ideal for Cozying Up with Nature
26
Wild Woodsy Homes
The ‘Tree House Porch’ by John Grable Architects is Divine
25
Eco-Friendly Cottages
This Contemporary Cabin Recycles Old Materials
24
Spectacular Slanted Mountain Retreats
'Canyon House' by Balance Associates Architects is Stunning
23
Mountain Top Cabins
People Can Enjoy a Free Place to Stay If They Climb 8303 Feet to Get There
22
Modular Timber Cabins
This Luxurious Hamptons Home by Rangr Studio is Tucked Away in the Woods
21
Rock-Resembling Mountain Retreats
This Compact Cabin is Concealed as a Hillside Boulder
20
Sci-Fi Alpine Structures
The Ufogel Lodge Fuses a Contemporary Concept with Traditional Practices
19
Folded Transparent Cottages
The Zeroplus Architects Sneeoosh Cabin Brings the Outdoors Inside
18
Wrapped-Around Timber Abodes
Forrester Architects Blends This House with its Surroundings
17
Top-Popping Cottages
The Shadowboxx House Features an Attached Cabin with a Hinged Roof
16
Barnyard-Inspired Architecture
MU Architecture's Malbaie VIII Residence is Like a Modern Log Home
15
Mirrored Cuboid Cabins
'The Lookout' Blends and Reflects the Surrounding Landscape
14
Mountainous Treehouse Hotels
This Hotel is Located in the Blue Mountains of Australia
13
Stilt-Supported Cabins
The UFOGEL Holiday House was Designed by Peter Jungmann
12
Descending Level Abodes
The Casa Casablanca 67 House is Situated on a Hillside
11
Contemporary Country Cabins
The Garden St. Residence is Inspired by a Modern Loft Interior
10
Crafty Camouflage Cabins
Antoine by Bureau A is an Alpine Cabin Cleverly Disguised as a Boulder
9
Island Chalet Residences
The Vashon Island Cabin Features a Daylight Basement
8
Composer-Targeted Cabins
Johnsen Schmaling Architects' Structure is a Serene Retreat for Musicians
7
Stilted Timber Cabins
The Charred Cabin Encapsulates the Bare Minimum for Living
6
Catilevered Cove Homes
The Gambier Island House Features a Private View
5
Angled Weekend Retreat Cabins
ON Design Creates the Ideal Getaway in Japan
4
Compact Elevated Cabins
Olson Kundig Architects' Sol Duc Cabin Design Withstands Floods
3
Slatted Rooftop Cabins
The Detached Cabin is Intended For an Athens Rooftop
2
Understated Hillside Abodes
Norway's Vega Cottage is a Modern Translation of a Classic Cabin
1
Repurposed Norwegian Dormitories
Snohetta Revived a Wooden Boathouse for Summer Camp
Related Ideas
Japanese-Inspired Portable Tiny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Portable Bonzai Tiny Home
A-Frame Alpine-Inspired Cabins
The Adventure Whare Retreat by Studio Well is Demure
Nest-Inspired Urban Houses
This Vietnamese Dwelling Offers Respite From the Concrete Jungle
Garage-Paired A-Frame Cabins
The Everything Ayfraym Plus Has Three Bedrooms and Two Bathrooms
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Elegant Summer Holiday Homes
Olson Kundig Designs the Dalarö House Oon a Rocky Waterside Site
Shipping Container Tiny Homes
UnContained Dreams Designs the Rising Sun Tiny Home
Plant-Based Cabin Constructions
Moontower Design Build Creates the Cross Cabin in Austin
Stacked Compact Compact Homes
The Cabini Edelweiss is Comperise of Square Metal Pipe Framings
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Origami-Inspired Sleek Cabins
A.L.P.S. Designs the Infinity Mobile Architecture System
Glamorous Camping Experiences
Volodymyr Hahonin Designs the LULU Glamping Experience
Storage-Packed Compact Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designed the 20-Feet Cerceaux Tiny Home
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Outdoor Entertaining Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes True North Retreat Has a Barbecue Area
Plant-Based Timber Cabins
Moontower Design Build Has Created the Cross Cabin in Austin
Temporary Cabin Hotels
Overtreders W Utilized Locally Sourced Materials for This Project
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
Weather-Resistant Tiny Homes
This Off-Grid Tiny House is Designed For Year-Round Enjoyment
Treehouse-Inspired Norwegian Residences
This House Aesthetically Connects With its Surroundings
Prefabricated A-Frame Cabins
Diano Salvador Designs the SULA Cabin in Galapagos Islands
Sustainable Off-Grid Minimal Cabins
Marc Thorpe Presents the Fremont House in New York
Modern Luxury Holiday Cabins
Compact Housing and Studio Sluijzer Design the Yiruma Cabins
Portable Luxury Saunas
The Thermowood Mini-Cube Sauna is Elegant and Practical
Charred-Wood Tranquil Pavilions
Temp Designs the 3-to-1 Pavilion in a Rocky Shanghai Garden
Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Homes
The 'SON.DER' Home Offers Environmentally Responsible Living
Eco-Friendly Luxury Villas
Kengo Kuma Designs the Land Villas for Red Sea Global
Sustainable Smart Cottages
The LG Smart Cottage is a Compact Prefab with Cutting-Edge Tech
Backyard-Transformed Dwelling Units
Catch Architecture and Obreval Design the ADU Carpintaria
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Stunning Mid-Century Coastal Homes
Design Theory Updates a House from the 1960s
H-Shaped Structural Mountain Homes
Studio B Architecture + Interiors Designs the Villa H
Contemporary Ski Home Projects
Alfredo Paredes Reimagines the Traditional Ski Chalet
Nature-Connecting Vacation Homes
kaviar.collaborative Designs the New House by the Lake in India
Contemporary Backyard Pavilions
AMDLD Circle Designs the Cosmo Pavilion for Ethimo
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Shade-providing Forest Pavilions
DRAA Designs the Patagonian Shadow Cabin with Modern Accents
A-Frame Forest Tranquil Houses
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados Designs a New Forest Home
Bunker-Borne Vacation Homes
This Subterranean Home Was Formerly a Wartime Bunker
Warm Timber Coastal Homes
Parsonson Architects Designs the Lookout Home on a Stilted Base
Cedar-Clad L-Shaped Beach Homes
Oza Sabbeth Architecture Created the Osprey's Landing Home
Rentable Miniature Modern Cabins
The Nest is a Tranquil Rental Space at ReWild Rentals
Farm-Inspired Guest Houses
Kaja Kühl Designs Two Guest Houses in Upstate New York
Tranquil Contemporary Cabin Retreats
Dominik Ilichman and Adam Hofman Design the Hyatta
Captivating Modern Prefab Cabins
Lloyoll Prefabs Creates the SKALI BackCountry Cubiod
Outdoor-Blended Summer Houses
Erling Berg Studio Designs the I/O Cabin in Risør, Norway
Traditionally Formed Gabled Homes
Studio Circle Growth Designs the Casa De Mi Luna
Modern A-Frame Toronto Homes
Reign Architects Designs the Contemporary House Caroline
Off-Grid Oceanside Homes
Campos Studio Designs a Sculptural Cliffside Home in Mexico
Modern Desert Architecture Projects
Toll Brothers Debuts an Amenity Center & Cottages in Arizona
Micro-Living Portable Homes
Modern Tiny Living Creates the Buttercup Tiny Home for Hosting
Countryside Woodland Cabin Designs
BABELstudio Creates the Aralar Cottage in the Forest
Farmland-Inspired Rural Hotel Cottages
Kooo Architects Designs the Ningshan LuZhai Cottage
Bamboo Luxe Pool Houses
Baldó Arquitectura Designs the Godai Pavilion with a Hanging Roof
Solar Powered Luxe Treehouses
Fort Treehouse Co. Designs the Baltic Treehouse in Canada
Scandinavian Design-Inspired Portable Homes
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs the Kemi Vacation Home
Tranquil Cozy Canadian Cottages
Omar Gandhi Architects Designs the White Rock Cottage
Economical Modular Wooden Homes
The Cake House Reinvents Housing in the Czech Republic
Monolithic Metal-Formed Homes
Boyd Architects Designs the Summerville House in South Carolina
Elevated Timber-Clad Homes
Habitable Form Designs the Victory Bay House on Kiawah Island
Greenhouse-Topped Residences
Moe Architecten Adds a Greenhouse on Top of the Wooden House
Modern Minimal Concrete Homes
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados Designs the Copas Home
Wooden Screen Stacked Houses
DB Arquitectors Designs the Casa VJC Iporanga In Brazil
Relaxing Wooden Holiday Homes
Norm Architects Designs the Heatherhill Beach House
Spacious On-the-Road Homes
Minimaliste Designs the Nomad Tiny House for Off-Grid Adventures
Nature-Leveraging Home Designs
PAE Designs the Casa Coaba Tucked in the Hillsides
Meadow-Overlooking Sleek Homes
StudioAC Designs a Holiday Home iwth a Cedar-Clad Build
Bamboo-Clad Residential Homes
i29 Designs the Open Park Villa to Connect with Nature
White Wood-Clad Cubed Houses
Stanaćev Granados Designs a Chilean Holiday House
Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuur Atelier Designs the Green Arc in a Garden
Nature Blending Modern Homes
MODU Designed the Mini Tower One Residence in Brooklyn
Contemporary A-Frame Cabins
Heliotrope Architects Creates the Buoy Bat A-Frame Cabin
Recycling-Centric Waterfront Homes
Measured Architecture Designs the Shor House Project
Timber-Framed Cottage Extensions
Pensaer Designs the Allotment Cottage in Herne Hill
Blackened Timber Tranquil Cabins
The Hideaway House is Nestled in the Abundance of Nature
Serene Wooden Garden Pavilions
Byró Architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion in Prague
Futuristic Curved Islandic Homes
The Collective Studio Co., Ltd Designs the Nest Residence
Harmonious Modern Wooden Cabins
MARDI Designs the MOT.22 Home in France's Cap Ferret
Charred Timber Home Extensions
Grotto Studio Adds a New Shadow House to a Cottage in Perth
Picturesque Modern Holiday Homes
Young Architects Designs the Ligar Bay Bach Holiday Home
Natural Light-Centric Timber Homes
Studio Varey Architects Designs the Huron House in London
Natural Material-Crafterd Holiday Homes
Johan Sundberg Arkitektur Designs the Sommarhus E
Contemporary Nature-Inspired Homes
Fuller/Overby Architecture Designs the Nebo House
Log Cabin-Inspired Minimal Homes
Gartnerfuglen Arkitkter Designs the Årestua Home in Telemark
Mountainous Long Structural Cabins
Far + Dang Creates the Linear Cabin in Oklahoma
Local Craft-Shown Bamboo Pavilions
AtArchitecture Designs the Northeast Pavilion for an Art Fair
Wooden Structural Outdoor Bedes
Marco Lavit Designs the Hut Lounge Bed for Ethimo
Elevated Treetop Modern Cabins
NAMO Architecture & i29 Architects Create the Buitenverblijf Nest
Modern Artist-Collaborative Cabins
Daniel Arsham and Kohler Present Arsham in Kohler
Cleverly Designed Micro Apartments
The Cabanon Measure 74 Square Feet with Folding Furniture
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Spacious Cottage-Like Luxe Homes
TimberCraft Tiny Homes Designs the Big Sky Rustic Home
Modern Mobile Futuristic Homes
Nestron Presents its Range of Contemporary Tiny Homes
Lakeside Thatched Holiday Homes
RAPA Designs the Summer House on Lake Balaton in Hungary
Woodland-Inspired Timber Office Spaces
Atelier du Pont Completes the Pavilion Jardins Building
Compact Calming Homes
Batay-Csorba Architects Masterfully Designed a Modern Brick Home in Toronto
Tree-Centered Cubic Home Designs
Moises Sánchez Designs the Tonalli House in Jocotepec
Contemporary Luxe Compact Retreats
Cameron Anderson Architects Designs the Gilay Estate
Juxtaposing Contemporary Homes
Bates Masi Designs the Stony Hill Project with Various Volumes
Cozy Gaden Cabin Retreats
BYRÓ architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion with Wooden Detail
Long Geometric Hawaiian Guesthomes
Hahn Lavsen Creates the Vipp Cold Hawaii Guesthouse
Cutout Roof Cement-Clad Homes
Edition Office Designs a Home with a Focus on Tree Views
Modular Wooden Holiday Homes
Arsenit Designs the Piil Home Resting in an Estonian Forest
Poetic Habourfront Nature Centers
3XN Created the Centre for Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing
Log Cabin-Inspired Modern Homes
Balbek Bureau Renovates a Home in Ukraine with Steel and Concrete
Hospitality Contemporary Cabins
Andreas Martin-Löf Deisgns the Landet Series of Cabins
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Warm Wooden Interior Homes
OYO Architects Designs the Derelict Dune House in Belgium
Minimal Bird-Watching Cabins
Inclume Architects Designs the Cozy Hide Cabin in England
Nature-Immersive Tranquil Resorts
Stilt Studios Designs the Treehouse Villas in Bali
Rustic Warm Homey Residences
CPlus Architects Design Mother's House in Southwest Beijing
Open-Air Kenyan Holiday Homes
PAT Renovates the Falcon House with Passive Cooling Systems
Traditional Barn-Style Residences
Young Projects Designs the Six Square House in Bridgehampton
Cabana Canopy Collections
StruXure Launches a Series of New Canopies for Its Cabana X Product
Gabled Forest-Side Homes
Théque Atelier Designs the Frame House in Hungary
Roman Architecture-Themed Pavilions
Pratique and Fanum Design the Forum des Vestiges Pavilion
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Sustainable Custom Luxe Homes
Schenkar and GA Arquitectura y Construcción Join on a Structure
Boat Design-Inspired Modern Homes
Bates Masi + Architects Designs the Three Mile Harbor
Contemporary Stacked Residences
StudioAC Designs the Everden Residence with Minimal Details
Renovated Retro Ski Lodges
Hetedik Műterem and Studio Konstella Extend the Normafa Ski Lodge
California-Inspired Tiny Homes
Modern Tiny Living Designs the Buxton Home for Four People
Holiday Mountain Village Chalets
Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures Designs the Perfect Day House
X-Shaped Nature-Interacting Gabled Cabins
Tall Architects Designs the Fowl River Cabin in Alabama
Open-Air Perforated Concrete Homes
MM++ Architects Designs the Anchor House in Vietnam
Modern Holiday Mountain Cabins
Sanina Arch lub and Gubar Architects Designs the Krasnyk House
Square Structural Canadian Homes
PARTISANS Designs the Canvas House in Toronto, Canada
Wine Cellar-Converted Summer Homes
Kapsimalis Architects Designs the Summer House in Mesaria
Lantern-Topped Sleek Workshops
Cabinet Designs the Gardeners House in a Park in Geneva
Landscape-Overlooking Modern Cabins
Wendell Burnette Architects Creates the Telescope House
Greenery-Surrounding Lush Homes
Ho Khue Architects Creates the Nest House in Vietnam
Beachfront-Inspired Tranquil Bungalows
The Captain Balfour Joins the McKinley Bungalows Capsule
Sustainable Charming Lakeside Cabins
The Design Cabin is Made with Eco-Friendly Processes
Gabled Annexe Vintage Cottages
Studio Bower Designs the Solit-Garreau Residence for a Family
Angular Black Cantilevered Homes
Fouché Architects Designs the Tallowwood Cabin in Queensland
Timber-Clad Canadian Holiday Homes
Naturehumaine Designs La Cime Home in Lanaudière
Architectural Tranquil Cabin Retreats
Snøhetta Designs the Bolder Lodges in Lysefjord
Weatherized Visual Wooden Homes
Denizen Works Creates the Hundred Acre Wood House in Scotland