Summer solstice is here, and our afternoon daydreams are filled with wanderlust. One can quiet those thoughts of beautiful buildings and expansive landscapes with an overnight stay in a modern home. There are now many creative opportunities, offered by websites like Airbnb and FlipKey, that allow home owners access to vacation and rental markets, along with providing travelers unique home stays both near and far. Here are some of our favorite offerings, a few classic, and those surely not-to-be missed.
Sea Ranch
Gualala, California
Not surprisingly, California has a number of modern homes and sites to spend soaking up the summer sunshine. To the north, the community of Sea Ranch provides a number of stunning homes to choose from that were designed by the architectural firm MLTW (Charles Moore, Donlyn Lyndon, William Turnbull, and Richard Whitaker) and landscape design by Lawrence Halprin. The Sea Ranch Condominium I Unit was awarded the AIA's Twenty-Five Year Award and includes one of the coolest pool and recreation centers.
Schindler Home
Los Angeles, California
Futura
Woodruff, Wisconsin
If a spaceship in the woods is your idea of fun, we found this
Futura ski-cabin for rent in Woodruff, Wisconsin. Designed in 1968 by Finnish architect
Matti Surronen, this prefab home comes completely furnished and sits on the edge of Sumach Lake. Only 100 Futuras were made making a get-a-way here serious bragging rights.
Elam House
Austin, Minnesota
While there are many
Frank Lloyd Wright homes to stay in, the
Elam House located in Austin, Minnesota opened for home stays just this past May. Designed in 1951, this Usonian Home was built for the George A. Hormel (of the Hormel Foods Corporation). Don’t miss the SPAM Museum, which is also located in Austin.
Arcosanti
Mayer, Arizona
High on our must-see list is
Paolo Soleri’s visionary site
Arcosanti. Located in Mayer, Arizona just north of Scottsdale, Arcosanti is notable for its poured-concrete amphitheater, residential village, a foundry and ceramics studio. The site includes concerts and programming throughout the year and continues Soleri’s design as an urban laboratory.
Unité d’Habitation
Marseille, France
If after visiting the
Le Corbusier exhibition at
MoMA you want to see the real thing, stay in a
duplex apartment at Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, France. Listing includes parking, views of the city, the rooftop pool and restaurant and bakery on the 3
rd floor!
Breuer Home
Salt Point, New York
Another stunning find in the Hudson Valley of New York is
this cottage and studio by architect
Marcel Breuer. Located 1 ½ hours from New York City, the rental sleeps four and has availability throughout the summer.
Umbrella House
Sarasota, Florida
For those who may have joined us in Sarasota, Florida,
Umbrella House owner
Vincent Ciulla offers his historic 1953
Paul Rudolph designed home occasionally as a house swap. For those who might live in their own modern home, swap for this early Rudolph masterpiece and enjoy the summer in style.
