Designed by architects Emiliano López and Mónica Rivera for the desert-like landscape of Navarre, Spain, the Hotel Aire de Bardenas is composed of a series of small dwellings that overlook a wheat field. To take advantage of the spectacular views, the architects designed alcove beds that jut out from the rooms, forming a platform along the sill of the window...
The design and construction of the beds is simple: each window is fitted with solar filters, while the sills are lined with plywood and furnished with mattresses and pillows. Oriented towards the northeast, the window beds avoid harsh direct sunlight.
López and Rivera describe the beds as "inhabitable windows," where guests can read, watch TV, contemplate views, or sleep. Rooms also include more private beds located away from views.
For more information about the hotel and its alcove beds, check out:
• Emiliano López and Mónica Rivera Arquitectes
• Hotel Aire de Bardenas
• Wallpaper Magazine's Review of the Hotel
• Photos and Review from Yatzer
Photos: Emiliano Lopez and Mónica Rivera Arquitectes, Wallpaper Magazine, Hotel Aire de Bardenas
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
This may be the most wonderful thing I have ever seen...
view lemonadefish's profile
Wow, I want one. Except it would interrupt my sleeping in on the weekends. ;)
view RedMaiko's profile
more please!
view msjessiemeghan's profile
Just WOW. A beautiful reminder of the power of great ideas.
view ScottSpellman's profile
Wow. That bed is amazing. But I looked at the hotel's website, and I have to say, it's not somewhere I'd like to spend my vacation. It's undeniably beautiful, but its beauty is stark and cold and not particularly restful, if you know what I mean... But if I ever build myself a home, I'm getting an alcove bed.
view M.A.L.F.'s profile
Utterly exceptional. Truly!
view modtramp's profile
This is the most beautiful idea I've ever seen. I badly want a view that would make me want a bed like this.
view kelleyk's profile
oh. my. goodness - this is love.
view wide open spaces's profile
I would like this as a window seat, but I would feel too exposed sleeping there.
view jooly's profile
Oh, wow, I really love it.
I would love to do something like this when we (someday) finish the second floor of our house. If the window could have a screen and still look attractive, it would be like a tiny little sleeping porch.
view 950's profile
fantastic!
view manueln's profile
So... I'm the only person who would get TOTALLY freaked out that a creepy ax murderer would be standing next to the window watching me sleep?
view Modfan's profile
I want to go to there.
view hessilou's profile
Oh, how funny, Architectural Review (not Record or Digest) featured this last month.
view dn's profile
You could do this at home with a mural instead of a window.
view Kate (NC)'s profile
i just want to live there!! and light doesn't bother me because I have the covers practically over my head and I sleep deeply
view wampler's profile
Totally NOT zombie-proof.
view amywashere's profile
No, not zombie-proof... but some things are worth dying for. That view is one of them. Brains are overrated, anyway.
view rosenatti's profile
Reminds me of Thomas Jefferson's (Monticello) "pass through" bed. Instead of a view, the bed niche joined/opened into another room.
view reb's profile
WOW. If I had the cash, I would totally do a spinoff of this idea with a huge wall-mounted light box and a landscape printed on backlit film. Bonus: no risk of peeping Tom's!
view sexyartbeast's profile