Cabin fever: The most incredible places to escape the rat race | CNN

More than half the world now lives in a city -- but plenty of us are trying to escape to the country. Whether it's for a weekend retreat or a summer among the pines, the world of design is ready to cater to the most discerning tastes.

Pictured: The Bands, Nordland, Norway, by Scarcity and Creativity Studio & Oslo School of Architecture and Design -- This cabin is made from Siberian larch wood, and features a sundeck, a sauna, and a space specifically designed for cleaning fish.

»By Scarcity and Creativity Studio & Oslo School of Architecture and Design, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

Invisible Barn, Truckee, California, U.S., by STPMJ —

This cabin appears as an optical illusion -- its mirror exterior reflects the woods around it, creating a type of camouflage.

»By STPMJ, photography by STPMJ, from The hinterland, copyright gestalten 2016«

The Viewpoint, Campania, Italy, by SA.UND.SA Architetti —

This cabin -- which is used as a place for meditation and prayer -- is an open-air space made to resemble the outline of a traditional home.

»By SA.UND.SA Architetti, Photography by SA.UND.SA Architetti, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

The Baumhauskugel, Witzenhausen, Germany, by Peter Becker —

Architect Peter Becker created this tree-house structure during a six-month hiatus from his city life. The collection of small tree houses is held together by a series of hanging walkways.

»by baumhotel robins nest, design by peter becker, photography by faruk pinjo

The Qvarsebo Summerhouse, Dalarna, Sweden, by Leo Qvarsebo Arkitekt MSA —

This triangular structure is inspired by camping tents, according to the architect, Qvarsebo. "I wanted to make the basic tent shape visible in my design, but with a sense of recreation," he says. This cabin features sloped walls for visitors to climb, and is divided into different sections, each for a different activity.

»By LEO QVARSEBO ARKITEKT MSA, Photography by Åke E:son Lindman, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

Manshausen, Nordland, Norway, by Stinessen Arkitektur —

The cabins on this resort are made of angled glass and wood. The vast use of glass allows for increased access to natural light.

» By Stinessen Architecture, Photography by Steve King, from the hinterland, copyright gestalten 2016«

Divčibare Mountain Home, Divčibare, Serbia, by .exe Architecture Studio —

This cabin is a remodeled Serbian chalet, which has been adapted to include contemporary design elements. The base, walls, and roof of the original building are turned to its side, and then reworked to include a solar panel and a natural thermal wheel to make the structure ecologically friendly.

»By .Exe Architecture Studio, Photography by Relja Ivanic, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

Walden's Raft, Auvergne, France, by Florent Albinet and Elise Morin —

Walden's raft is a hybrid between a raft and a cabin. This mobile vessel is designed to look like a deconstructed version of a pitched roof cabin.

»By Florent Albinet & Elise Morin, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

Portal in the Pines, Hordaland, Norway, by Opa Form —

This serene residence features a curved tunnel at its entrance, which is made from bent planks of raw larch wood. The tunnel appears like a wooden vortex hidden behind trees.

»By Opa Form, Photography by Helge Skodvin, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

Cabin in the forest (3D Visualization), Poland, by Tomek Michalski —

With an exterior built of dark angled planes, this secluded cabin provides natural light through ceiling-to-floor windows and a skylight.

»by tomek michalski, photography by tomek michalski, from the hinterland, copyright gestalten 2016«

Shelters, South Fyn Archipelago, Denmark, by LUMO Arkitekter —

Inspired by Danish fishing culture, this shelter borrows design elements from traditional buildings where fisherman would store their daily catch. Keeping with the theme, each cabin is named after a different kind of fish.

»By lumo arkitekter, Photography by jesper balleby, from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016«

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Editor’s Note: This is an edited excerpt from architecture book “The Hinterland,” published by Gestalten.

Story highlights

As cities swell, many people are seeking out quiet, stylish spaces in the wild

A new architecture book, called The Hinterland, asks whether cities make us happy

CNN —

A meadow or coastline spread out in front of you, a room full of simple furniture that means something to you, clear air, and not much else.

Isolation, yes; perhaps even loneliness, but fundamentally peace and quiet: a hideout in a hinterland offers a certain type of lifestyle that many around the world long for, and it’s not difficult to understand why.

"The Hinterland," published by Gestalten.

To many, fleeing the countryside is a rejection of things; but to others it is an acquisition. A romantic one perhaps, but one that can bring stimulation, satisfaction, and sometimes even an income.

We know the numbers and we probably know the reasons behind them. Earth’s population has become a legion of city dwellers.

Half of the world now lives in urban areas, and that figure is expected to rise to 66% by 2050, when over 6 billion people will reside in dense, busy metropolises filled to the brim with high-rises.

They may be infested with pollution, but cities provide jobs and opportunities, culture and fun.

They are magnets.

But do cities make us happy? That is the question almost everyone featured in “The Hinterland” has asked themselves at some point.

As cities swell, as housing becomes increasingly unaffordable, as infrastructure weakens under the pressure, and, it seems, life becomes ever more difficult, it is no wonder that many of us have felt the call of the wild.

Text excerpt from Tom Morris’ preface from The Hinterland, Copyright Gestalten 2016