Italian architect Enrico Scaramellini squeezed this narrow holiday house into the passageway between two farm buildings in the Alpine countryside of northern Italy. More about Wardrobe in the Landscape by Enrico Scaramellini
Shimmering aluminium panels are ridged like the top surfaces of bricks on the exterior of this country house in upstate New York by architects Grzywinski + Pons (+ slideshow). More about Dutchess House No. 1 by Grzywinski + Pons
Tokyo studio International Royal Architecture designed this seaside house with the "form of a pure white arrow". More about ISM house by International Royal Architecture
This holiday home by Swiss architects Hurst Song Architekten is partly embedded in the steep slopes of the Swiss Alps (+ slideshow). More about Holzkristal by Hurst Song Architekten
A dormer window provides a first-floor observatory at this gabled lodge in the Czech Republic by A1 Architects of Prague. More about House on the Marsh by A1 Architects
Dezeen archive: for those wishing to escape a wet summer, here's a round-up of all the holiday houses featured on Dezeen to help you imagine the perfect retreat. See all the stories »
More about Dezeen archive: holiday homes
As the tides erode the northern coast of New Zealand, this house on a sled by architects Crosson Clarke Carnachan can be towed off the beach and out of harm's way (+ slideshow). More about Hut on Sleds by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects
An enormous frame surrounds a little window in the reconstructed stone wall that flanks this holiday home in northern Italy by architects bergmeisterwolf (+ slideshow). More about Farmstead Next to the Chapel by bergmeisterwolf
Wooden shutters fold, tilt and slide open to let in the sun and keep out the burglars at this weekend cabin in New Zealand by architects Crosson Clarke Carnachan (+ slideshow). More about Tutukaka House by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects
The walls of this house in Sydney by Australian studio Chris Elliott Architects feature curved openings that look like gills. More about Seacliff House by Chris Elliott Architects
Millions of tiny perforations are dotted across the rusted steel walls of this rural retreat in Victoria by Melbourne architects Inarc. More about Red House at Red Hill by Inarc
This wood and steel house by Melbourne studio Architects EAT has a huge projecting roof that shelters a first floor barbeque deck. More about Linear House by Architects EAT
Forked tree branches framing this house in southeast Australia were intended by architect Paul Morgan to resemble the sun-bleached kangaroo and sheep bones scattered around the surrounding woodland. More about Trunk House by Paul Morgan Architects
Designer Noé Duchaufour Lawrance has fitted out an alpine ski lodge in the French Alps with a trunk-like hearth, curved fir walls and a floating bed. More about Chalet Béranger By Noé Duchaufour Lawrance
Tokyo architects Naoi have completed a three-tiered woodland summerhouse at Japanese holiday spot Nasu Kogen. More about Tiered Lodge by Naoi Architecture & Design Office
A steel staircase outside this renovated summerhouse in eastern Spain spirals up onto a roof terrace with a view of the sea. More about PC House by XVA
The walls of this house in Australia by architects McBride Charles Ryan have origami-like facets and folds. More about Klein Bottle House by McBride Charles Ryan
Norwegian architects Fantastic Norway have designed a mountain lodge with a sloping roof that you can ski over. More about Mountain Hill Cabin by Fantastic Norway
The third completed house in Alain de Botton’s Living Architecture series has a faceted black upper storey that sits on top of the glass-walled ground floor like a big hat. More about Dune House by Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects and Mole Architects
Imagine waking up in a glass bedroom by the waterside on a remote Finnish island. More about Garden Shed by Ville Hara and Linda Bergroth