Inside 4 of the World’sMost Unusual Hotels

From a hotel built into Saudi Arabia’s mountains to an underwater bedroom in the Maldives, some of the world’s most unusual hotels bring architecture and nature together in extraordinary ways. ⠀ In this Property News International feature, we explore four remarkable hospitality projects and the architects and designers behind them. ⠀ Desert Rock, Saudi Arabia:Developed by Red Sea Global and designed by Oppenheim Architecture, Desert Rock is built into the rugged mountain landscape, with cave suites and private pools overlooking the desert. ⠀ The Muraka, Maldives: Located at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, this two-level residence was created by architect Ahmed Saleem and design collaborator Yuji Yamazaki. Its underwater bedroom sits 16 feet below sea level, beneath a curved acrylic dome offering views of marine life. ⠀ Buahan, Bali: Part of Banyan Tree Escape, Buahan was designed by Dharmali Kusumadi in collaboration with local architect Gede Kresna. Its 16 open-air villas follow a no-walls, no-doors concept inspired by traditional Balinese architecture, connecting guests directly with the surrounding rainforest. ⠀ ICEHOTEL 365, Sweden: Architect Hans Eek designed this permanent ice hotel, where guests can experience ice-and-snow suites throughout the year. The suites remain at approximately minus five degrees Celsius, with solar energy powering the cooling system during summer. ⠀ From sculptural mountain retreats and underwater living spaces to open-air villas and architecture made from ice, these four properties demonstrate different approaches to hospitality design. ⠀ Watch the full video to explore the architecture, creative teams, and unusual settings behind these hotels.