Cabin Fever

The view from inside the Floating House's boat dock.

A tiny outbuilding offers a cozy living space inside a simple shell.

While you’re there, make sure to try out activities or sports that take advantage of the incredible natural surroundings. You’ll be able to rent a boat, kayak, snow shoes, a bicycle, or fishing and diving equipment. You can even sign up for a group fishing trip or have a chance to see the winter lights.

German architecture firm Beer Bembé Dellinger designed this vacation getaway in Bayrischzell, Bavaria, for a couple from Munich. Photo by Sebastian Schels

The Nook in Quebec; Architects: MU Architecture; Photo by Ulysse Lemerise Bouchard/YUL Photo

Alpine Cabin; Architects: Scott and Scott

A-frame cabin in Whistler, Vancouver; Architects: Scott and Scott

Updating the A-frame of yore, this home’s liberal use of windows makes the most of panoramic views spanning two valleys. Catalonia, Spain. Cadaval & Sola-Morales from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

Olson Kundig Architects' Delta Shelter, in Mazama, Washington, is a 1,000 square-foot steel box home with a 200 square-foot footprint. Photo by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects/TASCHEN.

A polycarbonate wall by Lexan Thermoclick colors the west side of the studio. Exterior doors are from Codel, and they are also painted in Benjamin Moore’s “dark pewter.”

Boisset Home in the Alps of Le Biolley, Switzerland; Architects: Savioz Fabrizzi Architects; Photo by Thomas Jantscher

Mountain Tree House in the North Georgia Mountains; Architects: Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects

Stud Horse Mountain home in Methow Valley, WA; Architects Prentiss Balance Wickline (PBW) Architects; Photo courtesy of PBW Architects

Sebastian Heise’s wooden structure, seemingly atilt, overlooks a green valley in Oberwiesenthal, Germany. The two horizontal windows on the side and the front porch give the home its own unique sense of balance.

The Strolz House nestles in the winter snow at the edge of the Austrian village of Lech. Large wooden shutters help protect the windows against avalanche damage.

Cabin In Redwoods; Architect: Frank/Architects with Donlyn Lyndon, FAIA, and Richard Whitaker; Photograph by Frank Domin.

The relatively simple construction incorporates clever sustainable design: a two-level wood roof structure keeps the sun’s heat away from the interior, and small windows at either end facilitate powerful cross-ventilation. It’s natural air-conditioning, and it works beautifully.

The Longbranch Cabin has seen quite a transformation since its original construction in 1959. Architect: Jim Olson.

Delta Road Cottage by Teeple Architects