Embark on a creative journey as we explore five remote retreats designed to inspire and nurture artists in residence. First, we venture to Chez Georges, a luxurious villa nestled in the hills of Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa neighborhood, offering a private oasis for those who appreciate architecture, music, and art. Next, we travel to Fogo Island Inn, where the rugged coastline of Canada's easternmost point serves as the backdrop for artists seeking solitude and natural beauty. In the Arctic Circle, The Arctic Hideaway, offers a breathtaking retreat in Norway's Fleinvær archipelago, designed for creatives in search of inspiration amidst raw nature and surreal landscapes. Our journey continues to Art Villas Costa Rica, a complex of modern villas and pavilions nestled in the rainforest hills of Bahia Ballena, inviting artists to draw inspiration from the vibrant Central American way of life. Finally, we explore Juvet, one of the original landscape hotels in Norway, where artists can immerse themselves in Scandinavian nature and minimalist design. Each of these remote retreats offers a unique environment and creative space for artists in residence, fostering inspiration and innovation in the most picturesque settings.
“Finding your muse. Peace and quiet. Being hidden from the world. Leaving inspired. ”
Chez Georges
Brazil
Photo property of Chez Georges
Chez Georges is a luxury villa in the hills of Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa neighbourhood. Nestled between the golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and the lush jungle that surrounds the city, Chez Georges is a unique private oasis, for anyone who appreciates architecture, music, and art. The villa can host up to 14 guests with it's 7 suites. The villa has been built and designed by a renowned architect Wladimir Alves de Souza, showcasing Brazilian Brutalism at its best. Enjoy the 360-degree panoramic views of Sugarloaf Mountain, and Guanabara Bay; large wooden doors; floor to ceiling windows and white walls; complete with a refreshing 15 metre pool. The the most unique feature of Chez Georges is sound-proofed music studio, complete with a control room and recording room, facing the lush greens on the forest.
Fogo Island Inn
Canada
Photo property of Fogo Island Inn
You will find yourself at the most eastern part of Canada. Surrounded by jagged rocks and a powerful ocean, Fogo Island Inn is a perfect destination in itself. A beautifully designed hotel includes an award winning restaurant and twenty nine suites with floor to ceiling windows facing the North Atlantic Ocean. Most suites include wood stones and four-piece tubs. Perfect for explorers of the far corners of the world; people looking to get close with nature in remote and luxurious surroundings, and photographers.
“Fogo Island Arts is a residency-based contemporary art venue for artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, curators, designers, and thinkers from around the world." Fogo Island Arts was established in 2008 and provides support for artistic exploration and production for artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, curators, designers, and thinkers. Artists-in-residence come to the Island to do research, and selected artists are invited to present their work in exhibitions at the Fogo Island Gallery located inside Fogo Island Inn.
Exhibitions are accompanied by publications produced in collaboration with international imprints including Berlin’s Sternberg Press and with public institutions globally. These initiatives are part of Shorefast Foundation’s social enterprise-based business model that seeks to support the economic viability of Fogo Island Inn and the growth of tourism on Fogo Island. The unique programs and approaches of Fogo Island Arts are facilitated in part by the resourcefulness and creativity of Fogo Islanders, who provide a vital framework for the organization’s activities. Fogo Island Arts places emphasis on creating meaningful partnerships — locally, nationally, and internationally.”
The Arctic Hideaway
Norway
Photo property of The Arctic Hideaway
Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær (The Arctic Hideaway) is a remote retreat created by musician Håvard Lund. Located on the island of Sørvær in the Fleinvær archipelago outside of Bodø, Norway, the getaway is especially catered towards creatives looking for inspiration. Enjoy views of the Arctic Sea, mysterious islands and icy mountain peaks in the distance, all framed by large windows and cozy interiors. The Hideaway consists of a collection of 10 tiny houses, each created for sleeping, eating, and bathing. Take a complete and total escape from everyday life, raw nature, and surreal landscapes. Creatives can apply to be the artist in residence and receive a complimentary stay.
“The idea behind Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær comes from an interdisciplinary workshop in Saltdal in the summer of 1995. The Hideaway’s founder, Håvard, had agreed to a week of parallel work with his friends Eskil and Merete. Håvard worked on music while Eskil turned his attention to creating a rotating water pump, and Merete tried to create cheerful scenography for Finnish theatre.The three disparate activities merged, with inspiration for each person’s project coming from two other artists, and artistic viewpoints. Difference created inspiration, and with it the realisation that innovations in architecture, music, economics or values can never come from the echo chambers of the professional communities.It is only in interdisciplinary clashes that society moves towards the richest inspiration of innovation. The architecture of the immersion room Fleinvær is shaped by that summer meeting in Saltdal. We want creative people to meet. That meeting place is the Arctic Hideaway.”
Art Villas
COSTA RICA
Photo property of ArtVillas Costa Rica
Art Villas Costa Rica is a complex of three modern villas and one multifunctional pavilion in the rainforest hills of Bahia Ballena, 300 meters above Playa Hermosa. Stay at the 2-story 5-bedroom raw concrete ArtVilla, inspired by the surrounding jungle; the industrial Atelier Villa; or the organic Coco Houses, reminiscent of seed cones. The interior design includes hand-painted murals, Nicaraguan tiles, and custom furniture, drawing inspiration from Central America’s colorful way of life. Enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean through wall-to-wall glass windows. See the famous Whale Tail rock formation from the terrace. Discover the element of nature inside and out.
Juvet Landscape Hotel
NORWAY
Photo property of Juvet Landscape Hotel
Juvet is one of the original landscape hotels, incorporating pure Scandinavian nature with modern, functional design, created by the Norwegian architects Jensen and Skodvin. Originally a 17th-century farm, the hotel is located in Valldal, Norway, surrounded by mountains and streams, with the name itself meaning ‘canyon’. The seven landscape rooms are built individually into the landscape along the bank of the Valldøla river. No room is designed the same, with all the furniture being locally produced in the region of Sunnmøre. The architect's vision of achieving a sense of well-being with minimal design comes through with floor-to-ceiling windows, which let light and nature in. See the mountains from your bed as soon as you open your eyes. Alternatively, stay in one of two Bird Houses amongst the trees or the 2 bedroom Writer’s Lodge complete with a terrace and a workspace. Relax in the Bath House, while watching the river. Get lost in the night sky while soaking in the hot tub. If Juvet looks familiar, it served as the remote modern location for Alex Garland’s film Ex Machina.
“Write. Create. And just be here. Writer’s Lodge is a place for those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle for a while, either to write something, compose music or art, or simply recharge their batteries. The lodge contains its own kitchen and the residents can choose whether they want to cook themselves or eat breakfast and dinner in the barn with the other guests. There are two bedrooms, one with a double bed (160 cm) and one with two single beds ( 90 cm)”
Room + Wild is the leading content platform for landscape-enhanced architecture, ecotourism, nature-based destinations, and sustainable travel experiences. We work with extraordinary retreats all over the world to inspire, influence, and spread awareness of landscape architecture, environmental initiatives, and earth mindfulness.