Upstate New York has become a destination not just for nature, but for design. From architect-designed cabins in the Catskills to boutique hotels reimagined from historic buildings in the Hudson Valley and Berkshires, the region is now an epicenter of architecture-driven travel.

These ten getaways combine thoughtful design with unforgettable settings. Find these getaways – along with more design destinations worldwide – in the Escape Club app, our lodging directory/web app that specialized in memorable, design-forward hospitality.

Steven Holl’s experimental Ex of IN House, a sculptural retreat tucked into the Rhinebeck woods. Photo by Iwan Baan.

Ex of IN House — Rhinebeck, NY (Hudson Valley)

An experimental home by architect Steven Holl, the Ex of IN House is a geometric marvel in the woods. Its sculptural form, defined by intersecting spheres and angles, challenges traditional residential design. Staying here feels like inhabiting a piece of art.

Design Background: Conceived in 2014 as part of Steven Holl Architects’ “Explorations of IN” series and built during 2015–2016, the design layers intersecting geometric volumes with sustainable strategies like geothermal heating and solar systems.

Plan a Trip: Pair it with the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Rhinebeck for cocktails at {Pretty to Think So}, dinner at Little Goat, shopping in town, and hiking at Ferncliff Forest.

Piaule’s minimalist glass cabins, designed by Garrison Architects, frame the Catskill landscape as living artwork. Above, the glass-walled restaurant provides a tranquil dining experience. Photo by Sean Davidson.

Piaule — Catskill, NY (Hudson Valley)

Piaule’s minimalist cabins were designed as glass-framed portals to the surrounding forests and mountains. Interiors are restrained and modern, with warm woods and simple lines that let the views shine. It’s a masterclass in architecture that disappears into nature.

Design Background: Conceived by local brand Piaule and realized with Garrison Architects, the project was created as both a boutique hotel and an immersive experience in nature. Founders Nolan McHugh and Trevor Briggs first built Piaule as a home-goods design brand, and their design-first ethos carries through in every detail of the property, from the cabins to the spa. The architecture prioritizes landscape views, making the Catskills themselves the focal point of each cabin.

Plan a Trip: Pair with the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Catskill, NY and make a side trip to Main Street’s local art galleries and vibrant dining – plus nearby hiking trails.

Built in 1996 by architect Seymour Rutkin, the Shell House was conceived as a prototype dome structure and personal retreat — its arched form evoking an amphitheater in reverse, with the Catskills as the stage. Photo by Escape Brooklyn.

The Shell House — Roxbury, NY (Catskills)

The whimsical Shell House takes its inspiration from organic architecture, with a sculptural exterior that resembles a seashell – blending imaginative form with functional living. Inside, curved interiors evoke an amphitheater in reverse, with the Catskills as the focal point. It’s a uniquely sculptural vacation rental.

Design Background: Designed in 1996 by architect Seymour (Sy) Rutkin – with consultation from the Monolithic Dome Institute – the Shell House was created as a prototype for dome dwellings, complete with passive solar features and dramatic arched form.

Plan a Trip: Check out Escape Brooklyn’s feature on The Shell House, with a mini-guide to the area that covers hiking, meals, a fantastic farmers’ market and one of our favorite shopping spots in the Catskills.

Auberge’s Wildflower Farms, where eco-luxury design blends seamlessly with meadows and mountains. Photo: c/o Auberge Resorts Collection

Wildflower Farms — Gardiner, NY (Hudson Valley)

Set on 140 acres, Wildflower Farms is rooted in biophilic design, with interiors that blur the line between inside and out. Guestrooms are framed in natural wood and large windows, opening directly to meadows and mountains. The property’s design ethos is eco-luxury, emphasizing natural materials and an immersive landscape.

Design Background: Designed by architecture firm Electric Bowery and interiors by Ward + Gray, the resort draws on Swiss- and Dutch-inspired barn aesthetics, custom furnishings, and a landscape-driven ethos. t’s also notable as Auberge Resorts’ first Hudson Valley project, helping to put Gardiner on the map as a design-driven destination.

Plan a Trip: Pair with the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Gardiner, NY for top local dining picks and outdoor adventures, from scenic hikes to world-class rock climbing.

The iconic Willow Treehouse, perched above a secluded pond in the Catskills woods. Photo by Josh Jordan.

Willow Treehouse — Willow, NY (Catskills)

Perched above a pond, Willow Treehouse has become an icon of Catskills architecture. Its slanted, glass-fronted form feels both futuristic and organic. Inside, minimalist interiors frame the surrounding forest like a living painting.

Design Background: Designed by British architect Antony Gibbon and built by local contractor William Johnson, the treehouse prioritizes local materials and integration with its woodland site.

Plan a Trip: Pair a stay with the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Woodstock. It’s also just up the road from one of our favorite Catskills restaurants and taverns, The Pines.

Designed by Christian Wassmann, Rock’n House is built around a glacial boulder at its center, with a swooping photovoltaic roof and glass walls framing Hudson Valley views. Photo by Iwan Baan.

Rock ‘n’ House — Saugerties, NY (Catskills)

Oriented around a massive glacial boulder, Rock’n House is both home and experiment for Swiss-born architect Christian Wassmann. A concave, photovoltaic-tiled roof funnels rain toward the stone and opens to the Hudson Valley sky, while curved glass walls blur the line between shelter and landscape.

Design Background: Christian Wassmann designed the house for his family, drawing on celestial alignments and the geology of its quarry site. From the staircase that points precisely to Polaris to the bedrock exposed in the sunken living room, every element connects architecture, earth, and cosmos.

Plan a Trip: Today, Rock’n House is available as a short-term rental — offering guests a rare chance to experience one of the Hudson Valley’s most unusual and visionary homes. Our nearby guides to Saugerties and Woodstock will come in handy when planning your itinerary.

Rowley House, a modern cabin by SOON Architecture Studio in the Delaware River Valley. Photo c/o Rowley House.

Rowley House — Eldred, NY (Delaware River Valley)

Designed by SOON Architecture Studio, Rowley House is a modern cabin defined by clean geometry and natural wood. Its minimalist interiors are warmed by sunlight streaming through oversized windows. A private setting in the Delaware River Valley, plus an indoor sauna and wood burning stove, complete the appeal.

Design Background: Designed by SOON Architecture Studio, the house showcases minimalist design with thoughtful attention to light and materiality.

Plan a Trip: This area is particularly beautiful in autumn, with loads of nearby hiking, or rent a canoe for the day on the Delaware River. Check out Escape Brooklyn’s feature on Rowley House, featuring a short guide to the area.

Though not Upstate, TOURISTS Welcome in the Berkshires shares the same design ethos — and at just over three hours from NYC, it feels like a natural extension of this list. Photo by Nicole Franzen.

TOURISTS Welcome — North Adams, MA (Berkshires)

Just a little over 3 hours from NYC, TOURISTS Welcome pairs a modernist sensibility with a deep connection to the Berkshires landscape. Its collection of hotel rooms, freestanding homes, gathering spaces and walkways are designed for simplicity and community, encouraging exploration of the outdoors.

Design Background: A collaboration with architect Hank Scollard, interior designer Julie Pearson, and developer Broder, TOURISTS remodeled a mid-century motor lodge into a design-driven “rustic modernism” destination. The project was co-developed by Wilco bassist John Stirratt, tying it directly to the Berkshires’ strong music and art scene anchored by MASS MoCA.

Plan a Trip: Its proximity to MASS MoCA makes it a favorite among art and design lovers. To plan a trip, check out our guide to the North Adams, MA area with a great overview of the entire Berkshires region.

Designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners, the all-glass residence sits on 400 acres in the Hudson Valley. Adjustable exterior screens modulate light and privacy, while expansive glazing frames sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Photo c/o Thomas Phifer and Partners.

Taghkanic House — Taghkanic, NY (Hudson Valley)

Known to Apple TV+ viewers as the Eagan Residence in Severance, this all-glass modern home is set on 400 acres of rolling Hudson Valley countryside. Inside, a dramatic indoor lap pool, minimalist fireplace, and expansive glazing frame sweeping views of the landscape. A must for architecture lovers but also Severance fans – to explore all many Upstate filming locations, check out our feature here.

Design Background: Designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners – a firm recognized for cultural landmarks like the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Glenstone Museum pavilions – the Taghkanic House reflects Phifer’s signature blend of transparency, light, and connection to place.

Plan a Trip: The house is available to rent via Airbnb, with seven bedrooms, two pools, and a private sauna — making it as much a cinematic set piece as a destination for design lovers. It’s close to Hudson and Hillsdale, both about 15 minutes from the house.

A 220-acre country resort with sweeping views of the Shawangunk Ridge, INNESS is as much a landscape as it is a hotel. Photo by Adrian Gaut.

INNESS — Accord, NY (Hudson Valley)

A 220-acre country resort with sweeping views of the Shawangunk Ridge, INNESS is as much a landscape as it is a hotel. Its low-slung lodges, farmhouse rooms, and communal gathering spaces feel integrated into the rolling fields and farmland around them.

Design Background: Designed by Dutton Architecture, with interiors and overall development by Post Company (in collaboration with Taavo Somer), and landscape design by Miranda Brooks Landscape Design. INNESS balances Scandinavian restraint with Hudson Valley vernacular. The project draws inspiration from regional farmsteads and embraces natural materials, minimalist forms, and expansive sightlines across the landscape.

Plan a Trip: Beyond its design, INNESS offers a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, and an acclaimed restaurant. Pair your stay with the Escape Brooklyn Guides to both Accord and Kerhonkson for hiking, local breweries, and farm-to-table dining.