Masters of disguise: 14 homes hiding from the world

Covert homes hidden from view

Tucked out of sight, these properties from around the world take a desire for privacy to new extremes. Whether camouflaged among their surroundings or concealed underground, these covert homes were designed to remain hidden from prying eyes.

Read on to uncover these incredible clandestine homes...

Modern treehouse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

If you happened to be walking through this woodland in Annweiler am Trifels, Germany, you'd be forgiven for not spotting the modern treehouse hanging directly above your head.

Perfectly camouflaged against the trees, thanks to its all-timber exterior, the unique property offers guests the chance to become one with the surrounding environment.

Modern treehouse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

The treetop home isn't just in the middle of nature. It also provides incredible direct views of the forest, through panoramic windows.

Plus, thanks to the home's elevated position, it's suspended high above the ground on a series of stilt-like legs. Any lucky occupiers get to take in far-reaching views.

Modern treehouse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

As for the interior, the property benefits from an open-plan living space, with a sitting area, dining zone and kitchen. The ground floor is also home to a bathroom and bedroom.

Glass doors further connect the home to the forest outside and the external terrace is the perfect spot for soaking up the scenery.

Modern treehouse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

There's also a lofted bedroom tucked in the ceiling of the treehouse. Its position is perfect for anyone looking to take a bird's eye view of the forest outside.

The home's all-wood palette also allows the interior to softly merge with the trees outside.

Unique earth house, Missouri, USA

Partially submerged under a hillside, this unique Earthship lies in Springfield, Missouri. From the front, it's hard to recognise it as a house at all.

Yet walk around the back and this contemporary home is revealed...

Unique earth house, Missouri, USA

The brutally beautiful bunker-style home spans 2,500 square feet (232sqm) and boasts a natural green roof and walls of glass.

The front door sits at the top of the hillside, while the entrance hall leads down into the property's depths, where a series of underground rooms can be found.

Unique earth house, Missouri, USA

Despite being nestled inside the hillside, the underground home is surprisingly light and inviting, with exposed concrete ceilings, structural columns and a monochrome colour palette.

The three-bedroom, three-bath home comes complete with a kitchen, a living room, a dining zone and a laundry room. Everything you need.

Unique earth house, Missouri, USA

There are plenty of unique architectural details throughout, including circular roof lights, rotund walls and porthole windows. Outside, there's a spacious yard, a firepit and a dining patio.

If you fancy spending the night here, you can rent out the one-of-a-kind holiday home on Airbnb.

Mountain hideaway, Andalucía, Spain

This charming mountain hideaway can be found on a scenic lot overlooking the coastline of La Peña in Andalucía, Spain.

The rural home is minutes from the beach but occupies a quiet hillside plot that allows for total off-the-grid seclusion. In fact, from the top of the hill, you can hardly see the house submerged in the grass.

Mountain hideaway, Andalucía, Spain

Thanks to its beautiful living spaces, dazzling views and unusual design, the house has been featured in the likes of magazines Elle Decor and Elle Traveller and British newspaper The Times.

Up close, you can really take in its rustic yet contemporary aesthetic, which includes a unique angular roofline.

Mountain hideaway, Andalucía, Spain

Inside, the 753-square-foot (70sqm) property comprises an open-plan living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a double bedroom, a bunk room and a single bathroom.

Every space benefits from stunning original interior features, such as raw stone walls, sloping timber ceilings, concrete floors and steel-framed windows.

Mountain hideaway, Andalucía, Spain

There are plenty of one-of-a-kind design elements throughout too, such as the Hobbit-style door that leads into the children’s bedroom.

Outside, there’s a garden with a shaded lounge area, an alfresco dining zone, a plunge pool and even an outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach. Available to rent on Airbnb, this chic rural retreat is as inviting as it is innovative.

Infinite Horizon, California, USA

Thanks to its camouflaged exterior that's almost the same shade as the boulders that surround it, this modern home is nearly invisible to the eye.

Known as Infinite Horizon, the property lies in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, California, an area known for its rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes.

Infinite Horizon, California, USA

Even when you view the house from the front, it's hard to see. The desert hues perfectly blend with the sandy shade of the building itself, while the home's low-lying form makes it appear like part of the hillside.

A secluded oasis in the heart of one of America's most stunning regions, this desert home provides lucky guests with jaw-dropping scenery and unmatched privacy.

Infinite Horizon, California, USA

If you can find the front door, you’ll be able to step inside the contemporary and light-filled home. Inside, there’s a living room, a kitchen, a dining zone and two bedrooms.

With an open-plan layout, chic furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame incredible panorama, it really is the stuff that dream homes are made of.

Infinite Horizon, California, USA

A wood-burning fireplace will keep lucky guests warm all year round and the home’s energy and hot water is powered by solar panels.

There’s also an amazing deck that juts out over the rocks and provides unmatched views, a firepit for toasting marshmallows, an incredible heated swimming pool and a hot tub, perfect for immersing yourself in the great outdoors.

Edgeland House, Texas, USA

You'd be forgiven for not immediately spotting a house in this photograph, but if you look closely at the hilly patch of land in the centre, you might just be able to see the roofline of one of the world's best, and most unusual, concealed homes...

Edgeland House was designed by the architects at Bercy Chen Studio and was built seven feet (2.1m) below the ground, with just two angular tufts of grass visible from the front of the property.

Edgeland House, Texas, USA

The project was inspired by one of America’s oldest home-building traditions, the Native American Pit House.

Beneath the earth's mass in such a way that it retains 'thermal comfort', while still allowing enough sunlight to come through. The house is truly a feat of modern design and engineering.

Edgeland House, Texas, USA

Head around the back and you can see a little more of the amazing home. The tufts of grass show themselves to be two glass wings that connect to an exterior terrace and swimming pool.

The property was completed in 2012 and sits inside a deep excavation on a former industrial plot. Designed to protect and repair the local ecosystem, it features an insulated roof, hydronic heating and plenty of glass for maximum energy efficiency.

Edgeland House, Texas, USA

Although a large proportion of the house is concealed underground, it's still beautifully bright and inviting. The architects made sure that plenty of natural light could filter inside.

Angled to imitate the form of the hill, the home's floor-to-ceiling windows create a modern space while encouraging indoor-outdoor living. The interior spans 1,400 square feet (130sqm) and every room is impressive, with vaulted ceilings, sharp, angular walls and modern fixtures.

Cedar Falls Treehouse, Washington, USA

Perfectly disguised inside an ancient forest, this amazing treehouse is as clandestine as it is cute.

A pretty garden path leads to the front door, where you'll find the cosy and rustic cabin, covered in cedar shingles.

Cedar Falls Treehouse, Washington, USA

Known as the Cedar Falls Treehouse, the property is on a peaceful two-acre (0.8ha) site and was built to minimise its impact on the surrounding forest. It 'floats' above the ground on wooden legs.

A timber bridge connects the house to the entrance, while its elevated position makes any guests feel like they are sleeping in one of the forest's many trees.

Cedar Falls Treehouse, Washington, USA

At just 150 square feet (14sqm), the interior is cosy and romantic, with big picture windows that allow for views of the canopy from every space.

There’s a main floor with a bathroom, kitchenette and living area, as well as a loft with a queen-size bed.

Cedar Falls Treehouse, Washington, USA

Only accessible by a ladder, the bedroom is snug and stylish, and yet surprisingly spacious.

As for outside, there’s a kitchen for cooking up an alfresco feast, an outdoor shower with robes and a wrap-around deck with a fire pit, so guests can gaze up at the towering trees while they unwind.

Modern tiny house, North Carolina, USA

From the road, you might not be able to spot a modern tiny home, nestled among the trees.

The property is concealed inside a dense woodland in Durham, North Carolina and was created to enable visitors to get away from it all.

Modern tiny house, North Carolina, USA

Even when you walk up the front pathway to reach the property it blends beautifully into its surroundings, thanks to the home’s mossy green roof and timber exterior, painted black so that at night it’s indistinguishable from the trees.

Plus, the land around the tiny home has been left untouched, allowing it to grow lush and almost hug the property.

Modern tiny house, North Carolina, USA

Inside you’ll find all the amenities you could want, as well as plenty of home comforts. There’s a lounge, a full kitchen, a laundry space and even high-speed internet.

But guests are warned that they may find themselves opting to relax in the swing on the screened-in porch while listening to the sounds of birdsong.

Modern tiny house, North Carolina, USA

Contemporary and filled with natural light, the cabin is incredibly inviting. Upstairs is where the bedroom lies, on an open mezzanine with views of the lounge downstairs.

Ample windows flood the interior with light, while also providing plenty of vantage points from which to observe the surrounding woodland.

The WonderINN, Akershus, Norway

Known as The WonderINN, this secluded retreat is almost invisible among the trees.

Nestled in the region of Akershus, Norway, not too far from the hustle and bustle of Oslo, the property is surrounded by a tranquil nature reserve. It has a partially mirrored exterior that reflects the surrounding scenery, allowing the cabin to blend right in.

The WonderINN, Akershus, Norway

The magnificent mirrored home was designed by couple Jeremy and Erle, who, after living in a campervan for six months, decided to move to Norway. They started WonderINN, a company that specialises in offering architectural gems in the heart of nature.

This property is just one of many the couple has curated around the world, including the iconic Panorama Lodge in Iceland.

The WonderINN, Akershus, Norway

Inside, the micro home offers pared-back interior design, walls of glass and everything you could need for a cosy night away, including a kitchen, dining zone, bathroom and double bedroom.

The WonderINN, Akershus, Norway

The master bedroom is perhaps the most impressive space, thanks to its unobstructed views across the waterfront below.

Head outside and there's also a staggered terrace, a hot tub and an alfresco dining area where you can enjoy your morning coffee. This gorgeous tiny home is definitely a hidden gem!

Casa Meztitla, Morelos, Mexico

Over in the Mexican state of Morelos, you'll find Casa Meztitla, an award-winning masonry home that gently blends in with its surroundings.

Close to a natural reserve, the ancient El Tepozteco Aztec temple and the rugged terrain of the El Tepozteco National Park, the house was architecturally designed to reflect its environment.

Casa Meztitla, Morelos, Mexico

The property is formed from rustic stone, concrete and large glass doors that pivot open to connect the interior with the mountainous landscape beyond.

Partially nestled beneath the earth, some of the rooms are underground, while others are elevated, resulting in a broken-plan layout that makes for an unusual interior design.

Casa Meztitla, Morelos, Mexico

Head inside and you'll find a lounge, a dining zone, three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Every space is enhanced by floor-to-ceiling glass, while raw stone, concrete and modern furnishings add to its one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

Casa Meztitla, Morelos, Mexico

The master bedroom is perhaps the finest room in the house. With its subterranean design, open shower and private courtyard space, it's the ultimate tranquil oasis.

What's more, outside there's a lap pool, a solar-heated Jacuzzi that faces the mountain, an open-air kitchen and numerous terraces for outdoor dining.

Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden

When Stockholm-based architect Hans Murman of Murman Arkitekter and his partner Ulla Alberts decided to build a country retreat on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, the house had to overcome a particular design challenge.

The island's local authority decreed that no modern architecture should spoil the landscape so they came up with an ingenious solution to help this house disappear into a grove of trees.

Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden

The house uses a double façade with a printed vinyl cloth stretched around the entirety of the timber building. Steel rods hold the fabric around 16 inches (40.6cm) away from the wood cladding, with parts of the screen extending out to hide private areas such as the outdoor shower.

Inside, the cladding has been painted white with sliding doors seamlessly connecting the outside with the interior.

Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden

The evergreen trees that were used on the printed pattern also reach just one foot (0.3m) away from certain parts of the 538-square-foot (50sqm) house, which further blends the straight edges into the natural surroundings.

The screen is translucent, allowing light to pass in and out of the small windows on the two end walls.

Juniper House, Gotland, Sweden

With typical Scandi elegance and restraint, this house manages to be both perfectly in line with the wooded landscape from the outside and cosy and stylish within.

The larger windows and inner courtyard are positioned to be completely private and generous sliding glass doors on the western façade are used as the main entrance.

Spiral House, London, UK

Designed by Jack Woolley, this house in south London looks like nothing more than a brick wall at first glance.

Once a garden plot, the unassuming residential spot shelters a rather unique dwelling, tucked just out of sight.

Spiral House, London, UK

The single-storey house was designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding properties.

Squat in stature, the structure simultaneously protects the privacy of neighbours, while making sure the home isn't overlooked thanks to its clever positioning of windows.

Spiral House, London, UK

Named the Spiral House, the property twists in on itself, with the surrounding brick boundary wall spiralling in to create the property's single-storey floorplan.

Inside, the remarkable feat of architecture features nearly 1,000 square feet (93sqm) of modern living space.

Spiral House, London, UK

With the house sitting slightly below ground level, the courtyard features gently sloping steps that lead up to street level.

Bi-folding doors complete the design, blurring the line between the terrace and the large living and dining area.

Villa Vals, Surselva, Switzerland

Escape to the hills of Switzerland, if you can spot this next clandestine property that is. Dug into the side of a mountain, the unique subterranean home is next to the famous Therme Vals hot water springs in the Graubünden canton.

Villa Vals, Surselva, Switzerland

Completed in 2009, the plan for the design was to integrate the villa into the landscape so as not to disturb the local ecosystem.

Consequently, to negate the need for roads, access is only possible through a tunnel that runs through the mountainside, with the entrance concealed in a local barn.

Villa Vals, Surselva, Switzerland

The façade of the house slopes upwards, framing the best possible view of the breathtaking mountain ranges on the other side of the valley.

Now a holiday rental, it's the perfect place for keen skiers or simply those who want to escape the hustle and bustle.

Villa Vals, Surselva, Switzerland

The property's surprisingly spacious interior has been furnished with the work of many local Dutch designers, which has resulted in contemporary living spaces accented with eclectic statement pieces.

Upscale micro-house, Quebec, Canada

If you happen to be hiking or skiing in St. Lawrence Valley, or on the snowy slopes of Lac-Beauport, Quebec, then you might just spot the faint outline of a house on the mountainside.

Known as Le Quartz, this upscale micro-house is so well camouflaged that many pass by it without a second glance.

Upscale micro-house, Quebec, Canada

According to its Airbnb listing the home is designed to immerse guests in a “captivating scenic experience".

The mountaintop cabin features a minimalist design with clean lines and an all-white exterior. The property seamlessly integrates into its environment.

Upscale micro-house, Quebec, Canada

The interior of the retreat continues the all-white theme, allowing the inside spaces to gently merge with the snowy landscape outside. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame dreamy views, further connecting the living spaces with the great outdoors.

As for rooms, there's a lounge, kitchen, dining zone and bathroom on the ground floor, as well as a bright queen-size bedroom on a lofted level.

Upscale micro-house, Quebec, Canada

Despite its exposed location, the designers did their best to ensure the property didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. They built the residence on a natural slope, propping it up using a series of stilts.

To ensure year-round comfort, it was finished with heated floors, a central heating and cooling system and a gas stove for warmth on even the coldest winter days.

The Farmers Hut, NSW, Australia

As you approach The Farmers Hut via a long, dirt driveway, you might struggle to spot it, save for a mound of grass and a small, protruding chimney. The tiny home is small and simple, yet entirely elegant in its approach to being discrete.

Entirely off-grid, this idyllic home would be the ultimate place to escape the rat race and reconnect with nature.

The Farmers Hut, NSW, Australia

From this angle, you can start to see the shape of the cabin unfolding. Located on a farm in Bathurst, a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, the hut is concealed amongst the surrounding fields and trees, thanks to its grass-covered roof and natural wooden cladding.

In this way, it doesn't stand out or spoil the view for onlookers. Instead, it perfectly melts into its location.

The Farmers Hut, NSW, Australia

Perfect for two guests, the discrete dwelling features a bright and cosy interior with a sitting area, a kitchenette, a designer bathroom and a king-size bedroom.

There's also a wood-burning stove and huge picture windows, complete with a built-in seat so that lucky visitors can while away the hours by soaking up their surroundings.

The Farmers Hut, NSW, Australia

As for interior design, the home boasts a crisp, white aesthetic, with polished concrete floors and a range of rustic furnishings.

What's more, guests are invited to enjoy exclusive access to the farm, including a wild swimming pond and a natural bush walking track.