Three Design Spaces to Live and Learn

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Hospitality takes many shapes: a carefully prepared meal, a smile, or a shared moment. But perhaps it is felt most strongly through the atmosphere of a place itself. In a world where travel often feels standardised and commercialised, people are seeking refuges that go beyond simple accommodation—places that offer cultural richness instead of sameness, and the chance not only to unwind but also to grow personally.

Photo: Emanual Triste

This is where a global trend comes into play. From Mexico’s Pacific coast to the French countryside and the beautiful landscape of Tuscany, design residencies in unique settings have been gaining attention. They share a commitment to natural materials, local context, and thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage both calm and creativity.

What makes many of these places even more special is their openness: architecture and design enthusiasts are often invited to visit through tours, exhibitions, or curated programmes—making these residencies a source of inspiration well beyond the people who live and work in them.

Casa Wabi, Mexico: Ocean, Architecture and Communit

Japanese architect Tadao Ando designed the main building of Casa Wabi. Photo: Emanual Triste

Casa Wabi ( casawabi.org ) is far more than just a place—it’s a concept and a tribute to simplicity. Founded in 2014 by Mexican artist Bosco Sodi, the original Casa Wabi sits on the Pacific coast in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. The foundation serves as a creative retreat where artists from around the world live and work for several weeks. Beyond creating their own art, they engage in community projects with local residents, making the dialogue between international art and local culture central to the programme.

The main building, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, stretches linearly between the Pacific coast and the tranquil palm-dotted landscape. Its 312-metre exposed concrete wall is both a bold architectural statement and a subtle filter between interior and exterior, nature and reflection.

Casa Wabi serves as a creative sanctuary for artists worldwide. Photo: Sergio López

Another pavilion by Ambrosi Etchegaray creates a quiet dialogue with Ando’s radical forms, harmonising with the tropical surroundings.

Set on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, Casa Wabi enjoys a stunning oceanfront location. Photo: Sergio López

Casa Wabi is not fully open to the public—visits are possible by appointment only, preserving its contemplative atmosphere. Beyond Puerto Escondido, the foundation also runs Casa Wabi Tokyo, a small showroom and meeting space in Japan, and a house in Mexico City designed by Alberto Kalach, which serves as an exhibition space, studio, and library. All of these spaces reflect the same philosophy of simplicity, openness, and mindful attention.

Villa Lena: Where Boutique Hotel Meets Artist Residency

Villa Lena: Boutique Hotel and Artist Residency

Villa San Michele is the centrepiece of Villa Lena. Photo: Villa Lena

Villa Lena ( (villa-lena.it ) in Tuscany is something different: part boutique hotel, part artist residency. The estate is a 19th-century property that has been reinvented since 2014 under the guidance of curator Lena Evstafieva, her husband, musician Jérôme Hadey, and their friend Lionel Bensemoun.

The property centres around a historic complex, with the 19th-century San Michele villa at its heart. This villa houses six luxurious rooms, each offering views over olive groves and vineyards. Between 2018 and 2019, an old horse stable was restored and transformed by the British-Norwegian architecture studio Hesselbrand. The renovation emphasised minimalist interiors, using natural, locally sourced materials such as elegant Carrara marble, staying true to the character of the place. Additional houses and apartments are available for smaller groups or couples, complemented by a pool and an on-site Osteria.

The Villa Lena team offers a wide range of activities. Guests can join cooking workshops, yoga retreaies at this inspiring estate.

The Villa Lena team offers a wide range of activities. Guests can join cooking workshops, yoga retreats, or even set off on a truffle-hunting adventure. Each year, the Villa Lena Foundation also invites creatives from all disciplines to develop their work during artist residencies at this inspiring estate.

Domaine de Boisbuchet: Design, Nature, and Learning

Photo: Domaine de Boisbuchet

Domaine de Boisbuchet ( boisbuchet.org ), located in western France, is a place where design, architecture, and art come together amid historic landscapes. Founded by collector and curator Alexander von Vegesack, the estate has evolved since the 1990s into a vibrant workshop campus, serving not just as a residency and research centre, but as a living hub for creativity. Vegesack, also the founder of the Vitra Design Museum, sold parts of his extensive Thonet collection to the Austrian state and reinvested the proceeds into the site. Despite this, Boisbuchet still houses a unique, almost museum-like collection of design classics gathered over Vegesack’s lifetime, including works by Charlotte Perriand, Joe Colombo, Dorothée Maurer-Becker, Isamu Noguchi, Ray and Charles Eames, and many more.

Photo: Domaine de Boisbuchet

The 150-hectare estate also includes a neoclassical château, several outbuildings, and temporary structures by international architects, including projects by Shigeru Ban and Álvaro Siza. Here, nature is not merely a backdrop—it is an integral part of the creative environment. Meadows, forests, and a lake provide the stage for working and experimenting outdoors, making the landscape itself a source of inspiration.

Every summer, Boisbuchet invites renowned designers and institutions to lead interdisciplinary workshops—ranging from ceramics and graphic design to performative formats. Participants live together, share meals at long communal tables, and work in open studios. In 2025, for example, the Finnish design house Artek will host a workshop to celebrate its 90th anniversary.

This fully energy-autonomous, solar-powered house was developed by students in 2014. Photo: Domaine de Boisbuchet

At Boisbuchet, design is seen as a cultural practice that transcends disciplines. The estate is not a design museum, but a laboratory where people from diverse backgrounds come together to explore new ideas through both hand and mind. 

Architecture enthusiasts can book guided tours of the grounds through the website, and temporary exhibitions in the château are also open to the public.

The creative spaces presented are minimalist, pared-back or rustic, demonstrating the diversity of how creative people want to live and work. Further exciting living environments can be experienced live at idd cologne 2025 in the Design Hub Cologne.

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