Concrete Oases: Luxury Rentals Redefine Rustic Getaways

As of October 2025, a unique architecture project in rural Spain is redefining the concept of luxury getaways. Solo Houses, founded in 2010 by art gallery co-director Christian Bourdais and his wife Eva Albarrán, has commissioned various renowned architects to design a series of striking, art-free homes on a 494-acre plot of land in the Teruel region of Aragon.

Two of the proposed 16 houses have been completed so far, with a third under construction. The existing properties, which can accommodate four to six guests, are available as high-end vacation rentals, costing up to £900 per night during the peak season. The third project, slated for completion in 2028, will function as a 25-bedroom hotel.

Bourdais and Albarrán have given the architects complete creative freedom, allowing them to build whatever they envision without any restrictions beyond the budget. The results are striking - a 16-meter concrete "treehouse" with a central courtyard and pool, and a perfectly circular home with sliding glass walls that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Despite the lack of artwork, Bourdais believes the architecture itself is the main draw, stating that "with this kind of architecture, you don't really need art." The homes feature innovative design elements, such as transparent curtains and custom-made furniture, that have garnered international acclaim, with some pieces now on display at prestigious museums.

As of October 2025, Solo Houses continues to attract a discerning clientele seeking unique, boundary-pushing vacation experiences in a serene natural setting. The project's success has also prompted the Spanish government to take notice, as the region of Teruel has long suffered from rural depopulation, making the council more receptive to Bourdais and Albarrán's ambitious building plans.