Design Tips | Destination: Stargazing
For eons, mankind has marveled at the stars; their beauty and mystery has inspired stories, poems, and art like nothing else on earth. Stargazing is still a prominent practice that spans across all cultures and parts of the world, from the Pacific Ocean to the Italian coast, and is now being incorporated into home design to offer a unique viewing experience within easy reach.
Today we have selected destinations where stargazing and elevated architecture align to form spaces, retreats, and experiences that seamlessly join the practice of star watching with luxurious living. Read on to discover how designers and architects are bringing the practice of stargazing into modern homes, and find out how to add these same features to your home for the ultimate staycation.
Inspiration Destination: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Source: Jade Mountain Hotel
High above the beachfront resort of Anse Chastanet and nestled perfectly into St. Lucia’s mountainous landscape, Jade Mountain Hotel offers its guests a night’s stay like no other. Extravagant private suites all feature the absence of a fourth wall, giving viewers a true sense of the breathtaking landscape— not to mention the night sky, where the stars shine in full view just outside of this luxurious, open space.
Bring the Stars Home With An Open Wall
Source: Griffin Enright Architects
This “open wall” concept can be applied to your home in a myriad of ways. To open up a space without letting in the elements, floor-to-ceiling glass walls are an easy option that add the perfect mix of natural light, spaciousness, and stargazing views to your living space, dining area, or suite. The fully open-wall concept can be achieved easily in ground-level dining rooms and living rooms to make an indoor/outdoor space that transitions seamlessly onto a patio or courtyard, or in upper-floor suites where an open fourth wall could direct night sky viewers onto a balcony or terrace.
Inspiration Destination: Melbourne, Australia
Source: BENT Architecture
For urban and secluded homes alike, one of the best ways to catch a glimpse at the stars is with a rooftop terrace. This mesmerizing example transforms a 30-story-high penthouse roof into a garden oasis for gathering, entertaining, and night sky viewing. Details like delicate mosaic tiles, sprawling plants, or the eye-catching metal canopy above give this space a thoughtful, organic touch in an area of the city where such organic beauty is not often found.
Frame the View With Architectural Pergolas and Canopies
Source: Kara Mann
Those with rooftops or elevated patios can be inspired to craft outdoor dining and entertainment spaces that offer incredible views as well as personalized design. Work within the rooftop space you have, or add on to your structure to craft the perfect stargazing spot for you. Functional and beautiful canopies, glass ceilings, and more can be added to protect you and your guests from the elements without detracting from the viewing experience.
Inspiration Destination: Soneva Jani, Maldives
Source: Soneva
The Noonu Atoll in the Maldives is world-renowned for its breathtaking scenery, tropical climate, and lack of light pollution, making it the perfect vacation destination for star buffs. In an experience unique to the Soneva Jani beachfront resort, stargazers are able to observe constellations in both the northern and Southern Hemispheres— right from the comfort of their on-the-water suites. The roofs of each bungalow have been designed to retract on clear nights, giving the primary suite occupants a front-row seat to the night sky.
Stargaze in Comfort with Skylights and Retractable Roofs
Source: Dwell
This experience can be made possible in your own home through two main methods, both with varying degrees of cost and complexity. The simplest of these is to install a skylight in your primary suite, living area, or any other space, which offers a picturesque view of the night sky without letting in rain or other natural elements into the home. For ardent star watchers who want an unfiltered experience and are willing to work with more than just a skylight contractor, a retractable roof such as the ones installed at Soneva Jani can be added to a room along with an automatic shutoff feature if there is a chance of rain.
Inspiration Destination: Villa Mosca Bianca, Northern Italy
Nestled within this sprawling feat of Italian architecture, and marked by a 70-year-old bonsai tree, is a central atrium that serves as not only the heart of this Villa Mosca Bianca, but a portal to the stars. Guests from one of the villa’s four wings are gently guided inward by pathways of frameless glass and natural stone until they reach the center, where both levels of this picturesque waterfront home reach up to touch the stars.
Create a Star-Side Oasis With Artful Courtyards and Atriums
Source: RTF
Atriums can take many forms in the modern luxury home. An atrium can take the form of a centralized, open-air courtyard that offers an escape into the outdoors while still residing in the home, complete with outdoor seating and a fire pit, or a glass hall that express the full height of the structure while offering a stunning view of the night sky. Atriums can also complement whatever design style you have modeled your home after; a mid-century or traditional atrium looks just as breathtaking and inviting as a coastal or contemporary one.