# Faux-Stilted Country Cottages Hemishofen House Features Illusive Columns on the Ground Floor By Joey Haar | Published 2017-05-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hemishofen-house References: [archdaily](http://www.archdaily.com/870123/hemishofen-house-dost) & [dost.org](http://www.dost.org/) From a distance, Hemishofen House looks like an impossible structure. The cottage home near the banks of the Rhine river in Hemishofen, Switzerland, appears to be propped up on [flimsy stilts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lift-house) with no visible staircase up which one could enter the cabin itself. However, walking closer reveals that those stilts are actually decorative (rather than structural), covering the exterior of a glassed-in main floor kitchen, dining room, and living area. Hemishofen House is surrounded by [old Swiss cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perfect-day-house), and the new building does a good job of modernizing while still referencing classic architectural gestures. The [gabled roof](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gstaad-house) is a staple of the Swiss countryside, and the home is covered in timber slats that are the same material used in most chalets. Further, the faux-stilts are a clear visual reference to the wood columns that support the deck roofs in Swiss chalets. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 82% | Activity: 60% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Illusive Architecture:** Create visually deceptive structures to add intrigue and uniqueness to architectural designs. - **Modernized Classic Architecture:** Find innovative ways to incorporate traditional architectural elements into modern building designs. - **Decorative Structural Elements:** Explore the use of decorative elements that mimic the appearance of structural components to add visual interest to buildings. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture and Design:** Architects and designers can incorporate illusive architecture and modernized classic elements into their projects to create visually captivating structures. - **Tourism and Hospitality:** Hotels, resorts, and tourist attractions can utilize illusive architecture to create unique and memorable guest experiences. - **Construction and Building Materials:** Manufacturers and suppliers can explore the production of decorative structural elements to offer unique building components to architects and designers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Footbridge-Inspired Hillside Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/villa-sidonius.md) - [Geometric Timber Holiday Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amunt.md) - [Intimate High-Altitude Cottages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/altihut.md) - [Compact Cottage Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rustic-renovation.md) - [Modular Wooden Holiday Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/piil.md) - [Sustainable Swiss Chalets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ls-design.md) - [Faceted Cedar Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-house-on-a-hill.md) - [Elevated Flood Refuge Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lift-house.md) - [Mountainous Elliptical House](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-at-9000-feet.md)