When Le Corbusier designed his Brutalist Unité d’Habitation structures in Marseilles and Berlin, the architect imagined these as models for the future of vertical urban living. But, as they say in war: his plans didn’t survive contact with the enemy.

Completed in 1958, the Berlin version in particular was altered internally prior to construction, meaning that the original layouts and details Corbu had it mind were largely left on the drawing table, replaced instead by cheaper, German-drafted plans. At least until German-American architect Philipp Mohr (images Didier Gaillard-Hohlweg) bought a unit in the building.

He purchased a condo that, at the time, “was all entirely white and looked more like a prison, or the typical 1980s German social housing, than anything Corbusier had ever designed.” Even the ceiling heights were out of alignment with the original design.

Mohr went beyond restoring the 1958 format format, studying historical design documents at the Foundation Le Corbusier and the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris to see past what was actually built.

With the big picture in hand, he set about studying colors, lighting, finishes, plans and other details of Corbu’s to replicate his original vision as much as possible.

Having finished the renovation, Mohr believes the space is better for it. “The colours are timeless and very soothing and inviting,” Mohr says. “The use of wood and natural finishes is comfortable and homely. The proportions are pleasing and the relationship to views and light is positive and uplifting.”

The Art Institute of Chicago has brought one of the most famous paintings of Vincent Van Gogh to life like never before: a complete replica realized in three dimensions and available as a rental to art fans in for a night of surrealistic immersion. The details, furniture and decor have been painstakingly drawn from the image, right down to crooked chairs, suspended paintings and heavily brush-stroked colors.

For rent on AirBNB, the project is part of a larger exhibition around Van Gogh’s various bedroom paintings made in the late 1880s, one of which was made during a stay at an asylum. The recreated room is located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, next to one of the AIC’s campuses.

At just $10 a night, this place is likely to rent out entirely if it has not already. For whatever reason, the space also comes with a television and internet connection, though authentic experience-seekers may want to skip those, turn down the lights and just enjoy a night living inside of a classic work of art. The exhibit runs through early May and features over 30 of the master’s works.

More from the AIC: “Van Gogh’s life was short and nomadic. By the time he died, at the age of 37, he had lived in 37 separate residences across 24 cities, mostly as a boarder or a guest dependent on the hospitality of family or friends. In 1888, he finally moved into the only home he truly considered his own: his beloved ‘Yellow House’ in Arles.”

“Of his many bedrooms, Van Gogh immortalized only the one from the Yellow House—three times in fact. He first painted the room in 1888 shortly after his move to the Arles and then painted the composition twice more in 1889: once to record the first version that had been damaged when his home flooded and then again as a gift for his mother and sister.”

Hotel rooms in Manhattan cost hundreds and even a cheap hostel-style hotel with partition walls in the Bowery runs nearly $100 per night, but starting around $20 you can stay on the streets in style in a plush converted van found via Airbnb. For adventurous travelers on a budget the rates are impossible to beat.

One such Airbnb ‘host’ (Jonathan) has a fleet over of 50 vehicular conversions and his pads get remarkably high reviews (many with 4.5 out of 5 stars). Fans seem to appreciate the affordability as well the views and locations, often central or at least along subway lines.

At these prices, it is better not expect breakfast with your accommodations or even a restroom, though the vehicles are generally parked close to public bathrooms or otherwise accessible facilities. Some do come equipped with wifi, perhaps provided by a nearby building, but few can even charge your electronics.

One enthusiastic listing reads more like a room in a fancy hotel than space in the back of a truck: “Super spacious. All brand new furnishings. Only 3 Stops from Times Square – less than 10 minutes to 50 major attractions. Located in Super Safe Community. Quiet at nighttime. Best Views of NYC. Sleeps 2 comfortably.”

And while Airbnb continues to face legal challenges, political difficulties or public backlash in many cities (including the Big Apple), it is apparently not technically against the law to sleep in vehicles in New York City. For now, at least, the car-centric business model appears safe – whether guests are as well is another question (ride at your own risk).

Who could be blamed for lounging around reading all day when you’ve got a cozy built-in nook surrounded by books or overlooking a scenic landscape? These nooks, niches, window seats and bunks create tiny sheltered spaces within larger rooms, sometimes stacking enough sleeping spots for eight people onto a single wall.

La Refuge by H2O Architects

H2O Architects created an entire apartment full of nooks called ‘La Refuge’ in Menuires, France, embedding multiple levels of twin beds, reading areas and storage space into an oversized wooden cabinet that curves along the wall of the room.

Seating at Raheen Library by Woods Bagot

Architecture firm Woods Bagot inserts cozy reading spaces right into the bookshelves at Raheen Library on the campus of Australian Catholic University in Melbourne.

Space-Age Sleeping Nook by Van Staeyen Interior Architects

Inspired by an Alpine chalet but looking more like something you’d find in a spaceship, this clever bedroom by Van Staeyen Architects fits a partially-hidden bed, closets, a fold-down table and other amenities into a wall-mounted cabinet system in a tiny space.

Pull-Out Reading Lounge

An elegant curving chaise pulls right out of a bookshelf with the Recamier Reading Corner by Inbar Paradny Kalomidi, and can be tucked back in when you’re done reading.

Teeny-Tiny Reading Nook in a NYC Apartment

A 240-square-foot apartment in New York City gets a more spacious, organized feel with a wooden built-in that adds tons of storage, countertops, a loft and even a tiny ‘library’ nook next to the bed.

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Lounge In An Alcove 14 Nooks For Napping Relaxing

A step beyond flip-down beds and foldaway furniture, this series of modular rooms packs whole kitchens, bedrooms and offices into a highly portable form, so much so that they be bought online at stores like Amazon Japan and shipped right to your door.

Consider the possibilities, too, for on-demand residential conversions: with these you can make anything, from a cargo container to an old warehouse, into an instant apartment.

Set on wheels and made narrow when closed, each room-in-a-box can be rolled easily through opening and navigate narrow corridors to arrive at its destination.

The bedroom unit is the largest – it uses central breakpoints to allow overhead lighting as well as the bed and its supports below to collapse in half then fold up or down into empty spaces in the shell.

The mid-sized office features interlocking solids and voids to maximize shelving and storage when open. Meanwhile, the wheeled chair below detaches from the primary structure on demand.

The small kitchen flips up and out to reveal a sink, work surface and hot plate at hip height with space for storage and refrigeration below.

Square footage is a serious commodity in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, making the four-figure price tag for these units from Atelier OPA (dubbed Kenchikukagu) also a lot more palatable in the right urban context.