Sea Page 11 of 11

The earth quakes. Every ten minutes the volcano blasts red fire into the air. And at the foot of the black island, the white Villa la Pergola, nestled between palm trees, prickly pear cacti and pink bougainvilleas, gazes out across the sea.

Schmarsow Castle in Western Pomerania was built in 1698 and, following its renovation, now offers holidays in a historic setting – with a homely atmosphere and a large garden. It is also an ideal venue for conferences and workation trips.

Black on Gravel: In Dungeness, on the Kent coast, the architectural practice NORD has transformed the site of an old smoke house into a house for eight guests – set amidst one of England’s most distinctive landscapes.

From the front, it’s a barn; from the side, it’s a sensation: MVRDV’s 15-metre-long Balancing Barn hovers freely above a slope. It was the first house in Alain de Botton’s ‘Living Architecture’ series – and has already become an icon of holiday home architecture.

Situated by the North Sea, near fjords, lakes and dunes, this holiday home interacts with its natural environment and integrates qualities of simple living. Nordic design traditions guaranteed!

Open architecture, modern interior, cosy and yet unobtrusive – this is MEERHAUS (Seahouse), surrounded by trees on a plot of 800 square meter, just 40 steps away from the Baltic sea.

Just minutes from the beach on the Baltic Sea coast, Seehaus Ahrenshoop is situated in the middle of a spacious old garden in a quiet location within the Ahrenshoop artists’ colony.

Between cornfields, paddocks, and the bay, to the south-east of the holiday island of Rügen, lies the Kornspeicher Mauritz. This old granary, which was formerly part of a three-sided farm, has been thoughtfully modernised.

Right on the German Baltic coast, this timber house named Relaxx has two holiday apartments – with two Xs, because everything here really is superlative in style: Usedom is an island of imperial spas and natural beauty.

On the Danish island of Møn — in the midst of wild meadows and pastures — the consistently modern house Black+Bright skilfully plays with contrasts and rests above all in itself.

Two red wooden houses, with old apple trees in front of them, and above them a sky known for its abundant sunshine. The Apfelgarten Usedom (Usedom Apple Orchard) combines modern architecture with rustic charm and is a gem for nature lovers.

At the Old Barn Loddin, you spend your holiday in a thatched building near the backwaters on the island of Usedom. The future-proof renovated former barn house features originality with contemporary comfort.

The Schwedenrot holiday complex is located between the sea and the Achterwasser in the former fishing village of Loddin on the island of Usedom. Pine trees, rowan trees and sea buckthorn surround the five wooden-clad houses.