Drawn to the water

All aboard

Those looking to drift effort­lessly through their holiday will find the perfect setting on the Greek island of Lefkada. Like a luxury liner washed ashore, the elegant holiday home mavie sits nestled among olive trees, cypresses and pines, directly above the myth-laden Ionian Sea.

Half agora with a clas­sical colonnade, half navi­gating bridge with a glass cube, the archi­tecture is a hybrid of ancient roots and modern dream ship. The spec­ta­cular view seam­lessly merges indoors and out, while the inte­riors reflect the vibrant hues of the Medi­ter­ranean sur­roun­dings. Whether one drops anchor at the private pool or sets course for the nearby beach – a paradise for wind and kite surfers – is entirely up to the crew.

Accom­mo­dates up to 12 guests (4 bed­rooms with en-suite bath­rooms)

Nearest beach: 1 kilo­metre

Rea­ching new heights

With its spec­ta­cular location on Sicily’s rugged nor­thern coast, Seaside Villa Capo Zaf­ferano offers a stylish and safe haven for Medi­ter­ranean voyages of dis­covery. Perched above the Tyr­rhenian Sea and facing the villa’s namesake, Capo Zaf­ferano, the bow-shaped building seems ready to set sail.

A thought that likely inspired Italian architect Armando Barraja when he designed the house in the late 1980s as a summer retreat for his family. From porthole windows and rail-like balust­rades to side bridges, the striking building with its endless sea views is remi­niscent of a ship throughout. Inside, glass brick walls evoke a journey through time, and the fur­nis­hings are an impressive mix of iconic design classics. A laid-back desti­nation with retro flair – and its own private bathing cove.

Accom­mo­dates up to 9 guests

Nearest beach: 30 metres

Holiday without a catch

To pre­serve the peace of the small fishing village of A Pobra do Cara­miñal in nor­thwestern Spain, Dezanove House blends right in. Its façade is clad in recycled wood from floating mussel-farming plat­forms, wea­thered by wind and sea to give the building a raw, ele­mental feel.

Inside, the reused planks show their gentle side – from ceiling panelling to custom-made fur­niture, every detail is lovingly crafted. Sleeping quarters are cool in both senses, with exposed con­crete walls behind large timber shutters, while the living area opens up to the Atlantic with its expansive glass front. The archi­tecture is as exciting as the small beach, which is just a few steps away, is tranquil. A nearby sailing and diving school offers variety, and fresh mussels are, of course, a must.

Accom­mo­dates up to 8 guests

Nearest beach: just a castaway

On the sun deck

Bril­liant white sand, tur­quoise waters and dune crest­lines like soft ocean waves – it’s no sur­prise Praia do Pego is con­sidered one of the most beau­tiful beaches along Portugal’s Alentejo coast.

When not diving, sailing, surfing or fishing, guests can retreat to the nearby Casa do Pego, tucked away behind a dune. This spa­cious, light-filled bun­galow opens up to sunny and shaded ter­races alike, cele­brating life by the sea with clean lines and bright colours. To make sure there really are no limits to a carefree holiday feeling, all indoor and outdoor areas flow seam­lessly into one another – whether it’s the shel­tered cour­tyard or the veranda affording spec­ta­cular views. And on top? Another sun deck awaits on the roof, paired with a pool that is refreshing in summer and warming in winter.

Accom­mo­dates up to 6 guests

Nearest beach: 400 metres

Savoir vivre

It has been a long time since the Côte d’Azur was a sleepy, hidden gem. And yet there still exist those places of tran­quillity and seclusion, tucked away between towering pines and the sea.

Such is Villa Nyland at Cap Bénat, a pen­insula marked by wild natural beauty that has been dedi­cated to pro­tecting the coastline and its vege­tation for over 50 years. The villa’s origins also date back to 1949, com­ple­mented by a modernist-inspired addition built with con­crete, wood and regional Bormes-les-Mimosas stone. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow light to pour in, the mini­malist interior creates space, and the mate­rials evoke tim­e­l­essness. Both the inte­riors and the expansive ter­races open up towards the sea, which offers exclusive immersion with its own small private beach. Simply follow the enchanted path.

Accom­mo­dates up to 6 guests

Nearest beach: less than a 5‑minute walk

Drama, Baby!

For those seeking to blend rela­xation with a touch of drama while on holiday, there’s no need to provoke a quarrel with your loved ones – simply head to the Shingle House. The holiday home is situated right on the pebble beach of Dun­geness, which not only ranks among the longest in the world but also boasts an almost surreal stony land­scape.

Here, you’ll find ever­y­thing from rare flora and fauna to iso­lated fishermen’s cot­tages, a miniature railway and even a nuclear power plant in the distance. The design of the three-part building, com­mis­sioned by Living Archi­tecture, takes inspi­ration from the neigh­bouring fishermen’s huts. Clad externally in black-tarred shingles, its interior is white and warm – with a purple floor and cosy fur­nis­hings that transform any (emo­tional) storm into a sense of well-being. An extra­or­dinary place that, in every respect, unites black and white.

Accom­mo­dates up to 8 guests

Nearest beach: right on the doorstep

In depth

While tourism else­where often comes up against eco­lo­gical limits, the Cocondo pilot project on the out­skirts of Hoek van Holland proves the opposite. Here, an old German tele­phone bunker from 1943 – a part of the Atlantic Wall and a silent witness of the past – was trans­formed not only into a habi­table history lesson but also into a pro­tector of the dune land­scape.

To pre­serve the his­to­rical heritage and protect the coast, the bunker, wea­thered by wind, weather and van­dalism, was moder­nised and con­verted into a sus­tainable holiday home using pre­do­mi­nantly cir­cular building mate­rials. Its nar­rative is told through ele­ments that range from the former rein­forced-con­crete tele­phone exchange and graffiti accents to the sunken terrace. Rental revenues also benefit the project. A holiday with an unusual per­spective and a plea for peace.

Accom­mo­dates up to 2 adults and 2 children

Nearest beach: right on the doorstep

Fresh breeze

In the 19th century, the Baltic seaside resort of Lubmin, with its salutary climate, was a popular desti­nation for spa guests and summer vaca­tio­nists. Today, the small town in Meck­lenburg-Western Pome­rania is better known for its relaxed atmo­sphere, beau­tiful sandy beaches and extensive pine forests.

The fact that the Meerhaus is not far from the sea and sand is already revealed by its name. Whether it’s for swimming, diving, kite- or wind­surfing, as a play­ground for children or for long walks. To subtly blend in with the sur­rounding tall trees, the façade of the cubic holiday home is clad in ver­tical wooden slats. Corten steel ele­ments add visual accents, stag­gered windows connect the interior with the dune land­scape, and vibrant colours bring the sun and the sea directly into the holiday home. For a year-round summer feeling.

Accom­mo­dates up to 6 guests

Nearest beach: just a few steps away

Mono­chrome Look

Those who long for Hawaiian surf con­di­tions need not neces­s­arily board a plane. The coast around the Danish town of Klit­møller can almost rival the wind and wave con­di­tions of the Pacific archi­pelago and has estab­lished itself as a European surf hotspot under the name Cold Hawaii.

In the holiday home Kok­kolit, one exch­anges not only the tem­pe­rature but also the tro­pical scenery for white walls and a res­trained colour scheme. Coc­co­liths – small calcite plates – give the con­crete of the H‑shaped house its light appearance, merging it with the sky, all sur­rounded by windswept dune grass. Inside, over 40 windows offer con­tem­plative views of the rugged land­scape, warm mate­rials create a cosy atmo­sphere, and floating beds evoke a sense of lightness. All that is missing is the perfect wave.

Accom­mo­dates up to 8 people

Nearest beach: 300 metres

Shadow plays

No diving masks, air mat­tresses or inflatable sharks in sight – today, U Magazinu on Corsica is all about clean lines, airy spaces and utmost tran­quillity. Nestled among beach pines, palm trees and flowering shrubs just south of Bastia, this holiday home was once a beach shop. Now, with modern archi­tecture and expansive ter­races, it looks at the sea with ele­gance and ease.

In place of colourful beach umbrellas, a reinter­preted patio offers shaded retreats on the far side of the pool. The kitchen, still centred around the former shop counter, remains the heart of the house, inviting the whole family to gather. Inside, a breezy summer interior reflects the natural beauty and relaxed spirit of the island in both shape and colour. And when the sea calls – glis­tening through the pines – don’t forget to bring your goggles, floaties or inflatable crea­tures after all.

Accom­mo­dates up to 6 guests (3 bed­rooms)

Nearest beach: approx. 3‑minute walk

Text / Com­pi­lation: Julia Hauch & Anne-Birga Niepelt

Photos: Tina Herzl (Cover picture: mavie), Giu­seppe Cascio (Seaside Villa Capo Zaf­ferano), Wifre Mel­endrez (Dezanove House), Andri Antunes (Casa do Pego), Nathalie Men­schaert (Villa Nyland), Living Archi­tecture UK (Shingle House), Peter de Krom (Cocondo), Alex­ander Rudolph (Meerhaus), Helle Schjønning Uhrskov (Kok­kolit), Thibaut Dini (U Magazinu)