CasasNaAreia in Portugal.

If you’ve been aching for a peaceful escape that’s both eco and modern, we couldn’t think of a more stunning place to sit back and relax than Casas na Areia in Comporta, Portugal. Designed by architects Aires Mateus, this gorgeous retreat takes old masonry buildings and turns them into new, contemporary structures set upon the sand. Creating a delicate balance between the natural landscape and modern architecture, Aires Mateus’ design is able to evoke a poetic visual and visceral experience from its inhabitants.

 

Canvas hotel 2012 Season.

The Canvas Hotel is situated in Nissedal Kommune in Telemark, two kilometres from the nearest road.  The main dining, bar and utility area is located in the center of the small collection of 9 yurts spread out on the island. The total capacity is 20 guests in yurts with 2 or 4 beds. The yurts Each yurt has wooden flooring, a wood stove and very comfortable beds. The showers are situated next to the sauna yurt. Leave two coffee cups on the steps in front of the yurt in the evening before you go to bed, and and you will be woken up with fresh coffee in the morning.

Torre di Moravola, medieval modernism.

Torre di Moravola is a 12th C retreat created from a medieval watchtower situated on a mountainside overlooking the Carpini valley in Umbria, Italy.

Outbuildings, gardens, terraces and a 25 metre infinity pool are aligned on an axis with the tower to maximise the dramatic 360 degree views over secluded valleys, unchanged for centuries, giving the sensation of being totally removed from the modern world.

 

Compound in the dunes by Ike Kligerman Barkley.

Compound in the dunes by Ike Kligerman Barkley is on a rolling site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this beach house brings together two contrasting ideas – nineteenth century Shingle Style design, and a contemporary preference for material and textural expression over architectural detail. While the exterior captures the local design aesthetic, the interior treats light, space and surface in a distinctly modern fashion. Photographer: Peter Aaron / Esto.

Capella Ixtapa Resort and Spa in Mexico.

High upon a majestic clif fside overlooking the azure Pacific is a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty. Time slows to the rhythm of waves against rocky spires. Sea breezes whisper through tropical groves. Welcome to Capella Ixtapa. Intimate in scale, discreet in every respect, Capella Ixtapa envelops you in tranquil seclusion. From the open sea just beyond, the resort’s interior spaces f low organically, an extension of their natural surroundings. Sweeping Pacific views, a private balcony and plunge pool g race each guestroom. Our Personal Assistants, always within reach, see that your every preference is met and every wish, fulfilled. It’s the Capella custom. All around you, endless ocean vistas cast their spell. Capella Ixtapa Resort and Spa in Mexico.

Villa Baie, Côte d’Azur.

The exteriors are set with extensive furnished terraces and a heated infinity pool facing the sea that extends with a lawned garden. On 3 levels distributed by a lift up to the solarium terrace, the interiors bathed with sunlight comprise, on the upper floor an entrance hall from the parking and garage, the master suite with dressing and bathroom, one double bedroom with bathroom and one double bedroom with shower, all opening onto the solarium terrace. Down, the main level opening onto terraces comprise a large living room, a dining room, a professional kitchen, a day toilet, a double bedroom with bathroom and a double bedroom with shower room. The pool level it set with a large furnished beach club and a service bedroom. Villa for rent by Leo Trippi.

Rustic House La Finca by UXUS.

La Finca by UXUS is located in one of the most picturesque villages in Mallorca, this rustic Spanish farm from the 13th century was transformed into a private family holiday residence. The interior atmosphere was designed as an eclectic balance between the comfortable rustic and clean sophistication. La Finca’s landscape design was inspired by the rough and dramatic Mallorcan terrain, which surrounds the property. Its gardens incorporate an orchard, ancient olive trees, a guesthouse and a 15 meter pool. The swimming pool is the centerpiece of the garden and is designed to appear suspended over the property’s orange orchard. The overall objective of La Finca was to visually blend the existing house, the natural surroundings and the new construction into a harmonious whole.

St Leon 10 by SAOTA and Antoni Associates.

St Leon 10 is located in the affluent suburb of Bantry Bay, in Cape Town, South Africa, the project was completed in 2006 by SAOTA and Antoni Associates.

Casa Hannah in Bali, Indonesia by Bo Design.

CASA HANNAH is ideally situated right at the heart of Seminyak, the trendiest district in Bali. Located 30/45 minutes away from the airport, this ultra-modern, incredibly bright villa is also just a few minutes from the beach and the sea.

Villa Hermosa in Costa Smeralda, Italy.

The villa has a private park of approx 5.000 sq. metres, large living room with exit on covered terraces and internal patio, dining room, kitchen, and outdoor dining area, 2 master bedrooms each one with bathrooms en-suite, 1 twin room with bathroom, 1 double room with bathroom and access to another room with 2 beds (ideal for kids). Laundry area with staff bedroom with 2 beds and bathroom. Large private swimming-pool with sea view, 2 covered parking places plus 1 uncovered. The villa is situated in a complex with custodian, share swimming-pool and direct access to the beach equipped with umbrellas and chairs.

This property is for sale by Christie’s International Real Estate

White Luxury house in Mykonos, Greece.

This stunning residence stands majestically on a rocky cliff above the new port  of Mykonos. From its elevated position it affords breathtaking panoramic views of the town with its famous windmills, the Aegean Sea including the sacred island of Delos, and captivating sunsets. The property, dramatic and impressive, yet a serene and private haven, is only a few minutes away from the lively and cosmopolitan town of Mykonos.

SCULPTURED INTERIOR: Impeccably designed and decorated, the 650m2 villa is defined by a sophisticated minimal style. Its all-white rounded walls and gleaming floors exude a feeling of cool luxury and create a seamless flow of space. At the entrance of the main house a vertical picture window frames a striking view of the port below. The expansive living room includes appealing built-in sitting areas and several windows that take full advantage of the light and the fabulous sea and town views. A few steps lead up to the dining area with a fireplace and on to the unique fully-equipped kitchen. Special features include beautifully exposed rock formations, thick wood-beam ceilings, and plentiful arches. Two spacious master bedrooms with their own bathrooms complete this part of the house. In the garden, two stone-built independent suites allow guests to enjoy their privacy.

EXCEPTIONAL OUTDOORS: Broad stone-paved terraces surround the villa while fan-shaped pergolas and a covered dining area are ideal for relaxed
summer entertaining. A horizon swimming pool merges with the azure seascape and overlooks the town. The island’s natural rocky terrain is
perfectly preserved and highlighted with abundant mature cactuses. A separate studio for staff and sheltered parking space are situated at the side of the property. The land area is 4.000sq.m.

This property is for sale by Christie’s International Real Estate

Malimbu Cliff Villa Lombok Island, Indonesia.

Hugging the hillside above Lombok’s dramatic, virtually untouched western coastline, Malimbu Cliff Villa combines modern luxury with breathtaking panoramas to create an exotic island retreat. This stylish, contemporary and ultra chic villa, with four bedrooms plus a kids bunk room and 18-metre infinity pool, has been designed for total rest and relaxation.

Whether watching monkeys swing through the coconut trees, sipping cocktails as the sun goes down or soaking in a sea-view bathtub, it’s hard not to fall under this villa’s spell. With the bars and restaurants of Senggigi just a short drive away, and the idyllic Gili islands, renowned for their world-class dive sites, within easy reach, Malimbu Cliff Villa really does offer something for everyone.

Cove 6 by SAOTA and Antoni Associates.

The owner’s brief was to design a house inspired by its indigenous fynbos surroundings, which is part of the recently established The Cove, a Private Estate, with the Pezula Golf Estate as backdrop. The site, located on an exposed cliff edge overlooking a rocky peninsula, is perched above a dramatic seascape with spectacular views. The site is 1 of 6 exclusive use areas permitted on this reserve. Its owner’s, a well-traveled couple who live in the United Kingdom, wanted a house with seamless indoor-outdoor living for summer holiday retreats. The house had to take maximum advantage of the spectacular views and surrounding landscape.

The Cambrian Hotel Adelboden, Swiss Alps.

Situated amid the pristine scenery of the Swiss Alps, and with stunning mountain views in every direction, The Cambrian offers the kind of location that tense desk huggers the world over spend their days dreaming about. Whether you’re here for the unsurpassed skiing on the slopes of the Bernese Oberland, to fill your lungs with all that clear, snow-tinged air in the forests and cow-flecked pastures of the surrounding hillsides, or simply to indulge in the hotel’s high-end dining or unwind in its award-winning spa, you’re sure to leave Adelboden in a relaxed and rejuvenated state. Just look at the cows reclining in the meadows outside.

Cheval Blanc Randheli Hotel, Maldives.

Cheval Blanc Randheli features a contemporary vision of the Maldives. Architect Jean-Michel Gathy has conceived one-of-a-kind spaces skillfully combining local traditions and finest materials to create a stunning experience, in complete harmony with its pristine natural surroundings.

Bathed by the turquoise waters of Noonu atoll, Randheli is a true haven of lush vegetation. Here, century-old palm trees shelter delicate ephemeral flowers creating a luxuriantly verdant décor which changes with every season to provide a renewed sense of discovery time and over again.

Hotel Deseo Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

DESEO [Hotel+Lounge] located in Playa del Carmen, has become the favorite refuge of young cosmopolitan people and couples that seek a relaxed atmosphere with unique weather and personalized service; with a special emphasis in contemporary design.

Clifton View 7 by Antoni Associates, Cape Town.

Description by Antoni Associates :

The clients brief was to completely strip out the double-level apartment and to re-configure the interior layout to accommodate four bedrooms, en-suite, a gym, entertainment cocktail bar, cinema room and wine cellar. The site is perched over dramatic boulders and the Atlantic Ocean and experiences sweeping views of the Clifton beaches as well as the Twelve Apostles mountain range. Access is gained to the apartment on the upper level. The dining room, living room and kitchen are open plan and have direct access to the extensive terrace. The open plan dining area acts as a pivotal focal point between the spiral staircase and the main entertainment space. The success of the space is a culmination of bespoke detailing, unexpected stylistic juxtapositions and dramatic artworks. Moving through the apartment is a journey of styles and ideas that all fuse together to make the apartment a tailored and personally nuanced space. This tailored look was achieved by avoiding over use of recognizable brand names; the clients instead were keen to create one off signature pieces through the OKHA Design Studio. A feature spiral stair was introduced to link the two levels of the apartment. Feature timber screens extend from the upper level through the upper volume to contain this circulation space. The pool bar leads onto the swimming pool and spa terrace with uninterrupted views of the seascape. The infinity pool allows the eye to flow from the pool to the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Lighting design is an important feature in any project. Bold and discreet lighting was specified in conjunction to create a powerful ‘wow’ factor and layering of lighting was used to set various moods throughout.

Aquatic Backyard by Centric Design Group.

 Centric Design Group designed this beautiful aquatic backyard for the lucky owners of a coastal villa in The Netherlands.

Hotel Encanto in Acapulco by Taller Aragones.

The Encanto Hotel was built in Acapulco with few resources, economic materials, and local labor. The building tries to retain a human scale. Occa- sionally narrow, even small compared to or in contrast with its great heights; it has corners where only two people fit, intimate spaces that shelter and protect its guests. In this hotel, the potential for amazement is con- stant. One cannot help but observe each place, there is no room for distraction: common areas, private spaces, all designed for concentration and relaxation. Encanto is also a great labyrinth whose exits open out onto and are completed by the ocean. Everything was playfully created to generate continual momentum from the sea, to compel those staying there to seek and find a way out, arriving at it always and capturing it with their gazes.

Domus Civita by Studio F.

Domus Civita was purchased in a disastrous state in 2011 by owner and architect Patrizio Fradiani and his partner Mark. Inhabited but abused and cut up, the house main structure was part of a larger building divided up in the 20th century even though the original structure dates from the 14th century, when the town of Civita di Bagnoregio current urban layout developed. The signs of the house original beauty were still visible in the old stone fireplace, the wooden beams, the stone walls, the terracotta floors.
However the most interesting feature of the house was its umbilical connection to its underground world all carved into the soft volcanic tufa stone. Through a series of tunnels and caves dating from the middle ages as well as Roman and Etruscan times the house ground floor had a stair dug into the stone and reaching a large underground Roman water cistern still perfectly preserved. Through the cistern you could reach an abandoned garden suspended between 2 stone cliffs at the edge of town. From the garden more caves of Etruscan and medieval times were dug into the rock opening up interesting possibilities for creative uses. Architects: Studio F, Location: Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy, Photographs: Bob Coscarelli.