10 Picks for Beach House Projects

The editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects, featured in past print issues as well as the ek website, that showcase exceptional beach house designs.

Rooted in the principles of Northern Gulf architecture, the project embodies privacy and discretion. Encased within towering, thick walls, the residence is shielded from the harsh climate and arid surroundings, while enclosing a tranquil and inviting interior.

The dwelling unfolds on the ground floor, structured around a series of patios within a rectangular walled enclave. Thoughtfully integrated glazed facades in the main social areas and patios enhance the home’s traditional composition. Each courtyard serves a distinct purpose -welcoming guests, offering repose, or hosting celebrations- creating a diverse spatial experience. At the heart of the home, a central green “oasis” separates the service areas from the private and social spaces. The interior features generously proportioned rooms that open onto oval-shaped patios and intimate green gardens, all interconnected by winding, non-linear pathways that unify the dwelling. A rhythmic interplay of depth and shadow emerges as an axial corridor traverses successive gardens and patios, guiding movement from the main entrance to the private family quarters.

02. Mediterranean Garden | Maria Doxa

Annual issue: Maison de Campagne 2021

The holiday residence is situated on the eastern side of Antiparos, just a few meters from the sea, offering uninterrupted views of southwestern Paros and the islet of Marmara. Positioned at the center of the plot and aligned with the coastline, the house is framed by thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. At the rear, a covered parking area and a sheltered entrance provide practical access, while the front features open-air and shaded living areas along with a swimming pool that overlooks the sea. This outdoor area sits above a garden planted with low-lying, native vegetation. The building is organized into two primary volumes: one containing the main living areas oriented toward the sea, and the other housing the bedrooms.

The ground floor includes three bedrooms, while the master suite occupies a private position on the upper floor. A core design principle -essential in any Cycladic residence- is that each interior space should extend seamlessly into the outdoors. This is achieved through large openings that visually and functionally integrate the interior with the exterior.

04. Metamorphosis Residence in Naxos | Ariadni Vozani

ek Issue: 258 | June 2021

Located on a sloping plot with a western orientation and panoramic views of Paros, this project involved the transformation of an existing three-story structure -originally designed as two independent residences at the stage of the load-bearing shell -into a single, unified holiday home for a family.

The renovation included the demolition of select perimeter sections and slabs, along with a complete redesign of the interiors and parts of the facades. To harmonize the building with the surrounding topography, the intervention was extended to include a comprehensive landscape design. The 550 m² residence unfolds across three levels and comprises six bedrooms and guest suites. Entry is at the middle level, which houses the main living spaces, kitchen, a staff room, and a guest suite with independent access. The upper level accommodates three bedrooms, while the semi-basement includes a second guest suite with private access, a gym, and storage areas.

05. Residence in Porto Cheli | A. Kontodimas Architects

ek Issue: 289 | July-August 2024

The holiday residence, located on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, occupies a plot just a few meters from the shoreline, positioned almost at sea level. The design is based on an existing structural shell initially intended as a traditional home, which was entirely reimagined to offer a contemporary and comfortable seaside retreat.

The architectural composition harmonizes with its natural surroundings through the thoughtful use of materials, colors, and textures. Positioned near the beach, the residence allows for easy access either around the building or through the outdoor pool area. The pool is aligned parallel to the sea, creating a seamless visual continuity between the water elements from both indoor and outdoor spaces. This aquatic feature is framed by low Mediterranean vegetation and outdoor communal lounging areas. A key design approach was the creation of outdoor and semi-outdoor “pockets,” offering most interior spaces a private courtyard. These areas not only enhance privacy but also enrich the volumetric expression of the building.

Built in a privileged location with panoramic Aegean views, the house in Vourni is a private refuge of relaxation, only a few miles away from Tinos town. Aiming at its harmonious integration in the environment, the composition balances between local materials and contemporary aesthetics, keeping with simple lines and a functional arrangement.

The building is designed in one level only, mostly dug underground into the slope, and the roof appears as a natural extension of the hill. The east part of the structure springs out of the rock, perpendicular to the underground wing, providing the courtyard with its desired privacy and protection from the wind, without compromising the impressive sea view. Concurrently, large, south-facing openings allow uninterrupted vistas from the interior.

The program includes a dining area, lounge, and kitchen, as well as three spacious bedrooms. The entrance hall is the core of the composition, with two building wings extending from that point. Folding glazing in the front creates a seamless transition between the indoor space and the sheltered courtyard outside. There, the water element of the swimming pool is designed at a linear extension of the entrance access, and end at an infinity edge at the south of the terrace.

The aim of the project is to craft a design concept that emerges from an extensive understanding of the site as well as creating a series of spaces that provide privacy and sensory experiences throughout the residence. Programmatically, the spaces are arranged in regard to how “open” and “public” their functions are. A main circulation axis is established, creating multiple solids and voids that offer views to the north garden. As a result, the residence is read as an interplay of dense volumes from the street that conceal any point of entry to its interior.

When crossing the main entrance, a central axis gradually leads to the house interior, eventually arriving in a large, open space that guides the visitor to the garden and provides views to the golf course beyond the immediate building. Moreover, a wooden staircase offers access to the first floor, where the bedrooms are located.

A series of stone tiles loosely define a route amidst the sloping lawn in the garden, which is filled with different tree species as well as a shower, a hot tub and built-in planters. More specifically, the landscape is carefully crafted to allow for the greenery to “take over” the house. Additionally, water becomes a primary element in the design, since the structure is surrounded by a swimming pool as well as an array of smaller pools that playfully reflect natural light during the day.

08. Residence in Brazil | Studio mk27

The residence is located on a beautiful Brazilian beach, along the northern coast of São Paulo. Its design prioritizes environmental comfort and long-term durability -two critical considerations when building in tropical, coastal environments where high temperatures and salty sea air create challenging conditions. These factors shaped both the layout of the floor plan and the choice of materials.

On the ground floor, the social area occupies the northern section of the house, combining the living and dining spaces. This area seamlessly connects to a semi-outdoor space featuring additional seating and dining areas, a patio with a Jacuzzi and sunbeds, and a swimming pool on the eastern side. The kitchen and service areas are located on the southern side, adjacent to one of the two side gardens. The upper floor accommodates five bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom and closet. The master suite includes a spacious bathroom, ample storage, and an adjacent family sitting area.

Inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula have a long-standing tradition of travelling to seaside or desert destinations during the holidays and setting up temporary infrastructures for leisure and relaxation. The projects aim is to conceptually create a sense of “gathering” in a five-holiday-house-complex, by designing a lightweight and discrete shelter structure. An elegant, “folded” roof made of white concrete becomes the most characteristic element of the design, while providing protection from the sun and wind. Additionally, the roof is perforated in certain parts, allowing sunlight into the interior spaces, while a series of rectangular cuts offer stunning views of the sky.

The exterior ground floor includes communal spaces for social gatherings, featuring a lounge and dining area as well as a pool surrounded by ample vegetation, reminiscent of a calm and peaceful and oasis. The outdoor gardens meet in two communal, double height shaded spaces that visually connect the residence’s interior with the beach, and at the same time, further accentuate the main façade.

This summer residence is located directly in front of the beach, on the east coast of Antiparos island. The design concept is inspired by the evocative effect of water ripples, -as if the building was dropped into a pool of water creating ripples of sweeping garden walls- that expand across the landscape. As life on the island is essentially open-air, minimal separation is created between indoors and outdoors. The design reinforces the pleasing qualities of the natural surroundings. A pool mirrors the beach located directly in front. Earth tone materials in a variety of textures are implemented: local stone with a unique golden color, soft white troweled plaster surfaces, typical of Cycladic architecture, and leaf ceilings.

New innovative technologies maximize sustainable design solutions and address the demands of present and future living. A smart wastewater treatment system naturally purifies domestic wastewater through hydrophilic plants. Other equally uncommon features for an island home are electric carport charging stations and infrastructure for a photovoltaic system. This system operates silently and provides solar power covering 100% of the house needs in electricity, heating and cooling, with zero emissions. Additionally, eco-friendly elements such as the roof garden and rain collecting cisterns for the irrigation are an integral part of the design.