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

The restoration of the listed building by E. Ziller and its transformation into a hotel offered an opportunity to examine the architectural dialogue between new and old. At the core of the design process was the question of how the new interior layer could be articulated with clarity against the pre-existing structure so that the historic elements would remain visually and conceptually prominent. A single gesture within the renovation encapsulates the overall design intent. On the second floor, along the perimeter of the gypsum ceiling decoration, the project’s conservator removed a small section of the later white paint to reveal a rectangular fragment of the original, richly coloured ceiling painting beneath. This intentional “witness” preserves both the authentic layer and the later intervention, making visible the shifting aesthetic preferences of the neoclassical home’s former inhabitants.

The traditional guesthouse occupies one of the most iconic buildings in the Old Town of Chania, dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century. The structure has been meticulously restored to preserve and showcase its historical character. Distinguished by the original stone columns on its façade, Aisha exudes a unique charm, specifically a refined blend of architectural influences that narrates the rich history of the area. The hotel features seven suites, five on the ground floor and two on the upper level, each named after the original function of the space in the historic building. The new layout embraces natural materials such as stone, wood, marble, and metal, while an earthy, neutral palette ensures a sense of warmth and luminosity. The design philosophy is rooted in the harmonious coexistence of old and new, aiming to evoke a subtle sense of nostalgia while offering contemporary comfort and elegance.

04. Grace La Margna St. Moritz Hotel Extension and Renovation | Divercity Architects

The iconic Grace La Margna hotel, located on the main street of St. Moritz, has reopened its doors following an extensive renovation and expansion. The project breathes new life into a landmark dating back to 1906, originally designed by Swiss architect Nicolaus Hartmann, and elegantly bridges its historic legacy with a contemporary aesthetic. Hartmann’s original design balanced Art Nouveau influences with the traditional Heimatstil style, highlighting authenticity and local craftsmanship at a time when St. Moritz’s architectural scene was marked by eclecticism. Perched on the slopes of the Engadin valley, the hotel enjoys a strategic location next to the town’s historic railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding glaciers and alpine landscape.

The project offers a holistic and authentic eco-tourism experience inspired by Scandinavian traditions, with a strong emphasis on local culture. Located in Alsace, it combines Scandinavian influences with the region’s culinary heritage, wellness practices, and nature-centered lifestyle to create a fully immersive experience. Positioned on a hillside above the village of Breitenbach, the hotel reinterprets the traditional Scandinavian hytte, a place for retreat, solitude, and reconnection with nature. Set within a protected Natura 2000 landscape, the development is designed to integrate gently into its surroundings.

The hotel is housed in an existing 19th-century stone structure in the heart of Rethymno’s old town and consists of five suites offering all contemporary comforts. The design aims to immerse visitors in elements of Cretan culture, offering an atmosphere where the evocative character of the past coexists with contemporary sensibilities. During the adaptive reuse of the original shell, the stone masonry was highlighted and preserved, with targeted structural reinforcements where necessary. To maintain the authenticity of the original character, all mechanical and electrical systems were concealed within the walls and floors. A new stone structure was created on the adjacent plot, centered around the presence of water, forming the hotel’s shared pool and introducing a sense of oasis within the dense fabric of the old town. The two stone volumes are connected by a staircase made of exposed concrete.

The editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects, featured in past print issues as well as the ek website, that showcase impressive AI-generated designs.

Amidst the penetrating silence of a winter forest, a structure comes into view that seems to have risen from the depths of the earth’s essence and placed within the embrace of nature. This work embodies a symbiosis between design and the ecosystem; a form that is neither imposed upon nature nor detached from it but rather emerges as its harmonious extension. Soft curves and flowing lines, crafted with architectural precision, reflect the organic shapes of the surrounding environment, transforming the structure into an inseparable part of the landscape. The polished, reflective surfaces bring light and shadow into a dance, while the intelligent blend of modern materials with natural textures creates a living dialogue between architecture and its surroundings. In this landscape, architecture not only manifests sustainability and balance but also blurs the boundary between human creation and nature, revealing an eternal bond between contemporary structures and the beauty of nature through a delicate and integrated coexistence.

03. White Lotus | KSZ AI Studio

04. Industrial Modules | Jose María de la Cámara

The images reveal a conceptual study merging Japan’s rich architectural heritage with contemporary design approaches. Drawing inspiration from Tadao Ando’s minimalistic concrete structures and SANAA’s fluid geometries, the series explores how solids and voids can harmonize through carefully shaped volumes, reflective water elements, and subtle greenery. Traditional Japanese concepts of space such as the interplay of interior and exterior are reimagined via curved pathways and organic openings, creating dynamic boundaries that guide movement while preserving openness.

These four thematic series were generated primarily with Midjourney, where text-to-image prompts referencing Ando’s reinforced concrete, SANAA’s fluid lines, and Japanese gardens yielded unexpected visual explorations. By combining text prompts with reference images, the AI often produces surprising results that spark innovative directions. When stricter volumetric parameters are needed, tools like Comfy Flux and Stable Diffusion (with ControlNet) help align the concepts with real-world constraints. The outcome is a poetic interplay of light, texture, and reflection, blurring the line between sculpture and architecture. Ultimately, this project aims to inspire architects and designers to embrace advanced technologies while honoring the serene beauty and discipline of Japanese spatial philosophy.

From the earliest stages of material research, custom diffusion models generate high-resolution studies of ceramic glazes -testing how color, porosity, and surface texture respond to Stuttgart’s humidity and shifting light throughout the year. These AI-driven images serve as analytical sketches, expanding the scope of experimentation. The visuals also structure the design narrative. The most evocative frames are carefully curated, annotated with environmental data, and assembled into storyboard sheets that trace a resident’s journey from street to sky court. Each storyboard then acts as a directive for the parametric model: balcony depths, façade perforations, and communal terraces are dimensioned directly from the atmospheres depicted in the imagery. This iterative loop -generate, narrate, parametrize- transforms abstract research into spatial sequences that can be costed, constructed, and lived in. To move from still frames to immersive previews, the workflow integrates a hybrid pipeline: diffusion models for rapid variation and enhance-focused AI for precise upscaling, ensuring clarity at every stage. The outcome is an architecture that is simultaneously data-driven and story-infused, where every ceramic tile and each corner loggia emerge from a dialogue between human intuition and machine imagination.

The series presents a collection of circular and serpentine architectural forms that echo the contours of natural topography, seamlessly embedded into lush environments. Each composition captures the interplay of real-world materiality, light behavior, and environmental interaction, pushing the limits of photorealistic rendering and the manipulation of scale. The project’s intent is twofold: first, to spark new dialogues around biophilic design principles and circular spatial planning; second, to showcase the potential of AI-assisted and digital workflows in shaping future-oriented resorts, wellness retreats, and eco-sensitive developments. These models demonstrate how technology can serve as both a conceptual tool and a design accelerator, bridging speculation with feasibility.

Embracing concrete as both structure and skin, these buildings transcend the rigid, monolithic associations of Brutalism by introducing fluid geometries, dynamic spirals, and deeply carved façades. The tectonic language shifts from static mass to a more performative role -where the interplay of light, shadow, and curvature animates the heavy materiality of concrete. Each structure explores the potential of form to evoke movement and emotion. Helical ramps twist upward like ribbons, while façade treatments undulate, peel, or drape, pushing against the orthogonal tendencies of traditional brutalist design. The fusion of monumental presence with sculptural detailing reflects a desire to humanise brutalism, offering new spatial narratives and tactile engagement. Openings and voids are carved rather than punctured, suggesting a dialogue between erosion and construction.

08. Spherical Retreat | Syrine Jemal

Symbiosis of Epochs unfolds as more than a dialogue between past and future -it is a meditation on coexistence. Here, primeval stone and visionary form do not simply encounter one another; they enter into a silent conspiracy of creation. The canyon, carved by the slow persistence of geological time, becomes a natural amphitheater where architecture hovers like a whispered future -ethereal, reflective, and somehow inevitable. The monolithic sphere does not interrupt the landscape; it punctuates it, like the final cadence in a sentence that nature began to compose millions of years ago. This is neither an act of nostalgia nor a projection of utopia. It is a spatial reconciliation between memory and imagination. The raw sediment of the earth embraces the precision of human craft, acknowledging the continuity between natural evolution and cultural invention. What once took eons of erosion to shape now coexists with structures conceived in the flicker of a digital instant. Yet there is no hierarchy here -no triumph of one era over another. Each form, ancient and new, becomes a mirror for the other’s essence.

The masterplan is envisioned as a biophilic, climate-responsive district that brings together healing, innovation, and sustainable living within a unified framework. Conceived as an integrated medical and educational campus, the project redefines the relationship between architecture, nature, and human well-being. The design is guided by principles of natural geometry, environmental craftsmanship, and the thoughtful use of local materials -creating a built environment that behaves as a living system rather than a static development. Within this vision, buildings, landscapes, and infrastructure are conceived as interdependent elements, forming a holistic ecosystem where architecture nurtures both the body and the mind. The district is designed to support health and learning while promoting ecological balance, encouraging a deep connection between people and the natural world.

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

The house is located near Aliki, on the south coast of Paros. Several built volumes are set into the relief of the land and disappear when viewed from above. The architecture, dominated by the roughness of local stone, allows three families to collectively gather on a site whose wild beauty must be preserved. Below the access road, the gently sloping land presents three plateaus set with dry stone walls, vestiges of a distant agricultural past. The vegetation is dense and low, typical of the island of Paros. It is precisely this geography that guided the composition. The construction was excavated to integrate the roofs into the slope of the land. Craftfully designed incisions were made for entrances, terraces and shaded patios protected from the wind.

The residence stands on the western slope of Antiparos, offering views of the sea and Sifnos. Despite an 8-acre plot, the terrain’s slope and the desire for panoramic views and landscape harmony led to choosing an underground construction. Access is via a staircase at the rear, guiding visitors from the parking area to the main entrance. Upon entry, the extensive opening frames a vista of the sea, with Sifnos in the background. The living room and kitchen are centrally located in the same open space, with bedrooms on either side. The layout is linear, ensuring all rooms have sea views through large, sliding minimal windows, with direct access to the pool running alongside the building.

03. Residence in Serifos | Sinas Architects

Annual issue: Maison de Campagne 2021

The design creates a house that blends in its natural environment, comprised of steep gravel slopes, dressed in scattered wild thorny bushes, and beautiful large rock formations. The most prominent landscape features, however, were the short, dry-stone retaining walls, locally called ‘xerolithies’, created long time ago, for land cultivation purposes. These walls, usually no more than a meter high, formed flat stripes of land parallel to the slope and extended along the entire surface of the hillside. The site with its ‘xerolithies’ was the spark of inspiration. When one thinks of the Greek Islands and their vernacular architecture, scattered and stacked white boxes come to mind. The first step was to challenge this morphological preconception by imagining the main facades (front and back) of the house being formed as ‘xerolithies’. They start low and gradually develop at a sufficient height for a house. They move gently closer and away of the slope, independently from one another, forming spaces in between them. To achieve this, all the functions of the house were placed sequentially, making it long and narrow.

Located on one of California’s last remaining undeveloped coastal areas, this modern guest house resides on a wildlife preserve, exemplifying a successful balance of residential development and ecological preservation. Nestled into a steep hillside, the 170m2 residence was designed for low visual and environmental impact on the surrounding landscape. Designed as a low-rise, single-story building with a green roof, the house invites panoramic 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean as well as the adjacent hills. Its most prominent design feature is a series of expansive decks that cantilever over the steep cliff, providing a direct view of the canyon below. In an effort to blur the line between the built and the unbuilt, the residence is designed as a “glass peninsula”, with three-way operable glass walls that seamlessly integrate the building into the landscape. The material palette is comprised of highly weather resistant materials such as steel, concrete and glass, while the custom furniture and fixtures are made of warm walnut wood.

The subterranean residence, situated on the western side of Kea, occupies the site of a compound of old stone warehouses once used for loading goods onto boats in the sheltered bay. Following its last conversion into a restaurant, the complex has been entirely redesigned to meet the needs of tranquil summer living, protected within the earth. Access to the property is from the higher part of the plot, through a light ramp that leads into the ground, establishing the main circulation axis. A glass pivoting door opens into an interior garden with atmospheric lighting from the ceiling, replacing the old dark kitchens. At this point, movement branches off, leading on one side to an integrated living area with a kitchen, dining room, and living room that directly connects to the courtyard through large sliding openings. On the other side, it leads to two ensuite bedrooms behind a curved stone wall with narrow, linear windows and cupolas that illuminate the service spaces. The layout is completed with a guest house adjacent to the bedrooms, featuring a separate entrance and an impressive low horizontal opening that reveals the horizon view from the bed’s height.

06. Residence in Paros | Tessera Architects

Annual Issue: Maison de Campagne 2024

The residence, located on the road from Parikia to the airport, blends into the natural hillside landscape with views of the islets and rocky outcrops between Paros and Antiparos. The design austerity imposed by its underground construction, the orientation, and the panoramic views to the West and the Aegean Sea defined the main axes of the architectural solution. Thus, an internal and external environment was organized to gradually reveal its secrets, bringing the residents into constant dialogue with the built space and nature. An underground residence, by definition, has only one facade. Consequently, the desire for five en suite bedrooms -a master bedroom, a master guest room, and three standard ones- as well as for an open-plan living area with a sitting room, dining area, and kitchen, dictated a linear layout so that all primary spaces could take advantage of the imposing view offered by the location.

ek Issue: 279 | July-August 2023

The project is situated in a mountainous landscape covered with wild bushes and olive trees in Lefkada, offering one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the island. With the basic intention of designing the residence as a “spiritual refugee”, the composition is made of underground and semi-subterranean volumes that are interlocked on the plot, thus reducing the visibility of the building from the sea. The project unfolds in two linear levels, following the curvature of the terrain. Upon entering the house, a sense of exploration is initiated, where the gaze is directed towards the landscape and the sparkling reflections of the sea. Curved lines gradually lead the visitor to discovering the array of spaces. A key design objective is seamlessly extending the interiors to a plethora of exterior day-use zones such as semi-outdoor terraces, the pool plaza and the courtyard.

The subterranean house, benefitting from the gentle slope of the ground, is hidden inside a landscape of low vegetation in Volimes, Zante island, facing the sea. The main design principle was to integrate the building into the singular ground morphology without causing any disruption; maximizing sea views from all spaces of the house became a driving requirement. The rooms are arranged in a succession oriented towards the sea view; wide openings facilitate visual contact with the sea, the swimming pool, and the surrounding landscape. The ground section on the back side of the building reinforces its bioclimatic performance and allows natural lighting and cross-ventilation. The swimming pool, whose water extends to the living room as a shallow surface, contains a small sitting area inside, in visual continuity with the sea.

Set against the azure panorama of the Aegean Sea, harmoniously coexisting with Santorini’s natural landscape, the residence narrates the wild beauty of its surroundings and its relationship with traditional architecture. The subterranean construction, nestled within the geological layer of Minoan ash, is characterized by the effortless beauty of Santorini’s traditional dwellings, offering all the comforts required for modern living while minimizing its environmental footprint. Access is through a spacious terrace with a linear infinity pool, sunken lounges, and a jacuzzi. With respect for the rugged charm of the barren rocky landscape and the cerulean sea, the façade emerges as the sole visible volume, clad in local black volcanic rock. Alongside stretches an imposing pergola of natural iroko and osier, shielding from the intense western sun, creating a sanctuary for relaxation with a view of the Aegean.

The two rental holiday residences, each featuring a shared living area, three en-suite bedrooms, and spacious outdoor settings with private pools, are situated on an elongated, sloping plot outside the urban plan in Kissamos, Chania. With a western orientation, the residences enjoy panoramic views of the renowned and rapidly developing Falasarna beach. The site’s steep incline and dramatic natural surroundings inspired the core design concept: to embed the residences into the terrain, aligned parallel to the coastline, ensuring unobstructed sea views. The volumes of the two homes are topped with planted roofs and separated by a strip of untouched land with dense vegetation. This design approach enhances the privacy of outdoor areas while minimizing the overall impact on the landscape. From the coastline, the complex appears as a discreet, horizontal line of concrete and glass on the western façade, blending subtly with the environment.

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

01. Million Stars in Mykonos | 314 Architecture Studio, Ioannis Dalezios

ek Issue: 282 | November 2023

The 5-star hotel in Mykonos was conceived around the central idea of the endless motion of the sea’s waves and the creatures that inhabit its depths. Through a series of architectural gestures -including the abstract composition of solid forms, the emulation of natural elements, and the reinterpretation of traditional Mykonian architectural language- the project took its final shape. The overall composition evokes the curves of the sea, with the entire building embodying fluidity at its core -as if a giant sea creature had emerged from the earth, shaping the volumes with its body and tail. The building’s organic form subtly references the typologies, shapes, and silhouettes of Cycladic architecture. Elements of the Mykonian landscape -dry stone walls, the sea, rocks, and arid vegetation- have been integrated as architectural details, offering a variety of textures and spatial experiences.

Inspired by the geophysical forces that shape the island’s character, this residence in Tinos reinterprets the encounter between stone and air -an encounter that leaves its mark on the land’s morphology. Where air and stone collide, one element always prevails: either forming linear projections or shaping cavities enclosed by stone. This dynamic, minimalist residence expresses these spatial qualities, negotiating the parallel relationship between openness and introversion -between visibility and shelter- and exploring how space is experienced. The design creates vantage points and protective cavities that emerge both from within and above the terrain. The client envisioned a personal retreat: a place of seclusion with nothing more than a long, narrow pool for exercise and a sheltered sleeping area.

Located on a three-quarter-acre parcel with views of the Las Vegas Strip to the east and Red Rock Canyon to the west, this site endures strong winds, cold, dry winters, and harsh, hot summers with monsoon rainstorms. Protection from the sun and wind, as well as durability and privacy were the simple constraints that shaped the formal direction and materiality of the house. The residence repeats the spare behavior of the desert in material and form. A subtractive process left a wind-protected court to the east and provided an opportunity for an elevated basin of water that mirrors the dimensions of the living space. The distant view of the city calls out its ephemeral nature and delicate relationship with water. Entry to the house is gained via a narrow opening in the concrete mass. The threshold, at eye level with the water, leads to a closed and shaded passage that ramps up slightly to an entry court, open to the sky and inhabited by a vertical landscape of native plantings. The architecture represents a contextual conversation between the desert landscape and the city.

The holiday home on the Greek island of Paros blends a subtle modernism with both contemporary and traditional detailing and materials. Assembled as a linked series of standalone rooms around a poolside courtyard, the villa touches the landscape lightly, providing a beautiful and simple luxury living environment in its natural Aegean setting. Rising above an olive grove on the west side of Paros, this residence is centred on the setting of the August sun. The solar axis is described by a linear path that terminates at a negative-edge pool cantilevering into the Aegean blue. This linearity is mirrored by the adjacent pergola -a gently undulating wave of bamboo, punctured by a single oculus that brings light onto a chiselled marble poolside lounge. The volumes gently touch upon the earth on overlapping terrazzo slabs, “floating” above the soil.

The new resort, located near Messaria, seamlessly blends old and new aesthetics. The project refurbishes existing hotel units and connects them with new structures, resulting to a total capacity of 121 rooms. The outdated functional layouts are being reimagined in favour of a cohesive, modern design that views the surrounding landscape as a key element. The reception is accessed through a garden filled with climbing plants, providing ample shade. A suspended pergola made of wire mesh discreetly hides its supports and plant trunks. On either side of an accessibility ramp, a water path flows over stepped lava slabs, paying homage to the island’s volcanic history. The reception itself is an open structure adorned with billowing curtains. The main pool begins at the entrance, framing a stunning view of the sea, and follows a curved path towards the restaurant, forming an artificial beach-like area. Natural materials dominate the water area: at the pool bar, makuti covers the lower part on the pergolas, while the restaurant roof features illuminated wicker baskets. The presence of nature continues in the upstairs bar, which boasts a large, planted wall, as well as on the terrace, where new metal pergolas support an array of climbing plants.

06. Ikos Odisia Hotel Complex in Corfu | Nimand Architects

ek issue: 285 | March 2024

The new 5-star hotel complex is situated on a stunning peninsula nestled between Ipsos Bay and Dassia Bay. Spanning a unique 245-acre plot characterized by varied terrain, the design features clean geometric forms. The harmonious proportions of the low building volumes, defined by their simple lines, embody the project’s architectural principles. The resort features 390 rooms and suites distributed across ground-floor as well as two-story buildings, organized into four sections. At the center lies the grand reception building, which hosts the main public areas, including the reception desk, a spacious lobby and bar, and a shopping arcade. Abundant greenery, found in suspended gardens and large atriums, both separates and unites the various spaces. The Flavors restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the main building, while two additional themed restaurants -one Asian and one Peruvian- are located on the first floor. The resort also features four independent themed restaurant buildings, each with a distinct character, scattered throughout the property. Other amenities include a spa with an indoor pool offering scenic views, an open-air theatre, a teenage-activities building, and a daycare facility. The surrounding area boasts four bars, various sports facilities, four communal pools for adults -each paired with a children’s pool- an aquatic playground, an administration building, and finally, additional amenities.

Escobar House is located in Haras Santa María de Escobar, a gated community in the North corridor, approximately 54 km from the center of Buenos Aires. The neighborhood’s expansive lots are arranged around a golf course. The site for Escobar House is defined by its flat topography and a privileged rear view towards the golf course and a vast green area oriented to the North. Designed for a young couple, the residence was conceived as a weekend house that would eventually become their permanent home. The social area, envisioned as the heart of the house, was designed with a higher ceiling and elevated above the natural terrain to capture sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. The brief included an en suite master bedroom, two additional bedrooms for future children, and a playroom located as far as possible from the social area. The living and dining spaces open onto a semi-covered terrace adjacent to the swimming pool, allowing the house to connect seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

08. Acro Suites | Orfanakis Bros

ek issue: 262 | November 2021

The boutique resort in Agia Pelagia, built along a rocky peninsula, consists of 49 suites and villas. It was designed as an elegant and secluded retreat, with unobstructed views and complete privacy. The building’s architecture perfectly integrates it with the rocky landscape, placing it in constant dialogue with nature through the choice of materials, textures, and colors. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the harmonious blend of organic traditional and contemporary elements, infused with the raw character of the Cretan landscape where it is built. During construction, natural materials, such as the local Mylopotamos stone and the antique Egyptian Sinai marble were used for the flooring, while Phaistos marble was used for the custom-made furniture placed throughout the different rooms. All metallic components are painted in rusty tones and have Corten details, while the sound-insulating hidden aluminum frames frame the sea through large windows, allowing plenty of natural light to fill the interior spaces. Woods such as chestnut from Mount Athos, reed wicker, solid oak and niangon complete the composition, while coats of polished concrete in earthly tones are used for the interior walls.

09. Stella Island Resort & Spa | Stavros Peppas Architect & Partners

ek Issue: 222 | November 2017

Located in the area of Analipsi, just 25 km east of Heraklion, the Stella Island Resort & Spa is a luxurious five-star resort. Its concept is unique by European standards, with water serving as the central theme and design focus. The site’s relatively long distance from the shore and its nearly flat terrain inspired the creation of a bold master plan centered around water. As a result, the buildings -including the guest room wings and communal spaces- are arranged around an expansive, free‑form pool of approximately 5,000 m². Every structure has direct access to the water, creating the illusion of a floating hotel. At the heart of this “Lagoon” are the main common areas, designed as islands connected by wooden walkways and bridges. Together with the wooden platforms outside each room, serving as private terraces, this design gives the resort its distinctive character: a series of wooden, stilted structures suspended over the water. The scene is completed by timber superstructures -decorative sunshades attached to the facades and supported by tall, cylindrical columns that rise from the water. The landscaping, featuring primarily palm trees, adds an exotic and tropical atmosphere.

On the southern side of Mykonos, in the area of Kalafatis with a view of the sea and Tragonisi, this single-story residence of 200 m² stands out for its clean, square lines and sleek, minimalist volumes. The design revolves around a captivating interplay of geometry between crisp, perforated white volumes, natural stone, and water surfaces. The master plan is composed of two U‑shaped elements -the building and the pool- which embrace one another, creating the impression that the residence is floating on water. The layout is divided into two sections: the living spaces and the bedrooms, separated by a central swimming pool. Upon entering through the double wooden door, one is met by a serene water feature with three concrete and granite “floating” steps that lead to the bedroom wing. The living area, located on the southern side, is framed by sliding glass doors that open to the pool. At the rear, a large sliding glass door connects the living area to a cactus‑planted courtyard, creating a seamless indoor‑outdoor space where the pool becomes an integral part of the experience -an intimate, sheltered, and idyllic heart of the home.

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.