What joy it brings to awaken to the sound of waves crashing into the shore or to the unobstructed sights of blue and green hues illuminated by the sun! The sounds of nature offer a siren song while the scenes reassure even the most restless mind.
That is perhaps why, for centuries now and everywhere across the globe, people have built residences and vacation houses fronting seas and oceans. In that long time, such homes have stood as status symbol, sites that signify the height of luxury. Here are some beautiful beachfront homes that illustrate what we mean.
Casa Kimball
Dominican Republic
This villa in the Caribbean knows how to flaunt what matters as its design enables guests to be immediately smitten with the Atlantic Ocean.
Casa Kimball in Cabrera, Dominican Republic gives visitors an uninterrupted 180-degree view of the Atlantic Ocean, a view enriched by a well-designed swimming pool with infinity edge. The structure itself was built with a contemporary direction, but using materials that give it a tropical character. The windows are expansive so that guests are always enticed to enjoy the outdoors, even if the indoors scream convenience and luxury. The house is situated on 3 acres of land, among almond trees, coco palms and flowering plants.
Kassiopia Estate
Greece
Occupying a high place on international tourists’ lists of places to visit would be Greece. Two things would often come to mind for them: the complex mythology and the exhilarating views of the Mediterranean.
Now, if you want to enjoy the vibe of the countryside in those parts, you can stay for a night in Corfu, an island in northeastern side of the country—particularly in Kassiopia Estate, with houses that proudly showcase a modern take on the vernacular aesthetic perched on a 5-acre property that overlooks the sea and mainland Europe, including nearby Albania. The luxury property, which features the Cassiopeia House and Atolikos House, was designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, a key figure in British modernist architecture. The two homes have a sought after sea access, too!
Casa Atrevida
Peru
In Lima, the capital city of Peru in South America, there’s a luxurious, environmentally friendly house whose very appearance represents its name: bold, daring and audacious.
Costa Rican studio Luz de Piedra Arquitectos designed the place for a Corsican French family who loves the waters — the place gives them the choice to enjoy either the Pacific Ocean or a nearby river. Using bamboo more than concrete, the building does not only give a tropical vibe and complement the forest and landscape where it stands, but has also greatly slashed its ecological footprint and made it more resistant to an earthquake. The place is designed to ensure natural ventilation and lighting, among others.
Villa Romonea
Cambodia
Listed among The Guardian’s Top 100 holiday beach houses back in 2014 is Villa Romonea in Kep, Cambodia. The house was actually built in the 1960s by Architect Lu Ban Hap with contemporary interiors and an enormous kitchen. It was then restored after the decades of fighting in the 2000s.
Now, it can host guests who wish to enjoy vistas of the Kep National Park and Bokor Mountain and, of course, the majestic blue waters of the Gulf of Kampot. They say the sunsets are overwhelmingly romantic. Finally, there’s the chance to immerse in the local culture and gastronomy in coastal Cambodia, especially with the seafood markets and restaurants nearby.