These are the modern villas you gaze at longingly as you sail by on a bright and beautiful summer day, the dream homes that make you fantasize about lying nonchalantly by the infinity pool, iced herbal tea in hand, staring out to the sea and watching the sailboats go by in the twinkling water. Cool interiors made from natural materials sourced from the local landscape, like stone, wood and marble, usually with the addition of manufactured elements like metal, concrete and glass. Granite bathrooms in earthy colors reflected right outside your window, bamboo rooftops through which the sun’s rays sliver through gently, open kitchens where everyone can lounge around in their swimsuit after a day in the sea and making a giant Greek salad to be eaten on a shaded terrace cooled by the perfect breeze.

All the designs featured here have been created by Greek or Greece-based architects, and although each and every one is very unique for its designers, surrounding scenery and owners, what they all have in common is the respect shown by the architects to the natural and traditional landscapes on which they were built, becoming part of or at least following the natural contours and cultural aesthetics of the land rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. They are built using nontoxic, ecological and locally sourced materials, with a focus on bioclimatic design aimed at creating the right insulation – providing coolness in summer and warmth in winter – rather than relying heavily on energy-wasting equipment.

All of the abodes offer their residents a heartening rapport with the sky and water, look out to the different shades of blue of the Aegean Sea and are often enveloped by wild-growing greenery. As they are used mainly as holiday homes, the comfort, privacy, relaxation and recreation of residents and their guests are a top priority, which is why most of these structures have an infinity pool that blends with the sea, various areas for sunbathing, eating and sleeping both internally and externally, and enough privacy in the ways the bedrooms are laid out so that each individual can enjoy their own sense of space.