Beach Houses
The connection these beachside houses have to the natural world can't be denied. Explore some of our favorite waterfront homes that define seaside living. Modern living on a beach is the way to live! Lakes, oceans, ponds and rivers are all great places to experience modern beach living and architecture.
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Before & After: A Mixed-Up Montauk Beach House Gets a Sleek New Look
Brooklyn-based Descience Lab converts a “shabby-chic” beach house in the Hamptons into a timeless retreat.
- 25 days ago
Before & After: A Park Avenue Prewar Apartment Gets a Multihued Makeover
An old flat in a Carnegie Hill co-op building gets a vibrant update that maintains its prewar bones.
An Architect’s Beach House Brings California Surfer Vibes to Chigasaki, Japan
Architect and surfer Kenichiro Iwakiri renovates a beach house for himself in Shonan, a region of Japan known for its surf spots.
This Hermosa Beach Home With an Underwater Pool Window Nails California Living
Drawing from Nordic, midcentury modern, and beach house traditions, this family home is serene yet playful.
- 3 months ago
10 Coastal Prefabs That Bring Modular Housing to the Beach
When an efficient prefab can become a coastal retreat with a spectacular view to boot—it makes a very compelling case for not being landlocked.
Facing the Elements
Incorporating concrete, glass wood, and steel, a house in Malibu stands up to its challenging site.
Shore Bet
Placing resiliency first, a fortified beach house rises in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
A Southern California Beach House Gets a Sea Ranch–Inspired Makeover
Clad in Alaskan yellow cedar that will weather over time, this renovated summer home in Manhattan Beach is made for relaxing indoors and outdoors.
A 1970s Bungalow Is Transformed Into a Breezy Beach House in California
Architect David Montalba creates an oceanfront hangout where an extended family can enjoy the sand as their living room.
Two Cedar-Clad Sheds Make Up This Summer Retreat on Martha’s Vineyard
Remixing the gabled shed, this relaxed and refined summer home opens up to shoreline views.
21 Finely Finessed Getaways in the Hamptons and Montauk
From Westhampton to Montauk, these Long Island retreats celebrate their beachside locales.
- a year ago
An Olson Kundig Tree House Peeks Over the Treetops in Costa Rica
Built entirely of teak harvested on-site, this breezy solar-powered home near the beach ticks all the right boxes for a pair of avid environmentalists who love surfing.
10 Breezy Bachs That’ll Have You Running to the Beach
We’re totally buying into the idea of the New Zealand bach—a modest beach house soaked in sun and surf.
A Hangar Door Opens Up This Long Island Beach House to the Atlantic
A three-ton hangar door lifts to invite ocean breezes into this resilient, beachfront home.
An Idyllic Vacation Home in Greece
A far cry from the whitewashed buildings of Mykonos, this vacation home on the Aegean island of Skiathos will make any modern design fan go Greek.
Ocean Breezes Blow Right Through This Modern Australian Beach Shack
This airy home makes the most of its beachside location with sustainable design, careful siting, and an expansive glazed facade.
Bursts of Yellow and Indoor Gardens Are Just Two Reasons to Love This Home
By eliminating walls and incorporating a series of interior gardens, architect José Roberto Paredes creates an eclectic and inspired El Salvador beach house.
Smart Interior Update Shows When a Gut Renovation Isn't Necessary
An intervention from a clever interior designer spares an old beach house on Fire Island, New York, from demolition.
A Scandinavian Summer Home Built for Surf, Sports, and Sun
An adventurous family envisions a dream getaway on Sweden’s southwestern shore.
Simplicity Rules at this Family Beach House Designed to Double as a Rental
Robust materials and a flexible floor plan help the owners of an Australian vacation home reap maximum rewards.
Seaside Views Make This Vacation Home a Relaxing Retreat
A Connecticut home with a notable architectural legacy gets an expansive update for a family of six.
How a Smart Interior Design Saved This House
An intervention from a clever interior designer spares an old beach house on Fire Island, New York, from demolition.
A Circular Beach House in Australia Embraces Coastal Living
Designed for self-sufficiency, this modern take on the traditional bach stands up against super-sized holiday homes.
An ’80s Beach House in Australia Goes From “Blah” to Beautiful
Figureground Architecture expands and reconfigures a defunct beach house in Sorrento, weaving together a medley of wood finishes.
A Modern Coastal Home in Stinson Beach
For all the joys of beachfront living, it’s not without its risks.
Lava Flow 4, The Big Island
Set into the dense tropical foliage of Hawaii’s wildest coast is a house that goes with the flow by welcoming the breeze.
In Mexico, a Modern Palapa and Pool Are Carved Into a Rocky Slope
This modern take on the traditional palapa is deftly integrated into the natural contours of a rocky site.
A Delicate Renovation Revives a ’70s Beach House in Northern California
Butler Armsden Architects’ retooling of a Stinson Beach retreat allows one family to bask in the outdoors.
Beach Breezes Blow Right Through This Ecuadorian House on Stilts
Supported by teak wood pillars, this permeable home in Villamil, Ecuador, takes advantage of a coastal climate.
An Inviting South African Cottage Embraces its Seaside Locale
Clad in timber and well-connected to the outdoors, this retreat in the village of Kommetjie is a nod to traditional cottage architecture and its surrounding community.