Architect's Villa: The Haven

Endless Views by Day, Starry Skies by Night

This vacation home rental in Greece was born from the bones of an ancient sheepfold. It has been given a stylish makeover by an artist and architect couple, with respect for the traditional building style of the region and without any synthetic materials.

Located on the island of Kea, which is an hour by ferry from the mainland, it sits on a large, elevated plot of land of 40,000m2 with two other independent houses (Architect's Villa: Versailles is also available for rental here).

The walls of the house are its most striking feature (apart from the dramatic views, of course). Made entirely of stone and over a meter thick, they not only keep the house cool, but they form a great backdrop to the interiors.

There are more than 300 trees, shrubs and flowers on the surrounding land, all planted by the owners: olive, fig, pear, almond, apricot, mulberry, oak, eucalyptus, pine, cypress, cob, roses, laurel, rosemary, and many more. And best of all, chemicals have never been used.

A stone terrace looks out over the landscape of olive trees and grazing land, where you may see goats and even wild horses. The 360-degree views across the Aegean Sea take in islands such as Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos and Tinos, and at night the house offers the perfect vantage point for contemplating the starry sky in total silence, far from the rest of the world.

This vacation home rental in Greece is a traditional stone cottage that has been transformed into a unique holiday space. The house is 40m2, with a further 80m2 of terraces, and 40,000m2 of land surrounding it.