37°23'19''N, 24°55'25''E Syros III Hideaway, Greece

Accessed via a serpentine path that meanders past oleander and sculptural cacti, the villa’s sleek volumes contrast strikingly with the rock-strewn coastal landscape. A pitch-perfect blend of contemporary simplicity and time-worn textures, thoughtfully crafted with relaxation in mind. White-washed walls and stone are accented with natural brick, and grounded by stepped, wraparound terraces that create naturally shady spaces for outdoor living and alfresco meals.

Design nods to the island’s artisan heritage and maritime history, with reclaimed rope awnings, jute rugs and fisherfolk fabrics. Vintage-style pieces and homely details setting a timeless scene for special memory-making. Each window becomes a free-floating vista of sea, sky, and ochre rocks – a living snapshot of the island’s eternal landscape.

Ground-floor living spaces include a modern open-plan kitchen-diner, cosy lounge with open fireplace, and a double bedroom. Three further double bedrooms (including a master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe) sit sheltered beneath on the lower level; two can be set up as twin rooms. Spend your days hanging out by the pool, and sit the tribe down after dinner for an open-air screening of your favourite film. Cast your eyes up and you’ll marvel at nature’s own star turn, a nightly performance from the heavens above.

How far to the nearest…

Resident/Neighbour 500m

Beach 1km

Shop 1km

Café/Restaurant 1.5km

Town 10km

Airport 10km

Location Syros is a tiny Cycladic island, largely side-stepped by mass tourism despite being the regional capital, and only a few kilometres across at its widest.

Build Sited on a 4,000sq km plot to create minimal topographic disturbance and maximise solar gain, the hideaway incorporates traditional natural stonework.

Energy The villa generates more power than it needs with the maximum solar panels permitted for a private residence; a rainwater collector is supplemented by mains water. Underfloor heating provided by heat pump; there’s a wood-burning stove for chilly winter evenings.

Environment Represents the typical Cycladic environment, the garden is planted with fig trees, oleander, scented Mediterranean herbs, woody shrubs and hardy succulents.

Digital detox Satellite TV and high-speed WiFi is available; use willpower.

Creature comforts Sonos indoor/outdoor sound system, outdoor cinema, fully equipped kitchen, private helipad. Pool can be heated on request.

In shoulder seasons - April/May and October - the sun still shines and you’ll feel like local residents, with barely another tourist on the island, and you can have spring’s green shoots or autumn’s breeze-kissed hiking paths to yourself. Even in the peak heat of summer, the villa feels completely off the beaten track.

Engage

Take a boat trip to spend a day on an inaccessible, deserted beach north of the island. Visit the historic Apollon Theatre, then climb winding paths through Ermoupolis up to 13th-century Venetian settlement Ano Syros; back at the bottom, cool off in the sea or treat yourself to a pick-me-up in one of the bars and restaurants. Sift warm sand through your fingers on little Ampela bay or Paralia Megalos Gialos, the closest beaches; a slightly longer drive will deliver you to the more cosmopolitan seaside stretches of Vari, Agathopes, Finikas or Galissas.

Savour

Gather groceries at market and enjoy preparing slow-food feasts to savour at sunset – the balmy evening air is blissful. Local taverna tables are laden with fresh fish, satisfying salads and souvlaki grills: good ingredients prepared simply and with love. But if you can’t bear to leave the villa, a private chef can cook for you too.

Go slow

Prop your elbows on the edge of the infinity pool and observe the curve of the earth on the horizon. Book a massage on a long afternoon. Sketch the dramatic angles of the building painted with shadow-form foliage. After dark, turn off every light, lie back on a sunbed and gaze at the infinitely scattered stars above. Here, far from big cities, the night skies are magical.