The houses in this issue propose a variety of ways of relating to the sea and its surroundings. They express a concern about how to respectfully take advantage of the singular quality of the place, how to colonize the space, how to blend the materials with a striking natural context through sophisticating construction methods. Through them we discover new technologies that coexist with rediscovered traditional materials, becoming both sensitive and contrasting with the landscape. The need to connect contemporary architecture with the environment, the overlapping of aesthetics and avant-garde design, the financial and ecological requirements, oblige architects to research and experiment with natural materials.