This text showcases superlative architecture in some of the most stunning and remote areas of the South American coastline. A number of renowned Latin American architects have chosen the continent's breathtakingly diverse coastline as a backdrop for their work, and their canvases range from the stark, arid locations to lusciously tropical settings. Within these beautiful landscapes each project displays the architect's ability to strike a balance between nature and dwelling place, as well as their innate sense of what makes South American beach houses culturally unique. Many houses offer a new slant on an age-old culture, or are deeply influenced by their natural surrounds. There are simple, practical homes for families and friends and lavish seaside weekenders, all of which share one thing in common - as beach houses they are also a sanctuary in which to relax and unwind.