Germany isn’t the first place that springs to mind when one thinks of beach holidays, but on the country’s biggest island there’s a coastal retreat that confounds any preconceived notions about scrummaging with the masses at dawn to secure a sun lounger. Rügen Beach House, on the south west coast of the Baltic Sea island, is just a couple of kilometres from one of the areas best beaches, but with most tourists heading to the north of the island, it manages to retain a secluded air that whispers tranquillity.
The influence of nearby Scandinavia can be seen in the building’s architecture, influenced by Norwegian Wenche Selmer and Robert Venturi. The two-storey, open plan house is completely made of wood, with natural fibre insulation protecting against the winter chill, and big windows for ventilation when the seasons change and for the beguiling views. The house has impeccable ecological credentials, being part of a heavily regulated “biosphere reserve” which ensures only the most non-intrusive and sustainable developments. There’s hiking and sailing on the doorstep, and a network of paths criss-cross the island for cycling. Sights include a hunting castle and a holiday resort built by Hitler; you don’t get that on a standard package holiday, but then this isn’t anything of the sort. Rügen Beach House is a self-catering venue renting to groups of six to eight people, with prices for six sharing ranging from a little under €1,000 per week in the low season to €1,800 at peak times.
