Playa Vik Jose Ignacio, Uruguay

Playa Vik is like a beach-house getaway on a stunning parcel of land on the coastline of José Ignacio, Uruguay. It’s the rare hotel that’s centered around the likes of the “Sculpture,” a modernist monument in cantilevered titanium and glass, much less one that houses an art collection anchored by an Anselm Kiefer sculpture Four art-filled Master Suites are contained within the Sculpture, as are the suites’ common living and dining spaces.

Six modernist two- and three-suite residences, made from stone and concrete, house families and large parties, and come complete with fireplaces and with fully retractable windows which disappear into the walls, opening the interior to the sea breeze. The Pavilion is home to the balance of Playa Vik’s common space, from the Parillero’s dining room and barbeque terrace to the gym, spa and wine cave.