Modern New-Builds - Gorgeous Or Ghastly?

Spring has arrived! I have crocus in flower, daffodils nearly in flower, and two dogs racing round the garden like mad March hares. It was so sunny this morning that I actually took the unprecedented step of heading out in my new spring coat - before realising that it may be lovely and sunny, but it's still perishing cold - and subsequently retreating inside to change back into my winter coat. Boo. Never mind, we have sun for the first time in months so all is well with the world.

So naturally when the sun comes out I immediately start thinking of summer holidays, and of course our French Master Plan - so with that in mind I'd like to share some images of a stunning modern home from The Telegraph Magazine:

Gorgeous, no? By the way, the dude on the balcony is actually fully dressed, despite evidence to the contrary. I find myself being increasingly drawn to the concept of buying some land in France and then constructing our dream contemporary house from the ground up, rather than buying an old farmhouse and renovating it. Of course the build would have to be sympathetic to the local environment - local wood, local stone, a sloping roof at an angle that compliments the slope of the rolling hills and mountains surrounding the Luberon valley, paint colours to match the surrounding olive trees and vineyards - but I think it could work...

Check out this pool:

I love the feeling of light and space in the interior:

I've been keeping an eye on the property market in the Luberon for nearly a year now - but I've been focusing on houses for sale, rather than land for sale. I think I need to broaden my focus to include terrains - and also to do some research into French planning permission (ie how challenging it would be to get permission to construct a glorious modern maison in the middle of an olive grove). Of course, Andre and I don't intend to make our minds up right now - but at least we want to have considered all the available options house-wise, you know?

What's your take on the whole modern v traditional house debate? Which kind of home do you prefer to live in? Do you think that modern houses enhance their natural surroundings, or detract from them?