Prima Cavea | Pelekas, Corfu

Into the ground

The project aim is to design a residence that “emerges naturally” from the ground, using local materials and, more specifically, the traditional dry-stone walls found in the area.

Design Philosophy

The plot is located on a steep terrain with significant height variations. Within the site, there are several planted olive trees, and in keeping with tradition, over the years, numerous dry-stone walls have been constructed to support and shape the land. These walls, along with the sloped topography, served as the starting point for the creation of the new subterranean residence.

Functional Organization

Considering the site’s contour lines and local materials, the residence’s design took the form of two new subterranean volumes with fluid forms, whose façades blend harmoniously with the rocky landscape. This is achieved by using angular lines and incorporating materials from the surrounding context, while the structural walls of the façade extend along the length of the plot, meeting the ground and mimicking the traditional dry-stone walls.

In order to maximize the plot’s geometry, the design is developed across two levels, to deal with the challenge of the steep slope. Access to the main residence is provided via an outdoor staircase from the main road. On the first level of the subterranean building, the communal living spaces and three bedrooms are arranged, having direct access to the outdoor area. On the second level, two additional bedrooms are accessed via an internal staircase, featuring uninterrupted views. Skylights have been carefully designed to improve natural lighting and ventilation, functioning as sources of light as well as adding an interesting morphology to the overall interior design.

Material Palette

Natural materials in earthy tones have been selected for both the interior and exterior of the residence. Shades of white, beige, brown, and light grey mimic the area’s existing colour palette. Additionally, the use of similar materials in both the interior and exterior blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.