Keras Cliff House by Tzagkarakis + Associates is located outside Agia Galini in Rethymno, southern Crete. The residence occupies a natural plateau between a steep cliff and the surrounding mountains, with uninterrupted views across the southern Cretan Sea towards the uninhabited Paximadia islets.

Its composition draws on the “horns of consecration,” a recurring symbol of Minoan Crete. Rather than reproducing the motif as ornament, the architects use its geometry as a formal tool. Two curved wings follow the morphology of the site and open the house towards the sea.

 

 

A protected entrance and a sudden view

The entrance is positioned on the northern side of the residence. A floating concrete slab extends above a low wall, forming a sheltered threshold and introducing the project’s underlying geometric reference.

A continuous wall of local stone defines the northern boundary. Narrow vertical openings interrupt its otherwise solid surface, providing privacy while allowing controlled glimpses of the landscape.

This enclosed approach delays the principal view. Once inside, the stone wall gives way to a large opening towards the sea and Paximadia. The transition from the protected entrance to the open southern elevation establishes a gradual sequence of concealment and revelation.

Two curved residential wings

The house is divided into two main volumes. The western wing contains the interior living areas, which connect directly with the covered terraces and outdoor spaces. Wide openings allow the kitchen, dining room and sitting areas to operate as part of a continuous zone facing the sea.

The eastern wing accommodates four en-suite bedrooms arranged along an elongated corridor. At its far end, a small lounge frames a focused view of the Paximadia islets and provides a quieter destination away from the shared spaces.

Where the two wings meet, a central skylight introduces daylight from above. The space beneath it recalls the internal courtyard of traditional Cretan houses and acts as an orientation point from which the different parts of the residence become visible.

The ground-floor plan and cross-section published with the project clarify how the curved geometry follows the contours of the plateau. They also show the close relationship between the interior rooms, covered outdoor areas and changing levels of the landscape.

 

 

Stone, concrete and timber

The material palette responds to the raw character of southern Crete. Load-bearing walls of local stone form substantial boundaries, while exposed reinforced concrete extends across both enclosed and outdoor areas.

Concrete slabs continue beyond the glazed façades to create deep overhangs, pergolas and planted recesses. These elements provide shade and reinforce the visual continuity between the interior and the terraces.

Timber introduces a warmer and more precisely crafted layer. Custom sliding shutters protect the bedrooms and filter sunlight through their horizontal openings. The repeated use of stone, concrete and wood across interior and exterior surfaces gives the house a consistent material identity.

Nearly all construction work was undertaken by local craftspeople and crews. Their contribution is particularly visible in the stonework, the board-marked concrete and the purpose-made timber elements.

 

The project was first published in print in Maison de Campagne 2025, an annual edition by ek Architectural Publications.

Against the rugged coastline of southern Crete, Archway Enclosure by Entopos Architects transforms an existing structure into a summer residence with direct access to the sea. The intervention preserves the original footprint of the building while reorganizing the relationship between interior, exterior and landscape.

The 1,800 m² plot remains largely undeveloped, with the historic fortress of Frangokastello forming the principal point of reference in the wider surroundings. This setting informs an architecture shaped by enclosure and exposure: the residence turns selectively towards the sea while drawing on the defensive character of the local built landscape.

Arches between interior and landscape

Within the existing footprint, the former living and kitchen areas were reorganized to create two independent rooms with uninterrupted views towards the open sea.

The transition between inside and outside is articulated through a sequence of arches that become the defining element of the façades. Rather than functioning as an applied motif, the arch regulates movement and frames successive views of the landscape.

This approach is particularly evident where sheltered spaces open towards the coast. The geometry of the openings creates a gradual transition from the more protected interior to the exposed seaside setting.

 

 

References to fortress architecture

The northern side of the residence is deliberately more introverted. Small openings recall the narrow loopholes of defensive structures, while the inclined wall surfaces draw on the Venetian scarpo, the sloping base characteristic of fortifications.

These elements establish a clear contrast between the two principal orientations of the house. To the north, the architecture becomes heavier and more enclosed; towards the south and the sea, it opens through arches, shaded areas and framed views.

A perforated suspended pergola completes the southern façade, filtering the strong sunlight while preserving the visual relationship with the coast.

Auxiliary structures as part of the composition

Existing structures on either side of the main building were incorporated into the overall design.

To the west, a 15 m² space was converted into an independent guest unit with a private bathroom. Two new walls with arched openings increase privacy while creating a gradual connection with the surrounding landscape.

To the east, former sheds associated with an improvised grilling area were transformed into storage and an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue. A waterproof pergola extends over an adjoining shaded sitting area, bringing the different functions together.

The outdoor living space continues along the northern boundary. Here, another arch framed by perforated brick directs the view towards the sea, repeating the project’s principal architectural device at the scale of the landscape.

 

 

Water, planting and the existing terrain

Landscape design forms an integral part of the intervention. At the eastern edge of the property, an existing well was preserved and incorporated into a new water zone containing a swimming pool and hydromassage area.

Low stone walls, rising no higher than 45 cm, follow curved lines through the site and discreetly define more private areas without creating rigid boundaries.

Planting is organized in different heights to strengthen the sense of seclusion and enrich the existing vegetation. Islands of endemic Cretan aromatic plants and herbs further connect the residence with the local landscape.

The material palette responds to the demanding coastal conditions. Marble and local stone are used for the floors, while durable timber forms the frames and pergolas. Together with the arches, stone walls and layered planting, these materials create a residence that draws from the character of the place without directly reproducing traditional forms.

 

Originally published in Maison de Campagne 2025, an annual edition by ek Architectural Publications.

A 1970s Apartment Reworked for Contemporary Living

Located in a prominent 1970s building in the city of Ioannina, Thalen Apt by Pantazi5 Architects is a 74 sq.m. apartment renovation designed for a sociable couple. The project brings together childhood memories, the existing character of the apartment and a forward-looking approach to everyday domestic life.

Rather than erasing the memory of the original space, the redesign acts as a bridge between what the apartment already carried and the future patterns of living it now needs to support. The result is a compact interior that combines hospitality, practicality and carefully controlled material contrasts.

One Intervention, One New Living Core

The project focuses on the apartment’s living areas. A single change to the existing plan allows previously separated rooms to merge into a more connected and functional layout, creating an extended naturally lit space that becomes the center of the home.

This new living core accommodates everyday use, gatherings and flexible domestic routines. It is organized not through rigid partitions, but through material definition, visual continuity and a clear relationship between open, transparent and enclosed zones.

 

 

Open, Glass and Wooden Areas

The unified space is visually divided into three distinct areas: the open area, the glass area and the wooden area. These correspond respectively to the living room, the kitchen and the service zone, which includes storage and a WC.

Although strongly differentiated in tone and texture, the three areas flow into one another. Existing uses, such as the dining area within the kitchen and the arrangement of the living room, are preserved and reworked, while new functions are introduced to support the apartment’s more practical and hospitable character.

Green Marble and a Parametric Mirror Installation

The open area forms the main living space of the apartment. Closely connected to the kitchen, it also provides access toward the private areas through the service zone.

Clad with green marble flooring, the bright living room includes furniture made from reused materials of the existing apartment. A parametrically designed mirror installation becomes the space’s most distinctive intervention, framing specific views toward the neighboring neo-Byzantine monument of the Zosimaia Educational Academy.

 

 

The Kitchen as a Transparent Room

The kitchen is part of the same unified living area, but it is defined through a glass screen that maintains visual contact and interaction between the two zones. Transparent and opaque cupboards form a flexible arrangement that supports both cooking and dining.

Black granite worktops give the kitchen a strong material presence, while light grey tiles and black steel shelving complete the palette. The shelving adds a sculptural quality to the room, while also functioning as storage.

Iroko Wood and the Introverted Service Zone

Next to the transparent kitchen area, the wooden zone is the most introverted part of the apartment. Finished with upcycled iroko wood from the original apartment, it accommodates storage and a WC, while also mediating access to the private rooms.

Through this compact service core, the renovation adds functionality without fragmenting the new living area. Thalen Apt therefore becomes a careful study in how a small apartment can be reorganized through one precise spatial move, turning existing materials, memory and contemporary use into a coherent domestic environment.

The most cherished architectural celebration in the city returns this year, as an online event. The OHA 2021 program, includes 20 videos that will premiere from June 24^th to June 27^th, and will remain available on the Open House Athens YouTube channel; further, the program includes one livestream event, one 3d virtual tour and many competitions for the audience!

The program, in a nutshell:

LIVESTREAM | June 24th

https://www.openhouseathens.gr/event/livestream/

Registrations: here.

 

OPEN OFFICE | premiere June 25^th

Guided tour in five architectural offices in Athens: Workshop | Dionisis Sotovikis, Bobotis + Bobotis Architects, R|C|TECH, Tsolakis Architects, Aristides Dallas Architects.

 

3D Virtual Tour | premiere June 25^th

A virtual tour in Workshop | Dionisis Sotovikis

 

VIRTUAL TOURS | premiere 26/6

Virtual tours in 10 contemporary buildings in Athens, on the Open House Athens Youtube channel. Featured works: Cosmote HQ & TV Studios by LC Architects, Apartment in Faliro by Plaini and Karahalios Architects, Penthouse in Vouliagmeni by Synama, Ogarden Suites by A31 Architecture, HOUSE E by Burger Katsota Architects, Obliquity by Gavalas Architects, The den by Studiomateriality, NBG Insurance by Mario Botta, SPARCH (Rena Sakellaridou & Morpho Papanikolaou), House in Politia by A & O Architects, Villa 13 by Parthenios architects+associates.

More info: https://www.openhouseathens.gr/event/virtual-tours/

 

MADE IN ATHENS | premiere June 27^th

Guided tours in creative spaces in Athens. The videos will be uploaded on the OHA 2021 webpage and will remain available on the Open House Athens Youtube channel.

Participants: Alexandra Bissa, Tind, Alexia Kokkinou Bookbinding, Sektor30, Stratis Tavlaridis.

 

Competitions:

 

OPEN YOUR PORTFOLIO | June 7^th – July 16^th

Win a scholarship at Vakalo Art&Design College for undergraduate design studies. The scholarship covers the academic year 2021-22 (€7.000) and may be extended to the full BA cycle (€19.000) on merit and achievement. More information: https://www.openhouseathens.gr/event/open-your-portfolio/

FABER OPEN PHOTO | June 24-30^th

Photography competition on Instagramm with the hashtag #faber_oha2021.

More information: https://www.openhouseathens.gr/event/open-photo/

ISOMAT OPEN VOTE | June 25^th-July 7^th

Win a Fujifilm instax mini 11. by voting online at the Open Office, Virtual Tours and Made in Athens categories. More information: https://www.openhouseathens.gr/event/open-vote/

 

Follow the Open House Athens YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/openhouseathens-2014