On the southwestern coast of Mykonos, En Kyanó by Dimitris Sakellariou and Mihalis Seitanidis is shaped by the deep blue of the Aegean and a continuous relationship between architecture and landscape. Its name refers to the saturated colour of the sea and sky, which forms an ever-changing backdrop to the residence.

The architectural composition seeks continuity between interior and exterior through a sequence of interconnected spaces. Rather than revealing itself at once, the house is experienced gradually, through transitions between different levels, shaded and open areas, planted surfaces and mineral ground.

A two-level composition

The residence is organized across two levels with distinct degrees of openness and privacy. The upper level contains the principal living, dining and cooking areas, both indoors and outdoors, together with two primary bedrooms.

The lower level accommodates four cave-like suites, a gym and the necessary service areas, connected by a separate circulation corridor. This arrangement integrates the more private functions into the terrain while allowing communal life to occupy the more open upper level.

The resulting sequence establishes continuous transitions between above and below, inside and outside, covered and open-air spaces. Planting and hard surfaces further articulate the movement through the property, allowing the composition to be discovered in stages.

 

 

The pergola as common ground

An expansive but visually lightweight pergola extends in front of the principal living spaces, connecting the two building volumes along the length of the infinity pool.

This intervention transforms the courtyard into the central space of daily life. Protected from the intense Mykonian sun, it accommodates eating, relaxation and social gatherings while maintaining an uninterrupted relationship with the horizon.

The pool reinforces the longitudinal organization of the residence and extends the architecture towards the Aegean. At the same time, smaller private courtyards attached to the bedrooms provide more secluded outdoor spaces.

The project therefore balances two parallel conditions: a central area designed for communal life and a series of protected places for retreat.

Contemporary living and Cycladic references

The design brings a contemporary spatial language into dialogue with the architectural character of the island. Instead of reproducing vernacular forms directly, it draws on their principles through simple volumes, protected outdoor areas and a restrained material palette.

The interior design collaboration between Lambs and Lions, StudioMacBride and Annabell Kutucu develops the same approach through spaces intended to support both gathering and privacy.

Local craftspeople contributed to a series of bespoke elements, allowing traditional knowledge and contemporary construction to coexist within the project. The result is a form of restrained modernity grounded in the tactile character of the place.

 

 

Natural materials and the beauty of imperfection

Natural materials reinforce the relationship between the residence and its setting. Lime plaster is placed alongside the local stone of the building volumes, while timber and sandblasted travertine introduce further variations in texture.

The palette avoids polished uniformity. Its surfaces are intended to register light, use and time, supporting an approach based on modesty, material simplicity and an appreciation of imperfection.

Through the relationship between its two levels, the large shaded pergola and the sequence of shared and private outdoor spaces, En Kyanó places everyday life in continuous contact with the landscape. The architecture becomes a framework for experiencing the changing light of Mykonos and the expanse of the Aegean.

 

Originally published in MykonosVillas Vol.5, a special edition by ek Architectural Publications.

Geometric Clarity and Landscape Integration

Located in Loulé, Portugal, PCG House by Visioarq Arquitectos is a residence that balances formal clarity, functional efficiency and a close relationship with the landscape. The design is structured through a refined volumetric composition, where distinct bodies are articulated with coherence and harmony.

The architectural language privileges pure and essential forms. Large glazed surfaces establish a direct dialogue between interior and exterior, allowing natural light to enter generously into the living areas and making the surrounding landscape part of everyday domestic life.

South-West Orientation and Natural Comfort

The social spaces are oriented to the south and west, playing a central role in the project’s strategy of openness. Generous windows frame the landscape while supporting natural cross-ventilation, an important factor for thermal comfort during the summer months.

Comfort and energy efficiency are therefore approached not only through technology, but through the careful calibration of orientation, siting and openings. The house uses its relationship with the sun, wind and topography as part of its environmental strategy.

 

 

Horizontality and Topography

The residence is anchored in a strong sense of horizontality. This gesture reduces the visual impact of the building on the terrain and strengthens its integration with the existing topography.

Each volume corresponds to a distinct function, yet the shared plasticity of the forms ensures unity and balance. Subtle projections and recesses in the façades create a changing interplay of light and shadow throughout the day, enriching both the spatial and sensory experience of the house.

Pool, Terraces and Outdoor Living

The relationship with the exterior is one of the defining principles of the project. To the south and west, an infinity pool extends toward the horizon, visually dissolving the boundary between architecture and landscape.

On the upper floor, the east-facing façade is set back from the ground floor, creating a sheltered terrace screened by a wall that ensures privacy from the adjacent street. To the west, shaded terraces with pergolas invite extended use of the outdoor living areas, reinforcing a way of inhabiting based on openness and proximity to nature.

 

 

Fluid Interiors and Everyday Flexibility

The interiors are fluid and interconnected, with seamless transitions toward the exterior spaces. This organization supports flexible use and reinforces the sense of continuity between the house, the terraces, the pool and the landscape.

The plan is shaped around everyday comfort, clear movement and the experience of natural light. Transparency does not function only as a formal device, but as a way of organizing domestic life around views, climate and exterior space.

Precision and Contextual Sensitivity

PCG House brings together geometric precision and contextual sensitivity. Its clarity of form, subtle integration into the landscape and capacity to provide environmental quality and comfort define a residence that is both visually controlled and deeply connected to the experience of living.

The project does not rely on excess. Instead, it uses proportion, orientation, light, shade and continuity with the outdoors to create a calm and efficient contemporary home.