Sculptural outline

The project, with a total area of 24,000 m², involves the creation of an office complex and Media Campus in Kifisia, incorporating state-of-the-art television and radio studios.

 

Design Philosophy

The design is driven by the concept of sculpting a monolithic volume, carving out cavities and introducing porosity within a solid structure. Within this interplay of mass and void, the program unfolds, reflecting the client’s core philosophy: the shaping of a continuous flow of information. Much like water gradually erodes stone, the architectural form emerges as a constructed “nature.” The result is a dynamic, sculptural building defined by its strong presence, articulated through the use of limestone, complemented by aluminum, bronze, and wood detailing.

 

 

Spatial Organization

At the main entrance, a three-story-high “cavity” clad in linear wooden elements creates a striking threshold that welcomes visitors. The concept of carving extends into the interior, where a central, light-filled “canyon” is formed. Through the subtraction of volume, bridges connect the opposing office wings, while vertical voids allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building via a glazed roof, reaching even the lower levels. In plan, the building is organized in a horseshoe configuration, with office zones facing the central atrium. This permeable space extends across five floors and incorporates smaller atria and sculptural bridges, establishing visual connections between levels and enhancing transparency throughout.

Due to the site’s elevation differences, a secondary entrance is located at the rear, combined with access to the underground parking. This entrance leads directly to the studio level, where all media-related functions such as the newsroom, control rooms, and support spaces, are arranged on a single plane, forming a unified and operationally efficient media hub with direct access to the surrounding environment.

Landscape Design & Sustainability

The television studios, designed according to the same principle of porosity, are clad externally with perforated aluminum panels that are internally illuminated. During the day, they appear as solid metallic volumes in dialogue with the central atrium, while at night, light filters through their perforated surfaces, revealing a lighter, more ethereal presence and expressing the activity within.

The surrounding landscape is organized to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian flows, as well as the operational requirements of the studios. At the same time, a series of outdoor green areas is introduced, offering spaces for relaxation and extending the workplace environment. These gardens incorporate seating areas within diverse planting zones, forming an urban green enclave that enhances the local microclimate – both within the building and its surroundings, including the integration of sky gardens.

The project adheres to the highest environmental and acoustic standards. The careful integration of the complex technical requirements – particularly those associated with studio functions – into the architectural design ensures a seamless dialogue between technical performance and spatial quality. As a result, the building maintains a coherent architectural language and a distinct, unified identity.

 

In-between zone

The residence is located in the region of Argolis, in Ermioni, on an amphitheatrical site offering views to the sea to the north and the mountainous terrain to the east. The design field itself dictated from the outset the manner in which the building would develop, shaping an architectural gesture that mediates between the road and the open landscape.

 

Spatial Organization

The building is organized to clearly define its boundaries toward the road and neighboring properties, ensuring privacy while remaining open and extroverted toward the surrounding vistas. The residence turns decisively toward the sea and the mountain, with the distinctive curve at its southwestern edge symbolically and spatially expressing this movement, while simultaneously marking the sequence of entry.

Interior spaces are arranged to secure direct visual connections with the environment. The ground floor accommodates the living areas, a guest room, and auxiliary functions serving the outdoor spaces, while the upper level hosts the bedrooms, maintaining both privacy and unobstructed views.

 

 

Design Philosophy

In front of the residence, a swimming pool extends along the façade, its geometry following that of the building and reinforcing the coherence of the composition. The water element operates as an intermediate threshold between the built structure and the natural terrain, visually amplifying the relationship with the horizon and intensifying the dialogue with the sea.

The overall configuration of the outdoor areas underscores the continuity between interior and exterior, transforming movement through the house into a sequence of experiences shaped by light, shadow, and framed views.

 

 

Material Palette

The selection of materials – stone, wood, and earthy tones – strengthens the connection to place and anchors the building within the landscape of Argolis. The architectural approach remains restrained and austere, employing clear geometries that allow the user to experience directly the relationship with nature – the sea, the mountain, and the land.

Through human scale and natural materials, the project proposes a contemporary understanding of luxury: simple, essential, and deeply intertwined with the environment and the lived experience of the landscape.

 

Structural consolidation

The project involves the renovation and extension of a farmhouse set within a courtyard on the crest of the hills in the Piedmont area of the Reggio Emilia Apennines. The original stone building, dating back to the early 1900s, had undergone several interventions over time, including structural consolidation works that introduced reinforced concrete terraces on the valley-facing sides, as well as more recent upgrades such as the refurbishment of the roof and the addition of a concrete-and-wood portico on the eastern elevation.

 

Renovation Strategy

The intervention was driven by two main objectives: to expand the ground floor – where the existing living and bedroom spaces were insufficient – and to redesign the extensive outdoor areas of the property. The first-floor sleeping quarters were left untouched, as they were already adequate in terms of size and functionality.

The reconfiguration of the living spaces began with the transformation of the existing sloped portico, which was converted into a new volume accommodating a living and dining area, along with a wellness extension connected to the ground-floor bedroom. The original wooden and tiled roof was removed, while the concrete pillars were retained. A new metal structure was introduced to support a flat roof slab, reusing the original wooden beams of the portico.

 

 

Layout & Materials

This new volume was enclosed with continuous glazing, articulated by staggered aluminum pilasters with a Corten finish, while the original stone wall was deliberately left exposed within the interior. The former living area was repurposed as a kitchen and connected to the new living space through a large sheet-metal-clad portal, created by reworking the existing wall openings. A similar intervention was carried out in the bedroom, where a new opening in the stone wall leads directly to the wellness area, which includes a sauna.

 

 

Landscape & Façade Design

Externally, the existing terraces were redefined through the introduction of an infinity pool projecting toward the ridge, with a basement level beneath it housing technical systems and storage spaces. The terracing system was further expanded through the use of reinforced and gabion-retained earthworks, creating new landscaped areas designed for outdoor use.

The areas in front of the building were cleared of walls and fences to enable the creation of a new main entrance to the house. Access is no longer aligned with the center of the portico but instead positioned along the short side of the extension, allowing for a reorganization of vehicular access from the main road, now separated from the rest of the courtyard.

The new main façade is marked by an entrance structure consisting of a metal pergola, partially covering the main doorway and designed to support climbing vegetation, reinforcing the dialogue between architecture and landscape.

 

Principles of enclosed space

The residence is positioned within the local scale of the Lakatamia area in Nicosia, in a neighborhood characterized by empty plots, limited vegetation, and an abandoned old shoe factory directly across the street.

 

Design Philosophy

The initial design objective, shaped by the conditions of the area, was to create a single-storey home that centres on inwardness and privacy, while maintaining a direct connection between the interior and surrounding greenery. At the same time, the aim is to provide a safe and comfortable Mediterranean interior environment defined by lived experience, through a contemporary local architectural approach supported by modern systems and materials.

From the early stages, the design principles, developed in relation to the inhabitants’ needs, focused primarily on forming transitional open-air spaces and placing a main protective filter at the façade, referencing the character of a traditional boundary wall.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The spatial configuration offers organic flexibility, with public and private areas arranged in relation to a workspace volume that “suspends” itself as a focal point within the residence, allowing multiple movement paths. The inward-looking, through-ventilated layout and its relationship with the outdoor space create a core of privacy and security for the residents. The external walls, together with the eastern gabion wall filled with local stone, form a protective diaphragm separating public from private space, while the interior spaces extend toward the courtyards, ensuring cross-ventilation and natural light.

A central architectural feature of the interior is the workspace, which hovers as a wooden volume above the kitchen and the everyday living area. It functions as the secondary main use of the home, meeting the need for book storage and providing a dedicated study area for the residents.

Its placement above the kitchen and living space creates an interesting dynamic in the spatial experience. On one hand, the workspace remains visually connected to the broader living area; on the other, it retains a degree of privacy for its users. This dual condition encourages a balance between shared and personal space.

 

 

Exterior Design & Vegetation

One of the main architectural elements expressing the adaptability of the interior as it opens to the exterior is the set of foldable perforated shading panels. These allow residents to adjust privacy levels and control sunlight according to their needs.

The courtyards, functioning as the key bioclimatic components of the residence, form the heart of the design. Positioned next to the communal areas and the bedrooms, they provide private outdoor zones for each room while allowing the flow of natural light and ventilation with privacy in mind. Planted with low-growing Cypriot vegetation, the courtyards create microclimates that bring natural greenery into the home. In this way, the residence “embraces” the natural environment, achieving an organic continuity with the landscape.

 

Discrete presence

“A balcony to the sea, an observatory over the passage.”

Set within a six-acre olive grove on a steep slope overlooking the narrow strait of northern Corfu, the residence is designed with deep respect for the island’s landscape and natural environment. Each morning, it frames the horizon as a living backdrop, with ships gliding slowly past as the sun rises. The primary challenge was to integrate the house discreetly into its surroundings – to honour the olive grove, to listen to the land and the sea, and to coexist with them rather than compete.

 

Design Philosophy

The architectural composition follows the contours of the terrain, with dry-stone walls shaping circulation and levels. The landscape set the logic: the walls traced the terraces, the olive grove defined the boundaries, and the sea established the rhythm. Two white linear volumes emerge from the rock like orientation markers, quietly aligning with the passing vessels. Water surfaces, timber elements, and planted roofs form a gentle imprint on the site, allowing nature to remain the leading presence.

The residence appears both present and discreet, with its main volume embedded within the slope, minimizing visual impact, especially from the road above. The built masses unfold gradually from the rear of the site toward the sea, the pool, and the exterior areas, following the natural gradient and incorporating strategic openings and cantilevers. The result is a dwelling that seems to rise from the rock, giving the impression of hovering above the hillside without disturbing the continuity of the olive grove. Approaching from the upper road, one encounters the entire planted roof merging seamlessly with the landscape and the sea beyond.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The residence is arranged across three levels, achieving both functional coherence and spatial privacy. The upper level contains the parking area, main entrance, master bedroom, a private pool, and a terrace. The terrace extends the bedroom outward, enabling a seamless flow between interior and exterior through expansive sliding openings that fully retract into the double walls, ensuring uninterrupted views of the olive grove and the sea.

The middle level accommodates the main living spaces: the sitting area, kitchen, two bedrooms, a guest room, and a large, cantilevered pool that visually merges with the horizon. The open-plan configuration, paired with full-height sliding glass panels, dissolves the boundary between inside and outside, maximizing interaction with the surrounding landscape.

The lower level is dedicated to recreation, including a gym with changing facilities, a screening room, and a billiard area. Despite being partially below grade, it receives abundant natural light. Illumination enters through the glazed side of the pool above, as well as through openings that reveal the exposed rock at the back of the house, further brightened by a skylight. An internal atrium between the staircase and the illuminated rock surface enhances daylight penetration and visually connects all three levels.

One of the residence’s most striking features is the main pool, suspended in a cantilever that creates the sensation of floating above the slope. Extending beyond the building envelope, it appears as a hovering sheet of water. The white cantilevered forms that define the pool become a signature element of the architectural identity.

 

 

Materials & Sustainability

The material palette maintains continuity with the natural landscape while ensuring durability and minimal maintenance. Local stone, exposed concrete, and muted grey tones anchor the house to the rocky terrain, while extensive timber decking brings warmth to the exterior. Stone retaining walls and pathways blend seamlessly with the land, enhancing the sense of continuity between built and natural ground. Planted roofs further contribute to the residence’s environmental integration within the olive grove.

A significant portion of the dwelling is built below ground level, and combined with proper orientation and planted roofs, this provides natural insulation that supports its bioclimatic performance. Solar-thermal systems and a bioclimatic shading canopy on the upper level offer full energy autonomy, reflected in the building’s A+ energy rating. The photovoltaic canopy, arranged along a north–south axis, achieves exceptionally low energy consumption, placing the residence within the category of a Zero Energy Building. Infrastructure for electric-vehicle charging and future energy-storage systems is already in place.

 

Calm minimalism

Located within a residential complex in Chalandri -comprising two identical buildings with a shared multi-purpose ground floor area designed by architect Ioannis Vikelas in 1972- the apartment retained the essence of its original layout, even as its interior was reimagined.

 

Renovation Strategy

To accommodate the modern lifestyle of the owners, most of the interior partitions were removed and replaced with new configurations. However, the design aimed to preserve the logic of the original plan. The apartment’s core remains the central hall that connects the entrance with the living and dining areas, while the rest of the spaces are organized symmetrically on either side. The bedrooms and bathroom occupy the north-facing side, while the kitchen, WC, and utility room are positioned to the south.

The existing hallway was slightly narrowed and transformed into a corridor, with the reclaimed space used to introduce new storage areas, built-in wardrobes, and entrance furniture with integrated seating, as well as a WC. On the southern side, the former service room was removed to expand the kitchen, creating space for a coffee area and dining nook. The bedroom wing was redesigned to provide each room with its own bathroom, built-in storage, and either a desk or a dressing table.

 

 

Spatial Layout & Lighting

One of the apartment’s greatest assets is its sense of openness and light. The living and dining areas are bright and airy, with dual orientation -north and south- and balconies on both sides enhancing cross-ventilation. The kitchen, illuminated by southern light, creates a welcoming first impression as it opens directly onto the hallway. Conversely, a small intermediate hall separates the private quarters from the common areas, ensuring privacy and a sense of retreat.

 

 

Materials & Custom Design

The aesthetic direction focused on calm minimalism, achieved through a consistent palette and discreet detailing. Built-in wardrobes, concealed doors, and custom carpentry were all finished in an off-white tone matching the walls, creating a seamless visual flow. Oak wood was selectively used in elements meant to stand out -the kitchen island and coffee bar, entrance furniture, and main door- adding warmth and texture.

Light oak laminate flooring unifies the apartment, excluding the bathrooms, which feature tiles suited to each room’s character. In the kitchen, beige quartz complements the earthy palette, while the master suite continues this calm atmosphere with travertine-look tiles. The second bedroom introduces contrast through deep blue accents in both the woodwork and bathroom finishes. Glass bricks were incorporated into the bathrooms and WC to bring natural light into these windowless spaces. Finally, gently curved walls replace sharp corners, softening the overall geometry and enhancing the apartment’s serene, cohesive atmosphere.

 

Ground movements

The residence is situated on a sloping site in the Kefalokremmos area of Limassol, in a location where the natural terrain and sea views define the character of the place. The project seeks to harmonize architecture with the landscape, shaping a living space that emerges organically from the ground.

 

Design Philosophy

The composition is based on integrating architecture into its natural surroundings, aiming to create a dwelling that follows the topography and embraces the landscape. The design approaches the notion of the house as a refuge, where the relationship between interior and exterior becomes seamless, allowing the inhabitant to experience nature in every moment of daily life. The form and layout derive from the movements of the terrain, translating the natural flow of the site into an architectural gesture.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The layout is organized in levels that respond to the slope of the land, allowing for a smooth flow between interior and exterior spaces. The residence takes advantage of sea views while being protected from wind and sun through carefully positioned arcades and semi-outdoor areas. These transitional zones act as filters that offer shading and privacy gradations, mediating between openness and shelter.

 

 

Material Palette

The selection of materials – concrete, stone, and wood – reflects the building’s relationship with its natural environment, combining durability and simplicity. The residence expresses contemporary Cypriot architecture through the composition of clean volumes and a pervasive sense of calmness arising from clarity and restraint.

 

Unearthed structure

Embedded within the Cypriot landscape, the residence responds to its climate and cultural context. The thick masonry provides insulation, while shaded courtyards and openings support natural ventilation. By drawing from vernacular building practices and reinterpreting them, the house integrates seamlessly with its environment, becoming a statement of continuity between past and present.

 

Design Philosophy

The project begins with the earth, conceived as a house deeply rooted in its site. The vision was to reinterpret the Mediterranean courtyard typology through a contemporary lens, embracing the landscape while framing spaces of privacy and gathering. It is a residence where traditional forms meet minimalism, and where the solidity of monolithic walls conveys both protection and serenity.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The house is organized around a central courtyard, reinforcing both introversion and openness. Living spaces face inward to create intimacy, while openings strategically frame views of the surrounding landscape. The plan establishes a rhythm between enclosed and open areas, guiding movement through sequences of light and shadow.

The functional program combines social and private spaces with clarity. Shared living areas are located around the courtyard, encouraging interaction, while bedrooms and private quarters remain secluded. Circulation is carefully choreographed, allowing for smooth transitions between communal life and individual retreat.

 

 

Material Palette

The material strategy relies on natural and tactile finishes: plastered masonry walls, exposed concrete, and warm timber details. These choices reflect both durability and a connection to tradition. The monolithic character of the structure emphasizes permanence, while refined details introduce comfort and contemporary sensibility.

 

Ecological sensitivity

The proposal is defined by its dialogue with the surrounding landscape. The project’s landscaping seeks to blur the boundaries between built form and nature, integrating architecture with its setting through carefully orchestrated layers of vegetation. The intention is not only to frame the house with greenery but also to create a sequence of immersive experiences that unfold as one moves through the site. This approach emphasizes fluidity, biodiversity, and continuity between indoors and outdoors, highlighting the essential role of nature in contemporary living.

 

Context Integration

The project exemplifies the potential of landscape architecture to shape the character and atmosphere of a residence. Rather than treating the garden as an accessory, the project makes it the central medium for architectural expression. Through biodiversity, ecological sensitivity, and spatial layering, the design anchors the house within its broader context, transforming it into a living environment where built form and nature exist in genuine symbiosis.

 

 

Functional Layout

The residence sits on a generous 3,125m² plot, with 1,400m² of built area strategically placed to respect and enhance the existing topography. The garden is organized into distinct yet interconnected zones, each offering unique atmospheres while maintaining a sense of unity. The design incorporates sweeping lawns, shaded seating areas, and densely planted perimeters that create privacy without closing off the house from its natural surroundings. Circulation is guided by a network of paths that establish visual and physical connections between the various garden spaces and the interiors.

The program balances social and private uses within a framework where the landscape is ever-present. Expansive openings in the architecture dissolve thresholds, ensuring constant dialogue between indoor living areas and outdoor terraces. The swimming pool and leisure deck are integrated with planted areas, generating a setting where recreation and contemplation coexist. Service areas are discretely accommodated, ensuring that functionality does not disrupt the immersive quality of the overall composition.

 

 

Material Palette

The material choices reinforce the integration between house and garden. Stone paving merges seamlessly with planted groundcovers, while timber decking introduces warmth and texture to social areas. The planting palette is diverse and layered: tall trees provide shade and scale; shrubs and grasses soften built edges; and climbing plants weave vertical connections, linking architecture to its green environment. Water elements further enrich the sensorial qualities of the garden, reflecting light and introducing sound into the landscape.

Landscape Design: Rodrigo Oliveira Paisagismo

 

Simple language

The project is situated on a narrow rectangular plot, within a new residential neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nicosia. The surrounding buildings adopt diverse architectural styles, providing a context that allowed the house to develop its own minimalist architectural language.

 

Design Philosophy

The house is organized under a table-like structure, oriented toward the street with a restrained façade, and elevated from street level. The southern portion of the plot was used for the garden. The building follows a rectangular grid of 12×24 meters, with a perimeter canopy of exposed concrete providing shading and protection. On the southern side, a 4-meter cantilever creates a generous veranda supported by a cylindrical column.

 

 

Functional Layout

The internal layout is divided into two zones: the west zone, where bedrooms enjoy the evening summer breeze, and the east zone, where living areas open to the surrounding greenery. Large openings connect the interior visually to the garden, offering continuity and daylight. A 17-meter exposed concrete wall runs the length of the house, separating the zones while maintaining a visual axis to the garden.

 

 

Material Palette

The restrained architecture is expressed through carefully selected materials: large ceramic tiles in communal spaces, wooden floors in bedrooms, exposed concrete walls and soffits, and white plaster on vertical surfaces. Doors, cabinetry, and kitchen fittings were crafted in oak, introducing warmth and a domestic atmosphere.

The garden is planted exclusively with Mediterranean vegetation, ensuring minimal maintenance while enhancing perspectives and reinforcing the relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

 

Emphasis on biodiversity

Surrounded by the lush vegetation of the Atlantic Forest on the coast of Rio de Janeiro, this landscape design accompanies the creation of a new seaside retreat overlooking the Angra dos Reis archipelago. Set within a 7,000m2site, the project preserves an almost untouched environment of towering trees, native tropical flora, and striking rock formations.

 

Design Philosophy

As an integral part of the architectural ensemble, the landscape design embraces a naturalistic approach. Its aim is to emulate the spontaneity of native vegetation, foster biodiversity, and evoke the ecosystems characteristic of the Atlantic Forest -as if the plantings had always existed in place. Guided by a Japanese philosophy of immersion, the design follows five principles (the “5 I’s”): it should be inexplicable, needing no rational justification; imperfect, finding beauty in asymmetry and irregularity; intuitive, shaped by sensitivity rather than logic; intriguing, inviting curiosity; and unpredictable, reflecting the organic, ever-changing nature of life.

 

 

Landscape Design

These ideas take form in two distinct areas. The first, at the base of the mountain, is introspective and immersed in dense forest. The second is open and sunlit, situated in a clearing that encourages social interaction and contemplation of the ocean and islands on the horizon.

Arrival is possible either by sea, at a private pier that extends over calm waters, or by land, via a winding mountain road that leads to the upper entrance. At this highest point, a lush garden greets visitors and sets the tone for what follows. Notable species include Calathea lutea (Maranta charuto), Philodendron undulatum (Filodendro-ondulado), Chamaedorea erumpens (Palmeira-bambu), and Maranta burle-marxii.

The architecture, slightly elevated above the ground, is softened by groupings of Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Guaimbê), which conceal the stone walls and create the impression that the house emerges directly from the landscape. Vegetation also serves as a natural filter between the veranda and the lawn, while large rocks maintain the site’s original character.

 

 

Spatial Organization

A careful interplay of heights, volumes, and textures ensures a fluid transition from the shrub layer to the forest canopy. The sinuous pool, designed to follow the natural contours of the land, acts as a visual mediator between the built environment and its surroundings. From the clearing, stone pathways guide residents through a sequence of experiences -alternating between open, sunlit clearings and shaded passages beneath dense foliage.

Near the pool, a large native tree provides shade to a comfortable outdoor lounge, while on the upper level, the hallway connecting the bedrooms opens toward the rear of the property, revealing the varied topography and biodiversity. From the balconies, which face the ocean, the garden unfolds below as a living extension of the forested landscape.

 

White cube

On the southern side of Mykonos, in the area of Kalafatis with a view of the sea and Tragonisi, this single-story residence of 200 m² stands out for its clean, square lines and sleek, minimalist volumes.

 

Design Philosophy

The design revolves around a captivating interplay of geometry between crisp, perforated white volumes, natural stone, and water surfaces. The master plan is composed of two U‑shaped elements -the building and the pool- which embrace one another, creating the impression that the residence is floating on water. The layout is divided into two sections: the living spaces and the bedrooms, separated by a central swimming pool. Upon entering through the double wooden door, one is met by a serene water feature with three concrete and granite “floating” steps that lead to the bedroom wing. The living area, located on the southern side, is framed by sliding glass doors that open to the pool. At the rear, a large sliding glass door connects the living area to a cactus‑planted courtyard, creating a seamless indoor‑outdoor space where the pool becomes an integral part of the experience -an intimate, sheltered, and idyllic heart of the home.

 

 

Functional Organization

The kitchen forms the eastern extension of the living area. Its design celebrates a harmonious mix of wood, granite, and steel, complemented by anthracite‑toned cement flooring and walls, as well as dark furnishings and lighting elements -a deliberate fusion of contemporary design with traditional Mykonian character. The three en‑suite bedrooms are located on the northern side, offering southern views of the sea and direct access to the pool via a long, narrow veranda. Geometric forms in crisp whites and deep anthracite separate the sleeping spaces from their open‑concept bathrooms. The master suite occupies the western end of the residence, featuring a private terrace shaded by a pergola. To the east, a staff room completes the layout.

 

 

Outdoor Amenities

The strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces was a fundamental priority for the design. The relatively flat site allows for expansive terraces aligned with the level of the house. To the east, extending from the kitchen, an outdoor dining area is complemented by a built‑in barbecue. To the west and south, extending from the living area, are spaces dedicated to relaxation and sunbathing -open‑air extensions of the interior, where comfort and tranquility are fully embraced.

 

Vanishing points

This architectural project involves the design of a single-story vacation home with a total area of 205 m², situated on a 5,000 m² plot in the Glyfa region of Paros.

 

Design Philosophy

The plot features minimal slopes and offers a southeast orientation with unobstructed views of the sea. The surrounding area remains lightly developed -by the island’s standards- allowing all visual perspectives from the house to be fully immersed in the island’s natural landscape. The residence consists of three separate built volumes, arranged to frame and protect corresponding outdoor spaces. This configuration allows the house to naturally extend outward during the summer months, enhancing the living experience.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The main volume, positioned at the forefront, houses the core functions of the residence: kitchen, dining area, living room, the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, and a guest WC. Designed for year-round use, this volume serves as the heart of the home. The two additional volumes function as guest suites, each with bedrooms and private bathrooms, intended to host family members and guests primarily during the summer season.

A central conceptual axis runs longitudinally through the residence -from the western entrance façade to the existing cedar trees (fida) located on the eastern edge of the plot. Along this axis, a rhythmic alternation of solid (built) and void (open) elements shapes the user’s spatial experience. The deliberate placement of the volumes creates a sheltered central courtyard with sea views, into which all indoor areas open.

 

 

Landscape Design

Outdoor built-in seating areas, pergolas, and carefully selected planting define the main social gathering space of the residence. Two additional outdoor courtyards -sheltered from wind and strong sunlight- offer more private alternatives for relaxation and socialization. One is located adjacent to the master bedroom with its own pergola, while the other forms a garden and entry courtyard on the western side of the home. Freestanding exterior walls are strategically used to articulate the transitions between built and unbuilt spaces, intentionally blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. This approach enhances the integration of the architectural volumes into the natural landscape.

 

Spatial psychology

Architecture represents the most complete of all art forms. It is the precise craft of drawing meaningful lines that, once translated into walls and openings, express the intentions, passions, and aspirations of the designer. More than the act of constructing buildings, architecture creates spaces that resonate with life, culture, and the natural world. Thoughtful design should not only fulfill functional needs but also evoke emotion, provoke reflection, and enhance the well-being of its users. This philosophy is embodied in the Veterinary Hospital project, where vision, passion, and enthusiasm have materialized into a physical place.

 

Design Philosophy

The hospital’s soft, flowing exterior stands in deliberate contrast to the structured logic of its internal layout, generating a sense of harmony and intrigue. What begins as simple, static geometry- rooted in anthropological principles and spatial psychology -evolves into a dynamic interplay of curves, transforming the structure into a place animated by movement and life. These fluid forms dissolve any instinctive fear of enclosure, cultivating a sense of openness and freedom.

Rather than dominating its surroundings, the architecture rises organically from the landscape in sculptural, wave-like gestures. These curved forms blur the boundary between building and environment, appearing as living sculptures rather than a traditional medical facility. The result is not simply a building, but an alternate world -one that is joyful, mysterious, and designed with the well-being of animals at its heart.

 

 

Materials & Landscape Design

A deliberate tension between soft, organic forms and the raw strength of brutalist concrete imbues the design with both durability and aesthetic richness. Terraces and gardens are integral components, serving therapeutic functions rather than mere decoration. They provide access to light, air, and nature -key elements in the healing process for animal patients.

Internally, the spatial configuration is carefully tailored to the psychological needs of its occupants. As in human healthcare, spatial psychology is fundamental. The design ensures that various species, particularly those with natural antagonism, are accommodated with comfort, separation, and an emphasis on coexistence. Spaces for cats and dogs are organized using principles that prioritize ease, security, and emotional well-being.

 

 

Cultural Integration

This project contributes to a broader architectural renaissance in Albania -a movement toward institutions that are both intelligent and beautiful. As the country engages more deeply with the world, it faces a critical choice between rigid, ideology-driven design and a more humanistic, nature-aligned approach. Contemporary architecture too often seeks to impose itself upon the landscape, neglecting the essential truth that nature is not an external force- it is intrinsic to life itself.

The Veterinary Hospital is a seed planted for a better architectural future, one that honors Albania’s rich climate, culture, and historical context. It marks a shift from static, commemorative spaces toward living, immersive environments that invite growth, interaction, and vitality. This is not merely a facility -it is a testament to visionary thinking, artisanal skill, and a collective desire to create architecture that serves, heals, and inspires.

 

Solid façade

Escobar House is located in Haras Santa María de Escobar, a gated community in the North corridor, approximately 54 km from the center of Buenos Aires. The neighborhood’s expansive lots are arranged around a golf course. The site for Escobar House is defined by its flat topography and a privileged rear view towards the golf course and a vast green area oriented to the North.

 

Functional Layout

Designed for a young couple, the residence was conceived as a weekend house that would eventually become their permanent home. The social area, envisioned as the heart of the house, was designed with a higher ceiling and elevated above the natural terrain to capture sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. The brief included an en suite master bedroom, two additional bedrooms for future children, and a playroom located as far as possible from the social area. The living and dining spaces open onto a semi-covered terrace adjacent to the swimming pool, allowing the house to connect seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

 

 

Design Philosophy

Constructed from exposed concrete and glass for low maintenance, the design emphasizes an integrated composition with a clear organizational and morphological unity. The main platform serves as the starting point, with the entrance and social area set slightly above the terrain, and the other rooms arranged at varying half levels. This design allows for an organic connection between spaces while maintaining their independence. A circulation and service corridor along the front of the house ensures privacy from the street for the more noble spaces, which face towards the lot’s rear. This nearly solid façade opens selectively through elongated slits, while the back of the house maintains a fluid, transparent connection with the exterior.

The supporting structure consists of two parallel inverted beams that run the length of the house. These beams are set back from the enclosing shell, both in the front and the back, highlighting the horizontality of the volume. They help organize the service corridor at the front, the social spaces, and the semi-covered deck at the rear. Views are framed as horizontal rectangles, directing the gaze towards the surrounding greenery and the golf course. To further enhance privacy and integrate the house with its environment, lines of trees were planted along the site’s boundaries.

 

 

Swimming Pool Design

The swimming pool was positioned per the client’s request, seamlessly incorporated into the house’s terrace. Its design as a rectangular plate with three cantilevered sides conceals its depth, creating the illusion of a floating mirror that reflects the sky when viewed from both inside and outside the house.

Through this design, the architects created a compact, sober volume where varying ceiling heights, lighting effects, and spatial arrangements result in diverse and inviting environments. The goal was to design a cozy home using simple lines and unembellished spaces, fostering a close and harmonious dialogue with its natural surroundings.

 

Inspired by the geophysical forces that shape the island’s character, this residence in Tinos reinterprets the encounter between stone and air -an encounter that leaves its mark on the land’s morphology.

 

Design Philosophy

Where air and stone collide, one element always prevails: either forming linear projections or shaping cavities enclosed by stone. This dynamic, minimalist residence expresses these spatial qualities, negotiating the parallel relationship between openness and introversion -between visibility and shelter- and exploring how space is experienced. The design creates vantage points and protective cavities that emerge both from within and above the terrain. The client envisioned a personal retreat: a place of seclusion with nothing more than a long, narrow pool for exercise and a sheltered sleeping area.

Translating both the reading of the landscape and the client’s desire into architecture, the design consists of two elongated volumes beneath a planted roof -one enclosed for the bedroom, and one open for the pool. A third enclosed volume, set perpendicular to the first two, serves occasionally as a guest house. To evoke the feeling of carved stone, the residence is built entirely of exposed concrete, with the imprints of the wooden formwork left visible. The surfaces are thus adorned with patterns reminiscent of those found on tree trunks -markings created by nature itself. The structure is embedded in the land, revealing itself as a fissure in the terrain. The roof is planted exclusively with native shrubs found on the site’s perimeter, preserving unobstructed views for neighboring homes.

 

 

Pool Design

The large rocks unearthed during excavation were carefully selected and repositioned around the building, filling voids and creating a horizontal transition zone between the artificial and natural landscape. The pool -the focal point of the composition- is oriented so that its axis aligns precisely between two headlands that descend symmetrically toward the sea. The directional lines established by the pool’s orientation also guide the alignment of the two sleeping areas. Their openings are positioned to frame views of the horizon. In keeping with the client’s desire for complete seclusion, each sleeping unit features its own enclosed courtyard and a private, doorless bathroom.

 

 

Functional Layout

The sheltered space between the main volumes accommodates only a kitchen, a living area, and an auxiliary bathroom. The sense of a cave-like retreat is heightened by sliding corner glass panels that fully retract, merging interior and exterior without the interruption of columns. From the rear -backed by the excavated rock- natural light and air flow into the space, enhanced by three strategically placed skylights. The result is a sequence of autonomous spaces: some fully open and exposed, others turned inward and completely protected. The linear water element running between them introduces a sense of fluidity. Ultimately, the residence embodies the qualities of the natural forces that shape the landscape, offering a contemporary interpretation of the ongoing dialogue between the elements of nature.

 

Visual comfort

Located in Heraklion, Crete, this pharmacy embodies a contemporary, clean, and human-centered approach to healthcare design.

 

Design Philosophy

The design is rooted in the concept of wellness. Drawing minimalist yet clear references from nature, the spatial forms and functional elements evoke the natural world as the original source of mental and physical health. The project reimagines the pharmacy not merely as a place of service, but as an experience -an architectural composition that embodies care, well-being, and comfort.

A harmonious blend of materials, along with deliberate contrasts between light-toned, textured, and smooth metallic surfaces, helps structure the interior into distinct zones. These elements emphasize natural light, enrich the tactile experience, and enhance visual comfort.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The pharmacy unfolds over two levels: the ground floor houses the primary display and customer service areas, while the upper level accommodates more private functions. Two centrally placed vertical display elements, paired with low-height seating, serve both as focal points and as tools for guiding movement. The spatial flow is intentionally open and fluid, encouraging visitors to navigate and explore independently.

 

 

Custom Elements

At the rear of the space, the service area adopts a warmer, more intimate atmosphere through the use of wood -a material that reinforces the sense of care and familiarity. In the display zone, tall white walls welcome natural light through large openings, enhancing the clarity and transparency of the interior. Above, a metal grid structure on the second level acts as a light filter, creating a rhythmic interplay of light and shadow that enriches the overall sensory experience.

 

Organic geometries

The 5-star hotel in Mykonos was conceived around the central idea of the endless motion of the sea’s waves and the creatures that inhabit its depths. Through a series of architectural gestures -including the abstract composition of solid forms, the emulation of natural elements, and the reinterpretation of traditional Mykonian architectural language- the project took its final shape.

 

Design Philosophy

The overall composition evokes the curves of the sea, with the entire building embodying fluidity at its core -as if a giant sea creature had emerged from the earth, shaping the volumes with its body and tail. The building’s organic form subtly references the typologies, shapes, and silhouettes of Cycladic architecture. Elements of the Mykonian landscape -dry stone walls, the sea, rocks, and arid vegetation- have been integrated as architectural details, offering a variety of textures and spatial experiences.

Drought-tolerant plants and palm trees are scattered throughout the property, engaging in dialogue with the building’s forms, while pools in direct contact with the guest rooms create additional water zones that weave through the courtyards and planting. The sculpted geometry of the semi-outdoor spaces encourages a constant interplay of light and shadow, framing views of the surrounding natural landscape.

 

 

Spatial Organization

Inside, the spaces offer a variety of qualities and materials. The sculpted masses evoke pieces of white rock, hollowed out to create functional spaces that meet the daily needs of the temporary guest. Curved forms and white niches serve as shelves or are lined with illuminated membranes, creating unique atmospheres. In the common areas, mirrored surfaces reflect and distort, adding an element of optical illusion.

 

 

Lighting Design

The thoughtful treatment of both natural and artificial light is central to the design. Natural light filters through glass openings, reflected off white surfaces, water, and polished materials, reaching even the underground levels. By night, the illuminated elements come to life, transforming the spaces through shifting tones and hues.

 

White house

The residence is located on a beautiful Brazilian beach, along the northern coast of São Paulo. Its design prioritizes environmental comfort and long-term durability -two critical considerations when building in tropical, coastal environments where high temperatures and salty sea air create challenging conditions. These factors shaped both the layout of the floor plan and the choice of materials.

 

Functional Layout

On the ground floor, the social area occupies the northern section of the house, combining the living and dining spaces. This area seamlessly connects to a semi-outdoor space featuring additional seating and dining areas, a patio with a Jacuzzi and sunbeds, and a swimming pool on the eastern side. The kitchen and service areas are located on the southern side, adjacent to one of the two side gardens. The upper floor accommodates five bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom and closet. The master suite includes a spacious bathroom, ample storage, and an adjacent family sitting area.

 

Custom Structures

The rooftop terrace is designed as a garden deck, accessible via a minimalist staircase and protected by a hatch door. All interior spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows -or sliding glass walls- that create a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces, providing a comfortable thermal experience. In the ground floor living room, large 3m x 2.5m glass doors slide into the walls, merging the interior with the balcony and facilitating cross ventilation to reduce room temperatures naturally.

 

 

Material Palette

Wooden perforated doors inspired by traditional “muxarabi” screens shade the interiors while allowing natural ventilation. Similarly, perforated and folding mesh metal brises envelop the upper volume, providing shade and privacy. The combination of wood, concrete, and white aluminum -chosen for its resistance to the corrosive sea air- imbues the house with a tropical minimalism influenced by Brazilian modernist architecture.

 

Simple lines

The property is situated in the Faragas area on the southern side of Paros. Its southern orientation provides a captivating view of the sea, while the entrance is conveniently located on the northern side. What sets this property apart is its remarkable position on a promontory, offering breathtaking panoramic views in every direction.

 

Design Philosophy

Taking advantage of its distinctive features and topography, a meticulously designed building was crafted to optimize unobstructed vistas of the sea and the peninsula. Inspired by the principles of late modernism, the architecture has been skillfully adapted to this coastal site, resulting in a generously covered area supported by walls that serve as panels, effectively defining scenic views and living spaces.

Water features, well-planned courtyards, and thoughtfully arranged landscaping seamlessly integrate the sea, the beach, and the surrounding terrain with the recreational areas, creating a smooth connection between the residence and the waterfront. The pergolas, aligned with the expansive slabs, are thoughtfully adorned with reed, extending the living spaces while ensuring visual coherence. The strategic use of walls, pergolas, water elements, gravel roofs, distinctive stonework courtyards, and expansive semi-open areas contributes to an architectural concept that emphasizes the succession and continuity of materials.

The arrangement of parallel walls intensifies the focus on both nearby and distant landscapes, skillfully directing attention towards specific elements of the natural surroundings. The movement, expertly guided by the architectural elements, transforms into a captivating exploration of spatial dynamics, unveiling new perspectives and illuminating previously unnoticed material details.

 

 

Material Palette

The interior spaces have been thoughtfully shaped, drawing inspiration from local architectural styles, the region’s spirit, history, and natural environment, as well as the unique preferences and requirements of the residents. With a deliberate emphasis on using exclusively natural materials and colors, the residence exudes a distinctively layered palette. The application of local stone, skillfully hammered and arranged in intricate and characteristic patterns, adorns all interior and exterior floors, elegantly softening the dazzling white of the walls. The light-colored wooden furniture effortlessly brings the essence of nature inside the residence, while carefully chosen fabrics and specially designed rugs play a significant role, offering diverse textures and colors. Most of the furniture is custom-made, complemented by a few select pieces of minimalist Scandinavian design. Vibrant Mediterranean hues of terracotta tiles grace the bathrooms, and the lighting scheme, designed with utmost subtlety, accentuates the enchantment of moonlit nights and starry skies.

 

 

Context Integration

Nestled within this idyllic landscape, the architecture creates a haven for relaxation and indulgence. The design concept pays homage to the essence of Greek summer, where spaces are not rigidly defined but seamlessly flow towards the surrounding environment and the sea. The residence represents an interpretation, borrowing elements from the principles of modernism, intricately intertwined with the Cycladic architectural tradition, with the ultimate goal of harmoniously merging and blurring the boundaries between the natural and inhabited spaces.

 

Private oases

This project involves the redesign of a six‑room tourist accommodation located in the heart of the traditional settlement of Naoussa, Paros. The primary goal of the architectural concept was to highlight the clean geometry of the building’s envelope, breathing new life into it and creating a refined, distinctive character while honoring the heritage of Cycladic architecture.

 

Design Philosophy

At the heart of the design is the integration of perforated, linear canopies that filter natural light and elegantly frame the sea views, providing both shade and protection. These elements not only introduce a strong visual and functional identity to the building but also create a seamless connection between its interior spaces and the surrounding exterior.

 

 

Functional Layout

Each room, featuring an en‑suite bathroom, is organized into two distinct zones: an entry/living area and the main sleeping space. This layout promotes a sense of flow and openness, allowing for a natural and inviting transition between functions. Rather than relying on solid walls, spaces are defined by a carefully selected color palette and material treatments, creating a sense of clarity, fluidity, and sculptural precision throughout.

 

 

Material Palette

The choice of color, deeply connected to a natural material palette, plays a pivotal role in defining and interpreting spatial boundaries. The soft blue of the sky and the warm terracotta of the earth envelop the interiors, introducing a serene and harmonious atmosphere. Surfaces are finished with natural textures and earth‑toned colors, while crisp, luminous whites -a signature element of Cycladic design- dominate the larger surfaces, reinforcing a sense of brightness, purity, and tranquility.

Meanwhile, the terraces have been reimagined as intimate private “oases” that extend the living spaces to the outdoors. Outfitted with built‑in seating and water elements, these spaces invite moments of relaxation and privacy, merging the interiors with the exterior environment and offering guests a multi‑layered, immersive experience.

 

Landscape extension

Built in a privileged location with panoramic Aegean views, the house in Vourni is a private refuge of relaxation, only a few miles away from Tinos town. Aiming at its harmonious integration in the environment, the composition balances between local materials and contemporary aesthetics, keeping with simple lines and a functional arrangement.

 

Design Philosophy

The building is designed in one level only, mostly dug underground into the slope, and the roof appears as a natural extension of the hill. The east part of the structure springs out of the rock, perpendicular to the underground wing, providing the courtyard with its desired privacy and protection from the wind, without compromising the impressive sea view. Concurrently, large, south-facing openings allow uninterrupted vistas from the interior.

 

 

Functional Organization

The program includes a dining area, lounge, and kitchen, as well as three spacious bedrooms. The entrance hall is the core of the composition, with two building wings extending from that point. Folding glazing in the front creates a seamless transition between the indoor space and the sheltered courtyard outside. There, the water element of the swimming pool is designed at a linear extension of the entrance access, and end at an infinity edge at the south of the terrace.

The east wing includes two bedrooms, with an atrium opening towards the view at their interval. The master bedroom occupies a prominent position at the southern edge of the house, with immediate access to the swimming pool. The west wing contains the large, integrated lounge and dining area, with the kitchen in the background. The third bedroom, with ensuite bathroom and independent access, may function as a separate guesthouse.

 

 

Landscape Design

The terrace is equipped with an outdoor lounge at the extension of the indoor shared areas, with a dining bench at its western part. The composition and the volumetric arrangement are organized in a way which facilitates the building’s integration into the landscape with the least possible disturbance. The same reasoning guides the selection of materials: unfaced stone is combined with wood and selected concrete elements, resulting in an earthy simplicity throughout.

 

Minimal structure

This single-family residence is situated in Panorama, Thessaloniki, on a plot offering amphitheatrical views of the Thermaic Gulf and the cityscape. The homeowners envisioned a ground-level dwelling with a swimming pool, designed to fully capitalize on the panoramic views of the sea and the adjacent forest. This vision became the guiding principle for the design of the main residence.

 

Design Philosophy

The architectural design leverages the site’s natural topography and orientation. The panoramic views, proximity to a forested area, the linear shape of the plot, and the location near a busy urban thoroughfare inspired a design that opens outward, embracing the surrounding landscape. This resulted in a strong zoning strategy, culminating in the outdoor living space -the terrace with a swimming pool- where the family’s private life unfolds, sheltered from nearby buildings.

The façade features minimal openings, except on the southwest side, which incorporates expansive glass panels. These create a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces, allowing for unobstructed views. The residence’s clean, modern structure is framed by a perimeter canopy made of exposed concrete, providing both aesthetic continuity and functional shelter.

The living and sleeping areas are organized as distinct, perpendicular volumes -spatially and functionally separate- linked by a transparent corridor that acts as their connecting element. The design is characterized by simple lines and pure geometric forms. Overall, the architectural solution and material palette work together to produce a balanced and cohesive outcome.

 

 

Functional Layout

The shared living spaces are visually and functionally connected to the outdoor environment and the pool. A surrounding canopy provides shaded areas that adapt to weather conditions and sunlight throughout the day. The bedroom wing extends perpendicular to the main volume, while a separate guesthouse, together with the living and sleeping zones, frames the central outdoor space, enhancing the connection between interior and exterior life. The main entrance is tucked into a recessed area of the building, accessed through a landscaped garden with a pergola, which will be planted with flowering and aromatic plants to create an inviting arrival experience.

 

 

Landscape Integration

The landscape design remains as natural as possible, emphasizing soil and native vegetation. Vehicles enter the property from the northeast corner, following a ramp along the edge of the site to an open parking area that provides direct access to the house. The stunning views, forested surroundings, and desire for seamless integration with the natural landscape were the key elements that shaped both the design and form of the residence, which ultimately serves as a private sanctuary, shielded from external disturbances.

 

Floating volume

Situated close to the shoreline of the densely populated suburb of Artemida in Eastern Attica, this small house engages critically with its surroundings while conceptually addressing its broader context.

 

Design Philosophy

The project seeks to redefine the ephemeral and adaptable character of coastal habitation. It aims to provide comfortable, high-quality indoor and outdoor living spaces using economical means, to frame selected views toward the sea, and to ensure the residents’ privacy from neighboring properties. Elevated on a distinctly articulated concrete base, the two-story structure is composed of two intersecting volumes arranged at a right angle. The white, seemingly floating volume with its gabled roof creates generous covered spaces beneath its overhangs, forming a fluid, ground-level living area that merges interior and exterior environments within the garden boundaries. This suspended volume accommodates two strikingly tall bedrooms and a bathroom, organized around a bright stairwell–study space. Adjacent to the party wall, a rooftop terrace extends the interior into an outdoor room connected to the study. Each bedroom opens onto a private loggia, with the bathroom located between them.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The contrasting forms of the two volumes are echoed in their interior finishes. On the ground level -conceived as a shaped terrain- earthy, robust materials dominate. Cement terrazzo flooring extends seamlessly into both levels of the garden, while exposed concrete surfaces are complemented by dark-painted metal elements and joinery in deep black tones. In contrast, the upper volume is defined by a palette of white surfaces and wooden flooring, which continues uninterrupted through the enclosed and open-air rooms. Folding timber shutters, in the same tone as the flooring, break the uniformity of the white prism and provide shading above the openings.

 

 

Construction Strategy

Structurally, the house employs a composite system that minimizes its footprint on the compact site. The basement and ground floor are constructed from reinforced concrete. The ground floor is pared down to its essential structural elements -two concrete walls and four slender steel columns- maximizing spatial flexibility and enhancing visual continuity with the garden. The upper floor slab combines cantilevered steel beams with a 10 cm concrete deck. The floating volume and its pitched roof are built using a lightweight steel frame of columns and beams.

 

Simple lines

The holiday residence, located on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, occupies a plot just a few meters from the shoreline, positioned almost at sea level. The design is based on an existing structural shell initially intended as a traditional home, which was entirely reimagined to offer a contemporary and comfortable seaside retreat.

 

Landscape Integration

The architectural composition harmonizes with its natural surroundings through the thoughtful use of materials, colors, and textures. Positioned near the beach, the residence allows for easy access either around the building or through the outdoor pool area. The pool is aligned parallel to the sea, creating a seamless visual continuity between the water elements from both indoor and outdoor spaces. This aquatic feature is framed by low Mediterranean vegetation and outdoor communal lounging areas. A key design approach was the creation of outdoor and semi-outdoor “pockets,” offering most interior spaces a private courtyard. These areas not only enhance privacy but also enrich the volumetric expression of the building.

 

 

Spatial Organization

Inside, the ground floor hosts guest rooms, a kitchen, dining area, and a sunken living room, positioned at a slightly lower level to ensure direct spatial and visual connection with the pool and the sea. The lower level houses auxiliary spaces, while the upper floor is dedicated exclusively to the master bedroom and its supporting areas -dressing room and bathroom- with access to a private, shaded terrace featuring a jacuzzi. This terrace is bordered by a planted roof, reinforcing the connection to the natural landscape.

 

 

Material Palette

Both interior and exterior materials were carefully selected to support the architectural vision. On the exterior, natural stone, warm earthy tones, stone paving for walkways and terraces, solid wooden pergolas, textiles, and detailed outdoor furnishings are combined with the clean, linear volumes and large sea-facing openings framed in dark modern metal. This thoughtful juxtaposition achieves a balance between the building’s geometric rigor and the organic character of the natural materials.

The interior follows a similarly modern design language, characterized by minimal lines and a cohesive material palette. Natural textures in earthy hues -such as cement finishes and wooden surfaces in both light and dark tones- are complemented by contemporary details. The result is a unified composition that conveys a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, perfectly suited for leisurely coastal living.

 

Coherent integration

This project was born from a heartfelt desire: a young family with two children seeking a countryside retreat that could offer warmth, togetherness, and functionality. The starting point was an existing house, whose structure proved insufficient to accommodate an ambitious program that included five suites, a game room, gym, sauna, wine cellar, and gourmet area, among other spaces. The challenge lay in enhancing the original architecture while expanding it in a sensitive, coherent, and contemporary way.

 

Design Philosophy

The intervention was significant, involving both structural changes and a renewed connection with nature. Part of the original roof was preserved to honor the home’s architectural language, while new spaces were introduced through volumes constructed of glued laminated timber -a key feature of the new design. This material brought both structural lightness and aesthetic fluidity, reinforcing the visual and functional integration between areas such as the master suite, gym, and sauna, all linked by a pergola.

 

 

Functional Organization

The interior layout was completely reimagined to incorporate five suites. The once narrow hallway leading to the private quarters was enhanced with shed-style skylights, bringing in natural light and transforming a transitional space into one of quality and comfort. The former kitchen was redesigned around a central island and opened up to the living area, creating a hybrid space suitable for both intimate family meals and professional-level cooking. This flexibility extends to the adaptable partitions, which allow for both open-plan living and private moments.

A previously disproportionate mezzanine above the old living room was removed to make way for a new glued laminated timber volume housing a playful, versatile children’s suite. The fireplace, now a focal point, anchors a fluid living space organized around a custom-designed piece that combines concrete and fine joinery. This multifunctional element seamlessly accommodates dining, lounging, games, and wine storage, adapting to the needs of each setting.

 

 

Landscape Design & Materials

One of the project’s key features is the expanded terrace. A new structure with black-painted metal beams contrasts with wood and aluminum elements to create a sense of visual lightness and openness. The pool area flows into the interior through a continuous rustic granite floor, reinforcing the home’s seamless indoor-outdoor integration. The landscape design complements the architecture by connecting natural elements with built forms. It creates moments of visual respite, strengthens the bond between indoor and outdoor spaces, and reinforces the continuity of the architectural vision.

Material choices reflect a dialogue between rustic charm and contemporary design. Green hydraulic tiles in the bathrooms and black hexagonal flooring in the kitchen add character, while reclaimed wood brings warmth to bedrooms and corridors. Repurposed wood was also used for bathroom countertops, emphasizing the project’s sustainable ethos. A notable technical solution was the introduction of shed-style openings above narrow corridors, ensuring natural light and spatial quality in these often-overlooked areas. Throughout the home, bespoke carpentry -designed by the architectural studio and executed by a local craftsman- serves as a unifying thread, carefully tailoring each space.

 

Nested amongst olive trees

On a seaside flat piece of land with olive trees, vines and conifers, this family holiday home was designed for three generations and consists of four buildings.

 

Context Integration

Guided by the geometry of the olive grove, the buildings were placed parallel to the planting lines of the olive trees, as well as at a 45-degree rotation, along the diagonals. During construction, where necessary, some olive trees were transplanted around the perimeter of the excavation, always in the same alignment as the existing olive grove, while others were stored in a nursery, to be transplanted nearby, immediately after the completion of the buildings. The result is a house nested among the olive trees.

 

 

Design Philosophy

Three out of four buildings are white, single-story, with volumes and openings consistent with the traditional Cycladic proportions and sizes. In each of the two main buildings, a large 7m wide opening with sliding recessed glazing, unites the interior living space with the shaded outdoor area of the pergola, completely freeing the views to the sea and maximizing the experience of living close to nature. At the back of each of these two buildings, the volumes create U-shaped courtyards, where a lemon tree and a pepper tree grow, protected from the sea air. A third, smaller white volume, the independent guesthouse, is tucked away at the northern end of the compound, behind the shade of a pine tree shaped by the north wind – the “meltemi”. Finally, the fourth building, a stone, encaved, L-shaped structure with green roofs, encloses a secret garden with citrus trees, cypresses, and herbs. This volume is positioned to functionally serve the other two, distributing movement from the parking area and from the sunken citrus courtyard.

 

 

Landscape Design

The olive grove that was preserved and expanded, and the Mediterranean garden that was created in front and around the house, are perhaps the most important elements of the composition. The three, single-story white buildings border the olive grove and embrace the low vegetation Mediterranean garden. The encaved stone building functions on the one hand as a landscape, with its green roof, and as an artificial ravine where trees grow tall, protected from the wind and the sea salt.

 

 

Material Palette

Aiming to establish a tight bond between the Mediterranean garden and the stark white living volumes, the outdoor terraces and pergolas are key in balancing the natural landscape and the minimalistic architecture. The range of materials has been expanded to include a variety of textures, sizes, geometries, and colors. From antique cobblestones, cast pebble floors with marble borders in earthy tones, Byzantine layers of sandblasted marble and wooden deck, to cement screed steppingstones, the warmth created by the alternation of textures is associated with the variety of the material palette. Handmade details, such as marble and ceramic knobs and lamps, marble window screens, pebble embroidery on the floors and clostrat, provide reference points and complete the composition, creating a stronger sense of place for the owners, and elements of discovery for the visitors.

 

Organic geometry

The conceptual genesis of this residence lies in the symbiotic integration of architecture, landscape, and distant topography. The design process was initiated through a rigorous visual analysis -satellite imagery served to define critical sightlines to prominent landmarks including Leopoldskron Castle, the Leopoldskroner Pond, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the Untersberg massif. These visual axes informed not only orientation but the entire spatial strategy of the project.

 

Spatial Organization

The resulting plan unfolds as a fluid, organic geometry, articulated in three dimensions to choreograph both movement and view. The architecture is conceived not as a static object, but as a spatial instrument, curating a sequence of perspectives. Freely contoured, thickened window soffits function as calibrated visual filters -framing the sublime, obscuring the mundane, and thereby shaping a heightened awareness of context.

The composition comprises two elongated volumes, subtly shifted to generate a central void. This interstitial space is more than a void; it operates as a transitional threshold. At the entry point, the juxtaposition of the auxiliary and primary structures compresses space, guiding the visitor through a controlled contraction and expansion of spatial experience. The lower volume opens generously to the garden, revealing a sculptural water element and an exterior helical stair -both anchoring the outdoor environment and enriching spatial continuity.

At ground level, architecture and nature interlace. Carefully articulated geometries and a nuanced landscape strategy establish a domestic atmosphere of introspective openness, where interiors maintain visual and material continuity with the garden and distant horizon. Sightlines extend unimpeded from interior spaces toward the Leopoldskroner Pond and the alpine backdrop, weaving a layered experience of intimacy and vastness.

 

 

Landscape Design

The outdoor realm acts as both extension and intermediary -mediating between built form and natural terrain. A reflective water basin, aligned with the adjacent natural pond and subtly elevated, creates a visual dialogue of horizontal planes. The architectural promenade is enriched by the external spiral staircase, intensifying the spatial interweaving of vertical and horizontal flows.

The upper level sustains the project’s central ambition: a continuous interior-exterior reciprocity. Expansive terraces flank the living spaces, one oriented toward the panoramic tableau of castle, fortress, and pond; the other offering a more enclosed, contemplative experience. The circulation path defines a looping spatial sequence, binding interior rooms with their exterior counterparts through carefully placed voids and axial connections.

 

 

Material Palette

From a material and constructive standpoint, the residence employs a timber frame structure -precisely fabricated via CNC milling. The timber elements are clad in natural wood panels, while the building envelope incorporates high-performance insulation seamlessly integrated within the timber assembly. The façade is sealed with a polyurea coating -a durable, monolithic finish typically used in zoological applications, selected here for its tactile robustness and subtle, organic texture, resonating with the site’s rural and natural character.

This project embodies a quiet radicalism -where form is landscape, and architecture becomes a calibrated lens onto nature. It is a dwelling not merely in place, but of place, attuned to view, terrain, and the rhythms of light.

 

Past legacies

Forefathers is a contemporary food-and-beverage venture that celebrates ancestral ways of life through modern design. Conceived by a group of young entrepreneurs, the brand reinterprets traditional regional cuisine and architecture, pairing vernacular materials with current construction techniques to achieve a refined, sophisticated ambience.

 

Context Integration

Located on Road No. 45 in Jubilee Hills -Hyderabad’s premier destination for high-end restaurants and clubs -the project occupies a concrete–steel composite shell comprising a ground floor, two upper storeys, and a mezzanine inserted within a triple-height volume. Commercial buildings flank the plot on either side, while a community park with dense vegetation borders the rear.

Visitors enter between tall, angled walls that frame a 25-foot-high pitched-roof canopy. This volume tapers to a 12-foot flat-roofed reception zone before opening into a dramatic 40-foot-tall interior hall. The progression concludes beneath a 28-foot pitched roof in a semi-open backyard. The orchestrated sequence creates a seamless flow and clarifies the building’s composition.

 

 

Roof & Landscape Design

The structure comprises three generous gabled canopies clad in terracotta tiles. The front and rear canopies remain semi-open, their roofs supported by branching steel columns that evoke trees. Square glass inserts punctuate the terracotta, animating arrival zones with shifting patterns of light and shadow. The central canopy -soaring to 40 feet- melds steel and concrete to hold a multi-level dining hall, performance area, and glimpses into the first-floor kitchen. A mezzanine with a bar project through glass walls toward the backyard, visually stitching indoor and outdoor realms.

The project’s landscape strategy elevates freestanding seating pods at varied heights in the rear yard, fostering privacy without walls. Water features and planted pockets weave between these platforms, while a live kitchen and composite glass-and-tile roofs generate dappled daylight that evolves throughout the day.

 

 

Material Palette & Lighting

Handmade bricks, terracotta tiles, and fly-ash blocks anchor the project in local craft and low-embodied-energy materials, whereas contemporary concrete and steel framing provide precision and stability. A restrained palette -primarily terracotta- yields a timeless minimalism; nuanced brick patterns supply texture and complexity within that uniformity.

At the heart of the lighting scheme, Baaya Design Studio suspends sculptural fabric cubes that showcase Telangana’s traditional crafts -Kalamkari, Pochampally ikat, and leather puppetry. The installation bridges heritage and modernity, echoing Forefathers’ mission to resonate with today’s audiences while honoring the past.

Through this integrated approach, the bar-restaurant manifests a dialogue between old and new, crafting an atmosphere where culinary and architectural narratives alike celebrate the legacy of forebears in a contemporary context.

 

Contact with nature

Situated in the Laguna area of Naxos, one of the most significant redevelopment projects in the Cyclades is currently underway. Located on the island’s western coast, the project focuses on the Stelida hill -an area defined by its natural lagoon habitat, home to a variety of rare bird species, including flamingos. Historically and ecologically rich, the region was once home to the oldest known settlement in the central Aegean. Modern research has revealed traces of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, further highlighting its unique significance. The natural conditions of the area have also encouraged the growth of rare species of flora and fauna, making it a place of vital importance -one that must be both protected and celebrated.

 

Project Aim

The Laguna Coast Foundation, led by founder Antonis Pittaras, has launched a series of initiatives aimed at preserving the lagoon and its biodiversity, while also promoting the wider region of Naxos and its local products. A cornerstone of these efforts is the creation of a hospitality retreat that seeks to redefine Greek hospitality through deep respect for, and integration with, the natural environment. The design concept merges luxury with nature, guided by the principles of slow living -inviting guests to unwind, take in uninterrupted views of the ancient hill and sea, and explore the island’s rich culinary heritage.

 

 

Design Philosophy

Following an in-depth study of the site, the design sought to replicate the spatial experience of life by the lagoon within the bounds of the property. Three organically shaped, shallow water features were strategically positioned: The first, near the main entrance, introduces visitors to the tranquil atmosphere of the complex. The second, situated in front of the common-use buildings, provides a serene setting for the restaurant and reception area. The third and largest water feature lies at the heart of the complex, surrounded by several residential buildings.

All water features use desalinated seawater, aligning with the island’s environmental sustainability efforts by conserving freshwater resources. These elements offer not only visual and emotional relief but also improve the microclimate, naturally cooling the surroundings. Resting areas around the water enhance relaxation and help foster a deeper connection between guests and the landscape. The outdoor space is fully activated with thoughtful amenities, including an open-air gym, a wood-fired oven area, and a communal plaza designed for events and informal gatherings.

 

 

Materials & Landscape Design

Hardscaped areas define the primary outdoor spaces -such as the entrance, restaurant terrace, private patios, gym area, event plaza, and the wood oven zone. Materials are chosen for their earthy tones and natural character, including local stone and timber. These elements follow the natural topography to blur the lines between man-made structures and the landscape.

Meandering, organic paths -designed in color and texture to match the natural ground- guide movement from the public zones to the private residences. Wooden walkways traverse the water features, while secondary stone paths lead to more intimate corners of the property. These transitions gently shift the user’s experience from public to private, blending the pathways with native planting. All outdoor circulation was designed without stairs, ensuring universal accessibility and minimal disturbance to the terrain.

 

 

Spatial Layout

Apartment entrances are discreetly located at the rear, opposite the sea-facing side. Rear courtyards, accessed via the footpaths, are enclosed with perforated walls made from terracotta bricks in earthy hues. These offer privacy while allowing natural light to filter into the interiors. Apartments fall into two main categories: those oriented toward the sea feature private plunge pools, offering guests an immersive experience of privacy and comfort; others surround the central “lagoon,” with courtyards that appear to “float” above the water, creating a unique, tranquil atmosphere.

Interior spaces were designed to evoke a grounded sense of luxury paired with a warm, home-like ambiance. Generous layouts allow for visual connections between living, bedroom, and bath areas, offering both comfort and intimacy. All interior fittings and furniture are custom-made to maximize functionality and convey uniqueness. Materials and finishes were chosen with great care, favoring earthy, muted tones -oak wood, local marble crafted by skilled island artisans- presented with a refined, contemporary touch.

 

Isometric curves

This project presents a contemporary approach to landscape integration, grounded in the principles of adaptive reuse and a deep respect for the natural and cultural environment of southern Crete.

 

Context Integration

The site’s location played a pivotal role in shaping the design. With the Libyan Sea stretching out before it and the White Mountains rising behind, the landscape exerts a powerful influence on the visitor. From the mountains, a branching network of gorges and dry riverbeds descends toward the secluded beaches of the south, while human intervention has subtly enriched the native arid vegetation with cultivated olive trees. The project site embodies all three defining elements of the region: unobstructed sea views, dramatic rocky outcrops, and a section of the expansive olive grove.

 

 

Design Philosophy

Inspired by the distinctive topography and the warm yet rugged climate of southern Crete, the design seeks harmony with its surroundings. Four suites, each 45m² with a private outdoor area, are seamlessly embedded into the landscape, offering both privacy and open visual connections to the natural surroundings.

The layout follows the land’s natural isometric contours, forming four gentle “valleys” that gradually descend into the earth, each leading to a private courtyard. The “ridges” of the terrain shape and shelter the dwellings, engaging in a dialogue with the site’s vertical rock formations. The existing olive tree grid -a reflection of the area’s agricultural heritage- remains untouched, preserving the continuity of the landscape.

 

 

Material Palette

A soft white tone defines the façades and interventions, highlighting the “slopes” of these sculpted valleys in a modern interpretation of traditional local hues. Retaining walls and flooring are built from stone sourced directly from the site, shaping the terrain in the same spirit as the region’s historic dry-stone terraces and footpaths. Cast terrazzo concrete floors further reinforce the sense of continuity with the land. This architectural intervention merges seamlessly with the southern Cretan landscape, offering a tranquil retreat nestled within a wild and elemental setting.

 

Single block

The 400m2 residence is located in the city of Franca and is seamlessly integrated with the area’s natural surrounding forming a direct relationship between the interior and exterior scenery.

 

Project Philosophy

The project’s concept is to create a layout where each room can enjoy the views of the garden and the horizon, thus highlighting the wide 50m plot that surrounds the residence. By designing the structure as a single block running in parallel with the access road and the back garden, the need for multiple walls is eliminated. In addition, the parallel layout made construction easier due to the sloping topography, avoiding major earthworks and optimising the local resources. The bedrooms are situated on the ground floor, while the upper floor is where all the social areas of the house are located, taking advantage of the 360-degree view.

 

Façade Design & Materials

The front façade is primarily made of heavy elements, offering privacy, while the back façade features wide openings that establish a connection with nature. This balance between robustness and lightness reinforces the concept of cosiness and enhances the overall countryside impression of the residence. Natural materials such as stone, wood, concrete, brises soleil and ceramic tiles are selected, offering aesthetic beauty to the space and keeping the effort and cost of maintenance low.

 

Landscape Design

The design of the garden considered highly the local context such as the climate, the topography as well as the orientation of the site. Plant species were carefully selected for the specific soil, ensuring the harmonious coexistence of the house and the landscape. Finally, the swimming pool along with an exterior lounge and pool deck are situated at the level of the living room, offering a high level of privacy to the various occupants.

Winner of the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2024 in Seafronts Category

Located in the town of Porto do Son in Spain, this urban redevelopment project rectifies the previous poor relationship between the port and civic activities as well as enhances direct contact between town and sea.

 

Design Objectives

The project had a twofold objective, considering the diversity of the Porto do Son coastline. The first was to create a system of controlled dunes with native vegetation between the park and the beach. The idea was to bring nature to the seafront, which had previously been dominated by a strip of pavement and a wall. The second was to improve access to the beach and resolve the conflicts between the port activities and the growing commercial and residential development.

 

Landscape Design

The project creates a transitional stretch of land that would act both as a protective barrier and a link, identifying them as dunes. The morphology of a dune system was recreated by depositing fine sand to form mounds in two staggered rows. Native plant species such as marram grass were planted to stabilise the dunes over time and create a dynamic balance. Being a transitional space, the new dunes required well-thought access points and therefore, three wooden walkways were built to connect the urban spaces with the park.

 

Urban Regeneration

In the port area, the project aim is to improve the access to the water as well as propose a new Port Services Centre. The design seeks to create a cohesive space that restores the connection between the historic centre and the port, while separating the main road from the seafront. Near the market, a wooden structure serves as the town’s old drying racks for fishing nets, while two new exterior spaces -one of stone, the other of earth and trees- act as transitional spaces that lead to a car park and the new Port Services Centre, which features views towards Monte Louro.

This small stretch of coastline has become a catalyst for wider change, improving environmental quality and access to the beach as well as raising public awareness regarding urban space and coastline conditions and challenges.

Spatial cohesion

The project involves transforming a classic 1970s detached house in a suburban area of Thessaloniki to better accommodate the contemporary needs of its new inhabitants.

 

Design Philosophy

The project’s restoration is centered around key principles: the building’s connection to its surroundings, as well as its bioclimatic, aesthetic, and functional enhancement through a combination of enclosed, transitional, and open spaces. While preserving the existing structure, an effort is made to distinguish between the two-storey and single-storey volumes. Specifically, the two-storey volume maintains its solid characteristics, while the walls of the single-storey volume are demolished, thus creating a series of large openings to increase natural light in the bedrooms.

 

Landscape Design

A key project decision is the restoration of the ground floor’s elevation in relation to the garden. With this adjustment, along with the addition of sunshades and large windows, the interior and exterior spaces now function as a unified whole, offering visual and functional continuity. This creates inviting transitions from the interior of the house to the garden. Additionally, the old wooden canopies are replaced with new aluminum structures featuring pivoting and fixed sunshades, forming pleasant transitional spaces and “outdoor rooms” for seating and dining.

 

Circulation Spaces

The main entrance is now accessed via a curved, “S”-shaped path designed to maximize the open space of the front courtyard. This path highlights the garden’s most prominent feature, a cedar tree, which serves as the focal point of the garden’s design. Ultimately, the interventions to the building’s shell and its surroundings, along with the interior renovations (including the addition of an elevator, upgrades to electrical and mechanical systems, and new finishes), significantly extend the building’s lifespan.

Connected workspace

The Serena Williams Building -a workplace for 2,750 occupants at 93,000m2 – is the largest structure at Nike World Headquarters.

 

Project Challenges

Beyond its sheer scale, the project presented three principal challenges: creating a new prototype for a design-focused workspace that fosters chemistry and collaboration on an enormous scale; leveraging regenerative principles to design for both the site and the building occupants; and finally, capturing the ethos of sport, Nike’s heritage, and the spirit of Serena Williams, the ultimate warrior-muse and the building’s namesake.

 

 

Interior Layout

The office space consists of four parts: an underground parking garage and loading dock; a merchandising center for prototype retail spaces, integrated design studios for multiple product categories and a 12-story tower with shared amenities for the campus. Integral to the design is the concept of flow i.e., a fluid design strategy that is both efficient and enlightened. By creating gathering spaces in a variety of scales, the building fosters connectivity, organized around the principle that all brand designers occupy a single level, while the services stack vertically between levels. This particular layout allows products to move from sketch to prototype to final design to retail fixture all under one roof.

 

Landscape Design & Materials

In its former life, the building site contained a parking lot and an access road to an adjacent building, all next to a beautiful wetland that is currently disjointed from the main campus. In order to connect the natural landscape more efficiently, the existing access road is buried lower into the ground, minimizing the visual presence of cars and trucks, while each of the building’s wings feature green roof terraces that overlook the wetland. Finally, stormwater is also collected and returned to the wetland, while energy efficient mechanical systems include displacement ventilation and radiant sails. Courtyards, gardens, plazas and a sunken tennis court break down the scale of the building and provide informal outdoor spaces for work, recreation and relaxation. Natural light floods the workspaces through large openings and skylights. The interior is clad primarily in raw concrete, while the building’s structure remains partially exposed.

 

Ground reflections

The aim of the project is to craft a design concept that emerges from an extensive understanding of the site as well as creating a series of spaces that provide privacy and sensory experiences throughout the residence.

 

Functional Organisation

Programmatically, the spaces are arranged in regard to how “open” and “public” their functions are. A main circulation axis is established, creating multiple solids and voids that offer views to the north garden. As a result, the residence is read as an interplay of dense volumes from the street that conceal any point of entry to its interior.

When crossing the main entrance, a central axis gradually leads to the house interior, eventually arriving in a large, open space that guides the visitor to the garden and provides views to the golf course beyond the immediate building. Moreover, a wooden staircase offers access to the first floor, where the bedrooms are located.

 

 

Landscape Design

A series of stone tiles loosely define a route amidst the sloping lawn in the garden, which is filled with different tree species as well as a shower, a hot tub and built-in planters. More specifically, the landscape is carefully crafted to allow for the greenery to “take over” the house. Additionally, water becomes a primary element in the design, since the structure is surrounded by a swimming pool as well as an array of smaller pools that playfully reflect natural light during the day.

 

Material Palette

The material palette is subtle and simple: all the wall finishes are made of chukum, a natural plaster from Mexico that adds character, crispness and texture to the architectural volumes. Furthermore, a set of carefully placed wooden screens contrast the solid exterior, while marble and wood are used throughout the interior surfaces.

 

Poetic Garden

The project is a private residence that also functions as a showroom for custom artwork, including sculptures and paintings. It features an indoor space of 150m² and a garden spanning 180m². The design challenge was to integrate the selected objects within the calm and dark atmosphere of the overall living space.

 

Spatial Organization

The residence’s layout follows the spatial flow of the “oriental garden”, designed as a complex circulation route that maximizes the limited available square meters and gradually unfolds the different spaces. The floor is comprised of a living and dining room, a kitchen, a tearoom, a bar counter and a bathroom, while the outdoor garden features a secluded lounge area. A long corridor, defined by a metallic grid wall, becomes the threshold between the interior residence and the garden as well as the formal entrance to the residence.

 

Materials & Custom Structures

Partitions made of translucent frosted glass are used as dividers that blur the boundaries of the space and create a fluid transition from the exterior to the interior. The walls are painted in dark tones to serve as a backdrop to the sculptures and paintings placed within the residence, creating a contrast between the vibrant objects and the neutral interior ambiance. Similarly, the selected mid-century modern style furniture and custom structures feature neutral materials such as glass, black metal details and dark wooden countertops, blending seamlessly with the rest of the space. Natural lighting is carefully curated through a series of metallic blinds, while artificial lighting is used to specifically illuminate the wide array of objects.

 

Landscape Design

Sand and grey stone tiles form a “dry landscape” that accommodates a selection of pine trees and moss within large soil basins. In parallel, the light and airy atmosphere and open-plan layout of the garden contrasts the dark interior and serves as a secondary showroom, where large rocks -placed in strategic points- act as sculptures within the setting.

Orthogonal grid

The project is comprised of four seaside villas, which redefine the relationship between people and the sea. The name Meerum is a combination of the word meerithic -the desire of being close to the sea- and the word velum -veil- a key conceptual element used in the complex’s architectural design.

 

Architectural volumes

An orthogonal grid organizes the building structure, which is flexibly assembled and disassembled according to the various functions, while at the same time being in constant dialogue with the water and the natural light. The four villas are distinguished as white, prismatic volumes that “break” an array of wooden pergolas made of horizontal and vertical elements that provide ample shading as well as regulate privacy and the views towards the sea.

 

Spatial organization

The villas feature an open layout that includes a living, dining room and kitchen, while three spacious en-suite bedrooms complete the floor plan. Externally, a bar situated at the center of the complex serves as the focal point of the design. Each villa also boasts a private pool and seating area, enhancing the outdoor living experience.

 

Landscape design

The exterior floor is clad with local white stone, intermittently interrupted by slits filled with water. Low and tall vegetation enhances the dry Mediterranean landscape, featuring drought-resistant plants that require minimal maintenance and contribute to the site’s natural aesthetic. Discreet, minimal furniture made from materials like wood and metal blend harmoniously into the design, offering functionality and comfort without visually overwhelming the space.

Varying elevations

Situated on a plot of land outside the settlement of Akrotiri, a modern, stone residence is designed and constructed. Morphologically, it consists of four separate volumes in different sizes and shapes, placed slightly offset from the plot’s main axis. Gardens, water features, and glass walkways create distinct exterior spaces and connect the individual volumes.

 

Design Philosophy

The rectangular plot has its long side facing south, offering amphitheatrical views of Souda Bay and the White Mountains. To the north, the plot borders a section of forest and a high-traffic road. The building is aligned parallel to the longer side, ensuring that all spaces benefit from clear views and an optimal north-south orientation.

On the south side of the plot, all the main spaces are divided into atriums with varying levels of privacy and different uses. In contrast, the north side of the buildings is inward-facing, with an artificial mound -a green hill- serving as a barrier between the main road and the structures, significantly reducing traffic noise.

 

Functional Organization

The four volumes house numerous bedrooms, common areas, offices, service rooms, and an outdoor dining and barbecue area, all spread across varying elevations. A shallow pond between the second and third buildings extends from the main pool, which features a glass bottom, allowing natural light to illuminate the basement and create a striking visual effect. The basement includes a gym, sauna, baths, a specially designed massage area, a cinema room, and a playroom with a billiard table and bar. Additionally, a tennis court is located on the south side of the plot, while the gardens are planted with local tree species.

 

Material Palette & Sustainability Strategy

The building features walls clad in local stone and concrete roof slabs. The exterior is finished with natural mortar in natural earth tones, complemented by hidden aluminum frames, which offer a minimal aesthetic. The interior floors are covered in marble and wood, walls are coated with mortar, and the furniture is made from natural oak.

The building’s orientation and positioning, its extended permeability along with its advanced sustainable technology, transform it into a bioclimatic and partially passive structure. More specifically, photovoltaic panels, thermal insulation, underfloor heating and cooling combined with fan coils, and various automation systems, turn the project into an energy autonomous residence.

Natural integration

The complex of three undercut houses is situated in southern Evia, east of Karystos, in the “Sedouki” area, on a steep, south-facing plot.

 

Design Philosophy

The residences occupy the eastern part of the plot, which includes six independent vertical properties, where a building is constructed on three of them, one per property. This design ensures the privacy of each residence, while they collectively appear as a single structure through their architectural configuration. The complex is strategically placed on the hillside, offering unobstructed views of the sea and the surrounding natural landscape. The buildings are naturally integrated into the plot, featuring a uniform morphological approach for both the built areas as well as their respective open spaces.

 

Interior Layout

Each residence includes two bedrooms, a master en-suite bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a second bathroom. Additionally, it comprises a private swimming pool with a terrace, built-in sofas, and a barbecue area. Natural light floods all spaces through skylights at the back of the cave houses, while the large openings in the façade offer stunning views of the natural landscape and the sea.

 

 

Materials and Landscape Design

The spatial decorations create a quiet and tranquil environment, offering visitors moments of relaxation. The material and color selections are based on the Greek natural palette, dominated by shades of soil and sand. The landscape design features plants and materials that complement the natural environment, thus avoiding any visual overload.

 

 

Architecture: Lefteris Raviolos & Partners, MRV Architects

Photography: George Fakaros

ek issue: 270 | September 2022

Architectural dualities

The residence is nestled into the hillside, following the topographical contours and adapting seamlessly to the natural morphology of the land. It is situated in the area of Louria, in the southern part of Paros. The plot is oriented to the southwest along its longer side, offering unobstructed views of the sea, the bay of Aliki, and Antiparos.

 

Design Philosophy

The entrance is located on the northern edge of the site, where the highest point serves as a gateway into the home. A solid white wall with minimal openings greets the visitor, concealing both the internal arrangement and the front courtyards. The architectural composition is defined by a series of spatial and experiential dualities: concealed versus exposed spaces, sheltered courtyards versus open terraces, interior circulation paths versus threshold journeys, a closed entrance versus an unfolding route, grounded volumes embedded in the landscape versus elevated masses reaching toward the view. Large transverse walls extend from the core of the residence into the hillside, anchoring the building to the terrain. These walls carve out private courtyards at the rear and guide the interior spaces outward into the natural surroundings.

 

 

Spatial Organization

Between these structural walls, distinct thematic zones emerge -sometimes functioning as entrances, gardens, water features, or protected outdoor lounges. These spaces flow organically from the interior, shaped and defined by the commanding presence of the walls. Visible only from the rear of the plot, these elements reveal the spatial narrative only upon entry, inviting gradual discovery. A transverse path intersects the composition, connecting these thematic zones while running parallel to the interior circulation route. This path frames curated views toward the landscape and the communal living areas. The volumes of the residence unfold toward both the hillside and the open view, projecting over a low stone wall that forms a sculptural western façade. On one side, the structures are rooted in the ground; on the other, they appear to hover above the terrain, reaching toward the sea and the horizon.

This interplay is echoed in the intermediate and front-facing courtyards and balconies, which are oriented toward the water. The walls alternate between acting as architectural structures and forming outdoor spaces, always responding to the site’s topography and natural context. A singular architectural volume is fragmented into smaller, grounded forms that integrate harmoniously with the land.

 

 

Landscape Integration

From above, the “fifth façade” -the roofscape- becomes a dominant element, blending with the hillside. The architecture balances gracefully on the sloping terrain, allowing the landscape and natural relief to shape the design language. Through this dialogue with the land, spatial experiences are crafted to define the essence of holiday living. The intense Cycladic light choreographs the architecture throughout the day, revealing new layers of the composition as it shifts. The built environment embraces human presence, cultivating a deep sense of intimacy between the inhabitant, the space, and the surrounding landscape.