On a west-facing slope of Andros, three semi-subterranean residences sink into the terrain, leading from a shadowed descent to open views of the Aegean.

 

On a west-facing slope of Andros, three semi-subterranean residences by MARI GOGA Architecture are embedded into the natural terrain with minimal visual impact. From above, their presence is revealed only through a series of traces: elevator shafts, descending entrance stairways and linear skylights appearing as narrow incisions in the ground.

The composition follows the elongated geometry of the plot and its natural difference in elevation. As a result, the three residences are arranged sequentially along the slope. The first and largest includes a main volume and an independent guesthouse, while the third occupies the lowest point of the site as a fully autonomous unit.

 

A descent from shadow to light

Access to each residence takes place from the rear through descending stairways or elevators. Exposed concrete walls frame the route, intensifying the sense of gradually entering the earth.

At the end of this descent, the spatial experience changes abruptly. Large west-facing openings reveal the sky and the Aegean, creating the impression of being suspended high above the sea.

 

This sequence establishes the project’s dual character. On the one hand, the residences evoke the protected condition of a cave. On the other, their elevated outlook recalls the panoramic position of an eagle’s nest.

Inside, open-plan communal areas reinforce the linear organization and continuity of movement. A long corridor leads towards the bedrooms, all oriented westwards to frame the horizon.

 

Filtering the western light

Protected linear semi-outdoor spaces extend along the western façades. Perforated bamboo panels filter the strong afternoon light while also reducing the force of the wind before it reaches the interior.

Their position changes in response to the sun and to the needs of the occupants. Consequently, the façades are never static. Instead, light, shadow and transparency shift continuously throughout the day.

Linear skylights are formed as internal courtyards, bringing natural light and ventilation deep into the subterranean spaces. Their vertical proportions reinforce the connection between the enclosed interior, the landscape above and the changing daylight.

 

Material continuity with the landscape

The material palette reinforces the relationship with the terrain. Exposed concrete and local stone emphasize the weight and subterranean character of the architecture. Timber and bamboo elements soften these surfaces through warmer, earth-toned textures.

Outside, the landscape follows the natural inclination of the site. Indigenous vegetation gradually covers the accessible roofs and fills the spaces between the residences. In this way, the disturbed terrain is allowed to recover and the architecture is progressively absorbed back into the Cycladic landscape.

 

The project is conceived as a passage in both physical and experiential terms: a controlled descent into the earth, followed by a gradual return to light, openness and the distant horizon.

At the Hyades Mountain Resort in Trikala Korinthias, Tenon Architecture transforms an existing space into a hospitality interior organized around a continuous timber structure.

 

Completed in 2020, The Wooden Cave combines algorithmic design with manual construction. Its spatial identity emerges from the contrast between a curved wooden interior and a darker stone perimeter.

 

Two distinct spatial zones

The plan is divided into two main zones. At its centre, a continuous curved structure organizes the principal space. Around it, secondary areas face the surrounding landscape and are finished in dark local stone.

The contrast between the two materials establishes a clear spatial hierarchy. The stone perimeter forms a heavier outer layer. By contrast, the timber structure creates a softer internal enclosure. Its geometry refers to the idea of the cave as a protected interior without literally reproducing a natural form.

Two sleeping areas are integrated directly into the wooden structure. An open-plan kitchen occupies the same central zone. Meanwhile, the perimeter accommodates the entrance, a sitting area with a fireplace and the bathroom.

As a result, furniture, surfaces and spatial divisions are treated as parts of a single architectural system rather than as separate additions.

 

Timber and environmental performance

Material selection plays a central role in the project. The curved structure is constructed from sawn spruce timber. By contrast, the kitchen, cupboards, flooring and other built-in elements use knot-free pine plywood. Dark local stone defines the secondary spaces.

The timber construction does not touch the existing concrete shell directly. Instead, a gap between the two allows air to circulate continuously. This protects the wood while also using its natural properties to help regulate indoor humidity and temperature.

Such passive regulation is particularly relevant to the mountainous location. Trikala Korinthias experiences considerable temperature variations throughout the year. Therefore, the construction detail contributes both to the durability of the timber and to the environmental performance of the interior.

 

From algorithm to handcraft

The curved structure consists of 1,112 individually shaped timber elements. The geometry of each piece was generated algorithmically and then transferred to the construction site.

However, no digital fabrication machinery was used in their production. The individual elements were processed manually and organized into 55 larger modules. Each unit was then carved and adjusted by hand before final assembly.

The construction was undertaken by Tenon Architecture founders Apostolos Mitropoulos and Thanos Zervos themselves. The timber structure was completed without external carpenters or specialist fabrication teams.

Consequently, one of the main challenges was translating digitally generated drawings into clear instructions for manual woodworking. The final result brings the two methods together. Algorithmic logic determines the geometry, while handcraft gives the structure its final form and texture.

Through this approach, construction becomes an extension of the design process. Spatial organization, material performance and fabrication are integrated into a single interior system.

Three independent residences on a steep plot in Trikala, Corinthia, reinterpret the archetypal mountain house through local stone, glass and a careful response to the natural terrain, maintaining privacy while opening uninterrupted views towards the Corinthian Gulf.

 

Slope in Trikala, Corinthia by gnb architects is a small complex of three independent residences positioned on a steep site at the edge of the lower district of Trikala. The plot opens towards the eastern horizon, with uninterrupted views across the opposite mountain slopes and towards the Corinthian Gulf, making topography, orientation and visual continuity the principal parameters of the composition.

The project seeks to reinterpret characteristics of the local mountain architecture through a reduced contemporary vocabulary. Rather than reproducing vernacular forms, the design simplifies the archetypal mountain dwelling and limits its architectural expression to a small number of materials and clearly defined volumes.

 

Following the natural slope

The arrangement of the three residences is determined directly by the terrain.

To reduce the footprint of the construction and adapt the buildings to the steep gradient, two units are joined at the highest part of the plot, while the third is positioned farther down the slope.

The displacement creates sufficient distance between the residences to ensure privacy, while preventing the lower unit from interrupting the views of those above. Instead of establishing a single continuous building front, the complex follows the descending geometry of the site.

The architecture consequently becomes part of the slope rather than an independent object imposed upon it.

 

A simplified mountain archetype

The form of each residence is derived from the reduction of a familiar mountain-house typology to its most essential elements.

A simple stone volume is protected by a pitched tiled roof, establishing a direct reference to the built character of the wider area. The reference, however, is deliberately abstracted. Ornament and secondary formal gestures are removed, leaving the volume, roof and openings to define the architectural identity.

Three sides of each residence remain predominantly solid, with relatively few and small openings. This allows the local stonework to retain a sense of weight and enclosure.

The eastern elevation follows the opposite principle.

 

Stone and glass

Towards the horizon, the solid envelope opens almost completely.

The eastern wall of each residence is replaced by a large glazed surface, creating direct visual continuity between the interior and the distant landscape. The contrast establishes the main architectural logic of the project: local stone represents mass and enclosure, while glass introduces transparency and openness.

The two materials are not used as surface treatments but as complementary spatial conditions.

From the side and rear elevations, the residences appear compact and grounded. From the east, the volume becomes substantially lighter, with the interior exposed towards the view and natural light entering across the full width of the façade.

This sharp distinction between solid and transparent surfaces gives the otherwise restrained buildings their contemporary character.

 

Suspended above the terrain

The eastern side of each residence extends into an outdoor living area.

Lightweight metal balconies with timber decking project beyond the building line and above the steeply descending ground. Their construction deliberately contrasts with the heavier stone volumes behind them.

Because of the inclination of the plot, these platforms are elevated among the surrounding vegetation, creating the sensation of being suspended between the branches of the taller trees and the open sky.

The outdoor spaces consequently operate as an extension of the glazed eastern elevations, bringing everyday use closer to the landscape while maintaining a relatively limited physical intervention on the terrain.

 

A contemporary reading of local architecture

Slope is based on a restricted architectural vocabulary: stone, glass, tiled roofs and lightweight metal structures.

The project does not attempt to imitate the traditional architecture of mountainous Corinthia. Instead, gnb architects isolate some of its most recognizable characteristics—the compact stone volume, the pitched roof and the relationship with the slope—and rework them according to contemporary requirements for light, openness and visual connection.

The placement of the three residences follows the terrain, while the contrast between the enclosed stone sides and the fully glazed eastern elevations establishes a clear relationship between protection and view.

Through this combination, the complex retains a strong connection with the material and morphological character of the region while responding directly to the particular qualities of its steep site.

 

The project was first published in print in Maison de Campagne 2024.