Introverted courtyard

The house is located in a suburban area of Nicosia and was designed to establish a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, drawing references from the urban Cypriot houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

Spatial Organization

This contemporary approach reinterprets the courtyard as the living core of the residence. The main spaces – living room, dining area, kitchen and two bedrooms – are arranged in an L-shaped layout around a central courtyard. At the heart of the composition, an elongated water element, the pool, acts as a natural extension of the living space.

The presence of water enhances the dialogue between inside and outside, while also contributing significantly to the formation of a favorable microclimate, providing natural cooling during the summer months. The courtyard thus becomes an intermediate space of everyday life, where the boundaries between private and open-air environments are softened.

 

 

Material Palette

The architectural proposal follows a strict minimalist logic, emphasizing geometric clarity and the elimination of any superfluous elements. The volumes are defined by clean lines, while the composition is structured around the balance between solid and void.

Exposed concrete is the dominant material, selected for both its structural properties and its restrained aesthetic. This unified materiality ensures coherence and durability, while the clean surfaces act as a canvas for the interplay of natural light and shifting shadows throughout the day.

 

 

Bioclimatic Strategy

The design carefully utilizes orientation and cross-ventilation to ensure optimal airflow and natural lighting. At the same time, the introverted organization of the residence guarantees a high level of privacy, in contrast to the surrounding urban context.

The result is a residence that engages with local architectural heritage, translating it into a contemporary language. Through the synthesis of space, material and climate, the project responds to current needs for quality of life, flexibility and a meaningful connection with the natural environment.

 

Relief continuation

The hotel is located at the edge of the traditional settlement of Oia, at the top of the volcanic cliffs of the Caldera. The site has a steep slope, a south-western orientation and unobstructed views toward the sea and the volcano.

 

Restoration Strategy

Within the plot there were ruined cave structures previously used as storage spaces, stables and cellars, as well as an old cubic house located at the northeastern corner. The objective of the project was the reconstruction of the pre-existing buildings and the addition of new cave rooms and communal areas, forming a hotel complex.

As a result, the hotel includes a small reception area, sixteen rooms, a restaurant, a shared swimming pool and a gym-spa. These functions are arranged gradually across the six levels of the complex. The entrance, accessed from the main pedestrian path of the settlement, is located at the upper level together with the reception and an outdoor seating area.

 

 

Spatial Organization

A central outdoor staircase leads from the upper level to the restaurant and the pool, connecting the three intermediate levels that accommodate the guest rooms with their private courtyards and pools. The lowest level includes the spa reception, a small gym, massage rooms, hammam, sauna, sanitary facilities and storage areas, as well as a sheltered relaxation courtyard at the edge of the cliff.

The proposal aimed both at the faithful restoration of the pre-existing buildings and the construction of new cave structures in the spirit of a contemporary and subtle reinterpretation of the cubic morphology of the old settlement, while maintaining a continuous relationship with the natural topography of the Caldera. The form of the new cave spaces preserves the structure of the traditional ones, along with their geometric shapes, materiality and white color.

The typologies of the floor plans, as well as the openings, are oriented so as to frame the view toward the sea. As a result, the façades follow the natural contour lines as broken geometries, resembling folded retaining walls that integrate gently into the landscape. The layering of these compositional strategies ultimately defines the final form of the building and its strong spatial dynamism. The descending movement of the central outdoor staircase, from the hotel entrance to the lowest level, resembles a “crack” in the “body” of the building, guiding movement and directing visitors toward the various private and communal areas.

Materials & Lighting

The interior design follows a strict minimalist approach based on the principles of Cycladic architecture. In the pre-existing cave spaces, a “total white” atmosphere prevails, with subtle touches of iridescent gold and green, while soft curves and freestanding furniture with organic forms highlight and enrich their natural plasticity.

The aesthetic of the new cave rooms is characterized by more intense colors, in the spirit of a “vie en bleu”, with abstract references to the cosmopolitan resorts of the Mediterranean south. These references become more geometric, linking the shapes and volumes of the interior with the forms of the exterior composition.

The lighting of the complex operates in a discreet manner, enhancing the sculptural quality of the white volumes and the experience of movement through the landscape. Along the outdoor pathways and staircases, low-intensity linear luminaires are integrated into the architecture, emphasizing the geometry of the walls and guiding visitors during nighttime circulation. The illuminated pools act as diffused luminous surfaces within the composition, creating soft reflections across the cave volumes. Inside the rooms, lighting remains subtle and integrated into the curved surfaces, highlighting the minimalist aesthetic and the sculptural qualities of Cycladic architecture.

 

Horizontal form

Located in Agios Tychonas, Cyprus, this private residence is conceived as a clear architectural composition of horizontal and vertical volumes that respond to the natural slope of the site. The building rests on an exposed concrete structural frame that establishes a solid base, while the white-rendered upper level introduces a sense of visual lightness. Continuous south-facing glazing and wooden louvers reinforce the relationship between interior space and landscape, creating transparency and warmth. The overall composition emphasizes horizontality, directing views toward the horizon and the infinity pool, which operates as a spatial extension of the interior living areas. The project’s architectural identity balances the raw texture of concrete with warm wooden surfaces and glass, establishing a contemporary dialogue with the surrounding natural environment.

 

Spatial Organization

The functional layout is structured around an open-plan ground floor where living, dining and kitchen spaces unfold seamlessly toward the outdoor terrace and swimming pool. This arrangement strengthens the connection between interior and exterior while extending everyday living into the garden.

The upper level accommodates the private areas of the house. Bedrooms and bathrooms are organized along a linear circulation corridor and are complemented by perimeter balconies that enhance privacy while encouraging cross-ventilation. The clarity of the plan establishes strong visual axes that guide the gaze toward the surrounding landscape, while allowing flexibility of use and a comfortable everyday spatial experience.

Bioclimatic Strategy

Environmental considerations are integrated into the project from the earliest stages of design. The building’s orientation and form respond directly to the climatic characteristics of the site, enabling passive regulation of temperature and daylight.

Carefully positioned overhangs and cantilevered elements, combined with adjustable wooden louvers, mitigate solar exposure during the summer months while allowing the lower winter sun to penetrate the interior spaces. Large openings facilitate natural cross-ventilation and passive cooling, while the exposed concrete structure operates as thermal mass, storing and gradually releasing heat to maintain stable indoor conditions.

 

 

Materials & Landscape Design

The architectural expression of the residence emerges from the dialogue between its material palette and the surrounding landscape. Concrete, wood, glass and white render are employed with restraint, establishing a balanced composition that reflects both modernist clarity and sensitivity to place.

Strategic planting around the perimeter contributes to the improvement of the microclimate, while the presence of the pool and landscaped surfaces enhances evaporative cooling. The overall form of the building adapts to the topography of the site, minimizing environmental impact while shaping a calm and open living environment.

Through this approach, the residence functions as a contemporary retreat where interior and exterior spaces merge seamlessly. Each volume, opening and material choice contributes to a spatial experience that prioritizes sustainability, clarity and a strong relationship with the natural landscape.

 

Inhabited shadow

Located next to the Sotogrande golf course, this house was designed to dwell inside the shadow, in-between the ground plane and the flat roof that hovers above. This generous cantilever not only provides shelter from the intense sun of Cadiz but also offers protection against the heavy rainfall arriving from the nearby Grazalema mountain range, the region with the highest precipitation in the Iberian Peninsula.

 

Design Philosophy

The design establishes four distinct architectural boundaries that define the spatial experience of the house. Below, the ground plane receives the imprint of the shadow. Above, the roof slab is designed with a water surface, functioning both as an aesthetic and a bioclimatic element. Peripherally, a continuous floor-to-ceiling glass façade allows for efficient climate control within the interior while maintaining unobstructed views and seamless movement towards the landscape. Finally, the inner core features a wooden volume that ensures the necessary privacy for the rooms while introducing warmth throughout the space.

 

 

Functional Layout

Access to the house is from the upper street, a strategic point that offers a privileged view of the landscape and the water surface on the roof -an unexpected feature that provides thermal and acoustic insulation. The water layer absorbs heat during the day and gradually releases it at night, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.

The roof and ground planes are subtly displaced to create a covered entrance leading to the main access, parallel to an infinity pool that extends towards the golf course. Internally, the program is organized around a central circulation core, which also incorporates skylights that bring natural light into the central spaces and guide movement towards the rooftop water surface.

 

 

Materials & Furniture

One of the primary design requirements was the use of materials that compose a warm color palette. As a result, the entire ground surface -both indoors and outdoors is clad in large-format off-white ceramic slabs, harmonizing with the wooden finishes of the core and the free-standing walls that define different interior areas. The furniture is dominated by natural wood and textured white fabrics, while linear warm white lighting highlights the overall composition.

Throughout the day, sunlight washes across textured surfaces and natural materials, accentuating depth and shadow while reinforcing the continuity between interior and exterior spaces. During the evening, a carefully composed artificial lighting scheme takes over through discreet, indirect fixtures integrated into ceilings, walls and architectural details. Warm, low-intensity lighting highlights key spatial elements and circulation paths while maintaining a soft ambient glow that preserves the serene character of the residence, allowing the architecture and material palette to remain the focal point of the spatial experience.

The design aims to minimize the building’s footprint on the environment, creating a living experience within the shaded zone defined between the two primary planes. Through a simple architectural gesture, the house orchestrates an experience with a strong identity and a timeless character.

 

Geometric elements

Built amidst fields of wheat, the house is defined by the geometric treatment of three natural elements: Earth, water, and light. The composition becomes a sequence of different impressions throughout the day, and the poetics of space creates a detachment from the environment, as a layout raised above the landscape.

 

Design Philosophy

At once, a home, and imagery: the former attribute is experienced practically, and the latter becomes the source of ideas. One layout and one clear line, diagonally traced upon a simple volume, define the building. It is an elongated volume of bare concrete, placed in-between the ground and the sky. Its elegant character is described in simple lines, uniting and dividing.

The floor-to-ceiling opening maintains proportions which allow an unobstructed sky view. The building volume is subtracted from the soil, creating a seamless flow of open air space beneath – a gesture further accentuated with the water axis, perpendicular to the building.

 

 

Façade Morphology

The shell is introverted, with only a few incisions on its surface, and the dominant bare concrete is complemented with a screen of perforated, folded bronze shades. Contact with the outside remains at the disposition of the inhabitant. Each idea requires a practical application. The living experience is entirely introverted, with the materiality of concrete enforcing this impression. The bold gesture at the entrance -an oversized prism which absorbs a disproportionate part of the whole- acts as a bridge to the interior, with its geometry and size underlining the distance between public and private.

 

 

Materials & Sustainability

Incisions are few, and precise: one opening at the kitchen looks downwards; one light well at the end of the corridor accentuates a sculpture in space, and marks arrival. At the entrance prism, a vertical aperture is juxtaposed to the incision of the kitchen; as a result, each afternoon, a strip of light crosses through. Those elements are brought into a marked contrast with the other two faces of the volume, where the wall is expressed as absence.

The shading device is also a mechanism, a filter in an environmental approach. The ample height of the spaces alludes to vernacular architecture, where the large air volume stabilizes interior temperature. The thermal mass of the walls adds to this effect. The tectonic shell of the project wraps this interior in an austere line, without any superficial gestures.

 

In dialogue with nature

The new exhibition space is located in the heart of Platres, nestled among pine trees and the stone textures of the mountainous Troodos landscape, and stands as a contemporary, understated architectural gesture. From the outset, the intention is clear: not to impose upon the environment, but to shape a structure that rises organically from its natural setting, engaging it in terms of balance and continuity.

 

Material Palette

The composition is grounded in the use of natural materials – local stone and exposed concrete surfaces – that draw their tonal qualities and textures directly from the earth. Rather than confronting the mountainous terrain, the building integrates into it, adopting a calm, grounded presence. Clean lines and a minimalist volumetric expression reinforce a sense of measure, establishing a contemplative dialogue between the natural and the man-made, the solid and the transparent.

 

 

Design Philosophy

The building’s formal articulation is achieved through a series of horizontal concrete slabs, differentiated in height and projection, generating a controlled interplay of light and shadow. This succession of planes introduces rhythm and a subtle sense of movement, as though the architecture were interpreting the geometry of the landscape itself. Materiality and geometry act as carriers of atmosphere, shaping a space defined by continuity, serenity, and spatial clarity.

 

 

Functional Organization

The transition between interior and exterior is treated with complete fluidity. Full-height aluminium glazing dissolves visual boundaries, allowing natural light, forest air, and ambient sounds to permeate the interior. The exhibition space operates as an open platform for art and culture, hosting exhibitions, installations, and community events. More than an autonomous structure, it constitutes an experience of inhabiting nature through architecture – a poetic composition that invites visitors to reconsider their relationship with the landscape through the lens of art, light, and materiality.

 

 

 

 

 

Sincere geometry

The residence is conceived as an architectural gesture rooted deeply in its natural setting. Specifically, the building’s form merges from an interactive engagement with the landscape, resulting in a structure that both asserts its presence and remains open to the immediate context.

 

Design Philosophy

Simple lines and rigorous proportions carry a “sincere” visual geometry that is further enhanced through the material honesty of exposed concrete. The design rejects imitation and speaks to an architectural ethos that embraces authenticity. Material, form and space are all approached with profound architectural discipline, eventually producing a residence that feels both monolithic and porous.

 

 

Functional Organization

Organized on a steep hillside, the residence unfolds through a sequence of interlocking volumes and voids. Large rectangular openings break up the rigidness of the square, acting as apertures that connect the residence to the site, shifting between interior and exterior thresholds. The plan is comprised of layered planes and long horizontal spans that create double height spaces as well as sheltered outdoor rooms. In parallel, a series of structural elements, such as a concrete staircase leading to a sunken courtyard, celebrate the residence’s sculpted simplicity. The plan is straightforward yet spatially rich, offering a continuous dialogue between enclosure and openness.

 

 

Context Integration

The residence is positioned within the terrain with precision, rising from the forest canopy as a measured, geometric insertion. Rather than imitating the surrounding nature, the building becomes a dynamic counterpoint, where its rigid concrete form contrasts the organic densities of the surrounding nature.

 

Subdued atmosphere

The project was conceived as a calm, cohesive living environment where the interior reinforces a sense of clarity and visual ease.

 

Design Philosophy

The aim was to create a home that feels open and grounded, allowing the surrounding landscape to guide the mood of the interior spaces. The approach emphasizes clean lines, gentle transitions, and a subdued atmosphere that invites reflection and comfort.

The design strengthens the relationship between the house and its surroundings. The long terrace becomes an intermediary zone that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior. Framed views, generous glazing, and thoughtful orientation ensure that the natural landscape remains an integral part of the living experience.

 

 

Functional Layout

The house unfolds along a linear circulation axis, with all primary rooms arranged in sequence. This layout supports intuitive movement while preserving visual continuity between the interior and the outdoors. Large openings frame the surrounding landscape, enabling natural light to define the spatial experience throughout the day.

All living functions are organized along a main corridor that connects the entrance area with the communal zones and private rooms. Each space is clearly defined yet visually linked, allowing for smooth transitions and unobstructed flow. The large terrace running the length of the house extends daily life outdoors and reinforces the connection with the garden.

 

 

Materials & Colors

The atmosphere is shaped by natural textures and a restrained palette of muted tones. Surfaces emphasize warmth and tactility, creating a sense of calm. The neutral composition provides a backdrop that allows art, light, and shadow to play an essential role in the perception of each space.

 

Dialogue of place & structure

The building design reflects Nikos Ktenàs’ belief that architecture emerges from a profound dialogue between place, structure, and human presence. Situated within one of Athens’ urban suburbs, the project explores the relationship between private living and the expansive cityscape.

 

Design Philosophy

The making of the building is regarded as an investigative process, where the design draws from the immediate site, eventually “returning” to the landscape a new scale and form. The composition is minimal and clear, celebrating the honesty of materials avoiding shallow, imitative gestures. Specifically, concrete – a rather popular, albeit misunderstood, material in Athens – becomes a medium of authenticity used for both structural stability and material texture.

 

Functional Layout

The project unfolds vertically, creating a sequence of shifting interior and exterior spaces. A transparent core, placed at the edge of the concrete façade, contains the central staircase that becomes the primary circulation route throughout the residence, allowing in parallel ample natural light to enter the space. Each level establishes a different visual connection with the city, reinforcing the relationship with urban space. The concrete blocks retreat at times, forming terraces, intermediate balconies and deep windows, crafting a residence that is both private and public, introspective and outward-looking.

 

 

Material Palette

Concrete is the material protagonist of the design, where its tactile presence is intentionally left visible. In contrast, the glass-clad staircase introduces lightness and a transparent quality that break up the building’s solidity. In the interior, metallic elements, shutters and railings add a layer of precision throughout the space, reinforcing the building’s modernist character.

 

Sculptural imprint

The residence seeks to spatially capture the encounter between memory and oblivion, emerging from the lived experiences of its place, where the play of childhood years was transformed into a tangible architectural intention. It is a gesture rooted in light, air, the immaterial, and the silence of the Mediterranean hinterland.

 

Design Philosophy

The project is located in Kato Deftera, on the outskirts of Nicosia, in an area defined by a mild, dry Mediterranean microclimate and a landscape of low valleys and plains. Agricultural use of the land persists, engaging in a dialogue with the new residential fabric. The house does not intrude; it integrates, allowing the site to remain the protagonist.

The design process begins with the floor plan, which structures the logic of dwelling through a typologically compact, disciplined core. Two distinct single-storey volumes, placed in parallel, define an intermediate courtyard that becomes the spatial and experiential heart of the home.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The volumes accommodate the primary functions of the residence, while two “boundary walls” complete the inward-looking envelope, establishing conditions of protection and seclusion. The plan rejects unnecessary circulation areas, guiding movement through clear, intentional functional zones. Living centers around the courtyard: a solar, social, collective, and at the same time introspective space.

The house unfolds from the inside out, with the unbuilt perimeter zone acting as a natural buffer. Vegetation is planned to engage with the built form, offering organic integration into the landscape and softening the presence of the structure over time. Orientation follows bioclimatic principles: living spaces face south, opening to the courtyard; service spaces are arranged to the north, overlooking the plain and Mount Pentadaktylos. The first volume, oriented toward the street, forms the façade and filters contact with the public realm. It houses storage, an atelier, technical areas for the swimming pool, and an outdoor kitchen.

 

 

Materiality & Geometry

The residence does not seek to impress; it rejects material excess, superficial textures, and verbose geometries. Its architectural language is rooted in simplicity, spatial clarity, and the primacy of light. Set upon a modest plinth of exposed concrete, it becomes a sculptural invention, a gentle imprint within the landscape. A structure that listens and remembers.

 

Sculpted Skin

The building, through its structural logic, addresses the reinvention of the apartment-building typology, positioning the uncovered courtyard (akalyptos) as the central entrance space and as a transitional zone between the city and the private living areas.

 

Design Philosophy

The akalyptos becomes a spatial pause, a moment of shift from horizontal to vertical movement, from public domain to private realm. This reinterpretation restores to the akalyptos the spatial significance of a contemporary atrium: a central void through which visitors access the surrounding living areas, and which, in turn, projects outward to complete the urban façade.

 

 

 

Structural System & Façade

The load-bearing structure, composed of exposed reinforced concrete, frames only the central atrium, supporting the floor slabs as cantilevers. This arrangement provides maximum freedom in configuring both the apartment layouts and the exterior façades.

These façades are conceived as a self-supporting “sculpted skin,” incorporating essential functions of the residences through voids, projections, bay windows, and fully operable glazing. The result is a volume that appears monolithic yet permeable – transparent in selected fragments that frame views of the immediate urban context.

 

 

Urban Integration

The top floor is designed as a “hanging garden.” Toward the interior of the block, it is enclosed by a solid continuous wall of exposed concrete; toward the city, it is defined by the upper edge of the self-supporting façade. At this elevated level, the interplay between these two structural elements enables visitors to reorient themselves and reconsider the building’s relationship to the broader urban fabric.

 

 

Nikos Ktenas became widely known through his project “Inside-Out” -one of the most iconic apartment buildings in Athens. The building not only transformed the urban landscape of Neo Psychiko, standing out as a radically contemporary proposal, but was also honored with the 2013-2017 Architecture Award of the Hellenic Institute of Architecture. As an architectural gesture, “Inside-Out” established itself as a landmark, offering a creative and timely reinterpretation of the apartment-building typology, with a distinct impact on both the building’s internal organization and its external form.

 

Spatial richness

To open up to a place and move beyond the boundaries of the ordinary. To allow a home to be infused with the rare experience of coexisting with nature. To uncover the beauty of simplicity and feel the quiet strength of life itself.

 

Design Philosophy

This residence combines simplicity with spatial richness, creating distinctive experiences at every turn. Born from the harmony between architecture and its setting, the house is both open and sheltered, enveloped by a green mantle that protects its intimacy and fragility. Perched among the trees and following the contours of the terrain, it establishes a constant dialogue with nature. Open yet private, it allows its inhabitants to live fully immersed in the jungle landscape, attuned to the rhythm of light, air, and sound.

 

 

Context Integration & Layout

The sloping terrain presented both a challenge and a guiding principle in the design process. The form of the house responds to the complexity of the land, adapting to its contours and preserving existing tree roots so that the surrounding vegetation becomes part of the architecture itself. The living areas open completely to the landscape, allowing light, sound, and air to dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior space.

Designed as both a permanent home and a seasonal retreat, the villa unfolds over two levels. The main living area above opens to sweeping ocean views, while the lower level, containing the bedrooms, remains discreetly embedded in the landscape. A network of terraces, a pool, and connecting stairs create a fluid circulation between spaces, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living.

 

 

Material Palette

The home’s earthy palette harmonizes with the surrounding greenery. Rammed earth, concrete, steel, glass, and cedar wood are combined to express both strength and natural balance. Finishes are left raw and authentic, embracing the passage of time as a means to deepen their texture and character.

 

Design equilibrium

Vibrant colors and textures converge to create an immersive living experience withing the apartment. Specifically, by blending lightness, functionality, and a contemporary approach to materials, the project celebrates creativity in every detail.

 

Design Philosophy

Occupying 97m2, the apartment distinguishes itself through a bold color palette and visual composition strategies that explore contrast, layered surfaces, and geometric forms. The result is an atmosphere that feels both dynamic and meticulously composed.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The social areas are seamlessly integrated, with subtle zoning achieved through ceiling color variations. The entrance features a white ceiling, while the living, dining, and kitchen spaces are unified under a green one – a visual transition that preserves openness while defining distinct functions. Organic, lightweight furnishings reinforce the apartment’s identity and contribute to an inviting, balanced ambiance. The layout harmonizes aesthetics with practicality, supporting everyday living while maintaining a sense of vibrancy and expression.

 

 

Material Palette

A dialogue between bold geometries, contemporary materials, and an emphasis on well-being establishes a refined balance between functionality and creative intent. The project embodies the essence of contemporary living, offering a fluid, expressive environment where comfort and design coexist in equilibrium.

 

Small-scale dialogue

The project concerns a complex of two residences located in Kifisia, a northern suburb of Athens. The plot is surrounded by contemporary apartment buildings that coexist with lower-scale single-family houses and public green spaces.

 

Design Philosophy

The primary goal of the study was to ensure the autonomy and privacy of each residence through the formation of a structure that maintains a dialogue with the neighborhood’s small-scale character. The main compositional gesture focuses on shaping a unified and coherent volume, harmonized with the scale of the surrounding urban context. At the same time, selective subtractions from the initial building mass create open-air spaces that enhance the spatial quality of the dwellings. The use of part of the ground floor as a courtyard, combined with the sloped roof – typological elements characteristic of the area – helped define the final architectural composition.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The first residence unfolds entirely on the ground floor, establishing a close relationship with the garden and the immediate surroundings, while the second is arranged across the two upper levels, slightly recessed from the base volume to enrich the composition with depth and spatial layering. This vertical separation enhances both privacy and variety in everyday living. Each dwelling integrates semi-outdoor and covered areas that act as transitional thresholds between interior and exterior, creating a rhythm of openness and enclosure. These spaces are characterized by distinct atmospheres — shaded patios, balconies with framed views, and open terraces that capture the shifting daylight throughout the day. The dynamic interplay of light and shadow animates the architectural volumes, revealing their sculptural quality. In parallel, the landscaping follows the same design philosophy: carefully selected vegetation, permeable surfaces, and subtle level differences collaborate to regulate temperature and airflow, contributing to a pleasant microclimate and reinforcing the dialogue between architecture and nature.

Context Integration

The design thoughtfully responds to the plot’s orientation and the surrounding urban context, balancing openness with privacy. Each residence is carefully arranged to define distinct public and private realms while maintaining a sense of spatial fluidity. Openings are strategically placed to enable cross ventilation, bathe interiors in natural light, and frame curated views toward the garden and neighboring greenery. These visual corridors extend the living spaces beyond their physical limits, fostering a constant dialogue between architecture and landscape. Through this sensitive integration, the project achieves both environmental efficiency and a poetic connection to its setting — a quiet choreography of light, air, and material continuity.

 

Sequential experience

The project explores the relationship between architecture, craftsmanship, and the experiential dimension of space, moving beyond mere composition or addition. The design unfolds beneath a sequence of vaulted ceilings that define the atmosphere of each room while uniting them into a continuous whole. Instead of dividing the interior, these curved forms guide the gaze, extend perspectives, and introduce a sense of lightness and fluidity throughout the space.

 

Layout Organization

Central to the spatial concept is a piece of custom-designed fixed furniture, conceived as both a storage element and an architectural device. It traces a continuous path from the entrance through the living area and onward to the private quarters, establishing a seamless spatial narrative. This uninterrupted flow organizes the domestic landscape with clarity and coherence, allowing functions to transition naturally while maintaining visual and physical continuity.

 

 

Material Palette

The material selection emphasizes natural refinement and balance. Marble introduces depth and variation through its texture and veining, while its dialogue with warm wood tones and soft light generates subtle contrasts. These interactions enhance the character of each space, reinforcing its identity without overpowering the overall harmony of the interior.

 

 

Custom Structures

Craftsmanship permeates every aspect of the project. Meticulously executed joinery adds warmth and tactility, complementing the apartment’s precise geometries. Ornamentation is deliberately restrained, replaced instead by a disciplined language of proportion, clarity, and material authenticity. By aligning spatial rhythm with artisanal precision, the design achieves a luminous and coherent domestic environment – an apartment that embodies both the rigor of architectural design and the sensitivity of handcrafted creation.

 

Creative revival

The new hotel and swim club on the Glyfada waterfront was created through the complete transformation of a 1970s building complex. The renovation preserves the distinctive character of the era while meeting the highest contemporary hospitality standards.

 

Design Philosophy

By showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of the modern Athenian creative scene and incorporating iconic works of international art and design, the hotel becomes not only a destination for visitors but also a cultural landmark for locals. The building comprises two interconnected wings of different heights, both of which underwent extensive structural, functional, and energy upgrades to enhance safety, improve energy performance, and ensure accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

The interior design adopts the same guiding principles, shaping every space to balance comfort, functionality, and visual cohesion. The public areas include a generous lobby and restaurant on the ground floor, an outdoor pool with a pool bar, a café, an exhibition space, as well as a rooftop bar, a second restaurant, and a rooftop pool. The lobby is considered the building’s central gathering point, and functions simultaneously as a meeting place and an art gallery, blending the structure’s original brutalist expression with a refined modernist sensibility.

 

 

Materials, Lighting & Furniture

Local materials such as Dionysos marble, wood, and ceramic tiles anchor the hotel to the architectural identity of Athens. Clean lines and geometric forms carry through the spirit of the original building, while new elements, such as untreated copper details and custom terrazzo flooring, introduce a contemporary touch. Lighting serves both practical and atmospheric purposes, adding dynamism to an otherwise restrained and minimal palette.

The 120 rooms are designed with minimalist lines and draw inspiration from the core principles of modernism. Echoing the interiors of Le Corbusier, their layout prioritizes functionality while preserving a sense of comfort. Custom-made furniture combines contemporary aesthetics with subtle references to mid-century Greek design, while built-in elements, terrazzo floors, and a measured color palette highlight the materials and architectural details.

 

 

Pool & Outdoor Design

The suites offer additional amenities, such as wet bars, and feature custom-designed murals that enrich the guest experience without deviating from the project’s overall design narrative. Outdoor areas, including the terraces and the pool zone, maintain the central idea of preserving the building’s original atmosphere while incorporating modern design trends. A new water feature and a shading pergola improve natural ventilation and cooling, enhancing comfort for guests.

The pool area evokes the Mediterranean leisure culture of the 1970s, with soft tones, olive-green loungers, and vibrant yellow umbrellas. This simple yet refined design creates a relaxed environment, allowing the architecture to blend seamlessly into the landscape of the Athenian Riviera.

 

Cycladic minimalism

Xylo is a carving gallery situated in one of Santorini’s villages, Megalochori, whose beauty and spirit still capture the essence of Cycladic culture. Xylo is the Greek word for “wood”.

 

Design Philosophy

The gallery is a paean to modern Cycladic minimalism, a place destined to express the essence of Xylo, communicate the craft of wood carving and showcase the artist’s creations. The project’s starting point was the naturalistic and simple beauty of Greek tradition. More specifically, our studio draw inspiration from Greek arts and crafts.

 

 

Custom elements

Metallic and wooden panels recreate, in a contemporary manner, details of traditional embroideries and are used as semi-transparent partitions or shelving systems to display the artist’s sculptures. Another key aspect is the meticulously preserved carpenter’s workbenches placed in the gallery.

 

 

Layout & Materials

The gallery’s layout is an open-plan space with display spots on each wall. A central display unit creates a discrete division while maintaining the openness of the space, thanks to its thin structure. The selected colors and materials, inspired by traditional Cycladic architecture, aim to highlight the gallery’s wooden sculptures. The final composition is a serene and subdued environment, acting as a cool white canvas for the exhibits.

 

 

Secret sanctuaries

Situated beside the historic Mon Repos Palace in Corfu, within a secluded garden, two 19th-century storage buildings have been thoughtfully transformed into tranquil guesthouses. Preserving their minimal character, the structures were redesigned with deep respect for the site’s history and the surrounding Mediterranean landscape.

 

Spatial Organization

The larger of the two spaces has been conceived as an open-plan room, with the sleeping area subtly separated from the rest of the interior by sliding partitions made of fluted glass, framed in solid iroko wood. The design is defined by crisp white surfaces, complemented by natural textures and warm wooden tones. The floor is paved with black stone tiles, while three types of wood -iroko, American oak, and lacquered plywood- are used to add richness and contrast.

The smaller guesthouse features a single, integrated structure crafted from dark green lacquered plywood, serving as the central architectural element. This multifunctional unit discreetly incorporates storage, mechanical systems, a wood stove, and the air conditioning unit. Its clean lines maintain a sense of openness and order throughout the space.

 

 

Custom Design & Materials

In the first guesthouse, all furniture was custom-designed by the architects and handcrafted from solid American oak, 5 cm thick. Built-in cabinetry blends seamlessly with the architectural language of the space, combining white lacquered plywood with accents of American oak. Interiors are lined with oak veneer, further enhancing the tactile quality of the space.

In the second guesthouse, the choice of a deep green hue for the central built-in element evokes the lush vegetation of the garden, reinforcing the connection between inside and out. The ochre-toned stone flooring continues the visual narrative of the exterior, drawing the natural palette indoors.

 

 

Philosophy of Craftsmanship

At the core of both spaces is a reverence for craftsmanship. The precise joinery and refined construction details are not merely stylistic choices but expressions of care and intention. Every junction, surface, and bespoke element was designed at a 1:1 scale and realized by skilled local carpenters and glass artisans. Through the use of natural materials and an unwavering attention to detail, the guesthouses exude a sense of calm and timelessness -offering not just accommodation, but a place of retreat.

 

Intermediate transparency

The two-story residence was designed for a four-member family, with the aim of creating a modern, minimal, and functional space that integrates harmoniously into the Mediterranean landscape. The composition is based on clean geometric volumes and horizontal lines, with a strong emphasis on transparency and continuity between interior and exterior spaces. The combination of white surfaces, wood, and metal creates an ensemble of understated elegance and tranquility.

 

Design Philosophy

The residence offers a contemporary way of living that focuses on functionality and continuous contact with the natural environment. The architectural approach combines simplicity with the quality of light and space, creating a residential whole that meets the family’s needs.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The ground floor is organized around a central living area, where the living room and dining room are directly connected to the large terraces and garden. The kitchen, in contact with the main space, is supported by utility areas and connects to a covered veranda that hosts an outdoor barbecue. The interior layout follows the logic of an open plan, allowing for visual continuity and the flow of natural light. On the upper floor, three bedrooms and their corresponding bathrooms ensure the necessary privacy for the family members.

 

 

Materials and Lighting

Inside, natural textures and earthy tones dominate. The wooden flooring, leather furniture, and metal details in the staircase highlight the minimalist aesthetic and convey a sense of warmth. The subtle integration of lighting enhances the simplicity of the form and accentuates the clarity of the lines.

 

Experiential display

The showroom is located in a shopping center dedicated to building supplies and materials, within the city’s vibrant commercial area. The project aim is to create a carefully curated space in which the client’s products are showcased.

 

Design Philosophy

A key inspiration that guided the architectural design was the paintings of Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, particularly Black Square (1915) and Suprematist Composition (1916). The minimal albeit lively colors, shapes and patterns of Malevich’s works became the conceptual starting point for the functional organization as well as the materials used within the space. Pieces of yellow, red and green were overlaid onto the initial plan, eventually constructing a series of interconnected rooms of varying scales and a fluid circulation area.

 

Spatial Organization

The space is comprised of five primary zones: the entrance, the brand history room, the product display, a meeting room and an interactive space. An impressively lit stage is immediately visible from the entrance, featuring several objects such as a traditional wooden chair as well as an orthogonal aperture sheltered by a green metal canopy. A red cantilevered countertop visually connects the opening to a multi-use work area.

The hallway is partially illuminated by a strip of low, floor-level windows and acts as a circulation space that simultaneously accommodates a number of installations which introduce the brand’s daily paint and construction materials. On the other side of the hallway, a brightly painted yellow window provides an uninterrupted view into the lounge room. Venturing further into the main exhibition area, visitors encounter a tall white curtain, hung from a circular track and playfully painted in vivid colors that displays the company’s products in the most “untypical” way possible.

 

Experiential design

The interactive area includes an array of paintbrushes dipped in different types of paint and fixed to the wall, acting as an additional exhibition display. Visitors are encouraged to try the products themselves on the blank, white canvases present within the space, promoting the company’s product placement regarding the durability and effect of the paints. The design draws inspiration from the local culture as well as the distinctive style of the Russian painter and transforms a conventional product showroom into a truly imaginative experience.