With the current year close to its end, the editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects featured in the print issues 294-302, to be illustrated on our website. Their categories follow the themes of the print edition, including residences, interiors, special-use buildings, hotels as well as renovation & reuse projects.

The residence is located in Lakatamia, a suburb on the outskirts of Nicosia. From the earliest stages of the design process, several key considerations were established, forming the foundation of the architectural proposal. Foremost among these was the need for discreet privacy -one that does not reject the surrounding urban fabric but instead maintains a thoughtful sensitivity toward it. Equally important was the intention to cultivate a direct, almost tactile relationship with the “private” natural environment of the site. The desire for generous natural light throughout all interior spaces was also a guiding principle, as was the requirement to accommodate the owners’ art collection under suitable conditions.

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. 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 new offices are housed within an industrial shell of 1,200 m², where tall metal racks for cable storage dominate the space from floor to ceiling. The central design idea focuses on the strategic placement of “work containers” that accommodate the staff offices. The container form was chosen as a characteristic expression of the company’s industrial identity and environmental ethos. Just as the company’s products are designed to be fully recyclable, the container, originally used for their storage and transport, is repurposed and transformed into office space. Two distinct zones are created on either side of the central storage and packaging area to ensure the uninterrupted circulation of machinery and personnel.

Adāma Boutique Hotel | Tzagkarakis + Associates

The complex is located in the seaside village of Matala, in southern Crete, surrounded by the area’s distinctive rocky formations that create a natural embrace around the site. The primary starting point of the design was the creation of a cluster of small buildings oriented around a shared central courtyard, reminiscent of the protected square of a small village. As a direct reference to the values and heritage of “togetherness” and communal life in Matala, the project reinterprets the traditional Greek island neighborhood, shaping a contemporary lodging for today. The building volumes are arranged to offer residents privacy while simultaneously encouraging coexistence and interaction in the shared courtyard. The relationships formed between the structures generate open and enclosed living spaces -both private and communal- each with its own distinct character.

The project redefines Mediterranean hospitality through an architectural idiom that is rooted in tradition while remaining firmly oriented toward sustainability. Conceived as a retreat outside Chania, the project explores how cultural memory and contemporary design can converge to create a new model of regenerative hospitality. In full harmony with its natural setting, the design incorporates planted roofs with olive trees and Mediterranean vegetation across all buildings, enhancing thermal insulation, fostering biodiversity, and anchoring the project to its environment. The façades are articulated through a sequence of arches -both full and half forms- serving as abstract interpretations of the traditional geometries found in the Venetian and Ottoman architecture of Chania. This motif continues inside, where seamless microcement surfaces unify floors, ceilings, and walls.

The project’s location -along one of Limassol’s most important commercial corridors, near a major junction- set from the outset the ambition to create a landmark building for the Mesa Geitonia area. This strategic position, coupled with the elongated geometry of the plot, informed the building’s distinctive massing from the very early design stages. To meet the project’s goal, the design adopts a linear, organically shaped volume that unfolds along the avenue, both asserting the presence of the complex and preserving the continuous flow and pulse of the commercial axis. The building is structured across five levels. The ground floor accommodates retail units, reflecting the commercial character of the street, while the four upper floors house office spaces that open toward the narrow façades through covered verandas.

In an area of the city with a distinctly industrial character, near the Athens-Lamia National Road, an unfinished pre-existing structure was reconstructed with the aim of preserving its load-bearing system while simultaneously accommodating an expanded building program, including a larger surface area of office spaces. A central condition for the design was the development of a new construction system that would not only adapt to the existing structure but also organize it, forming a unified architectural identity while responding to the bioclimatic requirements of a contemporary work environment. The new envelope, conceived as a thickened skin, either touches or stands slightly apart from the existing structure, thereby unifying enclosed spaces with outdoor areas, terraces, and balconies.

Minion Restoration & Reuse | Minos Digenis Arquitectos

The residence adheres to the conventional typology of its era, organized along three main axes. At the entrance lies the first room, followed by a central space, known as the “solar,” which faces south and is considered an external area. To the left, a two-room hall is divided at its center by a distinctive arch, while to the right of the solar is another room of similar dimensions. A defining feature of this typology is the seamless progression of spaces, allowing movement within the dwelling without corridors. Additionally, the absence of predefined functions allows each room to accommodate a variety of activities.

The process of composition was inspired by a spatial archetype: the form of the shelter, intrinsically linked to the concept of “dwelling,” has historically shaped human spatial preferences, reflecting our inherent predispositions. The residence in Dionysus offers, through contemporary architectural language, a symbolic and spatial reinterpretation of this archetype -an effort that seeks to evoke memory and, ultimately, a return to the authentic, the primal, and the enduring.

The façade features three semi-open spaces that define the character of the exterior. One, with a flat, modern roof, extends toward the pool. The second, vaulted, reflects the local architectural style and marks the main entrance. The third, an experimental feature of contemporary design, introduces a unique architectural element: a sharp-angled dome, known as the “double-cube” in Santorini, intersects vertically with a semi-circular dome, creating a novel form.

The design aims to repurpose the existing structural frame to create a low-rise residence with a garden in a dense urban setting. During construction, the load-bearing structure and foundations are preserved, while the central portion of the slab is removed to create a double-height space. An additional floor is added to the building, supported by a reinforced metal frame and anti-flexural connectors, designed to withstand the high seismic activity in the area.

The design of the new shell focuses on both the aesthetic and functional enhancement of the existing building. The triangular projections on the front façade are driven by the desire to provide the best possible views of the harbor and the sea from the rooms. The spatial organization of the former Metaxas distillery guided the design of the ground floor, which accommodates the reception area, restaurant, and essential auxiliary spaces for the hotel’s operation. Visitor circulation in the public areas is defined by a series of passages beneath intricately designed wooden arches, which both separate the different functions and unify the space aesthetically.

The building’s form embodies a fusion of the harmony of ancient Greek classicism and the strength of Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture. The simplicity of the volumes, inspired by Cycladic tradition, coupled with the use of local materials and forms, ensures that the resort blends seamlessly into both its natural and built surroundings.

The floor plan is divided into two horizontally aligned zones -one roofed and one open-air- arranged on levels with a slight height difference. Access to the outdoor zone is provided either through the main entrance, with an outdoor walkway on the right, or from within the restaurant. This distinctive courtyard features a metal shell designed as an L-shaped grid, which, along with the planting, forms a “frame” around the stone bar that dominates the rear of the space. Dark-toned dining chairs and a lit tree enhance the atmospheric setting created by the interplay of metal and stone elements.

The space is experienced as a journey, where visitors encounter plantings, rocks, and shifting perspectives through a series of multi-sensory experiences. A bridge at the intermediate level appears to float between two curved metal surfaces, on which the exhibits are suspended, enhancing the immersive experience.

Cyprus’ first purpose-built observatory will be open to the public and serve as a center for scientific research. Located in a remote rural area, the project aimed to create an architectural landmark that would positively impact the surrounding landscape while becoming a world-class destination to inspire future generations of explorers. The design was crafted to possess a distinctive identity that draws attention from afar, making the human experience of the space both captivating and meaningful. The site’s subtle ridge and significant elevation changes, played a key role in shaping the design, resulting in an elegant and responsive form. The building’s volume was split into two parts, with an opening that frames a view of the valley, the sea, and the horizon. A porch was situated between the two volumes, while the second volume was diagonally “cut,” creating an opening that frames a view of the neighboring village of Agridia.