In the peri-urban area of Limassol, the residence is organized through two shifted rectangular volumes, creating a cross-ventilated core for semi-outdoor living. This intermediate space works as a filter between interior and exterior, reinforcing the continuity of everyday life. On the upper floor, the private areas are protected by deep projections that integrate planting. This gesture contributes to passive solar protection, while softening the exposed concrete mass and establishing a more nuanced threshold between the building, natural light and the surrounding environment.

 

 

 

At MGO Protopapas I in Limassol, the office building’s façade develops through folded surfaces and parametrically designed vertical elements. Its dynamic form follows the movement of the road, turning the façade into a field of shifting geometries. On the southern side, the aluminium frames are recessed from the building line, while semi-outdoor terraces of varying sizes unfold in front of them. Together with the vertical fins, these terraces provide shade to the office interiors during the summer months, integrating environmental performance into the overall architectural expression.

 

 

04. Aegean Color Rooms | The Hive Architects

 

 

In Naousa, Paros, Aegean Color Rooms redesigns a small hospitality building through clear geometry and a renewed visual identity. The central design idea is the integration of perforated linear canopies, which filter natural light and frame views toward the sea. These structures offer shade and protection, while acting as transitional elements between the rooms and their outdoor spaces. The balconies become small private oases, where shading, color and water come together to create a calm hospitality experience.

 

 

05. Villa Ypsilon | Lassa Architects

ek Issue: 217 | May 2017

 

 

In the southern Peloponnese, Villa Ypsilon is set on a hillside olive grove and defined by its Y-shaped green roof, which functions as an extension of the garden. Circulation around and over the roof creates a continuous promenade, defining three ground-level courtyards with different uses. The roof was specifically oriented to shade the courtyards at selected times of the day. At the same time, a perforated wall protects the interior from the afternoon sun, while allowing cross-ventilation and natural cooling during the evening.

 

 

On a sloping site in Limassol, the House in Kefalokremmos follows the topography and is organized as a refuge in direct dialogue with the natural terrain and sea views. Its stepped layout allows interior and exterior spaces to flow smoothly into one another.

Carefully positioned stoas and semi-outdoor areas act as filters against sun and wind. Shading is therefore not limited to isolated construction elements; it becomes part of the spatial organization of the house, offering comfort, calmness and gradations of privacy.

 

At Ogarden, an existing office building is transformed into a mixed-use project combining office spaces and boutique short-stay apartments. The project’s defining new architectural feature is a system of vertical exterior louvers, made of white concrete with marble chips from Naxos and Tinos. These fixed louvers wrap the building as a second skin, providing shade and privacy. Their different angles create a wave-like effect on the façade, while light and shadow constantly transform the building’s appearance. Horizontal aluminium shading systems at ground level and on the planted roof complete the solar protection strategy.

 

 

 

In Maroussi, Terra Form House creates an architectural microclimate within the dense urban fabric. The residence redefines basic architectural elements, such as the roof, garden, threshold and windows, in order to form a protected inner and outer world. The traditional pitched roof is transformed into a two-sided perforated canopy, extending beyond the enclosed volume of the house and embracing the outdoor spaces. It provides shade and privacy, unifying the gardens and living areas under a single protective structure.

 

 

In Kalyviani, Chania, Corte Interna restores a complex of three stone buildings arranged around an internal courtyard. The intervention preserves the character of the existing ensemble, while introducing contemporary metal elements, natural materials and fluid forms that contrast with the solidity of stone. In the raised courtyard, sliding fabric awnings on tensile steel cables provide shade and create a gathering space. This simple construction is organically integrated into the whole, combining the atmosphere of a traditional material with the clarity of a contemporary addition.

A Residential Building of Curved Geometry in Athens

Located in the northern suburbs of Athens, Chiven by The Hive Architects is a residential building that balances architectural precision with the fluidity of form. Through clean geometries and curved surfaces that appear shaped by wind and light, the project develops as a dynamic composition of volumes, avoiding static expression and encouraging the continuous movement of the gaze.

The building, with a total area of 770 sq.m., is expected to be completed in 2028. Its architectural language is defined by strong horizontal lines and soft, curved envelopes that wrap around the interior spaces, shaping both the façade and the experience of inhabitation.

Horizontal Layers and Curved Envelopes

The main architectural gesture is expressed through successive horizontal layers and curved edges that soften the building’s volume. These curves are not treated as formal decoration, but as spatial devices: they guide movement, frame views and produce a changing play of light and shadow across the façades.

As the sun moves throughout the day, the building’s surfaces respond through reflections, shadows and shifts in depth. The result is a residential composition that changes gradually over time, giving the building a sense of movement despite its compact urban presence.

 

Interior and Exterior in Continuity

Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between interior and exterior space. Transparent railings reduce the sense of boundary, allowing light to penetrate deeper into the building and reinforcing the visual continuity between living areas, balconies and the surrounding environment.

Large balconies extend the apartments outward, offering generous outdoor living areas. The building is organized as a vertical sequence of private and semi-open spaces, where each level maintains its autonomy while contributing to the overall continuity of the composition.

Water, Light and Bioclimatic Character

Elevated pools and water elements operate as mirrors of the sky, enhancing a sense of lightness, calm and suspension. Water becomes a key compositional element, contributing to the atmosphere of the project and reinforcing its bioclimatic character.

The interplay between water, light and curved surfaces gives the building a softer presence. Instead of relying on mass and opacity, the project works through reflections, filtered light and the modulation of outdoor thresholds.

 

 

Earthy Materiality and Planted Terraces

The material palette remains discreet, based on earthy tones where textured surfaces meet smoother finishes. This controlled material language supports the building’s formal clarity, while giving depth and warmth to its curved geometry.

Attention to detail is expressed in the curved endings of the slabs, the continuity of the horizontal lines and the integration of planting. Greenery softens the geometry and introduces the idea of elevated gardens across the upper levels, bringing natural elements into the vertical development of the building.

A Roof Terrace as an Elevated Place of Retreat

The composition develops vertically through successive levels that ensure privacy while maintaining visual continuity. At the top, the building is crowned by a generous roof terrace, conceived as an elevated place for relaxation.

Openings filter the light and create focused visual escapes, transforming the roof into a protected outdoor space. In this way, the building extends the idea of residence beyond the apartment itself, proposing a layered experience of domestic life.

 

 

Contemporary Urban Living

Chiven reconsiders contemporary residential architecture through a balance of simplicity, technology and natural elements. The project does not seek to impose itself on its surroundings, but to enter into dialogue with them through form, light, water and planting.

The result is a residential proposal where architecture becomes both sensory and functional: a building shaped by movement, material restraint and the search for a more fluid way of living in the city.

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.

 

Unified architecture

The project is a modern residential complex located in Drosia, Attica, designed with an emphasis on integration into the natural environment and minimalist geometry. Its architecture is based on clean lines, natural materials, and large transparent surfaces that enhance the connection with the surrounding landscape.

 

Design Philosophy

The design creates an engaging dialogue with the surrounding environment, bypassing rigid lines and establishing a sense of unity. The arrangement of the residences maintains privacy without being immediately apparent from the exterior, allowing for a natural flow and continuity in the space that reinforces the sense of unified architecture.

 

 

Materiality & Spatial Layout

The residences are developed on multiple levels, ensuring privacy, unobstructed views, and high-quality outdoor spaces. The materiality is mostly characterized by earthy tones, with metal, wood, and stone finishes creating a serene and timeless aesthetic.

 

 

Context integration

The project aims for high-quality living, emphasizing functionality, natural shading, and subtle integration into the pine-covered landscape of the area. The name Silva (Latin for “forest”) reflects the character of the project: a dwelling that communicates with nature without excess.

 

Prismatic volumes

Casa Cally is a two-story house in Kifissia, organized around a central diagonal axis that unifies the entire space.

 

Architectural Volumes

The composition is defined by two primary, monolithic volumes. The ground floor, arranged in a square plan, forms a parallel plane that serves as a “pedestal” for the structure and houses the main living areas. Above it, the prismatic volume of the upper floor projects outwards, tracing the diagonal axis and further emphasizing the design’s dynamic form. This upper volume accommodates the bedrooms and bathrooms, while showcasing the building’s distinctive geometry.

 

Exterior Spaces & Vegetation

Outdoor spaces are integral to the overall design. The backyard serves as a natural extension of the living room, achieved through a large corner glass wall that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor areas. On the first floor, a rooftop terrace with seating and lush vegetation offers a unique experience; a circular opening in the floor visually connects the two levels, enhancing interaction between them. The greenery is thoughtfully integrated into these outdoor areas, creating a unified and harmonious environment.

 

Color Palette

White dominates the color palette, allowing natural light to enhance the furnishings while charcoal accents emphasize the exterior openings. The clean geometry casts shadows and reflections, creating a dynamic interplay across the volumes. This composition is further enriched by the prismatic volume, whose openings feature adjustable blinds for flexible shading and privacy.

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.

Successive levels

Close to the Sivota settlement, three luxury holiday residences are developed on a verdant hillside, each one situated on a different level to ensure privacy and provide uninterrupted views of the sea.

 

Spatial Organization

The largest ground-floor residence is situated at the top level, featuring three en-suite bedrooms and a spacious open-plan area that includes the living, dining, and kitchen. A loft spanning across two of the bedrooms, contains an additional en-suite bedroom, accessible via an internal staircase. The two smaller residences are organized in a similar interior layout and are positioned successively on lower levels.

 

Landscape Design

The exterior spaces include a series of relaxation areas, such as a swimming pool, lounge, dining as well as barbeque area. A long pathway created by consecutive retaining walls provides access to all the residences. Finally, the three buildings are designed as undercut structures, achieving perfect integration and harmony with the surrounding natural landscape.

 

Material Palette

Natural stone, plaster coating, a ceiling made of exposed concrete and dark wood are the dominant materials of the design. Finally, a series of vertical louvres act as sliding screens, controlling the natural light entering each residence.