Rhoēs is an unbuilt private residence by Sinas Architects on the island of Serifos. The 390m² project occupies a 4,500m² site within an exposed Cycladic landscape, where strong winds, intense sunlight, steep terrain and distant views become active elements of the design.

Rather than reproducing the recognizable forms of traditional island architecture, the project investigates the environmental forces that originally shaped them. Its aim is to develop a contemporary house rooted in the conditions of Serifos without relying on the direct imitation of vernacular forms.

 

 

Architecture shaped by climate

The residence is conceived as a sequence of spaces that gradually negotiate exposure and protection. Walls define sheltered zones, while courtyards and semi-open areas create places where outdoor life can continue despite the island’s demanding climatic conditions.

The landscape is therefore not treated as a background for an autonomous architectural object. Instead, wind, solar exposure, terrain and views influence the position and character of each space.

Protected outdoor rooms form intermediate thresholds between the enclosed interior and the open site. These transitional areas allow the architecture to remain connected with its surroundings while providing shade and shelter from the wind.

A gradual spatial sequence

Movement through the project is organized as a transition between different degrees of enclosure. More protected spaces are followed by courtyards, framed openings and wider views towards the landscape.

This sequence avoids the immediate exposure of the entire residence. Instead, the house is gradually revealed through changes in scale, light and orientation. The courtyards become points of reference within this progression, extending domestic life beyond the enclosed rooms.

The resulting organization reflects the contrast found across the Cycladic landscape itself. Open and exposed areas coexist with recesses, walls and protected pockets shaped by the terrain.

 

 

Beyond the image of Cycladic architecture

Contemporary residential programmes often require larger interior spaces and amenities that differ significantly from those of older island houses. Rhoēs addresses these requirements without treating the site as a neutral setting onto which a predetermined lifestyle can simply be transferred.

The project seeks continuity with local architecture through its underlying logic rather than its external image. Climate determines the relationship between solid and open surfaces. The topography informs the sequence of movement, while sheltered courtyards mediate between contemporary domestic needs and the conditions of the island.

In this way, the reference to Cycladic architecture remains structural rather than stylistic. The house does not attempt to reproduce an idealized past. Instead, it applies a similar process of adaptation to the realities of present-day living.

Material continuity with the site

The proposed palette combines natural stone, exposed concrete, oak, glass and aluminium. Stone gives the composition a direct material relationship with the terrain, while concrete forms more continuous structural surfaces.

Oak introduces warmth within the interior and sheltered outdoor areas. Glass maintains visual connections with the landscape, while aluminium provides a restrained framework for the openings.

The combination is intended to reinforce the distinction between protection and exposure. Heavier materials define the boundaries of the residence, while transparent surfaces open selected spaces towards the surrounding landscape.

Rhoēs is currently under development, with completion estimated for 2028. The project proposes a contemporary interpretation of island dwelling in which architectural form emerges from climate, terrain and everyday use rather than from the reproduction of a predetermined regional style.

A series of three-hinged timber frames spans the basketball court, combining structural expression, passive environmental strategies and the reuse of material from the existing gymnasium.

 

 

Kyathos is a proposed 4,000m² indoor basketball arena in Galatsi. Designed by KAAF | Kitriniaris Associates Architecture Firm, the project was directly commissioned by the Cultural and Athletic Organisation of the Municipality of Galatsi as a specialist public building requiring expertise in engineered-timber construction.

The programme includes the principal basketball court and spectator stands, together with an internal perimeter mezzanine. Changing rooms for athletes and referees, sanitary facilities, administrative offices, club offices and supporting spaces complete the complex.

The new arena will replace the existing timber gymnasium on the same site. The older structure has been designated for demolition, mainly because its materials cannot be certified according to current structural standards. However, a substantial part of its timber is intended for reuse as non-load-bearing components in the new building.

 

A concrete podium and timber superstructure

The arena rests on a reinforced-concrete podium containing the functions below the final level of the playing court. This solid base opens towards the adjoining pedestrian route and accommodates the programme that requires direct contact with the ground.

Above the court level, the building is formed primarily from engineered-timber components. The structural system combines glulam, plywood and cross-laminated timber, while steel is introduced selectively at connections and where additional stiffness is required.

The distinction between the concrete base and the timber superstructure gives the building a clear constructional order. It also allows the large-span enclosure to remain relatively lightweight above the more solid lower level.

Ten frames spanning 30 metres

The timber load-bearing structure is arranged around a rectangular grid measuring 45m by 30m, with a regular bay of 5m.

Ten identical statically determinate frames bridge the 30m span of the main arena. Each frame consists of columns and beams working together as a three-hinged arch.

The repeated structural units determine the principal rhythm of the building. Rather than being concealed behind an independent exterior image, the load-bearing system becomes the basis of the architectural composition.

Lightweight waterproof polymer components cover the roof. According to the project description, the material is recyclable, weather-resistant and suitable for printed surface treatments.

 

From the ancient kyathos to the building envelope

The project takes its name from the kyathos, an ancient Greek cup or ladle. Its curved profile provides a conceptual reference for the geometry of the structural shell.

A second reference comes from the cup-shaped inflorescence of Euphorbia, known in Greek as galatsida. The plant’s name establishes a further association with Galatsi, while its botanical form informs the repeated elements of the envelope.

These references are integrated into the structure rather than applied as decorative motifs. Form, construction and environmental performance are conceived as parts of the same architectural system.

 

A shaded and naturally ventilated perimeter

A principal objective of the envelope is to keep the building and its perimeter circulation areas largely under shade. The depth and repetition of the timber elements limit direct solar exposure while allowing daylight to enter the interior.

Open sections of the shell support natural ventilation and passive cooling. At the same time, the structural rhythm creates a gradual transition between Veikou Grove, the sheltered edge of the arena and the main internal volume.

Rainwater from the roof and the surrounding hard surfaces is intended for reuse in landscape irrigation. The landscape design also proposes the reinforcement of the existing Mediterranean vegetation of the grove.

These strategies are presented as design objectives and will need to be evaluated through the project’s detailed technical development.

 

Reusing material from the existing gymnasium

Timber recovered from the existing building will be reused in shutters, wall linings and purpose-made non-structural elements. This approach retains part of the material history of the site without relying on components that can no longer be certified for structural use.

The new load-bearing system is intended to use engineered timber from certified, sustainably managed forests. Approximately 2,000m³ of timber will be required for the proposed construction.

Concrete is concentrated below the court level, while timber spans the principal arena above. Through this combination, Kyathos proposes a public sports building in which structure, environmental response and architectural identity are developed together.