Wild beauty

Set against the azure panorama of the Aegean Sea, harmoniously coexisting with Santorini’s natural landscape, the residence narrates the wild beauty of its surroundings and its relationship with traditional architecture.

 

Context Integration

The subterranean construction, nestled within the geological layer of Minoan ash, is characterized by the effortless beauty of Santorini’s traditional dwellings, offering all the comforts required for modern living while minimizing its environmental footprint.

 

 

Materials & Functional Layout

Access is through a spacious terrace with a linear infinity pool, sunken lounges, and a jacuzzi. With respect for the rugged charm of the barren rocky landscape and the cerulean sea, the façade emerges as the sole visible volume, clad in local black volcanic rock. Alongside stretches an imposing pergola of natural iroko and osier, shielding from the intense western sun, creating a sanctuary for relaxation with a view of the Aegean.

Anthracite and purple volcanic stones dress the surfaces while plantings include Mediterranean flora of scrub and evergreen olives. The residence unfolds on two levels. On the ground floor, communal spaces -living room, kitchen, and dining area- are flanked by two en-suite bedrooms and a guest bathroom. Large western openings ensure continuous connection with the exterior, providing natural ventilation and lighting. On the lower level, a second lounge leads to three additional en-suite bedrooms, a massage room, and a gym. All rooms open onto the lush internal courtyard, filled with climbing plants covering the plastered walls, creating a microclimate. Abundant natural light accentuates the gentle curves of the shell, playing with shadows, imparting a pervasive sense of tranquility to all spaces.

 

 

Design Philosophy

The design philosophy, based on a sequence of curvilinear elements, balances local references with contemporary design lines. Airy white vaulted spaces and the impressive cross vault of the dining area provide comfort and serenity in a modern subterranean setting, while expansive openings bring the Aegean panorama indoors. All selected materials are natural, with black stone on the floors, oak wood in dark tones, and marble surfaces. At night, the space becomes atmospheric, with soft lighting accentuating the unique architectural elements.

 

Line upon the landscape

The two rental holiday residences, each featuring a shared living area, three en-suite bedrooms, and spacious outdoor settings with private pools, are situated on an elongated, sloping plot outside the urban plan in Kissamos, Chania. With a western orientation, the residences enjoy panoramic views of the renowned and rapidly developing Falasarna beach.

 

Integration with the Terrain

The site’s steep incline and dramatic natural surroundings inspired the core design concept: to embed the residences into the terrain, aligned parallel to the coastline, ensuring unobstructed sea views. The volumes of the two homes are topped with planted roofs and separated by a strip of untouched land with dense vegetation. This design approach enhances the privacy of outdoor areas while minimizing the overall impact on the landscape. From the coastline, the complex appears as a discreet, horizontal line of concrete and glass on the western façade, blending subtly with the environment.

 

 

Functional Layout

The floor plans are organized linearly, with a gradual transition from open-air spaces to semi-covered zones and fully enclosed, partially subterranean interiors. The eastern elevations and roofs are integrated into the slope, while the western façades open wide to the sea. Architectural features such as skylights and small sunken courtyards on the eastern side bring in natural light and promote cross-ventilation throughout the interior spaces.

By harnessing the insulating properties of the earth, the buildings are naturally shielded from harsh climatic conditions, including strong winds and intense solar radiation. This thermal buffering reduces the need for mechanical heating and cooling, resulting in lower energy consumption. The generous western openings, combined with atrium vents to the east, facilitate effective natural ventilation, while skylights further promote airflow through vertical stack ventilation.

 

Material Palette

The incorporation of modern technologies in the openings, construction methods, and materials contributes to energy efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint. Concrete and glass were selected to create a restrained architectural expression that harmonizes with the surrounding landscape. Their raw and minimalist finish lends the residences an informal, grounded character -one that fosters a deep connection with both place and nature.

 

 

Subterranean living

The subterranean house, benefitting from the gentle slope of the ground, is hidden inside a landscape of low vegetation in Volimes, Zante island, facing the sea.

 

Design Philosophy

The main design principle was to integrate the building into the singular ground morphology without causing any disruption; maximizing sea views from all spaces of the house became a driving requirement. The rooms are arranged in a succession oriented towards the sea view; wide openings facilitate visual contact with the sea, the swimming pool, and the surrounding landscape.

 

 

Undercut Construction

The ground section on the back side of the building reinforces its bioclimatic performance and allows natural lighting and cross-ventilation. The swimming pool, whose water extends to the living room as a shallow surface, contains a small sitting area inside, in visual continuity with the sea.

 

 

Material Palette

The choice of stone as the predominant material contributes to the building’s integration into the landscape; this further reinforces architectural articulation of the volumes, highlighting the horizontal white plane of the ceiling, juxtaposed to the vertical stone walls. The floor extends from the interior to the open-air spaces uninterrupted, on one single level, maintaining the same materiality. In combination with the large openings of the building, this results in the visual and functional unity of the entire built surface. The same idea of seamless unity is repeated in the construction of the roof, where the frames, curtains, ventilation equipment and lights are built-in, to maintain a single, uninterrupted surface.

 

Sectional ground

Set on a tranquil hillside within an olive grove in southern Peloponnese, this residence is defined by its distinctive Y-shaped green roof. Acting as an extension of the surrounding garden, the roof frames expansive views from the interior and integrates the building seamlessly into the landscape.

 

Spatial Organization

Circulation is designed to flow through, around, and over the house, creating a continuous promenade that links interior and exterior functions. This layout invites full engagement with the perimeter of the residence, while its low profile -never exceeding the height of the olive trees- ensures a harmonious relationship with the terrain and the natural setting.

The branching paths of the green roof define three distinct ground-level courtyards, each shaped as a hemisphere and programmed for specific activities based on the sun’s movement. The roof’s orientation is deliberately designed to cast shade at certain times of the day, enhancing comfort throughout. The western courtyard, where the main entrance is located, remains shaded until midday -ideal for breakfast- while transforming into an open-air cinema in the evening.

 

 

Architectural Features

A large perforated wall on the western façade protects the interior from the intense afternoon sun, while allowing natural cross-ventilation and passive cooling at night. The eastern courtyard, shaded from midday onward, serves as a lunch and relaxation area during the afternoon. The southern courtyard is active throughout the day, accommodating a swimming pool and functioning as an outdoor dining space in the evening.

The 12-meter pool, integrated into the southern courtyard, features a gentle slope that creates a beach-like experience. Along its southern edge, a Mediterranean-style terrace channels the overflow water. Adjacent to this area, a sunbathing deck offers uninterrupted views of the sea and the nearby island of Schiza. The interior is divided into two zones: a private wing with three bedrooms and two bathrooms oriented eastward, and a communal wing to the south, which includes an open-plan living room, dining area, and kitchen. All shared spaces have direct access to the three courtyards.

The curved wooden ceiling in the living area incorporates custom lighting and functions as a sound-absorbing element. A custom-designed bookshelf serves as a visual and spatial divider between private and communal areas. Its perforations evoke curiosity while offering a sense of intimacy for those using the bedrooms. Fixed windows, custom-fabricated from thermoformed Corian strips, feature perforations that support both natural ventilation and soft ambient lighting during the evening.

 

 

Construction Philosophy

Due to the complexity of the double-curved concrete formwork -and the lack of local contractors willing to take on the challenge- a CNC machine was purchased specifically for the project. This investment enabled the fabrication of numerous bespoke elements, including the ceiling light fixtures, fixed windows, partition bookshelf, and a range of custom furniture in wood and marble.

Every component was designed for easy on-site assembly by unskilled laborers, using construction drawings that doubled as step-by-step instructions. This streamlined approach, combined with thorough pre-construction planning and minimal reliance on traditional documentation, reduced the construction timeline by approximately seven months -without exceeding the budget or compromising the project’s quality.

 

Curved Terrain

The design creates a house that blends in its natural environment, comprised of steep gravel slopes, dressed in scattered wild thorny bushes, and beautiful large rock formations.

 

Context Integration

The most prominent landscape features, however, were the short, dry-stone retaining walls, locally called ‘xerolithies’, created long time ago, for land cultivation purposes. These walls, usually no more than a meter high, formed flat stripes of land parallel to the slope and extended along the entire surface of the hillside. The site with its ‘xerolithies’ was the spark of inspiration.

 

 

Morphological Approach

When one thinks of the Greek Islands and their vernacular architecture, scattered and stacked white boxes come to mind. The first step was to challenge this morphological preconception by imagining the main facades (front and back) of the house being formed as ‘xerolithies’. They start low and gradually develop at a sufficient height for a house. They move gently closer and away of the slope, independently from one another, forming spaces in between them. To achieve this, all the functions of the house were placed sequentially, making it long and narrow.

The walls have a lightness seeming as if like they were affected by the strong Cycladic winds, like ribbons in the air. To complete the ‘xerolithia’ likeness, the roof of the house was covered with soil and vegetation, emulating the natural landscape. This made the house almost invisible, especially when seen from behind and afar. Another important feature of the Cycladic rural house is the wooden pergola consisting of thick, raw, smooth, wooden beams and columns with a bamboo cover, all in their natural color. This structure appears also in the interior of the house, on the ceiling, following the traditional way of constructing roofs.

 

Material Palette

This particular element was used along the entire length of the structure, inside and outside. The beams supporting this structure, naturally, could not be placed parallel to each other; instead, they follow the house’s curvy morphology, like vertebrae on a long spinal cord. As a result, the bamboo was knitted in a fish bone manner, creating a unique pattern with beautiful shade textures. The doors and windows are wooden and simple, with a light olive color, and the main exterior walls are made of stone with no joint mortar. Both these decisions follow the traditional style and technique.

 

Adaptive reuse

The subterranean residence, situated on the western side of Kea, occupies the site of a compound of old stone warehouses once used for loading goods onto boats in the sheltered bay. Following its last conversion into a restaurant, the complex has been entirely redesigned to meet the needs of tranquil summer living, protected within the earth.

 

Context Integration

Access to the property is from the higher part of the plot, through a light ramp that leads into the ground, establishing the main circulation axis. A glass pivoting door opens into an interior garden with atmospheric lighting from the ceiling, replacing the old dark kitchens. At this point, movement branches off, leading on one side to an integrated living area with a kitchen, dining room, and living room that directly connects to the courtyard through large sliding openings. On the other side, it leads to two ensuite bedrooms behind a curved stone wall with narrow, linear windows and cupolas that illuminate the service spaces. The layout is completed with a guest house adjacent to the bedrooms, featuring a separate entrance and an impressive low horizontal opening that reveals the horizon view from the bed’s height.

 

 

Landscape Design & Materials

The extensive outdoor space, bordering the sea, features a large terrace with an irregular shape following the natural rock lines, discreetly divided into separate sections. The outdoor living area, adjacent to the interior living spaces, is shaded by two tensile canopies, while a tiered path leads directly to the small beach. The area in front of the bedrooms and the guest house is landscaped with low vegetation and side accesses from the interior, hidden behind the stone wall.

Throughout the building, the dominant material is the local natural stone from the original warehouse, giving the structure the appearance of dry-stone walls interspersed with interior and exterior spaces. The floors are finished with cement in a sand color, while the extensive earthen surfaces on the terrace and roof integrate the building into the arid island landscape. Dark shades are chosen for the interior, with partition walls and ceilings painted in modern gray, black metal details and frames, and fixed furniture made of black stone and walnut.

 

 

Furniture & Sustainability

The furnishings are minimal and lightweight, in the same dark tones as the building, except for the central sofa in the living room and the guest house, which are in vibrant orange. The building harmonizes with the landscape through its organic lines, planted roof, and natural materiality. Additionally, it is equipped with an energy management system to minimize its environmental footprint and a household desalination unit to utilize its seaside location without burdening the water reserves of the fragile island ecosystem.

 

Gradual reveal

The residence, located on the road from Parikia to the airport, blends into the natural hillside landscape with views of the islets and rocky outcrops between Paros and Antiparos.

 

Design Philosophy

The design austerity imposed by its underground construction, the orientation, and the panoramic views to the West and the Aegean Sea defined the main axes of the architectural solution. Thus, an internal and external environment was organized to gradually reveal its secrets, bringing the residents into constant dialogue with the built space and nature. An underground residence, by definition, has only one facade. Consequently, the desire for five en suite bedrooms -a master bedroom, a master guest room, and three standard ones- as well as for an open-plan living area with a sitting room, dining area, and kitchen, dictated a linear layout so that all primary spaces could take advantage of the imposing view offered by the location.

 

 

Functional Layout

To isolate access and protect the privacy of the outdoor spaces, a stonebuilt, oval-shaped internal courtyard with an olive tree at its center was created at the left edge of the residence, within the steep natural slope. Access, through an open gate, leads to a sunken recess on the right, where the glass main entrance is hidden from view, becoming a pivotal element of the composition. The entrance hall has a vertical planted opening on its left side for natural lighting and ventilation of the interior, along with a cloakroom and a guest WC, while the entrance to the master bedroom is on the right. Next is the open-plan living area, with a sitting room, dining area, and open kitchen, characterized by two large openings running its entire length.

 

 

Pool Design

One facing the external view and the pool, and the other facing a planted cour anglaise, enhancing the impression of an interior integrated into the external environment. Beyond the kitchen, a long corridor leads to the bedrooms, with the cour anglaise running along the entire left side, giving the sense of moving through a garden. The continuous pergola along the facade and the large openings transform the indoor and outdoor spaces into a unified functional whole. Built-in and wooden partitions under the pergola, between the different indoor spaces, offer the required privacy. The imposing infinity pool, extending almost the entire length of the residence, functions as a cantilevered water surface that visually connects the residence to the blue sea horizon.

 

Aegean background

The residence stands on the western slope of Antiparos, offering views of the sea and Sifnos. Despite an 8-acre plot, the terrain’s slope and the desire for panoramic views and landscape harmony led to choosing an underground construction.

 

Design Philosophy

Access is via a staircase at the rear, guiding visitors from the parking area to the main entrance. Upon entry, the extensive opening frames a vista of the sea, with Sifnos in the background. The living room and kitchen are centrally located in the same open space, with bedrooms on either side. The layout is linear, ensuring all rooms have sea views through large, sliding minimal windows, with direct access to the pool running alongside the building.

 

 

Functional Layout

One side houses the master bedroom with its fireplace, en suite bathroom, and terrace, while the other side accommodates four guest rooms with en suite bathrooms, a children’s room, and a staff room. Material selection was crucial, combining owners’ preferences with contemporary construction trends in the Cycladic landscape. White dominates the exteriors, complemented by natural materials like stone, creating texture contrasts and integrating the building into the landscape.

 

 

Material Palette & Vegetation

Internally, materials such as cement for walls and floors, marble for bathroom countertops, and wooden custom furnishings were chosen. The building’s placement on the plot preserves and incorporates existing cedar trees, characteristic of Antiparos and the Cyclades. Shrubbery, evergreen grasses, and drought-resistant shrubs were selected for the roof and pool surroundings, capable of withstanding the Mediterranean summer drought and minimal care.

 

Secret Landscape

The house is located near Aliki, on the south coast of Paros. Several built volumes are set into the relief of the land and disappear when viewed from above. The architecture, dominated by the roughness of local stone, allows three families to collectively gather on a site whose wild beauty must be preserved.

 

Design Philosophy

Below the access road, the gently sloping land presents three plateaus set with dry stone walls, vestiges of a distant agricultural past. The vegetation is dense and low, typical of the island of Paros. It is precisely this geography that guided the composition. The construction was excavated to integrate the roofs into the slope of the land. Craftfully designed incisions were made for entrances, terraces and shaded patios protected from the wind.

 

 

Functional Layout

The two houses on the upper side are joined by a common patio and an open kitchen, an ode to the conviviality and freedom of holidays. The main house below is stretched between two patios on the east and west sides, offering peace and shade at any time of the day. One is introverted and secretive, the other spreads out widely, facing the setting sun. The seaside facades are punctuated by the narrow vertical windows, typical of Paros.

At the back, large windows link the interior spaces to the terraces and patios. The exterior stone retaining walls are extended inside the buildings, affirming their anchorage to the land, and contributing to the fluidity of the circulations. The subterranean character and the shaded patios are particularly well suited to the island’s warm and windy climate. At night, the windows slide into the walls, and everyone sleeps under the stars.

 

 

Material Palette

At the far end of the slope, the swimming pool points towards a small bay that stands out below. Next to it, a beautiful, shaded terrace. The sea remains the undisputed star. The lower façades are treated in the same way as the retaining walls that define the strata of the cultivated areas. Only local stone is used, so that the resulting color and vibration of the material would blend into the surrounding nature. Architecture does not steal the limelight from the landscape.

The remaining material palette is sober and elegant. The muted resonance of the ancestral stones is reinterpreted, remaining intact, while wood, smooth concrete, and white marble offer a counterpoint to their roughness. Ultimately, the house and its architecture are about freeing oneself from all forms of decoration, including the facing of facades and walls. Open joints result in a grooved effect and create flat, horizontal parts where vegetation debris and marine sediments can be deposited, further integrating the building into the wild, island landscape.

 

Landscape extension

Built in a privileged location with panoramic Aegean views, the house in Vourni is a private refuge of relaxation, only a few miles away from Tinos town. Aiming at its harmonious integration in the environment, the composition balances between local materials and contemporary aesthetics, keeping with simple lines and a functional arrangement.

 

Design Philosophy

The building is designed in one level only, mostly dug underground into the slope, and the roof appears as a natural extension of the hill. The east part of the structure springs out of the rock, perpendicular to the underground wing, providing the courtyard with its desired privacy and protection from the wind, without compromising the impressive sea view. Concurrently, large, south-facing openings allow uninterrupted vistas from the interior.

 

 

Functional Organization

The program includes a dining area, lounge, and kitchen, as well as three spacious bedrooms. The entrance hall is the core of the composition, with two building wings extending from that point. Folding glazing in the front creates a seamless transition between the indoor space and the sheltered courtyard outside. There, the water element of the swimming pool is designed at a linear extension of the entrance access, and end at an infinity edge at the south of the terrace.

The east wing includes two bedrooms, with an atrium opening towards the view at their interval. The master bedroom occupies a prominent position at the southern edge of the house, with immediate access to the swimming pool. The west wing contains the large, integrated lounge and dining area, with the kitchen in the background. The third bedroom, with ensuite bathroom and independent access, may function as a separate guesthouse.

 

 

Landscape Design

The terrace is equipped with an outdoor lounge at the extension of the indoor shared areas, with a dining bench at its western part. The composition and the volumetric arrangement are organized in a way which facilitates the building’s integration into the landscape with the least possible disturbance. The same reasoning guides the selection of materials: unfaced stone is combined with wood and selected concrete elements, resulting in an earthy simplicity throughout.

 

Curved lines

The project is situated in a mountainous landscape covered with wild bushes and olive trees in Lefkada, offering one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the island. With the basic intention of designing the residence as a “spiritual refugee”, the composition is made of underground and semi-subterranean volumes that are interlocked on the plot, thus reducing the visibility of the building from the sea.

 

Circulation Route

The project unfolds in two linear levels, following the curvature of the terrain. Upon entering the house, a sense of exploration is initiated, where the gaze is directed towards the landscape and the sparkling reflections of the sea. Curved lines gradually lead the visitor to discovering the array of spaces. A key design objective is seamlessly extending the interiors to a plethora of exterior day-use zones such as semi-outdoor terraces, the pool plaza and the courtyard.

 

 

Spatial configuration

On the ground floor, the common areas as well as a guest room are seamlessly integrated into one of the stone walls. The upper floor houses three bedrooms. The living room and kitchen feature a spacious, open-plan layout, allowing natural ventilation and cooling during the evening hours when the north wind blows.

By separating the living room from the sloping ground, a courtyard is created that serves as a sheltered garden, providing shade and emphasizing the view of the mountains and sky. An elliptical concrete beam defines the main spaces, while a matching elliptical roof features two vertical openings that beautifully frame the olive trees. A pergola without supports extends the shade and frames the view of the sea. On the upper floor, a hallway connects the master bedroom to two additional bedrooms, which overlook the planted roof and the elliptical roof terrace.

 

 

Materials & Vegetation

A combination of neutral tones in shades of blue, grey, and green subtly delineates the house, enhancing its integration into the landscape. The construction was facilitated by specially designed formwork elements. The garden features a mix of local coastal vegetation, including wild olive trees, shrubs, and small gardens of aromatic Mediterranean plants, creating a unique sensory experience.

 

Natural integration

The complex of three undercut houses is situated in southern Evia, east of Karystos, in the “Sedouki” area, on a steep, south-facing plot.

 

Design Philosophy

The residences occupy the eastern part of the plot, which includes six independent vertical properties, where a building is constructed on three of them, one per property. This design ensures the privacy of each residence, while they collectively appear as a single structure through their architectural configuration. The complex is strategically placed on the hillside, offering unobstructed views of the sea and the surrounding natural landscape. The buildings are naturally integrated into the plot, featuring a uniform morphological approach for both the built areas as well as their respective open spaces.

 

Interior Layout

Each residence includes two bedrooms, a master en-suite bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a second bathroom. Additionally, it comprises a private swimming pool with a terrace, built-in sofas, and a barbecue area. Natural light floods all spaces through skylights at the back of the cave houses, while the large openings in the façade offer stunning views of the natural landscape and the sea.

 

 

Materials and Landscape Design

The spatial decorations create a quiet and tranquil environment, offering visitors moments of relaxation. The material and color selections are based on the Greek natural palette, dominated by shades of soil and sand. The landscape design features plants and materials that complement the natural environment, thus avoiding any visual overload.

 

 

Architecture: Lefteris Raviolos & Partners, MRV Architects

Photography: George Fakaros

ek issue: 270 | September 2022

Natural sensation

The hotel, situated in Imerovigli at the edge of volcanic rocks, is comprised of five undercut residences with courtyards arranged along the plot, creating the impression of an open terrace overlooking the Caldera and the Aegean Sea. One distinctive feature is the central pedestrian street that splits the design in two parts.

 

Location and Orientation

At the upper level, a villa is situated alongside the reception. Below the pedestrian level, four additional suites are developed, connected by a central outdoor staircase. The rooms are designed through varying typologies and oriented to maximize views of the Caldera and the volcano. Each suite features a courtyard that leads to a swimming pool, creating a seamless visual connection with the water.

 

Design Philosophy

Special emphasis is placed on ensuring the privacy the outdoor relaxation areas around the pool. The interior design follows a minimal approach, in keeping with the island’s traditional architecture. This achieves a harmonious blend of the traditional and the modern elements. The decor is simple, featuring Cycladic elements like built-in furniture and raw materials. The material selection imparts a sense of naturalness as well as subtle gloss to the space. The interior is dominated by pressed cement mortar, marble, and oak, while warm wood tones are seamlessly combined with the natural simplicity of cement mortar.

 

Landscape Design

In the exterior, the extensive use of raw, natural materials ensures continuity with Santorini’s landscape. This is evident in the monolithic treatment of the floors, featuring fine-grained and rough light-colored mosaic flooring in the outdoor and pool areas. The lighting design focuses on creating a uniform light diffusion throughout each space. Accent lighting is used to illuminate selected elements such as bathroom and office countertops, producing a more atmospheric effect. Special emphasis is placed on planting the exterior spaces, primarily with local low-height flora that harmoniously alternates with the existing natural features of the Santorini landscape.

Helical route

The house is located on a steep slope, at the eastern slopes of Pantokrator, on the northeastern side of Corfu, in a stepped olive grove, benefiting from the midday view to the bay of Nisaki and across to Corfu Town.

 

Design philosophy

The route from the coast to the olive grove follows an uphill course on narrow roads that constantly wrap around stone terraces. The layout of the house is “Z” shaped, both horizontally and vertically, in continuation of this route. Three long blocks of similar dimensions are placed on the highest part of the plot, to maximize the openings facing the view.

 

 

Building morphology

The ground floor volume is below ground and made of stone, forming a solid base to support the slope behind it, as a continuation of the existing dry-stone walls. The lighter upper volume, is offset towards the mountain, creating canopies and balconies.

In front of them, a second ground floor volume follows a hybrid logic, and has large sliding openings recessed behind walls of exposed concrete, shifted in relation to the rear volumes and creating a sequence of outdoor, transparent passages that alternate and diffuse the boundaries between interior and exterior. The hybrid logic of the two-story spaces enhances the views and maximizes the experience of weather-protected living next to nature.

 

 

Local materials & Roof Design

The material palette attempts to balance the strict geometry of the design logic and the exuberance of the natural Corfu landscape: pebbled floors, local stone, earth-toned cement and black anodized metal elements. Three walls of exposed concrete anchor the building to the landscape and balance the horizontal canopies that extend towards the view. The choice of a flat roof instead of the traditional sloping one, visually minimizes the landscape intervention and contrasts with the steep slope of the land as well as the verticality of the cypress trees, scattered inside the olive grove.

 

Concrete canvas

On a sloping, rocky plot of 4,070m2 with panoramic views towards Kalathas beach, a single family residence was designed with a focus on maximum integration into the landscape. The form of the partially underground building emerged as a conscious response to the character of the natural environment and the desire for minimal alteration of the terrain and its morphology.

 

Context Integration

The house develops linearly, following the geometry of the plot. It is located on one of the two natural plateaus of the slope, where the incline is gentler. An attempt was made to preserve the existing flora and to incorporate the characteristic tamarisk tree that dominates the entrance at street level. Access is achieved through a crevice in the rock, leading the visitor through a long, uncovered corridor-light well to an entrance hall, which divides the residence into living and sleeping areas.

 

 

Functional Layout

From this point, there is a central view of the islet of Kalathas and the window frames fold back to unify the interior and exterior of the residence. The main living space combines the lounge, dining room, and kitchen in an open plan layout, directly connected to the exterior through a large 14m sliding glass door. Five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms are located in the western wing, along with the vertical connection to the underground auxiliary spaces.

 

 

Material Palette

In all, the building’s total area comprises of 36m2 for main functions, 40m2 for parking and reception and 100m2 for underground auxiliary functions. The architecture seeks to converse with the surrounding landscape through the use of exposed materials: bare concrete was chosen as the primary expressive medium, acting as a neutral canvas upon which the artworks of Netherlands-based visual artist Daniella Rubinovitz are displayed.

Combined with the polished concrete mortar flooring and the warm textures of wood and metal, there is a balance between simplicity and material density. The similarity of the concrete and natural ground color tones allows the building to visually integrate into the mountain, while excavated rock fragments were reused in the landscape design. Large openings, the diffusion of light, and the use of natural materials, such as the pergola with a wicker covering, enhance the continuity between interior and exterior spaces. The residence embraces the qualities of the landscape, functioning a discreet backdrop that highlights both nature and art.