Ukino House | Lefkada

Natural Ambience

Overlooking the Ionian Sea, in a beautiful, inclined terrain, elements in bare concrete, steel, and plaster shape a complex of one primary residence and two hosting units with a shared swimming pool.

Design Philosophy

From the initial phases of the design research, there was a pursuit for an architecture marked by interiority and a sense of self-sufficiency and isolation within the property; a quest for a stage set which would add “soul” to the new landscape, preserving its natural atmosphere. The priority was not to simply organize entrance to and exit from the compound, but to design everyday circulation and living within. Various scenarios were elaborated, involving pedestrian routes during night and day, under rain or sunshine, to understand how the inhabitants would dwell in their surroundings inside and outside of the buildings.

Architectural Forms

The linear, main residence rests upon a pre-existing natural plateau following the contour lines, and comprises two parts: the transparent, steel structure of the living areas, and the compact bedroom volume, clad in vertical chestnut boards. The guesthouses, a pair of simple cement limewashed cubes with openings, are placed on two levels designed to accommodate the yards. A long, linear pool in the centre binds the volumes and the functions. Fold-out shading panels provide privacy or transparency between the courtyard and the secondary buildings. The interiors consist of bright, open-plan spaces with large glass surfaces framing different views of the sea and the landscape.

Materials & custom structures

Bright limewash paint on the vertical surfaces and ceilings, wooden or cement floors, and custom-made detailed woodwork shape a composition of soft, personal minimalism. Light steel structures covered in natural cane, shelter the entrance and parking spaces. The exterior courtyards are clad in industrial fine pebble raw terrazzo or in locally sourced aggregate, depending on their functional requirements.

Neutral tones and natural materials balance the interior universe with the natural surroundings. Elements in bare concrete, steel, natural plaster, drystone locally sourced from the excavation, and local chestnut and fir, add to a feel that the building forms rise from the land. Landscaped ground platforms facilitate the flow between interior and outdoor areas and invite the surroundings at spaces left all but untreated.

Sustainable Approach

Despite the extensive intervention and deforestation required by the construction, the architecture has been able to preserve and restore the essence of the original land, planting naturally next to what had already been in the soil, balancing transitions between nature and structure. The geometry and orientation of the forms ensure a bioclimatic function through humble means, working with the sun, the shadow, and the wind. High-quality materials and infrastructure create a breathable, fully insulated and mechanically supported shelter, without exaggerations. The addition of photovoltaic panels, placed horizontally on the roof, sees to the future independence of the house from the commercial electricity network.