Yacht House | Chalkidiki, Greece

Aerodynamic forms

The residence is located by the sea, in North Greece, at the foot of a hill. The property is inclined, west-facing, and it enjoys uninterrupted views over the nearby gulf.

Design Philosophy

The design envisioned a house in a modern style, with straight lines and white color, reflecting the personality and character of its owners. The composition is largely informed by the design and form of yachts. The shape of the volumes is marked by architectural clarity and sharpness, and their configuration is sculptural. Acute and obtuse angles, combined with the aerodynamic shape of the volumes, add to a futurist impression. Linear lighting draws the outlines of forms, and white color underscores the geometric accuracy of the building.

Functional Organization

For functionality, the principal idea was to articulate the house in two distinct volumes, one for the main residence, and a smaller, secondary one, that becomes an occasional guesthouse. In-between, a designed open-air space can be used all through the day. On the north side, the large, covered porch of the main house provides shade, cool, and views to the owners. All outdoor spaces are adjacent to the building, creating the feel of an integrated whole, with seamless transition between inside and out. This feel is reinforced with large openings on the façade.

In the interior, the main residence evolves on two levels. The ground floor houses the living areas, and the top level accommodates private spaces, including two bedrooms and a bathroom. The master bedroom opens to a spacious terrace with 180° views, from Mount Olympus to the nearby islands.

Landscape Design

The dominant white of the house is combined with white and wooden furniture in light tones. The rest of the decoration is restrained and is complemented with art works. In the front of the property, a low retaining wall running parallel to the building compound, divides the immediately adjacent outdoor space from the swimming pool area, at a lower level. The connection is made through a broad flight of steps. The clear shape of the swimming pool, and the stark geometric volumes around, are interrupted by green strips planted with tropical species, adding a note of cool and relaxation. As the summer sun draws its course, the shadows of the jagged surfaces are transformed, and appear longer, sharper, more dramatic. At sunset, the shadow intensity fades, the warm colors of the light are reflected on the glass screens of the house, while the background is always dominated by the outline of Olympus.