P R O F I L E | M O L D A R C H I T E C T S
T O P : Y I O R G I S -Y E R O L Y M B O S ; M I D D L E : P A N A G I O T I S V O U M B A K I S ; B O T T O M : Y I O R G I S -Y E R O L Y M B O S
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occupy the top level, and public spaces,
including living and dining areas, along
with self-contained guest quarters,
occupying the middle and lower levels,
respectively.
Responding to the unique character of the
landscape, the project, though a fiercely
individualist design, also represents
what is a textbook blending of the built
environment and the natural world. But
there is nothing bland about it. "Our vast
respect for the land did not lead us to a
timid design, which would reproduce and
be submitted to stereotypes," the practice
continues, but rather, "we aimed at an
architecture that declares its presence yet
manages to 'belong' to its surroundings."
Furthering that objective meant
reinforcing an organic aesthetic drawn
from a raw material palette of stone,
exposed concrete, glass, timber, and
metal that unambiguously links it to the
rugged nature of the terrain, as well as to
the island's rich history in mining, which
dates to antiquity. From the textured
exterior walls to the interior cavity of
the house, for example, the project is
purposely roughened up. The result is
a kind of coarsening, an effect fortified
in the practice's use of local stone
that was extracted from the site and
repurposed in the design. Beyond directly
referencing the landscape and serving as
a constant reminder that the structure is
underground, the rock also helps regulate
temperature while also forming the large
imposing stone walls that run the length
of the structure.
While these imposing flanks help call
attention to the sky, the home's vast
glazed openings—full-height, energy-
efficient panels of glass—connect the
composition to the outdoors and draw
the eye out to the splendid sea-facing
view. The outdoor patios do the same,
with large overhangs offering shade. At
the end of one of these courtyards, a sleek
infinity pool, bathes in the sun.
A slow, methodical descent into the
house opens a new experience. While the
exterior landscape is harsh, the interior
is warm, infused with neutral tones and
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