Located in the heart of Chora, Astypalaia, this vacation house is a handcrafted residence, carved into its hillside location. The design was based on minimal intervention to the structure, using a soothing palette of natural, local materials that celebrate the traditional architecture of the island. Smooth surfaces and rich timbers balance the raw hardness of the structure and create a cave of elegant minimalism and serenity.
The project aims to create a sense of the temporal meeting of the new with the old, passing from the exterior to the interior, where a continuous play between the traditional and the modern, the light and the shadow, the organic and the geometrical is unfolding. The form of the conventional structure retains the archetypal feel of the dome, creating a sense of intimacy and security afforded by a dwelling, which is being redefined with a contemporary vocabulary that highlights its authenticity.
The vault is characterized by its robust modulation of light and its sense of lightness. The openings of the building are kept at the depth of the dome, washing the whole space with light, drawing the visitors towards the entrance, and the living room. The remaining armored space is turned inward and perceived as private, creating a warm entryway.
To emphasize the geometric simplicity of the project, all circulation is linear and unfolds starting from the entrance and then turns parallel to the central axis of the dome, ending at the upper level of the loft. Throughout the length of the ground floor, the persistent geometry of the dome connects all living spaces, emphasizing their connectivity, creating a sectional continuity throughout the residence, and allowing natural light to penetrate the deep building.