Block722 Architects designed the Residence in Syros II, which is a summer house that hosts a family of four and their guests. In contrast to the neighboring Syros I residence, the steep and intense topography dominated the design process. A massive staircase leads to a gradual descent from the top towards the house, intensifying the experience of the Cycladic landscape. The entrance is surrounded by the higher volumes of the main areas of the house, ending the descent path, then opening immediately to an ample view of the Aegean.
Programmatically, the house is clearly divided into the clean and square volume of the common areas (living room, kitchen) and the partially buried rectangular volume of the bedrooms. The guesthouse is also buried inside the slope, defined by a stone wall that is typical of the local architecture. The main volume is characterized by a free floor plan, allowing the continuous view of the outside and offering a cozy living space near the fireplace. The outdoor common spaces include two open “courtyards” shielded from the sun and the central part of the court, open to sunbathing and the children’s plays.