A breathtaking residential project by Kapsimalis Architects has transformed a sloping hillside plot on the Greek island of Folegandros into an innovative terraced home that seamlessly blends with the natural landscape. The house is strategically positioned within a terraced landscape formed by historic stone retaining walls known as xerolithies and surrounded by low Mediterranean vegetation. With its southwest orientation, the property offers spectacular open views toward the Aegean Sea and the surrounding agricultural terrain.
The architectural design responds directly to the site's unique topography and geometry, creating a harmonious relationship between built structures and natural terrain. The house is divided into four interconnected parts distributed across different levels, reflecting the elongated and stepped form of the plot. Access to the site occurs from an old rural road along the eastern boundary, continuing through natural stone paths and steps that are integrated into the existing terrain.
The building volumes follow two primary directions - one aligned with the site's westward orientation and another following the southwest angle of its historic stone terraces. This thoughtful organization establishes two main architectural typologies: freestanding pavilion-like structures that house communal areas and partially subterranean volumes designed for private spaces. The pavilions reinterpret the island's traditional single-room stone buildings, skillfully combining elements of local vernacular architecture with influences from Greek modernism.
The design concept draws inspiration from multiple sources, with the pavilion forms taking conceptual reference from the compact geometry of small Cycladic temples. Meanwhile, the subterranean cave structures reinterpret the semi-buried rural storage spaces that were once common throughout the island, expressed here through a minimal, cubic composition that maintains the essence of traditional island architecture while embracing contemporary design principles.
Kapsimalis Architects integrated the building with the landscape through partial embedding into the terrain and thoughtful reuse of existing stone terraces. The upper-level pavilion contains an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, connected to an entrance patio on the east side and an outdoor courtyard to the northwest, which sits adjacent to a carefully restored stone barn. An internal staircase links this main level to a lower subterranean block containing two bedrooms and a bathroom, each with direct access to a private courtyard.
A second pavilion accommodates an additional open-plan living and dining area, with a secondary kitchen located underground behind it. This space opens northward to an outdoor courtyard featuring dedicated seating and dining areas for outdoor entertainment. Below this level, a second subterranean block houses two more bedrooms and an additional bathroom, with each room connected to outdoor patios situated on the property's lowest terrace level.
A scenic path along the southern edge of the plot connects the various exterior levels and leads visitors to a small observatory platform that offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and distant sea. This pathway system ensures that all areas of the multi-level property remain easily accessible while maintaining the natural flow of the terrain.
The architects prioritized the use of locally sourced materials throughout the project to ensure a cohesive relationship with the island's natural environment and building traditions. Stone quarried directly from the construction site was employed for the facades, retaining walls, and property fencing, while exposed earth-tone concrete forms the structural framework of the buildings. Oak wood frames all windows throughout the property, and interior and exterior surfaces are finished with locally produced cement plaster and beaten concrete flooring that reflects the island's traditional building methods while providing modern durability and aesthetics.
Through this comprehensive approach to design and material selection, the architecture successfully merges with its dramatic terrain, maintaining strong continuity with Folegandros island's centuries-old building traditions and pristine natural setting. The project stands as an exemplary model of how contemporary architecture can honor and enhance traditional island landscapes while providing modern comfort and functionality for residents.
