Singapore-based architecture firm Atelier Pendhapa has completed a stunning villa on the Greek island of Kythera, marking their first major project in Europe. The harmonious residence seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape while maintaining a confident contemporary presence, representing a masterpiece of thoughtful design and meticulous craftsmanship.
The four-year project required an unprecedented level of site study and environmental consideration. Antonin Hautefort, one of Pendhapa's two founders, explains that the first two years were spent exclusively studying the building site. "We kept traveling to the island just to understand the property," he notes. The architects asked crucial questions about seasonal vegetation changes, prevailing wind directions, and how to ensure privacy from the picturesque fishing village located one kilometer away at the sea.
One of the most significant challenges came from the site's proximity to the Chapel of Saint George, a popular Easter pilgrimage destination on Kythera. This required the architects to consider aerial views carefully, a first for the firm. "This villa is one of the rare cases where aerial photography played a decisive role," Hautefort explains. "It was a premiere for us."
Kythera's rich historical significance, dating back to Minoan times and mythologically known as where Aphrodite rose from the sea, has resulted in strict building regulations. The architects were permitted to excavate only five feet deep, a limitation that ultimately drove creative solutions. "We weren't allowed to dig deeper than one and a half meters," Hautefort says. "But this also had advantages because it forced us to find solutions that didn't correspond to the usual ones."
The sloping terrain toward the sea created natural level differences, with rooms at one end of the house sitting three feet lower than the other. Rather than fighting this topography, Hautefort and his partner Ignatio Tenggara embraced it, locating the two home offices requested by the owners in the lower section. The clients, a couple in their fifties working in the French film industry, use the property year-round for both relaxation and work.
"The office spaces are relatively small and only eight feet high, ideal for concentration," Hautefort notes. Despite their compact size, these spaces received the same meticulous attention to detail as the rest of the house. The architects used local stones from the property for the terrazzo flooring throughout the home and employed a traditional Greek technique of creating textural wall grooves using teaspoons in wet plaster.
The villa's exterior showcases equally innovative approaches to material and texture. The terraces and stairs feature reddish-tinted concrete that was hand-hammered and chiseled after hardening to create a slightly rough surface. "When you walk on it barefoot, you have the impression of stepping on rocks – very pleasant," Hautefort describes. These subtle irregularities create an aesthetically satisfying connection to the natural stone landscape.
Spanning approximately 5,400 square feet, the villa is organized in a V-shaped configuration when viewed from above, dividing into two wings. The smaller wing houses three guest rooms, while the larger section serves as the owners' primary living space. "We oriented ourselves to boat building for the floor plan," Hautefort explains. "We moved the technical devices to the middle part like on a yacht. When all the sliding doors are open, the rest feels like a large loft."
The interior design reflects Pendhapa's commitment to custom craftsmanship and global artisan collaboration. The living room features bespoke furniture designs by the firm, including a coffee table that required 28 attempts to achieve the perfect Japanese lacquer color tone. A striking wall installation was created by Mexican artist Antonio Cornelio Rendón, who spent eight months weaving bast fiber.
Since founding Pendhapa – a Sanskrit word meaning "roof over one's head" or "porch" – six years after graduating from London's AA School of Architecture, Hautefort and Tenggara have built an impressive international practice. Beyond their Singapore headquarters, they maintain offices in Paris, Milan, and London, with projects primarily focused on Bali and other Indonesian islands, alongside an extensive furniture collection they produce themselves.
The villa's dining area showcases their innovative approach to materials through a large table topped with Raku ceramic mosaics. This Japanese firing technique involves removing glazed pieces from the kiln while hot and placing them in a sealed metal container filled with organic materials like wood chips and straw. The burning process creates a second glaze, often producing rainbow-colored, high-gloss finishes.
Sustainability and landscape integration remain central to the design philosophy. The two flat roofs feature green plantings that help the structure virtually disappear into the landscape when viewed from the pilgrimage chapel above. Evening terraces rely entirely on candlelight rather than electricity, with the flames reflecting beautifully off Moroccan Zellige tiles from Popham.
The villa's success extends beyond architectural achievement to client satisfaction and environmental harmony. "The clients are very proud of their villa," Hautefort shares. "Every few weeks they send us photos with messages like 'Look what we've planted here.' Experiencing that is very beautiful for us." The project stands as a testament to thoughtful architecture that respects both cultural heritage and natural beauty while creating a thoroughly modern living experience.
