Structures built into rock, below ground level, with at least one side remaining exposed, have a rich tradition in various parts of the world, cultures and eras, stretching as far back as antiquity.
In Greece, these rock-embedded structures, known as yposkafa, are common on Santorini and at Meteora, while application of this technique may also be found in places such as Granada in Spain, Cappadocia in Turkey, Matera in Italy, and Tunisia.
In Santorini, old houses built in this fashion usually housed boat crews. A look around at the Santorini village of Vothonas clearly shows that the old building technique has regained popularity, the difference being that such methods were once used as housing for the poor but now represent the latest in bioclimatic architecture and are applied for luxury holiday homes.
We present four such homes, built in rock, two of which were designed by the architect Christos Vlahos, one of the modern-day pioneers of rock-embedded buildings, who also contributed to legislation authorising their development. As for the other two projects, one was designed by the A2architects team of Sofia Zioga and Sotiris Anyfantis, and the other was designed by Scapearchitecture, a firm founded and run by another duo, Stavroula Hristofilopoulou and Giorgos Atsalakis.
All four projects represent modern examples of this type of rock-embedded construction method, well suited to Greece’s rocky landscape.
Villa Punta, Ios
Built on a hill, Villa Punta is comprised of two interlinked buildings built into rock. This project’s superb location offers an unobstructed view of Mylopotas beach on the east side of Ios, as well as of the island’s port, on the west side.
The house combines bioclimatic features with harmonious presence in the natural environment courtesy of its rooftop gardens and use of materials such as stone and wood. Its large openings along the sides and the central atrium highlight the continual variations of the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The villa has spacious lounge spaces, a kitchen, dining room, as well as 5 en suite bedrooms on both sides of the building. Water is a key element in the design of the villa’s exterior spaces. It is sided by two linear swimming pools that enhance the view towards the Aegean Sea.
Characteristics
Location: Ios, Cyclades
Size: 660 m2
Year of completion: 2021
Architectural design: Christos Vlahos, Wip Architects
Supervision & Construction: Christos Vlahos
Interior design: Io Theofilou
Photo: Stavros Niflis
5 en suite bedrooms/gym/outdoor BBQ/garage
Villa Milo, Ios
Villa Milo, at Ios’ Mylopotas area, faces a southwesterly direction for a magical view of other Cyclades islands and the Aegean Sea.
The building is designed in a way that minimises its impact on the landscape. It is split over two wings, one serving as the main living area with all necessary spaces and 3 en suite bedrooms, while the other wing serves as the guesthouse with 2 en suite bedrooms.
The main living room area includes a kitchen, dining space as well as an open-spaced living room. This space opens up, via a sliding door, to a sheltered outdoor dining space, by the swimming pool.
At the back of the building, fixed glass walling, from ceiling to floor, highlight the surrounding rocks, while a skylight corridor around the sides enables natural light to enter and also serves as ventilation for the rock-embedded villa. The rooftop spaces recreate he natural setting as they share the same flora and bioclimatic characteristics. The interior spaces also conform with the natural environment, serving as an extension of it and offering a splendid view.
Characteristics
Location: Ios, Cyclades
Size: 335 m2
Year of completion: 2015
Architectural design: Christos Vlahos, Wip Architects
Supervision & Construction: Christos Vlahos
Interior design: Io Theofilou
Photos: Giorgos Fakaros
5 en suite bedrooms/gym/outdoor BBQ/garage
The three houses each consist of two sections that are divided by an atrium. One section serves as the entrance and living area, while the other section, built into the rock, one metre deep, hosts the bedrooms and bathrooms. The third house also features a separate guesthouse, further down the slope. The bathrooms and kitchens of these holiday houses are at the back sections, while special openings have been incorporated into the design for natural light and ventilation.
Their rooftop surfaces are layered with soil and have gardens, offering insulation and harmonisation with the natural landscape. The swimming pools and paved outdoor spaces at the Asini complex are aligned with the three houses, directly linked to the living areas, and offer sea views. All areas of the three houses offer direct contact with the surrounds, including the landscaped outdoor areas, through large windows. The northeastern orientation of the buildings enabled the use of large window surfaces.
The complex was designed with minimal, open spaces in mind. The houses are single-storey spaces that blend with the environment. The combination of above-ground and rock-embedded sections, plus accessible roof-top sections, creates an interesting overall result that gently integrates with the landscape of Asini. The partially stone-rendered walls, external insulation and garden on the rooftop surfaces keep the building’s temperatures cool in summer and warm in winter. Appropriately positioned openings offer a natural air conditioning system. The surrounding space features cobbled paths and stone walls, while the overall setting is made complete by old olive trees, cypresses and the garden.
Characteristics
Size: 350 m2
Design-construction: 2017-2018
Architectural design: Α_2_ARCHITECTS
Architectural team: Sotiris Anyfantis, Sofia Zioga, Vilma Agrafioti, Nikos Ioannou
Construction: MYTINILINI DEVELOPMENT S.A.
Construction supervision: Panos Bastos, Giorgos Anagnou
Electromechanical design: E.M.G.
Structural design: Antonis Kotis
Photos: Giorgos Kordakis
Styling: Ioli Hiotini
Secret Garden House
Secret Garden House is a summer residence whose design incorporates the building with its surrounds. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between architecture and outdoor living. This house, built on a slope, embraces the surrounding nature, promoting a new type of co-existence between inhabitants and the landscape.
This property is situated at Faraggas in Paros’ southwest, on a plot of land slightly tilted towards the sea. A small olive grove features on the southern side of the plot, while a group of pine trees mark its eastern border. An uphill path from the parking space leads to the property’s main outdoor living area, situated at the plot’s most elevated point. A dining space and lounge area feature under the shade of a pergola, sided by a fully equipped kitchen, sunbathing deck, pines, as well as shallow water, an element that contributes to improving the property’s microclimate during the hot summer months.
Sheltered from the northern winds of the Cyclades, the property’s outdoor living area offers an unobstructed view of the garden, sea and neighbouring Antiparos. The main section of the building is located at the lower part of the slope, in front of and below the aforementioned living area, as a rock-embedded section, in accordance with new building regulations that permit doubled floor space for such houses. Large sliding doors disappear inside the walls when opened, transforming the house into an open space with a panoramic view towards the olive grove and sea.
The indoor spaces include a section with a lounge, dining space, kitchen, 2 small bedrooms and a main bedroom with a private bathroom, as well as all necessary supporting spaces. Courtyard spaces at the back end of the rock-embedded building help create natural ventilation, while one of these spaces also serves as an outdoor shower.
Secret Garden House’s landscape design also strikes a balance between human intervention and natural environment. Evergreen plants were selected based on the local flora, minimising watering needs and offering a colour range that constantly varies throughout the year. The paths are made with earth-tone materials that remain discreet.
Maintaining a low profile under the trees and aligned with the slope on which it sits, this house offers intentional detachment far from the crowds and summertime intensity of Paros, a cosmopolitan island. After all, Secret Garden House is a retreat where guests may relax and rediscover themselves, hidden within a secret garden setting, while enjoying their holidays in the Cyclades.
Characteristics
Land size: 1,800 m2
Year of completion: 2019
Architectural design: Scapearchitecture/Giorgos Atsalakis – Stavroula Hristofilopoulou
Structural design: Lambros Babilis/Structural Engineer
Mechanical design: Technomech/Haris Milionis – Zisis Tsiatsikas
Landscape design: Elandscape/Elli Pagalou & Associates
Lighting consultants: Prolight
Construction: ACRM S.A./Project director: Nikos Bakoulas
Photos: Ioanna Roufopoulou
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