314 Architecture Studio is dealing with a refurbishment of a summer house on a cliff of the west of Corfu island in Greece.
The land sets on a steep cliff covered in olive trees and surrounded by the sea. The house is located on the edge of a cliff like a lighthouse having a spectacular panoramic view of the Ionian Pelagos. The remote location of the house provides tranquillity and at night the absence of artificial light to the close area provides a tremendous view of the stars. Due to that the property will be called “The Midnight Stars”.
Main goal of this refurbishment was a new design embracing Corfu’s vernacular architecture transformed by a more contemporary design language.
The introduction of the arch was the main component for its design. Due to the decomposition of the traditional typology and the rate of repetition of the arch element we created a minimal contemporary form. The plot expands to a 6 000 square meters area and the building is total 300 square meters.
The studio tried to stay on these circumstances without affecting any of the natural environment.
The main entrance located in the ground floor of the house leads to an open plan space surrounded by a series of arches making it an extrovert area with a monolithic composition. The living room along with the kitchen and dining room are located there. The existing columns are clad with mirrored panels in a triangular form. The original volume of the pillars is thus decomposed rendering it light weight and transparent as it also reflects the view and the surrounding landscape.
314 Architecture Studio used natural materials as white cement plastered floors and walls, in a pattern that reminds a ruined stone wall.
Outside the house the patio and the swimming pool are made by uncoated concrete. Facing the swimming pool there are the master bedroom and a guest room. The interior of the house was designed with curved ceilings and in this way the intersections of domes and arches created this contemporary design.
Leading to the upper level, the studio designed a more closed volume which allows the rest areas to have their privacy, but always keeping in mind the orientation for the appreciation of the breath-taking views from the bedrooms towards the sunset.
Facts & Credits
Architect: 314 Architecture Studio
Location: Corfu island, Greece
Project Year: 2017
Dseign team: Pavlos Chatziangelidis, Giota Chala, Evita Lazou, Mara Kissa, Katerina Sakarelou, Anna Nazou, Michael Kikas, Anna Scarpa, Javier Golbano Gomiz, Gabriela Marco Martinez, Eleftheria Fatsea, Dimitrios Panagiotou, Kyriakos Messios, Anastasiia Pavliuk, Solomiya Butenyts, Yeheniia Kaluizhna, Florea Gianina Elena, Aycan Duman, David Sanchez Miguel
Structural Design: Foteini Karagianni – civil engineer
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