Toward the Sun - Summerhouse in Antiparos

The main residence shaped by -a linear wing, irregular in form due to the terrain, that serves as a living area for the children and evokes a contemporary reinterpretation of a fortified typology, and -a vertical, tower-like volume that houses the main bedrooms and kitchen. These two elements embrace the central communal living room, “heart” of the composition. The folded, inclined slab that follows the natural slope of the land, seeks terrain continuity. The space is bounded on one side by a natural rock and opens fully on the other, offering views to the west and the Aegean landscape.

The concept emerged from the archaic essence of the site itself. During our initial explorations on the natural slope we felt an urge to engage with a more primal and primordial, ancient sense of inhabitation. The central idea took shape from the imagined inscription of a cross -two perpendicular axes- on the hillside. A gesture, inspired by the soaring silhouettes of seagulls, with their wings outstretched as they hovered above the cape, that formed the composition’s conceptual structure. -The east-west axis penetrates the composition and follows a descending-ascending outdoor movement, leading from the entrance to the cantilevered pool, the sea and the sunset. -The north-south axis connecting the exposed northern terrain with the sheltered southern bay and the view toward Despotiko’s ruins, serves as the protective circulation route, transitioning from outdoor to semi-open and finally to enclosed interior spaces. -Thus the protected living spaces are organized between the two axes.

The formal language of the synthesis is expressed through its wings, cubist masses, horizontal slabs, and the folded roof slab punctuated by skylights, a contemporary version of Kandinsky’s elemental syntax-lines, points, planes, and solids. Structural elements from exposed concrete are paired with rough local stone. Sourced from the site excavation, not only grounds the structure in the earth and reinforces continuity with local building traditions, but also embodies an environmentally conscious approach rooted in a sustainable ethos and deep respect for the natural environment. Natural light enters through skylights in the roof and multiple framed openings, enhancing the relationship between inside and outside. This spatial experience, combining natural light, ventilation and materiality, evokes a Mediterranean sense of living. The contrast between earthy textures, sharp steel elements, and the warmth of wood underscores the dual character of the dwelling: both archaic and modern.