Lasithi, Crete
Athens-based architecture studio Block722 has completed a private holiday home that is perfectly incorporated within its natural surroundings with the use of textural materials taking advantage of the panoramic views towards the mountains and the Aegean Sea.
The architecture was driven by a desire to create a modern house that is discreet and respectful of its surroundings.
Negotiating the site’s angle through levels instead of steps was also critical in molding a relaxing environment that embraces its setting.
A path down a slope from the main road leads visitors to the residence’s entrance. The complex’s size is cleverly broken down into smaller volumes, which are interconnected through circulation routes and in-between spaces – some indoors and some open-air.
The main home is divided into two low buildings linked by a semi-enclosed area with a water feature.
The design merges natural materials often used in the local vernacular, such as wood and stone.
At the same time, the atmosphere is distinctly contemporary, blending Block722’s inherent Scandinavian sensibility and organic minimalism with Japanese architectural influences.
This nod to Japan unfolds through the design’s refreshing simplicity of clean, almost austere lines that balance the materials’ natural, tactile nature and the overall craft-rich approach.
The powerful Greek sunlight helps define shapes and surfaces, playing with the textured materials, as the architects drew on the feel and rhythm of the context for both interiors and exteriors.
The journey of light and the clients’ habits throughout the day led to the spatial arrangement inside.
Each section and route are carefully planned to support functionality and frame vistas, through visual journeys and spatial narratives that blend inside and outside, the natural and the human-made.
The design seeks to enhance slow living, taking its cues from the island’s lifestyle.
The architectural team has collaborated with local artisans throughout the construction, applying expert manufacturing skills to a large array of elements in the house.
This applies to both high-end architectural details and furniture pieces, the majority of which are bespoke and created specifically with this project in mind, using marble, wood, stone, and terrazzo.
This approach, rich in artistry and locally sourced, natural materials, elevates the design into a truly custom-made residential gem.
Neutral, earthy colors dominate, and quality is prioritized over quantity.
Project: The Hill House – O Lofos
Architects: Block722
Lead Architect: Sotiris Tsergas
Landscape Architects: Outside landscape architecture
Interior Designer: Katja Margaritoglou
Photographers: Ana Santl
