House in Achladies

Designed as a series of parallel adjoining rooms, this vacation house by Lydia Xynogala features large openings that contemplate the sea of Sporades Islands in Greece.

Situated on a sloping triangular site facing the sea, the house is conceived as a series of parallel adjoining rooms. Each room sits at a different elevation following the topography and contains a dedicated program. Access to the entry volume is located at the highest level of the site. A stair makes the slope flow into the house. This entry condition constitutes the first interior experience of the house, that of a viewing apparatus onto the sea.

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Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

Each volume contains a dedicated program. The public spaces of the house are located in the center, master bedroom and guestrooms are on either side. Each space is focused on a large opening to the south, contemplating the sea. This is complemented by a smaller window to the north, looking towards the slope. These openings also provide efficient cross ventilation for each room.

Sliding doors through the double walls mark the passage from one space to the next. The notion of a “cut” through the solid walls is emphasized by the grey marble of the thresholds. Walls are constructed from solid concrete and provide large thermal mass. The used materials are very familiar in older greek residential interiors such as terrazzo floors, which is present throughout the house inside and outside as well as marble and plaster render, but used in spaces, forms and combinations that are not so familiar.

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Model

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, collage

Model

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, collage

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece, 2016

plan new house-1-100-final

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, plan

elevations

Lydia Xynogala, House in Achladies, sections and elevations

House in Achladies, Sporades, Greece
Program: vacation house
Architect: Lydia Xynogala
Area: 200 sqm
Completion: 2016

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