Small rocky cove in Greece hides sea view house

Embedded in a small rocky cove on the island of Serifos in Greece is a residence that is almost invisible from the outside, except from the sea, because it is dug into the ground and has a green roof. It is nCaved, a project by Mold Architects. The retreat house enjoys an extraordinary view of the sea and is protected from the strong winds from the north. From a zenithal view, the structure of the building embedded in the rocky slope is clear: in a compact trapezoidal plot, an orthogonal grid generates a "chessboard" alternation of solids and voids: rooms, patios and passages.

A series of dry stone walls guide the inhabitants' gaze towards the sea and the horizon. Their primitive materiality contrasts with the lightness of the large windows, which can be opened completely. The overall sensation is that of being in a cave. The interiors, obtained by cutting and subtraction, are characterised by colours, materials and finishes with a rough appearance: rock and cement, wood and metal are kept in their raw state. 

The residence, which follows the slope of the land, has three levels, two of which are connected internally, while the third, a guest flat, is independent. The different levels are connected by a long staircase set between two rock walls, framing the two opposite views: upwards you look towards the sky, downwards you see the sea. Natural ventilation and lighting, high-performance glazing, stone walls and a green roof are just some of the strategies adopted to achieve an excellent level of energy efficiency.