The Brief
A London-based family of five asked for a summer home that could host three generations at once — without ever feeling crowded. The site: a steep, wind-exposed hillside plot above Naoussa Bay with protected views to the northeast and a 4-meter level difference from road to building line.
Our Response
Rather than fighting the slope, we carved the 240 m² program into it. The villa steps down the hill in three terraced volumes, each with its own courtyard sheltered from the meltemi wind. Grandparents, parents and children each get a private wing; the family gathers in a double-height living space that opens fully to the pool terrace.
“The house should disappear into the hill when seen from the bay, and the bay should fill every room when seen from the house.” — design diary, first site visit
Materials & Craft
- Load-bearing local stone excavated from the plot itself
- Lime plaster in three whites, matched to Naoussa's old town
- Chestnut pergolas and shutters, left to silver naturally
- Underfloor cooling powered by a 12 kW rooftop PV array
The Result
Completed in 19 months and within 2% of budget, the villa won the 2025 Domes Award for residential architecture. More importantly, the family spent eleven weeks there last summer — and the grandparents have already claimed the winter olive harvest.