© Pygmalion Karatzas
- Architects: R.C.TECH
- Location: Nisi, Greece
- Lead Architects: Giannis Douridas, Christina Kontou
- Area: 235.0 m2
- Project Year: 2015
- Photographs: Pygmalion Karatzas
- Structural Design: R.C.TECH
- Mep Design: Vassilis Lykoskoufis, Mechanical Engineer
- Construction: R.C.TECH
- Landscape Design: Dania Panagiotopoulou
© Pygmalion Karatzas
Text description provided by the architects. Clover House is located on the south side of the island of Kythera in Greece, where gentle Mediterranean hills with low vegetation descend towards the sea.
© Pygmalion Karatzas
The architectural composition sought to integrate the building harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. The development of the house is linear, parallel to the views and the contour lines. It breaks into two smaller ground floor volumes – the main house and a guests suite. An arch act as the connecting element of the two wings, a reference to the local form of ‘sfendonia’. The corridor created between the two main building blocks, crowned by the large arch, forms a transverse viewing axis. Tapered walls enhance the sense of the building’s proportions, a feature often found in structures around the island.
© Pygmalion Karatzas
Plans
© Pygmalion Karatzas
The residence develops behind a vertical plane formed by a curved stone wall that runs along the north side of the house. Its monolithic figure refers to the walls of the Venetian castle that sits in direct view, on the opposite slope. This curved diaphragm serves also as a windbreaker to the house from the northerly prevailing winds during the winter months. The openings on the north side are small, yet capable to allow the cool north breeze to enter during the summer months. Large longitudinal pergolas provide shadow to the exterior verandas in the south. A sculptural concrete staircase leads to the terraces above for better viewing angles.
© Pygmalion Karatzas