Residence in Markopoulo

The residence was built by our office in the village of Markopoulo in Eastern Attica (Greece).

The topography of the site was quite slopy, so we had to place the building on its highest spot, to ensure an unhindered view towards the sea (the bay of Pórto Ráfti).

The upper floor includes a single space measuring 6,00×14,20m (19,68×46,59ft), under a wooden, ridged roof divided into functional zones on the two sides of a central fireplace: on one side, the living area and the dining area and, on the other side, the kitchen.

Separated by the stairway void one also finds the visitors’ WC on this floor.

The roof construction is visible from the interior and has openings for ventilation on each end.

The ground floor is the privacy area. Three bedrooms with their bathrooms, an office and the garage are located here.

A stairway constructed with wooden beams and steps made out of stainless steel sheets connects the two floors.

Two big terraces form the natural extension of the interior on both levels. Those are connected by a stairway made out of concrete.

The terraces, the outdoor concrete stairway and a number of volume extensions of the interior (e.g. the protruding volumes of the kitchen or the bathrooms) contribute to the plasticity of the house as a whole.

We applied discreet grey colourings to the outside walls, while many elements show a natural hammered concrete surface.

The roof covering with bituminous granule-coated shingles is highlighted by prepatinated copper sheets at its ends, just where its wooden parts need protection from humidity.

All railings and chimneys were constructed out of stainless steel, the motor-driven blinds on the pergolas are made out of aluminium.

Apart from numerous plants and trees, on the western part of the property, we planted a small vineyard.

The project was presented in the exhibitions Residential Buildnigs in Greece – From the 20th to the 21st Century (January to March 2009) and Architectural Awards 2008 (April to June 2009 – presented as award nominee).
Both exhibitions took place in the Benaki Museum in Athens and were organized by the  Hellenic Institute of Arhitecture (EIA).