Rural Living

An existing olive grove with gentle slopes and an unlimited view of the sea, located in the wider rural area of ​​Chania, is the setting for two ground-floor tourist residences. The aim of the study is the discreet integration of the buildings into the natural environment and the dialogue with the landscape and its materials.

The central element of the proposal is the stone wall that runs through the plot, unifying the two residences into a single architectural ensemble and providing the necessary privacy. The simple vocabulary of the proposal is complemented by two concrete slabs that cover the interior spaces of the residences and create small semi-outdoor spaces in combination with open patios around existing olive trees. In this way, the boundaries of closed and open are blurred, maintaining the olive grove as the main element of the plot.

The houses are placed close to the natural ground level in order to have a minimal footprint in the natural environment of the olive grove. The large stone wall as well as the stone walls that define the volumes of the houses are made with local stone of the area and the joints are mudded with a shade close to the color of the stone and the ground. The concrete slabs are uncoated and unpainted concrete. The simple vocabulary with natural materials is complemented by black metal columns that allow the creation of large openings. Between the stonework made of local stone in the southern part, perforated ceramic threads are placed. The concrete pergolas are covered with reeds.