Casa Pinus

Public vote winner

Unbuilt Transformation Project of the Year

Façade

• Architects

The project concerns the reconstruction of an existing two-storey residence with an attic, located in Pylaia, a suburb of Thessaloniki, Greece.

The central design objective was to reinterpret the dwelling in order to accommodate contemporary patterns of living. Thus, the intervention was conceived as a redefinition of the very notion of habitation.

The pre-existing building, erected in the 1970s, bore the architectural imprints of its time. It carried the atmosphere of the suburban villas of that era, responding to the lifestyle and aspirations of its first occupants. Set on the highest point of a pine-clad landscape, the house remained partly concealed, and when revealed, it evoked a nostalgic aura of the past.The morphology was a response to the needs of habitation of that time, which was characterized by introversion.This introverted character was expressed through the presence of a “core” — the symbolic and functional heart of the home — around which everyday life revolved. The “core” alternated between tangible spatial configurations, such as a central room, and more abstract notions of protection and interiority.

By contrast, contemporary living is characterized by openness, fluidity, and a tendency toward extroversion, where the concept of a fixed core is absent. In response, the architectural strategy focused on restructuring the building: preserving the strong horizontal tension that defined the original composition along with parts of its structural frame, while partially demolishing the upper floor. The new approach privileges the exterior and its relationship with the natural surroundings, embracing the panoramic 360˚ views offered by the elevated site.

The redesigned residence is articulated as two linear prisms and a third vertical volume, unified by a design language of transparency and rhythm. The facades, framed by repeated horizontal planes, establish a cohesive architectural presence on all four elevations. By dissolving visual boundaries with the landscape, the house fosters a seamless continuity between interior and exterior, allowing the dwelling to merge with its environment.

The three volumes are distinguished both in function and materiality. The use of wooden details, reminiscent of the pre-existing facade elements, creates a dialogue between past and present. This gesture ensures the integration of the new architecture not only within its natural setting but also within the memory of its own history.