The plot is rectangular, with the northern long side adjacent to the settlement, offering a view of the sea, while the southern long side offers a view of the White Mountains. Along the northern side, the plot also borders the road of the settlement. Therefore, we divided the design area in two, with a line running from north to south. We positioned the buildings as close as possible to the northern side, turning their backs to the road and simultaneously creating courtyards on the southern side, which naturally provides more privacy and a more impressive view, while also incorporating large openings. The northern courtyards have a more communal character, as they include the entrances to the plots and buildings, as well as the parking spaces for vehicles.
Between the two residences lies a shared ramp that leads to the basements. This ramp functions as a trench, ensuring the separation of the courtyards of the two homes. The buildings are intersected by long, narrow water elements, which serve as ponds at the entrance and transform into swimming pools in the courtyard after passing through the building. The residences are made of stone and consist of three volumes. One is a two-story volume with a tower-like form and visible stonework on the exterior. This volume houses the entrance with the staircase and a double-height living room. Another is a ground-floor volume with a loft. On the ground floor, there are two bedrooms with two bathrooms, while the upper floor contains one bedroom with an office and bathroom in one house, and two bedrooms with two bathrooms in the other. The third volume is also a ground-floor unit, where the dining room and kitchen are located.
The kitchen countertop extends through the glass wall and continues into the pergola area. This outdoor space is defined by a stone wall and covered with greenery from a pergola, which connects the building to the wall. This pergola continues on the southern side of the building, connecting the three volumes and providing necessary shade during the summer months. The pool, which is adjacent to the opening of the living room, not only adds a sense of luxury for the users by allowing them to enjoy the view of it throughout the year from all living areas but also serves as a privacy boundary, preventing users from moving from the communal courtyards to the private areas in front of the bedrooms.
On the second level, there is access from the staircase to the roof of the ground-floor volume, as well as to the southern balcony, where a jacuzzi with a view of the White Mountains is located. In the basements of each residence, auxiliary spaces cover the different needs of each home. In the residence intended for permanent living, there is a CNC workshop, a dance studio, a WC, parking space, and an additional bedroom. In the other residence, there is a gym, sauna, steam room, WC, parking space, and utility rooms.
In an effort to create the aesthetic of modern and minimal architecture, which characterizes our office while respecting the traditional architecture of the area, we chose to combine materials such as white plaster with exposed stone. In the volumes with plaster, the openings are framed with corten steel, and within these frames, stonework appears at selected points.
The buildings were designed according to the principles of bioclimatic architecture, with a focus on sustainability and nearly zero energy consumption. This was achieved through careful design of thermal insulation and shading, as well as the use of photovoltaic systems with batteries.
The "tower" or "watermill" form was chosen as a reference to the memory and connection of our buildings with the abundance of castles, fortified towers (koulés), and watermills found in the wider area.
