The plot is at the northwest edge of Chatzirados village on the Cyclades’ island of Tinos, and contained vestiges of previous stonewall vernacular tissue including a wine press and a stone oven. The aim of the project is a contemporary house within a traditional settlement frame. The naturally sloping site has been sculpted in to three ‘plateaus’ following a decreasing height ascension rhythm, residential uses occupying the entire terrain’s area : the existing tissue is preserved and enhanced to form the design’s pattern, an alternation of built up and void areas, its connection being ensured by open space continuity throughout courtyards and patios. The collective life area –living and dining room, open kitchen- is unified and sheltered on the central level, giving autonomy to the satellite rooms, directly inspired by the typical use of local “cells”.
Continuing local materials and construction high-quality expertise the vertical locally sourced natural stone masonry walls provide support to the horizontal raw-faced in-situ concrete roofs. The thermal inertia of masonry and concrete structure, massive and closed on the north faces, acts as a ‘heat sink’, slowing the rate of temperature change in all interior premises enabling them to be cooled without mechanical refrigeration. Further, the existence of openings on two sides of every interior space allows its manually controlled physical ventilation.
The attenuation of inner/outer bounds extends every inhabitable space and intensifies space continuity. The design of a built-up table in the focal gathering point of the house magnifies that sensation as well as the flooring joints layout. The incorporation of a stretch of water at the center of the habitat, beyond cooling and leisure purposes, serves several meanings : founding circular movement course, offering a natural reflect plan at the work’s architecture and suggesting the ‘agglomerating around water’ generational scheme of Tinos villages, a Village House village.
Team:
Architects: MXarchitecture
Photographer: Elias Handelis
