Fluted blocks of local stone bring a tactile finish to this home in Greece, which has been completed by local studio Point27 Architects.
The family dwelling, named Atrium House, is located on the outskirts of the port city of Thessaloniki, on a tree-filled site that looks out towards the Thermaic Gulf.
Point27 Architects was tasked with embracing these views while providing sufficient privacy from the nearby street, creating a design that balances open and enclosed spaces.
“The core concept of the design was to create a house that embraces the Mediterranean lifestyle, where indoor and outdoor living areas are equally important,” Point27 co-founder Stelina Tsifti told Dezeen.
“It celebrates the richness of the light and the playfulness of the shadows under the strong sun,” she added.
Atrium House is organised in an L-shaped form, the outside of which faces the street with a largely blank stone facade punctured by slim, vertical openings.
The inner edges of this L-shaped form hug a large terrace and swimming pool, with full-height sliding glass panels and white curtains allowing the interiors to be fully opened to the landscape.
The two storeys of the home are divided by a large concrete floor plate, left visible to create a horizontal datum across the exterior and extending to form a canopy that shelters the home’s terrace.
Internally, Atrium House is organised around its two planted courtyards, one of which separates the entrance from the living, dining and kitchen area and another separating the kitchen from the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Sliding glass doors open onto these small courtyards, which also help to ventilate the interiors.
“The two internal atria provide natural light and relaxing visual focal points while programmatically acting as buffers between the various spaces of the otherwise open-flow layout,” Tsifti said.
On the smaller first floor above the southern wing, two children’s bedrooms open out onto a rooftop terrace, while large windows sheltered behind movable wooden screens overlook the green roof of the home’s northern wing.
Internally, areas of exposed concrete and stonework are contrasted by more minimal white finishes, dark wood storage and kitchen counters in dark marble.
“The fluted stone was chosen because it provides a tactile feeling that is inviting to touch and offers a playful visual richness when interacting with the strong Mediterranean sun,” explained co-founder Panos Chatzitsakyris.
Other homes in Greece featured on Dezeen include the refurbishment of a 1970s concrete home in Evoia by London practice Neiheiser Argyros and a wine cellar that was converted into a summer house.
The photography is by Mariana Bisti.
Project credits:
Architectural design: Point27 Architects
Project team: Stelina Tsifti, Panos Chatzitsakyris
Interior design: Point27 Architects and Vicky Martha
Structural design: Penelis Consulting Engineers SA
MEP: Margaritis Kehagias and Klimamichaniki
Landscape design: Fytron Landscapes
