two lonely monolithic towers emerge from the rugged landscape of mani, greece
stone-built summer houses by Desypri & Misiaris in mani, greece
Desypri & Misiaris Architecture Studio has completed two monolithic residential towers within the jagged landscape of Mani, Greece. The design for these stone-built summer houses draws influence from local traditional architecture, especially the ‘Ksemonia’ houses (meaning ‘the one who has been left alone’) which were formed as small isolated towers standing in the rugged setting, serving as shelters or observation points.
all images by Giorgos Sfakianakis
a modern interpretation of traditional typologies
From afar, the stone-built towers emerge as just one more element of the land, like monolithic outbursts from the soil. The residential complex consists of two stone houses that are organized around two towers. The configuration seeks to establish a dynamic relationship between the outdoor spaces and the entrances to the houses, while also defining additional outdoor spaces around the ensemble.
With this project, Desypri & Misiaris (find more here) sought to create two modern houses in close connection with the natural landscape – just like the traditional Mani architecture, which became an integral part of the place that gave birth to it. Although the main composition is expressed in the form of the towers, their extensions which make up the rest of the complex, do not exist independently within the plot. They are instead brought together as a whole, echoing the established architectural forms of the region, and providing a modern interpretation of those same traditional typologies.
dynamic indoor and outdoor spaces
The houses are designed so that one can live ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, with equally dynamic spaces provided both indoors and outdoors. It thereby becomes possible to transfer one’s life outside the home – in this case into a courtyard divided into a set of spaces possessing different qualities and visual frames. Pergolas, secluded meditation corners, and infinity pools blurring the boundaries of the horizon and the sky are all combined to create the external backdrop for the houses.
materiality palette draws from vernacular architecture in mani
The project incorporates completely natural building materials that bear the signs of time, and show the marks of their origin and processing. The materials function as a blank canvas upon which the interplay of light and shadow gently unfolds throughout the day. The project uses stone as its main material, drawing influence from the local vernacular architecture which is characterized by austerity, strict lines, and geometric volumes. Concrete complements the natural materials, creating smaller artificial stonework in earth tones and with coarse textures. At the same time, wood creates soft, warm, and clean surfaces, also offering lattice shutters to complete the volumes. These materials are alternated inside and outside, intensifying the visual experience of the houses, constituting a natural but strictly conceived statement within the Messinian landscape.
