A new residential complex on the Greek island of Serifos is drawing praise from design outlets and architecture enthusiasts worldwide, the latest project from Mold Architects to attract international attention in the Aegean.
The five-residence complex, called Perma Serifos, is built into a rocky north-facing slope, with stone and concrete volumes that appear partially embedded in the terrain.
The project offers views of the Aegean Sea on one side and Serifos's whitewashed hillside villages, Ano and Kato Chora, on the other.
Architect Iliana Kerestetzi, who founded Mold Architects in 2011, and her team describe the project as a "collage" of the landscape, with stone masses, planted rooftops, water features and shaded courtyards arranged along a grid of exposed concrete.
"The grid doesn't impose an abstract order on the landscape, but organizes and connects its individual elements," the firm said in a statement.
The design balances outward views of the sea and sky with a sense of enclosure and shelter, according to the architects, who said the layout creates "protected, introverted spaces that remain in continuous visual contact with the sea, sky and natural terrain."
Construction relied heavily on materials sourced from the site itself: stone excavated during construction was used to build the complex, while remaining excavated material was repurposed for the property's terracing. Local craftsmen shaped floors and fixed elements on-site.
The project also incorporates rainwater collection for irrigation and edible plants grown on its green roofs.
Ms. Kerestetzi's firm has built a reputation for architecture that blends into its surroundings, drawing on research into design innovation and visual art.
The studio has received numerous international honors, including the SADAS-PEA Award for Best Residential Project (2014), the DOMES Award for Best First Project by a New Architect (2014), a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Award (2015), and the Big See Architecture Award (2021), among others.
By Manos Livadaros