Architects: Ateno Architecture Studio
Area: 350 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Yiorgis Yerolymbos
Manufacturers: Alumil, Bisazza, Diedron, Eleftheriou Constructions, Kourasanit, Lido, Mosaikodapedo, Patiris, Vistosi
Lead Architects: Elias Theodorakis, Yiorgos Fiorentinos
Contractor: My Ionian Group
Category: Houses
Project Manager: George Vasileiou Mourkogiannis
Collaborating Architect: Spiros Giotakis
Structural Engineer & General Supervision: Angelos Kourtis
Mep Engineer: Ioannis Mavrokefalos
City: Lefkada
Country: Greece
Gaia residential project designed on Meganisi Island has redefined the dialogue between built form and natural surroundings through the reuse and transformation of an existing two-story structure originally permitted by NOMEN architects. Completed atop a ridge surrounded by olive trees, Gaia merges minimal intervention with raw materiality, creating a summer residence that blends with the landscape. The design incorporates terracotta-toned handmade terrazzo, marble, and wood uniformly across surfaces, reinforcing a tactile relationship with the earth. A wooden pergola spans the irregular geometric layout, forming a continuous canopy that unites the fragmented structure. Distributed across three terraces, the outdoor areas integrate with the topography, centered around a pool at the middle level. With five bedrooms and shared gathering spaces, Gaia negotiates simplicity, seclusion, and openness while overlooking the Ionian Sea and Pindos Mountains.
Gaia (n.) Γαῖα – the ancient Greek goddess and primordial mother of the Titans – symbolizes the Earth and the intrinsic interconnection between humanity and nature. Inspired by this mythological archetype, the project titled Gaia aims to re-establish a meaningful relationship between architecture and the wilderness, encouraging occupants to engage with the land through spatial and material simplicity.
The residence proposes a new understanding of luxury, one grounded in restraint and natural tactility. Despite the contrasting nature of the materials against the lush greenery of the site, the design creates a sense of warmth and inclusion. Terracotta hues respond to the surrounding landscape, offering an atmosphere that feels embedded in the terrain. Handmade terrazzo, marble, and wood are used consistently across walls, floors, and ceilings to craft an immersive interior ideal for seasonal inhabitation.
Situated on Meganisi Island, known for its intense natural landscapes and coastal clarity, the project occupies a ridge surrounded by ancient olive trees. The intervention involved the complete transformation of a previously permitted two-storey house by NOMEN architects, retaining only its structural core and spatial configuration. The pre-existing irregular geometry, shaped by tangent rectangular volumes, is unified through a large timber pergola that acts as a floating canopy, visually anchoring the structure to the earth while allowing the architecture to engage more gently with its environment.
Gaia includes five bedrooms alongside generous living and dining zones, creating a balanced arrangement of private and communal areas. The exterior landscape unfolds across three stepped levels, closely aligned with the site’s natural topography. The middle level becomes the spatial and visual pivot, where the pool, subtly detached from the house, connects the upper panoramic terrace with the more secluded lower retreat. Each tier reflects a specific spatial intent—from wide sea and mountain views on the upper level to embedded shelter below. Through minimal architectural intervention, expressive material consistency, and a deliberate orientation within the site, Gaia forms an elemental and enduring domestic landscape. The project emphasizes an approach where built form is not imposed but revealed through its alignment with nature.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Lefkada, Greece
The location specified is intended for general reference and may denote a city or country, but it does not identify a precise address.
