On a rocky outcrop overlooking the Aegean Sea, a family dwelling blends in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Designed by Athens-based architecture studio Block722, Viglostasi is a residence that appears almost like a traditional Greek settlement, a home with a storied past. On closer inspection, the villa reveals its contemporary make-up, its structure meticulously crafted to draw upon the typology of small Aegean villages — a cluster of low volumes, these picturesque villages typically sit on hillsides, overlooking the sea.
The Viglostasi residence is located on Syros island, capital of the Cyclades in Greece. It was commissioned by a family who were inspired by Block722’s previous works on Syros (Syros I and Syros II). “The client’s brief outlined a home inspired by the simple forms of the Greek island vernacular,” says the architect. “This chimed in perfectly with Block722’s signature blend of low-key, gentle architecture, minimalist forms, natural materials, and neutral colors.”
Viglostasi is designed to capitalize on the slow, indoor–outdoor lifestyle embraced by those living on Syros. Referencing the traditional Aegean village, Block722 created a 500-square-meter (5,382-square-feet) complex of low, orthogonal volumes. The studio arranged the structures around a network of pathways, connecting an array of enclosed spaces, terraces, gardens, and patios.
In the layout of Viglostasi, the main house contains an open-plan living space, a principal bedroom, and a second bedroom. Two guest houses are linked to the primary residence via shared facilities. “A central outdoor ‘plaza’ brings everything together and acts as a circulation heart to the whole, leading towards the 25-meter-long Olympic size infinity pool and lounge terrace to the lower end of the plot,” says the architect. To address and manage the site’s steep incline, Block722 spaced the home across several levels, so maximizing the sea views from almost any vantage point.
A combination of construction materials, including stone, wood, and plaster, were used to build Viglostasi. The material palette, in keeping with the arid terrain, lends the residence a rustic Mediterranean air. The home’s structure is a carefully composed mix of natural tones and mossy hues, its arrangement of forms playing with light and shadow. A terrazzo-style Palladiana floor, with its puzzle piece-like appearance, adds a modish, contemporary look (despite this type of floor having been in use for many hundreds of years).
Traditional wooden shutters and pergolas, a garden of native species, and a green roof work to temper the summer heat — the green roof is especially beneficial in terms of reducing internal temperature in summer and providing insulation in winter. Across Viglostasi, “a sense of gentle luxury prevails,” says the architect. “This is achieved not only by generosity of space throughout, but also through bespoke details (such as the joinery) and the materials used, including Olympus marble, travertine stone, bamboo, and oak wood.”
The design of Viglostasi satisfies the client’s varied spatial demands, setting the home within and connecting it to nature. Block722’s clever use of architecture maximizes the potential of a tricky site, its construction one that very much embodies a characteristic Greek island vernacular.
