Villa Rocksplit on the Greek Archipelago Island of Kea26 photos

Villa Rocksplit on the Greek Archipelago Island of Kea

© Dimitris Kleanthis

A villa standing beside the Pissey valley on the island of Kea in the Greek archipelago, designed by Cometa Architects with equal measures of traditional charm and modern minimalism. The project was developed on a narrow plot of land on the slope of a hill, resulting in three residential blocks stacked upon each other to distribute 115 square meters of space vertically.

Inside, adhering to the style typical of the archipelago islands, most of the simple, minimalist furniture is built into the pristine white interior structure: sofas and tables in the living room, a countertop around the kitchen perimeter, even benches and a wooden table on the open-air veranda. A carved dining table in the kitchen area elegantly emphasizes the overall simplicity of the setting.

An interesting feature of the decor are the rope-like "railings" of the white staircase leading to the second floor. The intensity of natural lighting in the house is regulated by windows with stone lintels and window frames with light gray shutters. Unlike traditional island style, each room has several small windows allowing light and cool breeze to enter while protecting from the harsh midday summer sun. Rainwater is collected on all three rooftops and stored in an underground reservoir.

Villa Rocksplit embodies the boldest dreams of island life, offering its inhabitants harmony with nature, respect for local traditions, and excellent living conditions.

Photographs: Dimitris Kleanthis