Xerolithi Residenz by George Sinas is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award an Sëlwer in Architektur, Gebai an Strukturdesign Competition Category.

SëlwerArchitektur· 2021

Xerolithi Residenz

by George Sinas

Client: Sinas Architects

A' Design Award an Sëlwer Winner in Architektur Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #109707

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Xerolithi Residenz

En Haus dat sech a sengem natierlechen Ëmfeld vermëscht. Steile rau Steigungen, verspreet dorneg Bëscher, zesumme mat kuerze Steenhaltungsmaueren, lokal genannt Xerolithien, déi viru laanger Zäit fir Landkultivatiounszwecker geschaf goufen. D'Haaptfassaden vum Haus ginn als Xerolithien geformt. Dës Maueren, déi eng Liichtegkeet wéi Bänner an der Loft hunn a schéngen sanft méi no an ewech vum Hang an onofhängeg vuneneen ze beweegen, a bilden Wunnraim tëscht hinnen. Den Daach iwwerdeckt mat Dreck a Vegetatioun imitéiert d'natierlech Landschaft, sou datt d'Haus bal onsichtbar ass.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Sëlwer

Xerolithi Residenz ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Sëlwer, enger aussergewéinlech prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un Designe vun der héchster Qualitéit, prächteg a beandrockend vergi gëtt. Sëlwer-Gewënner si bemierkenswäert brillant a ganz kreativ Wierker, déi d'erausragend Expertise, d'Talent an d'Schaarfsënnegkeet vun hire Designer weisen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Xerolithi Residenz e wonnerbart, mustergëlteg, bemierkenswäert professionellt an déif innovatiivt Wierk ass. Dëst mam Sëlwer ausgezeechent Design ass eng bemierkenswäert, bewonnert Erfindung, déi dozou bäidréit, d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie ze erweideren. Xerolithi Residenz ass eng Kreatioun, op déi vill neidesch sinn, déi Wënsch erweckt, positiv Gefiller bréngt an Erstaunen a Wonner erweckt.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: When one thinks of the Greek Islands, stacked white boxes come to mind. The design challenged this morphological preconception, by imagining the main facades of the house as xerolithies, starting low and gradually developing a sufficient height. They move closer and away of the slope and independently from one another, forming spaces in between them.
The traditional bamboo pergola with its wooden raw beams in their natural color can be seen throughout the length of the house, inside and outside. The beams follow the curvy morphology, like vertebrae of a long spinal cord.
Dimensions & Packaging: The ground floor area of the house is 180sqm.
Additional 60sqm of basement area.
Tags: Architecture, Cycladic Architecture, Landscape Design, Integrated design, Summer House, Island Architecture, Greece, Aegean, Serifos, Planted Roof, Curves, Wavy Form, Stone
Production Technology: The outer shell of the structure is mainly stone. Exterior walls are 50cm thick. Concrete structural system.
Design Challenge: The hardest part of this design was taming the wavy morphology. Making it sensual yet keeping the layout of the house functional.
Inspiration: The main focus of the design was to create a house that blends in its natural environment. An environment comprised of steep dirt and gravel slopes, dressed with scattered wild thorny bushes, and beautiful large rock formations. Though the most important existing elements, were the short stone retaining walls, locally called xerolithies, created a long time ago for land cultivation purposes. These walls, usually not more than a meter in height formed flat stripes of land parallel to the slope and extended along the entire surface of the hillside.
The site with its xerolithies was the spark of inspiration.
Project Duration: The project was designed in 2015.
The contraction started in 2016 and lasted until 2018.
The house is situated in Kalo Ampeli, Serifos Island, Cyclades, Greece.
Operation Flow: All spaces have been placed sequentially to spread out as long and thin as possible. The main house is separated by the bedrooms in order to create a space for the main covered veranda along the long spine of the house.
Team Members: Leader Architect: George Sinas (Sinas Architects)
Team: Maria Mamoura
Interior Decoration: Olga Ktena
Image Credits: Photographer of all images: Yiorgos Kordakis
Drawings and Renderings and sketch: George Sinas