iy SYNAPSIS ARCHITECTS proposes a linear family retreat shaped around sun, slope and outdoor living on a hillside plot in western Greece.
iy SYNAPSIS ARCHITECTS has designed a 135 m² single–storey holiday residence in Eupalio, near Nafpaktos in western Greece. The project — currently unbuilt — draws on the landscape and Mediterranean outdoor living as core design drivers. Conceived as a linear dwelling embedded into the natural terrain, it frames daily life around views, sunlight and seamless indoor–outdoor flow.
Set towards the southern and rear boundary of the plot, the siting maximises exposure to sunlight while freeing the entire front area as a continuous external field for everyday use. This approach prioritises outdoor living and makes the landscape an active extension of the home.
A defining linear axis — the “Line of Living” — structures the residence into three volumes. Under a tiled roof, an open-plan living and kitchen block forms the social core. A stone volume with a flat roof houses the master suite. A taller tiled block accommodates two children’s bedrooms with lofts and two bathrooms. Lower-height passageways act as connective thresholds: the main entrance sits at the first junction, marking the shift from public to private zones, while openings along these passages support cross-ventilation and offer framed transverse views.
Timber pergolas with reed shading filter light and define outdoor living and dining on the deck. The pool follows the natural slope and sits slightly lower, enhancing the layering of the outdoor spaces. Large sliding openings extend interior life outward and enable natural airflow throughout.
The material palette reinforces a Mediterranean identity: warm-toned stone walls, light beige render, timber beams and cladding, dark metal frames and grey stone paving around the pool anchor the residence to its context. Together, these elements shape a calm, tactile holiday retreat closely connected to climate and landscape.