The idea of Piedra was to create a piece of architecture that would harmoniously fit within the surrounding context. All design choices come together in a single holistic vision of seamless cohesion between the existing natural landscape and the architectural intervention – volumetric composition, materiality, detailing.
Located in the picturesque resort of St. Constantine and St. Helena, one of the greatest assets of the site was its proximity and visual connection to the water. The seascape is constantly moving and changing throughout the day. Thus, framing this living painting became one of the leitmotifs shaping the volumes of the buildings and dictating to a large extent the overall attitude to the project. The views are curated, cropped through the architectural composition. Upon entering the building on the top terrace, the visitor is left alone with the cinematic experience of an articulated sea view.
The edifices are delicate, assuming a minimal and subtle expression that serves to guide the attention to the relation between the architecture and the surrounding nature. The buildings serve to shape an experience of the surrounding space. Ornament and decoration are redundant. Instead, austerity and simplicity can be read in the shapes and façade design of the edifices.
Reading the site carefully and working with its specific attributes was key to the project. The existing denivellation was utilized to avoid obstructing the view to the sea from the upper level, that is used for access. It is also employed to frame the seascape and to allude to what is revealed through generous glazing when one enters the interior. Furthermore, the denivellation works in tune with the idea of integration. The materiality of the project serves as an amplification to this gesture: limestone slabs of varying dimensions clad the façade and communicate with the surroundings, creating the impression of a volume carved out from the rock it is embedded in.
Just like no two things in nature are completely identical, the building volumes reveal a play of variations. On the side facing the sea, the glazing turns into a mirror reflecting the natural landscape. White stone alternates with reflections of sky and water. Piedra is gradually enveloped by the characteristic vegetation of the site and thus concludes its complete integration into the natural landscape.
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