Rhoēs is a villa complex featuring a 300m² main house and a 90m² guesthouse, seamlessly integrated into the rugged, dramatic landscape on the outskirts of Serifos island. The plot, characterized by steep slopes and wild thorny bushes, provides a stunning backdrop for this harmonious blend of Cycladic charm and modern design.
The primary design goal was to integrate the villa into its natural surroundings while maximizing sea views. The subterranean structure maintains a subtle presence, with the area around and above the house remaining virtually untouched and preserving its original form. Only the main façade and air and light slits at the back of the house are visible, enhancing ventilation and natural light inside.
To achieve this seamless integration, a precise incision in the ground was made, creating a straight-line cut where the building's ceiling ends and transforms into an outdoor canopy with a thin edge. Beneath this canopy, the stone masonry façade—constructed mainly from excavated materials—blends the building with the natural landscape, giving it a traditional, rugged charm. The undulating stonework, reminiscent of a fluttering cloth or ribbon, adds a sense of lightness and creates intriguing shadows and niches for the veranda.
The design of the veranda, with the circular pool in the middle, mimics the effect of a water droplet creating ripples, adding a playful touch to the serene environment. Extending beyond the building, the stone façade seamlessly merges with the dry-stone walls at the plot’s edge. These walls, typical in rural parts of the Cycladic islands and traditionally used as divisions between plots of land, reinforce the villa’s connection with its surroundings.
Rhoēs epitomizes understated sophistication, combining Cycladic charm with modern elegance to create a tranquil, harmonious retreat that respects its natural environment.