Villa Ypsilon is a summer residence nestled in a hillside olive grove in the southern Peloponnese. The villa is characterised by its green roof shell, acting as an accessible extension of the terrain and framing the most significant views of the site from inside and out. The bifurcating pathways of the shell define three courtyards that form distinct hemispheres with unique occupancy following the course of the sun throughout the day. The crest of the shell ties in with the hillside landscape; rising only to the height of the surrounding olive trees and integrating the foreground qualities with background vistas of the bay of Schiza and Sapientza, as well as mountain views toward the east.
The interior is defined by two primary spaces, a more private area, containing three bedrooms and two bathrooms with views to the east, and a common area toward the south, containing kitchen and living room areas, which provide balanced access to all three courtyards. The organisation is designed so you may circulate with ease through, around and on top of the villa, establishing a continuous promenade that links indoor and outdoor activities.
The location and non-standard geometry of the project inspired a construction strategy that utilized off-site prefabrication and self-assembly, minimising construction to 7 months without detriment to budget or quality. The design and manufacture of the concrete shell formwork both linked from the designer's desktop directly to the site with the use of a digitally controlling cutting machine. In the main living area this brought definition to the vaulting ceiling and softened the acoustics to a more intimate scale. Additionally, the planted roof and cross-ventilation eliminated the need for mechanical cooling systems. This hands-on approach allowed for minimal use of off-the-shelf products, instead favoring locally sourced materials such as concrete, terrazzo and marble.
Credits:
- Dora Sweijd
- Theo Sarantoglou Lalis
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