Interview about Polygon House Residential Architecture, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2022
The building is dominated by the broken geometries created by the reconstruction of the architectural form while maintaining at the same time the capacity of the lines and volumes, the desired functionality and the tranquility that the users of this holiday home are looking for. The open field of view both indoors and outdoors adds elements of visual comfort and relaxation to users who can see the horizon around them unobstructed. The relationship of the building with the environment is characterized as provocative in terms of highlighting its volumes.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe site's natural topography dictated the positioning of the building within the plot and simultaneously informed a key compositional element of its architectural form. The fractured geometries that articulate the design echo the morphological characteristics of the surrounding landscape, particularly the angular rock formations found on the island of Skiathos. These monolithic masses with sharp protrusions inspired the building’s tectonic articulation, expressed through acute angles and a sculptural approach to massing.
Building on a piece of land located both on an island and within a mountainous setting presents distinct construction challenges. When this condition is combined with the need to build on a steeply sloped site, the complexity increases significantly. However, a site with a pronounced incline offers unobstructed panoramic views, and particularly on an island like Skiathos—renowned for its natural beauty—this translates into architectural strategies that aim to organize the building’s volumes in such a way that every part of the residence maintains a visual connection to the sea and the horizon.
The selection of materials in an architectural project is influenced by various factors, including inspiration drawn from local resources, durability, functionality, and more. In this case, the choice of metal canopies was driven by the need for expansive overhangs on the building’s southern façade, providing essential solar shading during the summer months, as the residence is designed primarily as a seasonal vacation home. Metal allows for the creation of large cantilevers without the need for vertical supports that would obstruct the invaluable views. Painted planed timber cladding was applied to the underside of the metal canopies, creating a balance between natural and industrial elements. Additionally, frameless glass balustrades were used to ensure uninterrupted visual access to the surrounding natural landscape, reinforcing the design’s commitment to openness and seamless integration with the environment.
The design concept originated from the need to organize the residence across two levels, as the required floor area could not be accommodated on a single level due to the steeply sloped terrain. This led to the development of a dwelling that can be conceptually divided into two distinct levels, each fully functional on its own in accordance with the architectural program and suitable for vacation use. This spatial arrangement allows the residence to host a greater number of occupants while maintaining an enhanced degree of privacy between them.
On the island of Skiathos, traditional vernacular island architecture coexists with its contemporary reinterpretations. Greek vernacular island architecture emerged from the fundamental need of its inhabitants to adapt their way of living to the local landscape and to respond to the climatic conditions of the region using the tools and materials available to them at the time. Designing a residence today can be seen as a reinterpretation of that same essential need—this time articulated through the lens of contemporary means, technologies, and values. This constitutes the core relationship with the vernacular tradition, beyond formal references such as color, materials, or other morphological elements.
The desire for constant visual connection with the surrounding environment emerged directly from the interview process with the clients. It was a key parameter offered by our design approach—one that we maintained throughout the development of the project. However, everything began with our first visit to this wild and beautiful site where the residence would be located. The plot itself, along with the local building regulations, provided the initial framework for our thinking, but it was the beauty of the natural landscape that ultimately guided the evolution of the design.
The Greek climatic conditions inherently encourage a strong relationship and continuity between interior and exterior spaces. The large openings on the façade of the residence serve as a primary architectural gesture toward this integration. Outdoor living areas, pergolas, and shading devices provide the spatial infrastructure that fosters such connections, guiding users into transitional zones and blurring the boundaries between inside and outside.
A key objective of the design research was to achieve a 180-degree view from within the residential shell. This led to the decision to break up the initial singular volume and create a polyhedral form that ensures unobstructed views across the entire horizon. This design intent resulted in a building that not only explores sculptural massing but also allows the residents to maintain a continuous visual connection to the horizon from within the interior spaces.
We were driven by the need to create an outdoor relief space on the upper level of the residence, which would support the requirement for each level of the dwelling to function independently, if needed by the users. This exterior space acts as an extension of the upper floor’s living area, reinforcing spatial autonomy and enhancing the flexibility of use within the overall architectural program.
Each project we are called to design presents its own unique conditions. Every site is different, as are the needs and expectations of its users. What this particular project offered us was the knowledge and experience of navigating the technical complexities involved in constructing a residence within such a demanding environment—an environment that nevertheless allows no compromises in the quality of architectural design or the execution of the work.
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