A residence that rests on the ground
The residence develops on a rectangular plan over the clearing, broken into three volumes — main house, guesthouse, and covered parking — around a shaded outdoor common space.
Residence · Prines, Rethymno, CreteThe House Among the Oaks
ResidenceinPrines
A residence organised as a low sequence of stone, shade, courtyard, and water, tied to the oak grove and Cretan light.
Project overview
Weplacethevolumeslowontheclearing,keeptreeremovaltoaminimum,andopendailylifetowardthecourtyard,thepool,andthelongviews.
New residence and guesthouse
LocationPrines, Rethymno, Crete
TypeNew residence
ProgrammeMain house 155 m², guesthouse 38 m², pool, covered parking
ServicesArchitectural design, permit, supervision
MaterialsLocal stone, concrete frame, four-pitched roof
Stone, shade, and duration
Local stone keeps the work grounded in Cretan tradition. The guesthouse, plastered in a terracotta tone, reads as a smaller yet equal presence in the composition.
Architectural narrative
ResidenceinPrines
A residence organised as a low sequence of stone, shade, courtyard, and water, tied to the oak grove and Cretan light.
Landscape
The siting follows the oaks left standing, and keeps the view open toward the south for sun and to the north toward the courtyard and pool.
Courtyard
The courtyard organises daily movement and connects the main house to the accessible guesthouse through a covered outdoor passage.
Shade
The arched verandas, the covered transitions, and the pool–arcade dialogue act as a filter between light, privacy, and use.
The composition stays low and calm.
The volumes are placed with restraint so that the residence does not impose on the landscape but continues the Cretan tradition of pure, functional architectural forms.
The courtyard and pool become the centre of dwelling.
Water meets the interior through arched openings, while shade and outdoor pauses give the residence a daily rhythm.
Stone gives depth without weighing down the composition.
Materiality keeps the residence close to its place, while large openings and clean lines preserve a contemporary feeling.
Cretan light organises the proportions.
Light and shaded surfaces work together so every passage has clarity, shelter, and a sense of duration.
Gallery
ResidenceinPrines
Prines, Rethymno, Crete
