thyta house’s curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece

the project blends into the terrain, creating a series of overlapping volumes.

Theo Lalis edited by christina vergopoulou May 30, 2024 4 min

LASSA Architects designs a retreat with an elliptical silhouette

THYTA House, designed by LASSA Architects, is situated within a mountainous landscape covered with wild scrubs and olive trees on the Island of Lefkada, Greece. The house is conceived as a retreat with an elliptical silhouette defining the common areas, while the bedroom areas are integrated into the topography on the upper floor. The project blends into the terrain, creating a series of overlapping volumes that reduce the visual impact as seen from the sea. The house extends linearly on two levels, following the mountain’s curvature.

The elliptical living room detaches from the slope, forming a secluded courtyard garden that provides shade and accentuates views of the mountain and sky. The roof is punctured by two oculi framing olive trees, and a column-free pergola extends the shaded area, framing sea views. Upon entering the house, the design directs the gaze toward the ravine and the glittering sea, with curved lines guiding the experience.

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 1 — the green roof is directly accessible from the bedroom level | all images by © NAARO

THYTA House’s open layout merges indoor and outdoor spaces

The design seamlessly extends interior spaces into various outdoor living areas, including terraces, the loggia, the pool area, and the courtyard. The spacious living room and kitchen, conceived as a pavilion, open to all sides. On the upper floor, a hallway connects a family room and two bedrooms that overlook the upper garden and elliptical roof terrace. The lower level incorporates a studio within one of the stone retention walls that structure the landscape.

The planted roof provides protection from direct sunlight and excessive heat throughout the day, while the open design of the living room allows for natural ventilation from the northern wind during the evening. Overhangs shield the facade from direct sun, and the planted roofs act as thermal mass, reducing the need for cooling and heating. The house uses a palette of neutral colors with shades of blue, grey, and green to blend into its surroundings.

The construction utilized offsite CNC cut formwork elements designed and assembled by LASSA, reducing costs and meeting specific building constraints. The garden features native coastal vegetation that requires minimal watering, including wild olive trees, shrubs, and small aromatic gardens, creating a sensory experience.

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 2 — the living room ellipse detaches from the terrain allowing for the creation of a courtyard

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 3 — the project blends into the terrain, creating a series of overlapping volumes

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 4 — THYTA house’s volume is subtly inserted in its surrounding mountainous landscape

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 5 — the overhangs shield the facade from direct sun

lassa-architects-thyta-house-lefkada-greece-designboom-1800-1 — the house is conceived as a retreat with an elliptical silhouette defining the common areas

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 6 — the curvilinear beam provides a connection to the existing topography while framing the sky

lassa-architects-thyta-house-lefkada-greece-designboom-1800-2 — the roof is punctured by two oculi framing olive trees, and a column-free pergola extends the shaded area

thyta house's curvilinear silhouettes run along the mountainous landscape of lefkada, greece - 7 — the living room provides striking views of Meganisi and Scorpios

the spacious living room and kitchen, conceived as a pavilion, open to all sides the open design of the living room allows for natural ventilation the entrance lobby frames the courtyard and a lemon tree bedroom view of the bay of Desimi bespoke concealed furniture by LASSA

project info:

name: THYTA House
architect: LASSA Architects | @lassa_architects

design team: Dora Sweijd, Theo Sarantoglou Lalis, Jonathan Cheng (Project Associate), Raz Ketlsh, Jocelyn Arnold

executive architect: A. Litinas

engineer: G. Bougas

MEP engineer: V. Argiris

formwork design: LASSA Architects

photography: NAARO – Marcela Spadaro | @studio_naaro

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