sigurd larsen sculpts interconnected cubes for single house on rocky greek island

Sigurd Larsen builds summer house on a picturesque greek island

Perched on the gentle slope of a petite peninsula jutting from the Greek island of Kythnos, Piperi House by Sigurd Larsen offers breathtaking panoramas of the Cycladic archipelago. Taking cues from traditional villages, the house emerges as a composition of white cubes interconnected by stepped alleys. Crafted as a crystalline sculpture hewn from a single block of white stone, the monolithic volumes stand in stark contrast to the arid landscape adorned with shades of burnt brown and green.

Both inside and outside, the whimsical white staircases invite a circular flow through every level of the residence. Taking inspiration from M.C. Escher’s drawings, one can traverse the house in an endless loop of steps, moving above, below, and through its spaces. Arranged in a cluster of four white cubes positioned at varying heights within the hillside, the design offers numerous panoramic vistas of the surrounding islands. The design team opted for large openings from around the house, allowing the blue hues of the sea and sky to suffuse the interior.

all images by KKROM

Piperi House’s Openings Embrace the Blue Serenity of Sea and Sky

Piperi House, designed by architect Sigurd Larsen (see more here), invites residents to immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of the untamed scenery. From within the house, residents can enjoy the scenery of the petite uninhabited Piperi Island, located southeast of Kythnos. The terraces serve as connectors between different spaces but also emphasize the beauty of the Mediterranean landscape. On the exterior, the roofs of the white cubes offer access to elevated plateaus above the rocky terrain.

The various outdoor areas created by the arrangement of white cubes face different directions, ingeniously providing a sheltered spot unaffected by the summer winds. Two staircases guide one from the house to the water, each on opposite sides of the peninsula. One pathway leads to the rugged rocks and cliffs on the eastern side, offering an opportunity to leap into the sea, while the other leads to a small sandy beach on the southwestern side.

The property extends beyond the hill’s ridge, where a guest house is nestled within an existing stone barn. Complete with an outdoor kitchen and a pergola, this tranquil space allows guests to transition from witnessing the sunrise at the main house on the eastern cliffs to indulging in the sunset at the outdoor kitchen, facing the beach on the southwest side.

the cluster of four white cubes is set into the hillside at different heights

piperi house’s sculptural white cubes against the arid landscape

a composition of white cubes interconnected by stepped alleys

the ever-changing color of the sea and sky can be experienced from everywhere in the house

the spaces throughout the house frame breathtaking views of the surroundings

the white stairs playfully offer a circular movement through all the levels of the house 

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the white cubes of piperi house create diverse outdoor spaces that provide sheltered areas for visitors to enjoy

interplay of indoor and outdoor spaces

 

 

piperi island's scenery is enhanced by the bedroom, dining, and living areas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

top view

 

 

model

 

detail of the model

project info:

architect: Sigurd Larsen Design & Architecture | @sigurdlarsen_architecture
location: Kythnos, Cyclades, Greece
completion: 2023
size: 130m2 + 20m2 guest house

photography: KKROM

products:
kitchen: Reform, design by Sigurd Larsen
sofa and benches: design by Sigurd Larsen, cushions by Solo Athens
wooden desks and lounge chairs: design by Sigurd Larsen, built by Offcut Berlin
mattresses: Coco-Mat
bed sheets and towels: Tekla
lamps: Rubn
sanitary: Laufen
ventilation: Daikin
exterior furniture: La Palma
carpets and baskets: Atisan