warm-toned concrete forms and planted roofs blend into the cycladic landscape of kythnos

Fluentus Residences emerge from a steep Cycladic hillside

Fluentus Residences project by The Hive Architects refers to a cave dwelling in Kythnos, Greece, integrated into a steep hillside of the Cycladic land. The terrain is utilized as the principal tool for shaping the building’s form along its function. The structure develops on the slope, forming a set of low, elongated volumes seemingly emerging from the earth, discreetly present in the landscape. The composition is organized into three distinct subterranean units at different levels on the hillside. A path that unfolds along the contours of the terrain, arrives at consecutive entrance points, progressively revealing the residences. This arrangement allows residents to enjoy unobstructed views and ensures privacy for each unit’s courtyards. The roofs are extensions of the terrain itself, covered with natural vegetation, further integrating the structure into the land. The curved form of the retaining walls and roof edges is an element of plasticity in constant dialogue with the curves of the retaining drywall structures that are typical of the Cycladic terrain.

all visuals by Idaa – Nikos Mathioudakis, courtesy of The Hive Architects 

Hive Architects blends earth-toned concrete with the terrain

Exposed concrete in warm earth tones forms the main material palette, allowing coherence and ‘integration’ of the building in its environment. The living spaces are arranged along large windows framing the landscape, and establishing a strong spatial connection between the interior and the view. The transition from the indoor spaces to the outdoor yards occurs naturally through sheltered outdoor areas and shaded courtyards. Elongated ponds that function as swimming pools with a vanishing edge extend the water zone to the horizon. The architectural composition developed by The Hive Architects’ design team makes use of natural materials and aims at minimizing the visual impact of the structure on the environment by employing the principles of ‘terrain architecture.’ This approach interprets the ground in shaping the structure, rather than imposing a structure on the land, and establishes a new relationship between architecture and landscape.

The Hive Architects builds Fluentus Residences in Kythnos

the project is embedded within a steep Cycladic hillside

roofs extend as planted surfaces continuous with the ground

elongated pools extend toward the horizon line

private courtyards are oriented toward open views

the composition is divided into three subterranean units

natural vegetation covers the built volumes

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project info:

name: Fluentus Residences

architects: The Hive Architects | @thehivearchitects

design team: Michail Xirokostas, Theodoros Panopoulos, Anna Grigoriadou, Giorgos Telmetidis, Filio Sampsaki, Andrianos Novitski, Angeliki Papadopoulou

3D renders: Idaa – Nikos Mathioudakis
location: Kythnos, Greece

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom