The small modern weekend house is located on a slightly sloping plot, which is located on the eastern side of the sparsely populated village of Makrimali in Evia, Greece. The plot is in quite a privileged position, having frontage on three public streets. In the current situation, the northwestern part of the plot is occupied by a small ground-floor building, which is to be demolished, while in the southwestern part there is a ruin. The gentle slope of the plot towards the southwest offers a pleasant view of Psachna and the Northern Evian Gulf.

The plot is divided into four independent properties. The architectural design suggests joining the two northern neighbouring properties in order to create a larger, single property that will occupy half the available land, offering more possibilities and greater flexibility for architectural design.

The available property is surrounded by a perimeter low stone wall and a railing. A perimeter dense planting of tall bushes complements the fence, ensuring visual isolation of private outdoor areas from the street. The surrounding area of the residence is mostly uncovered and planted with trees, while outdoor configurations are made with natural materials and are kept to a minimum.

Given the limited budget available for the project, the shape of the small weekend house is strictly rectangular and symmetrical in an attempt to make the most out of the available space and take advantage of the prefabrication method, with the aim of fast and economical construction. All areas of the house are enclosed in a rectangular plan of 12,80m x 5,50m. The only thing projecting from the simple rectangular volume of the house is a balcony, which projects to the south side of the house, right in the centre, emphasizing the building's symmetry axis.

The longitudinal rectangular floor plan of the house is organized into three zones. The eastern zone houses the entrance, a small warehouse and a bedroom, while the western zone consists of the second bedroom, the bathroom and a laundry space. The central zone of the house is intended for the kitchen and dining, the living room and the exterior.

The architectural design takes advantage of the site orientation. Large openings are created on the south side, ensuring adequate sunshine of the areas in the winter, while small openings to the north, respectively, facilitate natural cooling during the summer months.

The architectural design of the small weekend house follows a rational design and a modern aesthetic approach to space, with a focus on functionality and economy of material resources.

Location: Makrimali, Evia, Greece

Architectural Design: Panagiotis Zakkas, Architect

Project Year: 2019