HOLIDAY HOUSE IN VATHI, AEGINA, GREECE

PANAGIOTIS ZAKKAS, ARCHITECT

The architectural design of the new ground floor single-family house, on a plot of approximately 3.5 acres within the boundaries of the Vathi village in Aegina, had to face an interesting challenge from the outset, which was posed by the need for a subtle intervention and smooth integration of the new building into the natural landscape characterised by a steeply sloping terrain and many olive trees, as well as the limited budget available for the implementation of the project.

The residence is intended to function mainly as a holiday home, providing accommodation to a family of four when on vacation. The house consists of closed spaces with a total area of approximately 40 square metres, combined with an open semi-outdoor space of approximately 18 square metres.

A key criterion for the placement of the building within the plot was the utilisation of the sloping ground, as well as finding a position that offers a view of the olive groves of the island and the Saronic Gulf, as they spread towards the northwest with the mountains of Central Greece and Peloponnese as a background. In addition, an important role in the siting of the new residence was played by the need to achieve a balance between the best possible view and the minimum excavation that would be required for the foundation of the building.

The demarcation of the plot is done using the minimum possible means, with the aim of reducing construction costs. The plot, thus, is fenced along its face on the southeast side with a solid wall, while along the borders with the neighbouring plots, fencing with wire mesh is used. In the built fence bordering the provincial road, suitable openings are formed, in order to be able to enter the plot either on foot or by car. The selection of the specific point of entrance was not random, but it was dictated by the fact that, despite the particularly steep slope of the terrain along the face of the plot, in this particular section the least expensive works are required for its formation.

Entering the plot, in order to facilitate smooth access to the residence, the terrain is appropriately shaped like a long ramp, which ends in a parking space for one car, right in front of the entrance of the residence. A reinforced concrete ramp further facilitates access to the building, leading from the parking space to the doorstep of the house. A lightweight fixed awning protects the threshold while marking the entry point into the building.

The building program includes the necessary spaces, such as a bedroom, a bathroom and a unified space for the kitchen and living room, which can also be used as a sleeping area for two people. In addition to the closed areas of the house, it was considered necessary to provide for an open covered area for the residents to stay.

The residence was designed in such a way so as to form a square with a side of 7.70 metres in plan, while all the spaces are organised in three horizontal functional zones. The first and narrowest zone develops along the less privileged southeast side of the building, housing the bathroom and the kitchen. In the second and wider central zone are placed the bedroom and the living room, with a view towards the countryside and the sea and being directly adjacent to the covered veranda that constitutes the third zone, running through the entire privileged northwest face of the building.

All the spaces and openings of the residence are designed with dimensions that are multiples of 60 centimetres. Using this design grid, a standardisation is achieved that is necessary for the maximum utilisation of the surface of the residence and the implementation of a low-cost construction. This standardisation, in turn, favours the homogeneity and unity of the architectural form of the building, which is organised by proportions, repetitions, symmetries, rhythm and internal coherence, ultimately conveying the desired modern style that includes many of the qualities that also characterise local traditional architecture.

The building envelope is constructed with prefabricated load bearing walls to reduce the required cost and time of construction, as well as for greater control over it. The flat roof was preferred over the pitched roof, both for its simpler construction and to give a more modern formal style to the residence. Three metal columns of circular cross-section support the roof slab that projects over the covered veranda, thus adding a special morphological feature to the building. Vertical tents are also placed in the covered veranda for better shading, as well as a discreet glass railing to protect against falling. The light fixtures, where necessary, are placed in carefully selected positions according to the design grid, following the general morphological organisation of the building. The construction of a protective sidewalk around the perimeter of the residence is planned, facilitating in parallel the circulation around it, as well as paving with gravel. The roof, which is also paved with gravel, can be accessed via a fixed vertical metal ladder and is used for the installation of a solar system, but also as an outdoor living area. Two gutters on the roof collect rain water and are integrated into the whole with their distinctive form.

The building is coloured in a way that contributes to its harmonious integration into the landscape. The building envelope is plastered and painted with a colour which is found locally, while the fence wall is painted in the same way. Doors and windows are metal framed with a wide cross-section and are painted in a colour similar to the foliage of the olive tree. The three metal columns in the covered veranda are painted in the same shade as the door and window frames. The fixed awning, the fixed ladder, the gutters and the light fixtures are all coloured white, while white marble sills and skirting are used where necessary.

In general, the architectural design of the residence was primarily determined by the limited financial resources of the project. Inevitably, the logic of achieving the maximum result with the minimum possible cost is behind every design decision and the rational way of thinking dominates over the form of the building, which emerges through the logic of its very operation and construction. This approach, however, although necessary, was at the same time intentional and on purpose, as both the natural environment and the traditional villages of Aegina seem to draw equally a timeless beauty from the absolutely necessary and essential that runs through the logic of their own existence.

Location: Vathi, Aegina, Greece

Architectural Design: Panagiotis Zakkas, Architect

Project Year: 2021-2022