丨希腊丨LA^arc Architecture

Architects:LA^arc Architecture

Area:330m²

Year:2024

Photographs:George Messaritakis

Manufacturers:DCW editions paris,Mpligiannis Service,Petrodomiki O.E.,Rubinetterie Stella 1882,TCS Calce,Toscot,WOODEN PANELS,ΕΥΡΟΤΕΧΝΙΚΗ

Lead Architects:Lila Yiamopoulou & Aimon Litinas | LA^arc

Construction:g&j constructions SOLDATOS

Site Management:g&j constructions SOLDATOS

Category:Houses

Senior Architect:Maria Daliouri

Junior Architect:Aggeliki Oikonomou

Curation:10AM Apotheke,10AM Lofts, Eva Papadaki

Artist Marble Craftsman:Theodore Psychoyos

Artist – Ceramics:Yiorgos Trichas

City:Lefkada

Country:Greece

Text description provided by the architects. Casa Condriada emerges on the western slopes of Lefkada as a residence in deep dialogue with its site, its cultural roots, and contemporary design. The project draws inspiration from the dramatic topography and the boundless horizon of the Ionian Sea, where the shifting light animates the architecture throughout the day. Its name, derived from the Venetian dialect word for "great stone," reflects both the geological identity of the site and the owners' cultural background, merging Venetian echoes with Mediterranean traditions. The conceptual foundation of the house was to create a manifesto of place, an architecture that is at once rooted in heritage and liberated through modern refinement. More than a summer retreat, the residence is conceived as a vessel for art, a living gallery where spatial experience and artistic expression intertwine seamlessly.

The project's most pressing challenge lay in the site itself. The steep and rugged terrain demanded an architecture that would not impose itself but grow organically from the slope. Access during construction was limited, and the logistics of stabilizing the hillside and transporting materials required careful planning. Early setbacks included reconciling the ambition for contemporary clarity with the regulatory framework of a traditional village context. These constraints ultimately became generative, shaping a design strategy of embedding and integration. By following the natural lines of the land and allowing the residence to appear almost suspended above the forest and sea, the house achieves both structural resilience and a sense of lightness.

Materiality plays a central role in reinforcing the project's connection to its environment. Locally quarried stone forms the structural and visual backbone of the house, tying it directly to the geological fabric of Lefkada. Earth-toned lime plasters, hand-applied by local artisans, provide texture and warmth while maintaining breathability and supporting a healthy microclimate indoors. These traditional finishes are juxtaposed with precision-engineered frames and expansive glazing that dissolve the boundaries between inside and outside. Built-in furnishings extend the architecture into the domestic realm, while carefully curated objects add subtle layers of intimacy. The craftsmanship is both timeless and forward-looking: a balance of vernacular knowledge and contemporary construction techniques.

The spatial organization of Casa Condriada responds directly to its terrain and to the desire for fluidity between living, art, and landscape. Volumes are staggered along the slope, oriented to capture sweeping sea views while preserving intimacy and protection from prevailing winds. The main living areas are elevated to engage the horizon, while bedrooms open towards quieter, more private landscapes. Transitional terraces extend the interiors outward, inviting daily life to flow between shaded courtyards and sunlit balconies. Large openings frame precise fragments of sea and forest, transforming nature into a compositional element of the architecture.

Within this framework, art plays a defining role. The monumental marble dining table on the veranda and the sculptural coffee table in the living area are creations of artist Theodore Psychoyos, anchoring the architecture with their commanding presence. Above the built-in sofa, a ceramic artwork by Yiorgos Trichas introduces a tactile interplay of form and texture. The artistic direction of the residence is gracefully curated by Eva Papadaki, founder of the creative hub 10 AM Lofts and the concept store 10 AM Apotheke, whose vision transforms the house into a living gallery in dialogue with space and nature.

In its synthesis of landscape, materiality, craftsmanship, and curation, Casa Condriada transcends the boundaries of a private dwelling. It stands as a manifesto of place, where tradition and innovation, architecture and art, converge in a seamless exploration of living.

Project gallery