International firm LASSA Architects did an outstanding job with this home in an olive grove somewhere in Greece's southern Peloponnese. Named Villa Ypsilon on account of its green roof being shaped like the Greek letter Ypsilon – a Y-shape when capitalized – the summer residence blends seamlessly into the hilltop it sits upon, enabling owners to walk up to the top and enjoy the view.
Villa Ypsilon comprises a total floorspace of 150 sq m (1,614 sq ft) spread over an entrance, master bedroom, two additional bedrooms, kitchen, breakfast area, living room, and a couple of bathrooms. Though the projects are totally different, the way it integrates into the landscape brings to mind Scotland's Culardoch Shieling.
Inside, the decor is very clean and white, broken up by detailing like the wooden ceiling. The villa's private areas, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, face the east, while common areas, like living room, kitchen, etc, face the south and provide excellent views thanks to generous glazing.
Each of Villa Ypsilon's three courtyards provides a little shade at different times of the day. Despite the searing summer heat that can occur in that part of the world in summer, the use of concrete, the green roof, and carefully-placed windows that promote ventilation ensure the interior remains sufficiently cool without air conditioning.
The remote location of the project and a limited budget (the home was built for a relative of one of the architects so the fee was lowered, though the price is private) meant that Villa Ypsilon's construction posed a challenge for LASSA Architects.
The firm purchased a CNC cutting machine to aid the prototyping and production of many non-standard elements used in the home, including the concrete shell formwork, wooden ceiling, and some furniture and partitions too, as well as the window frames.
Being able to prefabricate all this stuff off-site resulted in very little off-the-shelf building products being required, meaning a more unique project. It also meant that the total construction time could be sped up to seven months.
Source: LASSA Architects
