The proposal draws inspiration from the traditional Aeginian home, reinterpreting its architectural language through modern materials, spatial arrangements, and subtle irony.

The design consists of two residences organized around a central courtyard -a hidden, introspective core that serves as the project’s focal point. From the outside, the houses look like a monolithic square, concealing the openness and communal nature of the central courtyard within. The residences comprise six distinct volumes, referencing the auxiliary structures that historically surrounded enclosed courtyards. This arrangement introduces smaller, private outdoor spaces, offering both seclusion and framed views of the surrounding olive grove. The composition is unified by pergolas and sloping roofs, creating a cohesive architectural identity while reflecting Aegina’s traditional forms. Central to the design is a dual-layer wall system, reimagining the solidity of traditional stone walls with irony. The outer layer, a lightweight synthetic insulation -typical of contemporary Greek construction- contrasts with the inner layer, a carefully crafted carpentry finish that replaces the stone’s recesses with a dynamic second skin. Deliberate "cuts" in these layers expose their interplay, highlighting the contemporary “new solidity” of lightweight insulation and brick, while referencing vernacular detailing.

Credits

Design Team: Eleni Vagianou, Tasos Theodorakakis  |  Structural Engineer: Antonis Gavalas