The project concerns the design of four functionally independent residences in Hersonissos area, within a mildly sloping landscape mainly associated with residential, tourism and leisure uses. The composition arranges the volumes freely across the site, placing particular emphasis on the relationship between the residences, the outdoor areas, the planting, the private courtyards and the water elements.

Year: 2026

Location: Hersonissos, Heraklion, Crete

Area: 416 m²

Status: Design Study

The complex is developed as a unified ensemble of four residences, each preserving its functional independence while being connected through common principles of morphology, materiality and landscape integration. The free arrangement of the volumes allows the creation of individual private zones, pathways and outdoor living areas, while avoiding the impression of a strictly repetitive residential development.

The architectural language is based on simple, clear volumes in an off-white tone, with emphasis on massing and the preservation of a compositional grid in both façades and plans. The stone cladding at ground level and along the side elevations acts as a grounding element, linking the new construction to the natural texture of the Cretan landscape. At the same time, the vertical decorative elements on the façades serve not only as visual features, but also as shading devices that contribute to cooling, ventilation and light control, especially during the summer months.

The outdoor space is treated as an essential part of the architectural composition. Gardens, planting areas, pathways, courtyards and swimming pools create a network of intermediate spaces between domestic life and the landscape. The low scale of the buildings, the careful handling of the natural slope and the use of earthy materials reinforce the sense of integration, while maintaining a contemporary and clean architectural character.

The result is a residential complex that balances privacy with a coherent aesthetic identity. Each residence operates independently, while together they form a calm living environment, where architecture, planting and water shape a distinctly Mediterranean experience of habitation.