Hhh architects designed and constructed three vacation houses in the area of Stoupa, in Mani, with a shared pool for an exclusively touristic operation. The complex consists of stone blocks placed in between the existing olive trees, highlighting the elements of the local traditional architecture but in a constant dialog with contemporary architectural design. The building materials, along with the morphology and the breakdown of the houses into a smaller scale, refers and paraphrases a typical Mani settlement. The main volumes are connected through transparent glass elements creating contrast and tension to the massive stone blocks. Open courtyards and verandas with pergolas are created between the different volumes with space qualities equal to the interior.
The three houses are placed in a row, with the two larger positioned at the edges and a smaller one in between, constantly maintaining the privacy of each one. Each of the bigger house consists of two stone blocks, one with three floors (incl. the basement) which includes all the bedrooms, and one with only ground level, which is the main living area. The entrance and dining area is the connection space that – through its transparency – floats to the surrounding open spaces. All pergolas, railings, an outdoor staircase and a small veranda are made of light steel constructions; the use of perforated metal plates for the floor and for the steps makes these elements appear lighter and increases the contrast to the stone walls. The window shutters are made of the same metal plates, creating an interesting game with the light.
