Etsi Architects embed a hillside refuge above the Messinian Gulf

Set into the slope overlooking the Messinian Gulf, this residence by Etsi Architects is conceived as a retreat rather than a statement. The design follows the rhythm of the landscape, with low, stepped volumes aligned to the old olive terraces so the structure appears to emerge naturally from the hillside. Arrival is discreet — a sheltered turn that opens onto a sunlit terrace where the sea stretches wide and Mount Taygetos forms a distant backdrop. The architecture is minimal and tactile. Hand-worked stone and pale lime render shift with the changing light, while slim frames and deep-set openings draw long horizontal views of the horizon. Inside, timber joinery, built-in benches and textured floors create a calm and enduring atmosphere. A shallow water court reflects the sky by day and gathers the evening light after sunset. Environmental logic shapes the comfort of the house. Thick masonry walls store coolness, natural cross-ventilation circulates through shaded interiors, and pergolas extend living areas into the open air. Rainwater is collected, planting is drought-tolerant, and the olive grove remains largely untouched — the landscape itself becomes the garden. Movement through the house follows a slow pace: from narrow, shaded passages to broad terraces and sweeping views. Designed for slow mornings and long evenings, the home invites a light way of living. Life here is defined by the essentials, and grounded in the simple pleasures of stone, sea and time.