Amalgama Architectural Lab converts rural Greek farmhouse into contemporary family home

Set in the green outskirts of Patras, Villa Roja by Amalgama Architectural Lab reimagines a 1920s farmhouse as a calm, contemporary family home without losing its sense of history. Rather than overwrite the past, the architects chose to work with it. The main house had grown gradually over the years, with additions layered on across decades. These fragments have been carefully brought together into a unified whole, allowing the building to feel coherent while still carrying traces of its evolution. Inside, the approach is quiet and deliberate. Existing elements, like the oak staircase, have been restored, while new insertions – a marble kitchen, custom-built storage and a library – introduce a more refined, contemporary rhythm. The spaces feel warm rather than minimal, shaped by natural materials and a soft, earthy palette. Large openings draw in filtered light from the surrounding plane trees, creating a constant visual connection with the garden. The layout extends naturally outdoors, where daily life spills into shaded terraces and a garden kitchen. This easy transition between inside and outside becomes a defining feature of the house, reinforcing a slower, more climate-responsive way of living. Alongside the main residence, a separate stone guesthouse has been restored and repurposed. Originally used for storage and staff accommodation, it now hosts guest spaces and a music studio. The intervention is intentionally light: stone walls are left exposed, the timber roof is rebuilt, and new openings bring in daylight without disrupting the building’s character. The interior balances rustic textures with simple, contemporary elements. Across the site, the landscape is treated as an extension of the architecture. Stone paths connect the two buildings to a series of outdoor spaces, including a pool, pergolas and a wood-fired oven. Olive trees and vegetable gardens root the project in its setting, completing a home that feels both grounded and quietly timeless.