A&M Architects unifies stone and concrete volumes in hillside Karpathos home

In the traditional hillside village of Aperi in Karpathos, A&M Architects has transformed two modest buildings from different periods into one calm, unified home. The existing property combined a stone house built before 1955 with a concrete addition from 1977, set on a compact 127-square-metre plot. Rather than erase their differences, the architects worked to reconcile them. A vertical extension and a complete interior redesign allowed the spaces to function as a single residence, while keeping close to the character of the settlement. The dialogue between old and new is subtle. The original stone structure remains legible, while contemporary interventions are expressed through clean lines and careful detailing. Inside, the traditional “mousandra” -an open loft typical of Karpathian homes- has been reinterpreted to feel lighter and more connected to the rest of the house. Circulation between levels is straightforward and fluid. The new upper floor is built using a composite system of corrugated steel and concrete, chosen to reduce structural weight and integrate smoothly with the existing shell. Roof and terrace were thermally and waterproof insulated, then finished with French-style ceramic tiles that echo the textures of the village. From the outside, the house stays true to Aperi’s identity. Off-white walls, light blue wooden shutters and simple decorative cornices maintain a familiar presence within the narrow streets. In the courtyard, built-in seating framed by stone columns creates a quiet outdoor room. The project doesn’t seek contrast for its own sake. Instead, it offers a measured response to context, allowing two buildings from different decades to read as one home shaped by time.