Compact lofted house by A.C.R.E Architecture sits within historic Kefalonia village

A compact summer house by A.C.R.E Architecture sits within the village of Vary in northern Kefalonia. The settlement unfolds across three gentle hills overlooking the municipality of Erisos and the island of Ithaca, framed by the remains of abandoned stone dwellings that continue to shape the character of the landscape. Designed for a family of four, the 60-square-metre house is arranged over two levels. The ground floor accommodates the living space, kitchen and bathroom, while a loft above contains two bedrooms. With the exception of the bathroom, the interior is conceived as a single open-plan volume, allowing the small footprint to read as spatially generous and fluid. The building draws directly from local vernacular typologies. A pitched roof, carefully proportioned openings and an arch beneath the external staircase reference traditional architecture found throughout the village. These familiar forms are reinterpreted through contemporary construction methods, restrained detailing and a pared-back interior palette. This deliberate tension between old and new establishes a quiet dialogue with the surrounding ruins, positioning the house as both a continuation and a reinterpretation of its context. Over time, the exterior finishes are intended to weather and soften, enabling the building to settle further into the natural landscape that surrounds it.