Earth Light by Dionisis Sotovikis

The design of this building, located in a rural area north of Athens, was inspired by the relationship of man with the landscape that surrounds him, and particularly the earth. The entrance from the street is created using two parallel walls, which contain the staircase and ‘slice’ the earth in order to guide the visitor to the ground level of the house. This level accommodates its most introvert (and private) spaces, the bedrooms. It’s designed to either open up towards the landscape or to be completely isolated from it, according to the mood of its inhabitants. On the other hand, the upper level hosts the more extrovert spaces of the house and is surrounded by glass, allowing the landscape to become part of the living space. A staircase leads to the planted terrace and from there a bridge takes us directly outside, where a half-suspended swimming pool ‘floats’ over the sloping plot.