A Home Built Into The Hillside Of This Island Is Almost Invisible

January 20, 2021
A modern home with stone walls and a swimming pool has been built into a hillside on an island.

Mold Architects has designed ‘NCaved’, a modern house that’s been built into the hillside of Serifos Island in Greece.

The home is located above a small secluded rocky cove and has been designed so that it almost completely blends in with its surroundings.

A modern home with stone walls and a swimming pool has been built into a hillside on an island.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

The house design was a result of trying to create a structure that would be protected from the strong north winds.

A modern multi-level home with a swimming pool, that's been built into a hillside.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

A rectangular grid was applied to the slope to produce a three-dimensional “chessboard” of solids and voids, and therefore created sections of open spaces for patios and a swimming pool.

A modern multi-level home that's been built into a hillside.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos and Panagiotis Voumvakis

At night, lighting exposes the various living areas of the home.

A modern home with a swimming pool, that's been built into the hillside.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos
A modern home that's been built into the hillside.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Planted rooftops and stone help to blend the home with the natural materials found on the site.

Planted rooftops and stone help to blend this modern home with the natural materials found on the site.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos and Panagiotis Voumvakis

Let’s take a look around at the other design elements found within the home, like this wood wall that has an integrated door.

A modern home with a wood wall that includes an integrated door.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

The main living level of the home is open plan, with sliding glass walls that open the interior to the outdoor spaces. The kitchen also includes a wood wall, while an island contrasts both the wall and the dining table, which is raised to accommodate stools.

A modern open plan interior with sliding glass walls and concrete floors.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos
This modern open plan kitchen and dining room has a wood wall with integrated doors, and a dining table, that's raised to accommodate stools.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

A cantilevered staircase is located by a board-formed concrete wall and leads up to the second floor of the home.

A modern cantilevered staircase.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos and Panagiotis Voumvakis

At the top of the stairs, there’s a bridge with railings that overlooks the living areas below.

A modern home with stone walls and an interior bridge.
Photography by Panagiotis Voumvakis
A modern home with stone walls and an interior bridge.
Photography by Panagiotis Voumvakis

In the bedrooms, the beds are raised up on platforms, giving the user a water view.

A minimalist bedroom with a bed raised on a platform to take advantage of water views.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos and Panagiotis Voumvakis
A minimalist bedroom with a bed raised on a platform to take advantage of water views.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

In a bathroom, a glass wall provides a view of a garden and stone wall.

In this bathroom, a glass wall provides a view of a garden and stone wall.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

The home also has a swimming pool with uninterrupted views of the Aegean Sea.

A modern home built-into a hillside has a swimming pool with sea views.
Photography by MOLDarchitects

Supporting the entire home are stone walls, which create the vertical borders.

A modern home that's built into a hillside has stone walls and exterior concrete stairs.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos
A modern home with an abundance of stone walls.
Photography by MOLDarchitects
A modern home that's built into a hillside has stone walls.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Screens made from wood slats with metal supports provide varying levels of shade for both outdoor and indoor spaces.

Screens made from wood slats with metal supports provide varying levels shade for both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Photography by Panagiotis Voumvakis
Screens made from wood slats with metal supports provide varying levels shade for both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Photography by Yiorgis Yerolymbos

In this video by Panagiotis Voumvakis, you can watch a tour around the home.

Or, you can view this video if you’re interested in seeing a time-lapse of the construction.

Architectural Design: Mold Architects – Iliana Kerestetzi | Consultant Architect: Manos Kerestetzis | Design Team: Iliana Kerestetzi, Konstantinos Vlachoulis, Mixalis Xirokostas | Structural Engineer: Studio 265 | Mechanical Engineer: TEAM M-H | Lighting Design: Nikos Adrianopoulos | Construction: Mold architects