human habitation weaves gently between the existing nature
Within the arid landscape of the Greek island, Meganisi, Hiboux Architecture nestles a cluster of scattered curved residential volumes. Taking their cues from the traditional stone shepherds’ residences in the countryside of the island, the structures seek sensitive attention to the surroundings, designed with a language that is informed by the organic rocky topography. Thus, the project preserves and recreates the old, existing ‘xirolithies’ (dry stone walling), with the dwellings being attached to them following their ground pattern. Through this project, the design team sought to form a 5-guest house that harmoniously blends into the landscape with an intervention that required the least possible excavation. Among the 42 pre-existing olive trees, the final composition appears as a series of stone-clad vaulted structures unified under a metal canopy, with the overall synthesis fading into its setting. 
all images by Yiannis Drakoulidis and Yiorgos Conidaris
immersive views toward the Mediterranian blue
The complex comprises one main residence and five-domed guest houses. The independent residence includes the master bedroom, a two-floor tower-like observatory with a passable roof, and a cellar. The design team opted for curtain walls to ensure continuity throughout the space and an uninterrupted view of the slope toward the sea. The continuous canopy unifies the individual spaces between the scattered buildings, all the while forming an ideal semi-open enviroment for outdoor activities appreciating life in the countryside.
Drawing from the sheepfolds of the Greek countryside, the canopy repeats the inclination of the ground. Its frame and columns are out of steel, while the filling in the outdoor part is made from bamboo for shading. Vegetation was selected to cover some parts, enhancing shading. The planted roofs improve the integration of the complex into its environment and make it disappear into the landscape. Hiboux Architecture’s residential project received a distinction in the competition for the EIA Architecture Award.
new human habitation is woven between the existing non-human living
building with the least possible disturbance
