Along a small secluded rocky cove of Serifos Island, MOLD architects designed nCAVED, a spectacular vacation residence as a partly buried structure that minimizes its visual impact on the pristine setting, while maximizing the access to sea views.

The need to create a protected shelter, at a location of disarming view, but openly exposed to strong north winds, led MOLD architects to the decision to drill the slope, instead of arranging a set of spaces in line at ground level. They applied a rectangular grid to the slope to produce a three-dimensional “chessboard” of solids and voids that accommodate and, at the same time, isolate the residence quarters.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

“This strict geometry is discontinued with the rotation of the last axis of the grid, which provides the living area with ampler view”.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Shifting the axis intensifies the sense of perspective significantly, and thus the imprint of the residence appears minimized at the conceptual end of the ascent. Longitudinal walls of dry stone outline and protect the interior and exterior spaces.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

“They consist of the vertical borders, which lead the visitor’s gaze to the horizon line”.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

In contrast to the sturdy stone walls, the transverse facades are light, made of glass and can open along their entire length. The front is fully open to the east view, while the rear windows frame indoor gardens, enhancing the air flow and letting light into the residence.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Natural lighting and ventilation with full façade front and rear openings, the stone walls, the green roof, together with the suitable insulation, and energy-efficient glass panels adds to nCAVED excellent energy efficiency features.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

“The residence is divided into three levels: bedrooms, living rooms, and a guest house”.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

The first two communicate internally, while the guest house is independent. An in caved staircase connects the three levels externally and leads to the main entrance, located at the living room loft.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

This smooth descent into the interior of the house slowly reveals the initially hidden spaces of the house, while framing a two sided view: a visual outlet to the sea during the descent, an outlet to the sky during the ascent. In caved areas are “negative” spaces.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

“They result from severing and removing part of the rock”.

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Panagiotis Voumvakis

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Photo © Yiorgis Yerolymbos

This rough feeling of a natural cavity was what MOLD architects aimed to recreate with their choice of materials and color palette. Stone, exposed concrete, wood and metal are used with precision to create coarse inner shells.

Site plan, © MOLD architects

1st floor plan, © MOLD architects

2nd floor plan, © MOLD architects

3rd floor plan, © MOLD architects

Roof plan, © MOLD architects

Section A, © MOLD architects

Section B, © MOLD architects

Section C, © MOLD architects

Elevation, © MOLD architects

Axonometric, © MOLD architects

Perforated filters on the facades and the floor produce shadow patterns. Paired with large reflective mirror surfaces, they make up an eerie atmosphere in the private areas of the residence.

Diagram A, © MOLD architects

Diagram B, © MOLD architects

Constructive detail, © MOLD architects

Sketch Caved View, © MOLD architects

Sketch Grid, © MOLD architects

Sketch Lines, © MOLD architects

Sketch openings, © MOLD architects

Sketch Section, © MOLD architects

Finally, the pergolas seem to float detached from the surface, denoting the physical aspect of the residence, which integrates to the landscape, yet maintains a dynamic presence.

Video © Panagiotis Voumvakis

About Mold Architects:

MOLD architects are founded in 2011 by Iliana Kerestetzi (M.Sc in Advanced Architectural Design, Columbia University, NY 2009). Their practice integrates research, architecture, landscape, advanced computational design, parametric design, graphic design, interior design, construction, visual arts.

Their work has been included in group exhibitions and received various awards and distinctions including the: SADAS-PEA 2014 Award – Best Residential Project for 2009-2013, DOMES 2014 Award – Best first project of a young architect for the years 2009-2013, Nomination for the Mies van Der Rohe Award 2015, Nomination for the Piranesi Award 2015, 100% HOTEL DESIGN AWARD 2016, Finalist for the East Centric Architecture Triennale Award 2016, 100% HOTEL DESIGN AWARD 2019, Big See Architecture Award 2021, IDA (International Design Award) Silver Award 2021, Big See Interior Architecture Award 2021.

Facts & Credits:

Project title: nCAVED House, Project type: Vacation residence, Location: Ag. Sostis – Serifos Island – Cyclades – Greece, Architectural Design: MOLD architects, Lead Architect: Iliana Kerestetzi, Consultant Architect: Manos Kerestetzis, Design Team: Konstantinos Vlachoulis – Michail Xirokostas, Structural Engineer: Studio 265, Mechanical Engineer: TEAM M-H, Lighting Design: Nikos Adrianopoulos, Construction: MOLD architects & Thanos Vittas, Site supervision: MOLD architects, Site area: 6.000 m², Gross area: 360 m², Year of completion: 2020, Text description: MOLD architects, Photographer 1: Yiorgis Yerolymbos, Photographer 2 – Video: Panagiotis Voumvakis

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