The Cave House

Situated within the traditional settlement of Dryopida, this summer house borders the Katakfyki Cave, a prominent landmark of the village. The 80sq.m  two-story stone house, underwent a complete restoration, preserving all traditional architectural elements but at the same time introducing a more contemporary aesthetic to the interior, both in terms of layout and materials used.

The Cave House stands out with its spacious 130-sq.m. courtyard adorned with orchard trees. This unique feature incorporates part of the Katafyki cave, aligning the design focus on connecting the dwelling with its exterior, creating an outward-oriented design on both levels.

On the ground floor, the architectural arrangement ensures that openings face the courtyard, seamlessly linking the kitchen and dining area with the living space outdoors. The upper floor unveils a spacious balcony, visually connected to the courtyard but physically separated, enhancing privacy for the bedroom area.

Internally, the space was reconfigured to create larger, unified living areas on the ground floor and a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom on the upper floor. The design maintains a minimalist approach with details linked to local architecture and craftmanship, such as wall recesses called ‘thirides’ of the ground floor and built in elements such as sofas and kitchen worktop. There is also an emphasis towards flexibility by the use of sliding doors and sofas that can transform into beds on both levels.

The chosen materials introduce colour through elements of natural oak, rattan, cement finishes and blue wooden frames, all against a white canvas provided by whitewashed stone walls. A distinctive feature on the ground floor is the use of the tile with circular patterns, reminiscent of the colourful cement tiles historically found in the settlement but presented in a more contemporary rendition.

Photo Credits: Ioanna Fotiadou