- Project: House with a Garden
- Architect: OFFICE MUTO
- Location: Greece, Vigla plateau, Milos Island, Cyclades
- Year: 2023
- Area: 270 m2
- Photography: Simone Bossi
Concept & Context
“House with a Garden” draws inspiration from the traditional sheepfold typologies of Milos and the harsh, wind-exposed plateau it occupies. The architecture attempts to mediate between slender local building typologies and the raw landscape conditions. By positioning simple rectangular volumes around a protected central courtyard, the design both honours vernacular patterns and responds to climate, wind and horizon.
Architecture & Spatial Organisation
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Courtyard as core: The building is organised around a central courtyard (the “garden” in name) which becomes the organising element of the programme. This courtyard shields the internal spaces from the strong winds of the plateau while expanding the living realm outdoors.
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Simple volumes: Each programme block is a simple rectangular volume connected directly to the courtyard; there are no lengthy corridors or secondary circulation. Openings and views are defined between volumes toward landscape.
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Material strategy: Stone excavated from the site (during digging of foundations/underground cistern) is reused for the walls; concrete floor slabs are left visible at edges. This material honesty reinforces the horizontal expression and minimises separation from terrain.
Materials & Atmosphere
The material palette emphasises mineral, local and structural:
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Local stone walls: Providing texture, visual weight and a bond to site geology and building tradition.
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Exposed concrete: The concrete slabs aren’t hidden; their edges are intentionally visible to admit the language of modern construction while respecting the local stone tradition.
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Horizontality & continuity: The building emphasises horizontality, with volumes stepping lightly over the plateau rather than dominating it; the courtyard and materials help integrate architecture with landscape.
Landscape & Experience
By sitting on the plateau, the house faces strong winds and broad skies. The courtyard becomes a protective yet generous outdoor room. Internal spaces open toward this semi-protected space and then beyond toward the horizon. The architecture thus prioritises experiential qualities: breezes, material tactility, light and shadow, rather than elaborate formal gestures.
Why It Matters
For architecture journalists and enthusiasts, “House with a Garden” stands out for:
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Its intelligent reinterpretation of vernacular typology (sheepfolds) for contemporary living in a demanding site.
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Its modest size (270 m²) but generous spatial ambition via outdoor/indoor strategies.
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Its material honesty and integration with local context—not simply in aesthetic reference but in construction logic and practicality.
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Its role in the landscape: rather than dominating, it quietly settles, frames, protects and reveals.
