- Project: Villa Apollon
- Architect: Block722
- Location: Greece, Vasiliki, Lefkada
- Year: 2020
- Area: 284 m2
- Photography: Yiorgos Kordakis
Context & Concept
Villa Apollon is a holiday residence set on the rugged southern edge of Lefkada Island, perched above Vasiliki Bay and overlooking the Ionian Sea. Its design responds directly to the steep, dramatic topography: the house is partially embedded into the slope, visually discreet from above while opening fully toward the water.
Named for the Greek god of light, the project is oriented to capture long sea views and sunsets, while remaining rooted in the warmth of materials, craftsmanship and setting.
Architecture & Spatial Organisation
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Site Strategy: Entry occurs from the upper level via a ramp; from there, paved terraces and a natural path lead down toward a secluded rocky beach.
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Submerged Volumes: To address the steep slope and maintain privacy, the main house is partially buried into the terrain and the volumes follow the natural topographical lines.
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Program Layout: The main house includes a large open living/dining/kitchen zone with expansive glazing toward the sea; flanked by a master suite and two further bedrooms. Adjacent but distinct is a guesthouse structure with four guest rooms.
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Indoor-Outdoor Relationship: Floor-to-ceiling iroko wood-framed glazing connects interiors to terraces, pool and sea beyond; outdoor dining and barbeque areas sit beside the pool.
Materials & Atmosphere
Material selection reinforces the dialogue with site and setting:
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Natural stone extracted from the site is used in walls, allowing the building to feel of the land.
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Iroko and teak wood create warmth and texture inside and out—wood ceilings, bespoke timber doors and joinery tie the home to craft and context.
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Terrazzo floors and local stone surfaces provide tactile richness and durability suited to the island climate and lifestyle.
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The architecture is deliberately low-lying and oriented toward the sea, allowing the natural panorama to remain dominant rather than being overshadowed by the building.
Why It Matters
For architectural journalists and enthusiasts, Villa Apollon stands out as a thoughtfully composed residence that balances luxury, context and restraint:
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It demonstrates how a contemporary holiday home can embed itself into sensitive terrain and exploit view, light and material without disrupting the landscape.
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It illustrates how program—main house + guesthouse—can be arranged to maximise privacy, orientation and outdoor life in a challenging topography.
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It offers a rich case of material honesty and craftsmanship—stone, wood and terrazzo, all rooted in local tradition while executed in contemporary detail.
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In the Greek island context, where views and landscape dominate, the project shows how architecture can be present but not intrusive, a frame for experience rather than spectacle.
