kapsimalis architects embeds stone-clad cave homes into greek island’s hillside

Kapsimalis Architects builds a Terraced Residence in Folegandros

Located on a sloping plot in Folegandros, Greece, the house by Kapsimalis Architects is positioned within a terraced landscape formed by historic retaining stone walls (xerolithies) and low vegetation. The southwest orientation provides open views toward the Aegean Sea and the surrounding agricultural terrain. Access to the site occurs from an old rural road along the eastern boundary, continuing through natural paths and steps integrated into the terrain.

The architectural design responds directly to the site’s topography and geometry. The house is divided into four interconnected parts distributed across different levels, reflecting the elongated and stepped form of the plot. The building volumes follow two primary directions, one aligned with the site’s westward orientation and another with the southwest angle of its stone terraces. This organization establishes two main typologies: freestanding pavilion-like structures for communal areas and partially subterranean volumes for private spaces. The pavilions reinterpret the island’s traditional single-room stone buildings, combining elements of local vernacular architecture with influences from Greek modernism. Their form also draws conceptual reference from the compact geometry of small Cycladic temples. The subterranean ‘cave’ structures reinterpret the semi-buried rural storage spaces once common on the island, expressed here in a minimal, cubic composition.

the house is set on a sloping plot in Folegandros, surrounded by terraced stone walls | all visuals by Sugarvisuals

Stone, Concrete, and Oak Define the House in Folegandros, greece

The design team at Kapsimalis Architects integrates the building with the landscape through partial embedding into the terrain and the reuse of existing terraces. The upper-level pavilion contains an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, connected to an entrance patio on the east and an outdoor courtyard to the northwest, adjacent to a restored stone barn. An internal staircase links this level to a lower subterranean block containing two bedrooms and a bathroom, each with access to a private courtyard. A second pavilion accommodates an additional open-plan living and dining area, with a secondary kitchen located underground behind it. This space opens northward to an outdoor courtyard with seating and dining areas. Below this level, a second subterranean block houses two more bedrooms and a bathroom, each connected to outdoor patios on the lowest terrace. A path along the southern edge of the plot links the exterior levels and leads to a small observatory platform overlooking the landscape.

Locally sourced materials were used throughout the project to ensure a cohesive relationship with the environment. Stone from the site was employed for the facades, retaining walls, and fencing, while exposed earth-tone concrete forms the structural framework. Oak wood frames the windows, and surfaces are finished with local cement plaster and beaten concrete flooring. Through this approach, the architecture merges with its terrain, maintaining continuity with the island’s building traditions and natural setting.

natural stone paths and steps connect the different levels of the property

pavilion structures host the house’s communal spaces in open configurations

the pavilions reinterpret traditional one-room stone houses of the island

local stone, concrete, and oak wood define the project’s material palette

four interconnected volumes are arranged across the plot’s terraced levels

outdoor courtyards and patios connect interior spaces to the surrounding landscape

project info:

name: House in Folegandros, Greece

architect: Kapsimalis Architects | @kapsimalisarchitects

location: Folegandros, Greece

visualization: Sugarvisuals | @sugarvisuals

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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