The ‘View’ House is embedded into a narrow and sharply sloping and challenging site in Rethymno. The site constraints led to the creation of a house that is both integrated into the landscape and open to the town below. When planning the interior space and its relationship to the environment, we did everything possible to capture the breathtaking views to the outdoors. It was important that the structural foundation was appropriately buried into the base of the house while still allowing for as much openings for natural light as possible.

The building is divided into three vertical zones. The middle one is the circulation core, where the main entrance to the residence is located on the ground floor. As you enter the front door, the glass openings provide a taste of what's to come. Glimpses of the ascending stair flanked against a concrete wall that ties the layers of living space together. A glass elevator is also added to assist with the circulation inside the three storey residence.

Grand openings in the facade allow a plethora of light to fill the space, providing the perfect views.

On the entrance level the bedroom zone is located. The living area sits on the middle level with open views to the sea. The retaining walls of the circulation core are configured to extend the middle living level into the hillside and to create an enclosed glazed garden terrace, which is visible throughout the floor. The glass panels slide open to erase all boundaries between indoors and outdoors and connect the spaces to the garden. The swimming pool is located on the lower level together with the self-contained annex.