White cubic forms stack against the sky, their flat planes softened by planted terraces with cacti and small trees. The architecture embodies Cycladic clarity while integrating nature’s presence.

Kapsimalis Architects Reframe Cycladic Vernacular in a Santorini House

Words by Yatzer

Santorini, Greece

Located in Santorini, on the rural edges of Oia where the landscape is defined less by the vertiginous drama of the caldera and more by the measured horizontality of vineyards stretching out towards the sea, this new residence by Kapsimalis Architects embraces a different kind of island experience. What it lacks in postcard views it makes up for with a quieter connection to the countryside, one that allows the architecture to resonate more deeply with Santorini’s vernacular heritage and its intimate relationship to land and light.

Close-up of whitewashed cubic walls reveals sharp edges softened by light and shadow. A base of volcanic stone anchors the abstract composition, highlighting the interplay between local materiality and modernist geometry.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A shaded outdoor nook features climbing vines trained along taut wires, casting rhythmic shadows across white walls. A wooden table and stone bowl create a simple tableau, framing glimpses of the Aegean through geometric openings.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A poolside terrace extends toward the horizon, with a wooden pergola sheltering a dining table. Sunlight and shadow play across the water’s edge, amplifying the connection between minimalist architecture and expansive sea views.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Approached from the village along an old path, the house reveals itself as a cluster of whitewashed cubic volumes—forms that are unmistakably Cycladic yet unapologetically modern, their crisp outlines and weightless clarity giving them a striking contemporary presence. The prismatic configuration amplifies the play of light and shadow, with the façades shifting character as the sun moves across the sky. Yet the project is not a mere exercise in sculptural effect; its composition reflects a carefully choreographed layout where interior spaces, courtyards, and terraces interlock to create a fluid continuum between indoors and out. This porous arrangement balances openness and privacy, while below ground a level carved into the earth evokes the island’s traditional yposkafa dwellings, reinterpreted here as an architecture of depth, shelter, and atmospheric calm.

A composition of stark white cubic volumes rises against the deep blue Santorini sky. Native grasses and shrubs soften the geometric architecture, creating a dialogue between the minimalist Cycladic form and the rugged island landscape.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A narrow garden path lined with lavender and grasses leads between stark white cubic walls. The walkway frames the horizon beyond, heightening the interplay between architecture and landscape.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Material choices further anchor the house into its context. Volcanic stone, sourced on site during excavation, is used for the lower façades and retaining walls, while white plaster defines the upper cubic forms. Iroko wood pergolas shade patios, while marble surfaces in muted tones extend from interiors to exteriors. These decisions, coupled with bioclimatic strategies such as planted roofs and carefully oriented openings, and gardens filled with Mediterranean vegetation, herbs, and vines ensure that the residence is not only visually attuned to its environment but also functionally responsive to it.

  • Minimalist façade detail where smooth white planes meet in crisp alignment. The subtle curvature of one wall softens the angular geometry, while shadows deepen the graphic interplay of form and void.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • White cubic forms stack against the sky, their flat planes softened by planted terraces with cacti and small trees. The architecture embodies Cycladic clarity while integrating nature’s presence.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

The villa’s crisp white façade opens onto a reflective pool, its symmetry punctuated by a large arched window. Sliding glass doors dissolve boundaries between interiors and the Aegean landscape beyond.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A floating timber pergola shades a dining platform set within a reflective pool. The minimalist structure balances geometric clarity with the gentle movement of water, extending the house’s architecture into the surrounding landscape.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

The layout balances communal and private functions across three levels. The ground floor centres on an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area alongside a guest suite with its own courtyard and plunge pool. Above, the master bedroom commands a privileged position with a private terrace and lounge, while another suite completes the upper level. Two additional bedrooms are located on the subterranean floor together with a sitting room, gym, study, and cellar, most of which open directly onto the main pool terrace. Outdoor living is amplified by distinctive features such as a floating dining deck set above a reflective water surface and a sunken lounge at the centre of the pool, creating spaces that are both theatrical and deeply convivial.

An outdoor lounge merges built-in seating with wooden armchairs beneath a pergola. A circular fire pit and panoramic views of the volcanic terrain and Aegean Sea create a serene yet elemental retreat.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

An expansive terrace features a built-in bench and wooden coffee table, overlooking the Aegean horizon. Simple furnishings—woven chairs, pale cushions, a bowl of fruit—emphasise outdoor living attuned to the landscape.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

The villa’s façade layers white cubic volumes above a volcanic stone base with arched openings. A pool terrace with low loungers extends outward, anchoring the architecture to its rugged terrain.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Stone-clad walls enclose a descending staircase that opens dramatically toward a pool terrace. The rough volcanic texture contrasts with the smooth pale stone steps and glimpses of the sea beyond.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A sunken seating island floats within a pool, clad in dark stone and furnished with taupe cushions. The design merges water, comfort, and horizon views in a single sculptural gesture.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Aerial view of the villa reveals a geometric arrangement of cubic forms, terraces, and pools, all integrated into the rugged Santorini landscape with precise linearity.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

The house’s entrance is framed by interlocking white planes and narrow vertical windows. A central walkway flanked by potted cacti accentuates the pared-back geometry, while the stark façade highlights the interplay of shadow and Mediterranean light.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

When it came to the interiors, the architects pursued a restrained vocabulary of ascetic elegance that echoes the architecture’s sculptural clarity. On the ground and upper floors, a palette of whites and light beiges is combined with natural textures, resulting in spaces that are bright and clean-lined. Filtered sunlight further dissolves the hard geometries, while built-in furniture reinforce a sense of measured calm. On the subterranean floor, the palette shifts towards earthy beiges and dark greys, while rectilinear rigor gives way to vaulted ceilings and arched openings, offering a deliberate counterpoint to the luminous clarity above. These spaces reflect a more introspective, cave-like domesticity, their cocooning qualities heightened by framed views of the pool terrace and surrounding landscape.

  • A view from the staircase frames the dining room below, where a stone table and pale timber chairs sit beneath a sculptural pendant. The scene captures the home’s layered geometries and its seamless connection to the pool terrace outside.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • An airy dining space features pale wood chairs and a stone table, oriented toward panoramic sea views through floor-to-ceiling glass. Sheer white curtains filter the light, creating an atmosphere of quiet elegance and openness.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Sunlight floods a combined living and dining area where creamy textiles, pale stone flooring, and wood details create a serene backdrop. Dark sculptural tables and ceramics provide grounding contrast, blending minimalism with Mediterranean softness.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A neutral-toned living room balances simplicity and warmth with a modular cream sofa, dark circular tables, and sculptural black accents. A muted abstract painting anchors the space, echoing the restrained palette and minimalist sensibility.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A sleek kitchen combines dark cabinetry with a monolithic stone island and slender brass pendant. Sliding glass doors open to a terrace with an outdoor kitchen, blurring boundaries between interior minimalism and the arid landscape beyond.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A light-filled staircase ascends toward a skylight, its pale stone steps paired with dark timber panelling. Sunlight cuts across the white walls, intensifying the home’s architectural clarity and sense of vertical progression.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A compact study alcove features ribbed black wall panelling, a sculptural chair, and ceramic accents. Floor-to-ceiling glass floods the space with natural light, balancing dark textures with bright Mediterranean greenery.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • A serene bedroom pairs pale stone steps and crisp white bedding with a backdrop of dark timber cabinetry. Minimalist accents—a round pendant light and ceramic vases—emphasise the space’s sculptural clarity.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • A minimalist bathroom contrasts pale stone walls with a grey vanity and circular mirror. A walk-in shower and built-in tub create a tranquil balance between functional clarity and soothing material warmth.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • A bathroom in warm neutral tones features a monolithic stone sink and expansive mirror. Light from a skylight above casts geometric patterns across the surfaces, enhancing the space’s calm, spa-like atmosphere.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Minimalist bedroom design contrasts pale stone flooring and white bedding with a dark timber wardrobe. A sliding door opens directly onto a plunge pool, reinforcing the seamless blend of architecture and nature.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A serene bedroom faces a private courtyard, where a small pool and citrus tree offer a retreat-like atmosphere. Soft neutral furnishings and billowing curtains heighten the room’s quiet intimacy.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A vaulted lounge combines earthy plaster walls with low, modular seating and sculptural furnishings. An arched opening frames the terrace and sea beyond, blending cave-like intimacy with outward views.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A vaulted space frames twin workstations with dark timber desks and swivel chairs. Warm lighting and sculptural arches blend functionality with monastic calm, opening toward a minimalist bar area.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A subdued interior bar space contrasts arched walls and smooth plaster with dark stools and sleek surfaces. Natural light filters from above, softening the minimalist palette of stone and wood.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • A vaulted gym combines stone walls and amber-toned glass partitions with modern fitness equipment. An arched opening connects the subterranean space to the pool and expansive sea views beyond.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

  • Minimalist bathroom and dressing area with pale stone finishes and mirrored partitions. A sculptural ceramic vase is doubled in reflection, enhancing the serene symmetry of the space.

    Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A softly curved lounge with plaster walls opens through a wide arch to a terrace and sea view. Neutral furnishings and rounded silhouettes echo the cave-like architecture.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

By reimagining Santorini’s vernacular through a contemporary lens, Kapsimalis Architects have created a residence that feels at once timeless and new. In the quiet rhythms of its courtyards, terraces, and vaulted interiors, the project captures something essential about the island beyond its celebrated vistas, its enduring capacity to reinvent tradition with grace.

A bathroom in warm neutral tones features a monolithic stone sink and expansive mirror. Light from a skylight above casts geometric patterns across the surfaces, enhancing the space’s calm, spa-like atmosphere.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Bedroom with an arched picture window framing the Santorini landscape at dusk. White linens, sculptural ceramics, and a glass wardrobe partition create an atmosphere of contemplative stillness.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

Stacked white volumes rise from rocky terrain against the evening sky. The architecture’s crisp geometry contrasts with the untamed natural vegetation and distant sea horizon.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.

A sunset over the pool terrace bathes low loungers and water surfaces in soft orange light. The scene captures the villa’s dialogue with Santorini’s elemental beauty.

Photography by Giorgos Sfakianakis.