In the heart of the Cretan landscape, in the village of Dafnes, Heraklion, Crete, we designed a modern residence that embodies the principles of sustainable architecture and passive design.

The project, The Passive House, is a sensitive and meaningful architectural proposal that highlights the dynamic connection between humans and nature, emphasizing the importance of designing with respect for the location and climate.

The house faces east, but the view is panoramic: the sea to the north, a plain with vineyards to the east, and mountainous landscapes to the south. The owners' desire was to create a passive residence that fully capitalizes on the view of the Cretan landscape and the sea.

The small size of the plot and building restrictions, along with the steep terrain to the east and the road to the west, heavily influenced the spatial organization of the project. Thus, we opted for a two-story structure with a basement, ensuring all house functions were harmoniously integrated. We used local stone and masonry with plaster, achieving both environmental integration and thermal mass utilization for regulating interior temperature.

Two main volumes—a taller one with stone, a wooden roof, and tiles, and a lower one with masonry and plaster in an earthy tone—intersect vertically, forming a cross. From the roadside, the building presents a more rigid form with fewer openings and clear volumes. However, towards the view, the volumes dissolve, revealing balconies, courtyards, and large openings. Movable shading devices protect the eastern facades, while the frames are operable or fixed, an essential element in passive design alongside eliminating thermal bridges, energy exchangers, shading, and energy production from natural sources.

On the ground floor, the stone volume houses the staircase and living room, while the kitchen and dining area are positioned to the south and the office-studio to the north. Each space opens onto private courtyards: the pool, which hovers over the slope, the balcony of the living room, and the patio of the office overlooking the sea.

On the upper floor, the stone volume contains an office with an interior balcony, while to the south is the master bedroom with balconies facing two directions. The second bedroom to the north has its own balcony with an unobstructed view of the valley and the sea.

In the basement, there is a workshop, office, bathroom, and storage areas. In the southwestern corner of the plot, an outdoor space was created with a kitchen, dining area, and lounge, allowing users to enjoy not only the landscape but also the architectural composition from a distance.

The Passive House is an architectural project seamlessly integrated into its natural surroundings, aiming neither to dominate nor surpass them. Its form and materials were designed to follow the character of the region and enhance the sense of harmony with the landscape. The residence appears as if it was born from the land itself—naturally formed by the stone, light, and air of the place. It does not seek attention with bold architectural elements but communicates with its environment in a gentle, discreet manner.

The interaction with nature is constant: every opening, courtyard, and level of the residence is designed to enhance the connection between the human, the landscape, the sun, the view, and the climate. It is a residence that does not change the place—it changes the way one sees and experiences it.