Where every day begins with light.

In the wild, rocky landscape of eastern Crete, in the area of Agia Pelagia, we were called upon to design a residence with an independent guesthouse on a plot of land outside the settlement. The plot has an east-southeast orientation, a slope, and an unobstructed view of the bay of Agia Pelagia, Dia island, and the Cretan Sea.

The relatively small size of the plot, combined with the building lines that significantly restricted the building space, led us to place the structure at the center of the property. The natural landscape with its dark stone inspired the use of the same material in the architectural composition, integrating the building seamlessly into the environment.

The main road, located on the north-northwest side, guided us to design a zone with privacy, including parking space and limited openings. In contrast, towards the view, we placed large, cross-ventilated openings so that all spaces enjoy the sea view and the sunrise, enhancing bioclimatic efficiency through the southeast orientation and natural ventilation.

The building combines stone walls with plastered surfaces in the stone’s hue. Transitions between these two material types occur either through elevation changes or the insertion of openings, creating an architectural "pattern" of different textures that reflect light uniquely.

The main residence is at street level, while the guesthouse is on a separate level, three meters lower. Each level has varying degrees of privacy. At the residence level, to the northwest, there is the entrance garden with parking and photovoltaic panels as a canopy. To the north, there is the barbecue area extending from the kitchen, while to the southeast is the main courtyard with a pool. To the south, a more private courtyard serves as the outdoor extension of the master bedroom.

On the upper floor, there are two additional bedrooms with their bathrooms and an auxiliary kitchen, providing access to a shared outdoor space with a dining area and jacuzzi.
The auxiliary residence—guesthouse—has a separate pedestrian and vehicular entrance on the south side, where the garden extends from the bedrooms. On the southeast side, where the view opens up, are the main living areas of the guesthouse, the primary courtyards, and a second pool. The remaining underground space on this level, accessible via the main residence’s staircase, houses a gym, storage rooms, and a bathroom.

Built in perfect harmony with the landscape, Villa Eos opens toward the East—welcoming the first light of the day with unobstructed views and discreet elegance.
The residence draws inspiration from Eos, the goddess of dawn in ancient Greek mythology—the one who opened the gates of the sky each morning to bring the light of the sun to the world. In the same way, Villa Eos embraces the first light of every morning, creating a daily hymn to beginnings, serenity, and hope.

The architecture of the residence, with clean horizontal and vertical lines and open cross-ventilated facades, guides the gaze towards the horizon—where the sky meets the sea in an ongoing ritual of awakening. Light in Villa Eos, is not merely a natural element; it is a symbol of life, rhythm, breath, and inspiration, and each sunrise takes on an almost mythical significance.