Timberline Villas – At the edge of the forest, overlooking the mountains, the Aegean, and the enchanting sunsets.
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On four independent plots outside the settlement boundaries, each measuring two acres, we were commissioned to design a complex of autonomous, luxury residences. The project site lies on a steep hillside at the edge of a pine forest, oriented toward the west and north. Our design aimed to ensure that each residence enjoys views toward the lush Apokoronas plain and the western sunset, the entrance of Souda Bay and the open sea to the north, as well as the panoramic, imposing presence of the White Mountains to the south. At the same time, we sought maximum privacy, ensuring that the residences are not visible to one another and remain hidden from the road.
The contour lines indicated the ideal placement of the buildings, allowing us to minimize intervention in the landscape—both in positioning the volumes and in creating independent access routes for each home, which proved to be a particular challenge.
We developed three residence types: two two-bedroom homes, each composed of two articulated volumes; one four-bedroom home with three articulated volumes on different levels; and one four-bedroom residence in a Γ-shaped configuration. The placement of the volumes emerged from the terrain and the distinct views we wanted each space to capture. Courtyards are formed between the volumes, allowing nature to flow into the residences while softening the angles created by their composition.
The two smaller residences share a common access and parking area. In the first residence, the living spaces are positioned to the south and the bedrooms to the north, with a courtyard between the volumes. The bedrooms face west, while the living area opens to the north and west. Both volumes extend toward the outdoor area with the pool. The bedrooms feature private patios with jacuzzis, and the living area includes a patio with an outdoor barbecue space.
In the second residence, the living spaces are located to the north, with views to the northwest, while the bedrooms are placed to the south, overlooking the sunset and Souda Bay, and also include private patios with jacuzzis. The pool and central courtyard sit in front of the living spaces, forming a Γ-shaped layout together with the barbecue area.
Southwest of the two residences, at a lower level, lies the large Γ-shaped home. A cut was first made into the slope, along with a stone retaining wall. The building was placed at a distance and at a different angle from the tall stone wall that holds the mountain, creating the entrance to the residence and a rear courtyard that brings cross-ventilation and openness to all spaces. The living areas were placed centrally, with the four bedrooms positioned at the ends, achieving a gradient of privacy from the center outward. All spaces open toward the “embrace” of the Γ-shaped layout with the pool, while two private patios at the ends serve the master bedrooms.
Further south and at a higher elevation lies the second large residence, which unfolds across three distinct levels and consists of three volumes. The central volume accommodates the living areas, oriented primarily toward the White Mountains, while the two end volumes house the bedrooms. The northern volume overlooks the bay and the sea, and the southern volume enjoys views of both the bay and the White Mountains. The linear configuration and the difference in elevation enhance privacy and the sense of cross‑ventilation, while the courtyards soften the angles created by the varied placement of the volumes.
All residences are designed to be built with local stone, allowing them to blend harmoniously into the landscape, with a white crown that reveals them discreetly from afar. The outdoor areas sit at the same level as the forest, inviting residents to wander directly into nature.
Inside and out, a cement‑toned industrial floor is used, while the walls and ceilings are finished in traditional white plaster. Both the fixed and movable furnishings, as well as the exterior pergolas, are made of natural wood, reinforcing the use of natural materials throughout.
The design and placement of the buildings were carried out with minimal intervention on the site, using soil from the excavations for backfilling and stone sourced from the plot or the surrounding area. The buildings “fit” between the pine trees without the removal of a single one. Each home includes a rainwater collection tank to reduce water consumption for the pools, while the natural vegetation remains untouched. Thermal insulation, combined with orientation, cross‑ventilation, and technologically advanced frames and glazing, places the residences in energy class A+.
Timberline Villas have been carefully designed at the edge of the forest, with deep respect for the natural vegetation—preserving every tree and integrating the environment into the architecture. Each villa offers unobstructed views toward the imposing mountains, the endless blue of the Aegean, and the dramatic sunsets to the west. The design blends contemporary architectural elements with natural materials, creating an elevated, private retreat where nature, views, and comfort coexist in harmony, offering a truly unique living experience.
