The phrase carpe diem is Latin and literally means “seize the day” or “live in the moment.”The idea behind the expression is to make the most of the present instead of constantly postponing life for the future. It originates from a poem by the Roman poet Horace and is often accompanied by the continuation “quam minimum credula postero” — “place as little trust as possible in tomorrow.”

In the region of Apokoronas, specifically in Kokkino Chorio, on a gently sloping plot, we were asked to design a holiday residence for a large family. Access is from a main road to the east, and as one descends westward, the view opens to the Souda Bay, the city of Chania with the Thodorou islands, and in the distance the Spatha peninsula. To the south lies the Apokoronas plain with the White Mountains, and to the north the Akrotiri peninsula and the Cretan Sea.
The two‑storey building was placed roughly at the center of the large site, concealing its volume from the road and maintaining generous distances from neighboring plots. It consists of three volumes across three levels: basement, ground floor (partially embedded in the natural terrain), and first floor. The central volume houses the daytime living areas. Visitors enter from the first floor, crossing a bridge that passes over an artificial pond on the eastern side of the residence. This pond becomes a waterfall at ground‑floor level, where the main entrance for the owners is located — a more private courtyard reached by car.
Entering the central volume from the first floor, one encounters a lounge area with a bar and billiards table. This space overlooks the double‑height main living room below. Through two corridors to the north and south, access is provided to four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. These corridors also accommodate a WC and a laundry room. A staircase with views toward the courtyard and waterfall on the east connects the two floors.
On the ground floor are the main living room, a dining area, and the kitchen. From the corresponding north and south corridors, access is again provided to four additional en‑suite bedrooms. The living room and dining area open onto the western courtyard with the swimming pool and panoramic views in all directions. The kitchen, through an atrium, enjoys views of both the pool and the rear courtyard with the waterfall.
Between the volumes are two atriums. The northern atrium hosts an outdoor dining area and kitchen with a barbecue. The southern atrium features a pond — an extension of the pool — that overflows into a lightwell, creating a waterfall into the basement rock garden. Outdoors, a large courtyard leads to the pool in front of the central volume, with a seating area and outdoor fireplace to the north and a sun‑lounger area to the south.
The building is constructed from reinforced concrete and stone masses. Taller walls framing the roofs are clad in local stone; through their form and placement, they define, connect, or separate spaces. The northern and southern volumes are identical in size and shape but have different openings to frame their distinct views — the open sea and the White Mountains.
Although the building covers a significant area, as it is designed to accommodate 16 people, its partial embedding into the terrain, its alignment with the site’s contours, the separation from the ground through the large waterfall, and the distribution of spaces across three levels all help reduce its perceived scale so it does not dominate the landscape. From the main road, it is almost invisible, becoming apparent only as one approaches within the plot. Our intervention outside the building was intentionally limited, avoiding alterations to areas far from the structure and allowing the Cretan landscape to embrace the courtyards.
Each user of the residence can enjoy a different view depending on where they are inside the building: the White Mountains, the olive groves and villages of Apokoronas, the sunset behind Thodorou, the city of Chania, Souda Bay, the Akrotiri peninsula, and the open sea. At the same time, there is no visual connection to the main road to the east. The design also allows for a gradual transition of privacy — from the bedrooms to the playrooms in the attic and basement — while fully embracing the Cretan lifestyle of living both indoors and outdoors for most months of the year. Every day, living every moment. Carpe diem.