Designed by Le Berre Vevaud, this dreamy holiday home on the idyllic Greek island of Antiparos marries sculptural elements with a celebration of all that it means to be at one with nature
From a resplendent townhouse in bustling Paris to a remarkable abode on a quiet Greek isle, the namesake founders of French design practice Le Berre Vevaud, Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud, have truly gone the distance for their clients. The homeowners had first entrusted the talented duo to transform a three-storey residence in the French capital several years ago, and the outcome of that project brought such delight that they hired Le Berre Vevaud again to design their holiday home on the Greek island of Antiparos.
Situated in an area so secluded that roads had to be purpose-built to access the site, the property presents magnificent views of the Aegean Sea throughout the day and across the seasons. “The driving force behind this ambitious vision of building a house in a remote, virtually address-less location was the owner; a passionate kitesurfing enthusiast who had fallen deeply in love with Antiparos and its untamed, windswept shores,” shares Le Berre. “Their love for kitesurfing played a significant role in their connection to the location.”
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Involving an expansive 7,534 sq ft plot, the brief was to build a seven-bedroom holiday home that was at one with nature while creating a restful and meditative mood. “This served as inspiration, compelling us to sublimate the natural beauty that unfolded: the mesmerising ocean, the horizon line, and the hues from the intertwining sea and sky,” shares Le Berre.
The design practice incorporated elements of vernacular architecture while taking care to integrate the house design with the nearby rock formations. Le Berre Vevaud worked closely with Greek architects Stella & Achilleas Dimitriadi to achieve this holistic balance, creating seamless connections between the indoor and outdoor spaces through the use of large sliding windows. “By employing differentiated volumes and incorporating underground sections, we ensured a graceful adaptation to the undulating topography of the site,” elaborates Vevaud on the architectural concept. “For this home, we took inspiration from Charles Deacon’s use of elliptical curves, as well as Jacques Couëlle’s modern designs that offer a sense of mystery and utopia.”
The natural surroundings were a major consideration; given that, the emphasis was on completing this project with as many eco-conscious elements as possible. “We employed sustainable design practices [for this home], notably by using locally sourced materials. The terrace exemplifies this, where expansive pergolas crafted from shale rock from the island merge with the surrounding landscape while providing shelter from the harsh Cycladic sun and wind,” shares Le Berre.
