Cometa Architects

Rocksplit House

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis

ROCKSPLIT HOUSE

Cometa Architects

ARCHITECTS
Cometa Architects

LOCATION
Kea Kithnos,Greece

CATEGORY
Houses

INTERIOR DESIGN
Laura Mascuñan, Denisse Gómez Casco

AREA
150.0 m2

PROJECT YEAR
2015

POHOTGRAPHS
Dimitris Kleanthis

MANUFACTURERS 
Antrax, BTicino, Knauf, Plaka, Rovira, Ilfannale, Multibeton

CLIENT
Private

ARCHITECT PARTNER IN BUILDING LICENSE STAGE
Betty Tsaousi

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Vasilios Vakis

ENVIRONMENTAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Efstratios Komis

CONTRACTOR
Nikos Zoulamopoulos

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Faidra Matziaraki, Victor Gonzalez Marti

DESIGN
Olga Balaoura

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Laura Mascuñan, Denisse Gómez Casco

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
Efstratios Komis

MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Efstratios Komis

Text description provided by architect.

The steep ground and the plot’s narrow dimensions determine the pronounced and gradient form of the building which rises from the mountain and over the valley of Poisses, to finally balance itself with the surrounding traditional dwellings and the natural context.

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis

The secondary home of a family of four, spreads through 3 volumes which clearly can defined as the seating & kitchen volume, the circulation tower and the sleeping & storaging volume.

The principal material chosen is the locally quarried stone, carefully crafted against the horizontal micro-cement surfaces.

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis

The experience of the Cycladic landscape is the design’s main concern expressed through the spatial evolution and relationship of the building with the dramatic land.

This is achieved through the traditional method of construction called “kotounto”, a dry, humid-free space between the rock and the building.

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis

In such a way, the external spaces, a continuous perimetrical ‘kotoundo’ makes the building sometimes trying to break away from the rock and sometimes to reconcile with it.

Apart from this traditional tecnique of which is principlally used to drain the waters coming from the mountains, leaving walls and foundations dry, the house includes in its design an under-floor heating installation which is generated by the solar heaters installed in the roof.

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis

The cooling is achieved from cross ventilation and also an additional under-floor cooling is provided. Finally, the rainwater is collected in the 3 rooftops and stored in an underground reservoir.

Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis


Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis
Rocksplit House
Rocksplit House
© Dimitris Kleanthis


Rocksplit House
Floor Plan
Rocksplit House
Floor Plan
Rocksplit House
Site Plan


Rocksplit House
Section
Rocksplit House
Scheme


Rocksplit House
Sketch
Rocksplit House
Sketch
Rocksplit House
Sketch

Cometa Architects
T +34 933 393829
Cometa Architects
C/ de Joan Güell, 54, Sants-Montjuïc, 08028 Barcelona, Spain