Tetris House Antiparos, Greece by ARP - Architecture research practice

30 Oct 2025

Repurposing a decade-old concrete structure with simple geometry

Photo credit: Giulio Ghirardi

An existing concrete structure serves as the starting point for this project. Such structures emerged in the Greek landscape as a result of a regulation that allowed owners to extend permit validity if they proceeded with the construction only of the building's structural frame. When the architects received the commission, this frame had been standing in the landscape for over a decade. The decision to reuse the existing concrete frame was deliberate, acknowledging fundamental issues of sustainability, economy, and legislation in architecture—particularly given the mounting pressure of over-tourism in the Cycladic islands.

The architects responded with a strategy of subtraction and addition using basic geometries. They carefully demolished only essential parts of the existing structure and inserted L-shaped and rectangular volumes to achieve formal and programmatic clarity. This approach provided an uncompromised solution for the lot that transcended both its past constraints and complex regulations. The plot itself is defined by its flat terrain and proximity to the port and village. With neighbours on all sides except the western edge, which is expected to remain undeveloped due to its protected forestry status, it lacks the extroversion of the typical seaside plot.

The house is a delicate balance between introversion and openness. At the ground level, strategic placement of volumes around a central pool forms an inner courtyard, balancing unobstructed views and privacy where construction is either anticipated or has already taken place. This way, the house moves away from a conventional array of rooms and proposes a more communal concept of living with water as the focal point of daily life. On the upper floor, the living room and master suite overlook both the bustling port and the island’s northern wilderness, with a large window that allows the inhabitants to gaze at the port activity. An exterior staircase provides independent access to the master floor and roof, which offers unobstructed views. The house almost unassumingly emerges and nods to its surroundings with its simple geometry.

Except for the standard cross-ventilation and efficient thermal insulation strategies, a skylight at the top of the interior stairs transforms them into a cooling tower for the house. PV panels provide enough electricity for the building to operate without putting further pressure on the grid. Native trees and flora require minimal water and filter views of neighbouring hotel facilities, thus preserving privacy without ignoring the reality of building within the existing village sprawl.