Stone house in Greece built

trough a traditional method

called “kotounto”
Architects: COMETA ARCHITECTS
Location: Kéa, Greece
Year: 2015
Photo courtesy: Dimitris Kleanthis
Description:
“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.

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 local stone, carefully crafted against the
horizontal micro-cement surfaces.
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. 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.
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.”