Perched above the Aegean Sea, the Piperi House by Sigurd Larsen blends modern design with the elemental character of the Cyclades. Completed in 2023 on the Greek island of Kythnos, the home comprises four whitewashed cubic volumes nestled into the hillside, each oriented toward the uninhabited island of Piperi. Together, they form an architecture of light, shadow, and seamless flow between interior and landscape.
Larsen first discovered Greece during documenta 14 and later found the remote coastal site on Kythnos. Local building codes required the house to remain single-story, which led to a concept of staggered, connected cubes—much like a hilltop village. Each volume is set at a slightly different level, linked by a winding sequence of steps that form a loop around and through the ensemble.
The house is oriented to optimize sunlight throughout the day, a nod to Jørn Utzon’s Can Lis and Can Feliz. Windows and terraces are precisely positioned to frame views of the sea and Piperi island beyond. The villa’s defining feature is its choreography of light and air: every room opens to the outdoors and remains ventilated thanks to screened openings.
Stone, Bronze, and the Coastal Climate
A dark, iron-rich local stone forms the flooring and cladding—both inside and out— which are laid in mosaic patterns. Depending on how it’s cut, the stone appears bluish or rust-brown, mirroring the landscape’s seasonal hues. The material stays cool in summer and reflects the wild beauty of the site.
The home invites a dialogue with nature: it is porous, breathable, and attuned to the island’s shifts. In winter, the hills bloom green; in summer, they fade to ocher and sage. The architectural experience follows these rhythms through changing light and temperature.
For all doors and windows, Larsen selected the FSB 1267 model—based on Mies van der Rohe’s classic design. Executed in dark-patinated bronze, the handles echo the mineral tones of the stone and gain a lively surface through oxidation in the salty coastal air. Their aging process becomes part of the building’s story.
Tactile, resilient, and elemental, the handles meet the challenges of strong winds, intense sun, and everyday use. They reinforce the architectural intent: to live with, not against, the environment—and to shape spaces where shelter and openness coexist.
“The stone is used everywhere on the island, in the villages, and their alleys. Its rusty qualities are the perfect match for the bronze doorhandles. The salty, humid air will encourage their patina and have them age beautifully. The idea is to work with the elements, instead of against them.”
