A&M Architects transforms two independent traditional buildings from different periods into a single, unified living space, where spatial discontinuities are reinterpreted and woven into a coherent architectural narrative. A project that does not merely unify structures, but recomposes memory and everyday life around them.
In the traditional settlement of Aperi, Karpathos, A&M Architects approaches architecture as an act of reunification: two distinct buildings, two different temporal narratives, re-encapsulated into a single residential whole. The project concerns a stone-built house dating prior to 1955 and a later concrete addition from 1977, which previously coexisted without a meaningful relationship on a 127 sq.m. plot.
The design intent focuses on the creation of a cohesive architectural organism that bridges traces of the past with the demands of contemporary living.
Rather than erasing differences, the architectural proposal highlights and connects them, transforming fragmentation into spatial continuity and narrative. Inside, the traditional musandra—a characteristic element of Karpathian domestic architecture—is reintegrated into the design as a point of reference and spatial memory. The new vertical extension, realized through a contemporary composite construction system, acts as a catalyst for unification, ensuring smooth transitions between levels and a clear internal organization.
At the same time, the energy upgrade of the building envelope, through the application of thermal insulation and a new roof with French-type tiles, enhances the sustainability of the residence without compromising its traditional character. Externally, the whitewashed façades, blue wooden frames, and subtle roof details compose an image fully embedded in the local architectural idiom.
The courtyard functions as a shared meeting ground for the individual parts, completing the reunification of the two buildings into a single entity. With built-in seating and traditional columns, the outdoor space reinforces the sense that the house was not added to the settlement, but rather reintroduced as an integral part of it.
Photography AYLO Studio
