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The Butterfly by 314 Architecture Studio embraces freedom and fluidity

A fascinating interplay of movement and serenity inspired from nature define the butterfly-shaped residence designed by 314 Architecture Studio in Greece.

by STIRworldPublished on : Jan 09, 2021

In Vouliagmeni, a seaside suburb in Athens, Greece, 314 Architecture has proposed a new residential building design dubbed ‘The Butterfly’. The proposed plan currently consists of four independent residences, where each unit also includes a basement and a top floor.

  • Ground floor plans for The Butterfly | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Ground floor plans for The Butterfly Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • Top floor plans for The Butterfly | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Top floor plans for The Butterfly Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • Basement plans for The Butterfly | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Basement plans for The Butterfly Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • Roof plans for The Butterfly | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Roof plans for The Butterfly Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio

Staying true to the name, the project takes inspiration from the butterfly for its design in a way that aids the total functionality of the building as well. The ‘wings’ of the building extend outward, from the building itself into the garden area. This provides shade to the ground floor and provides a picturesque view of the sea to the top floor area. Additionally, the bent structure of the wings has been designed in such a way that they also provide privacy to the residents.

  • Top-view of The Butterfly against other adjacent buildings | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Top-view of The Butterfly against other adjacent buildings Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • The ‘wings’ of the structure extending into the garden | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    The ‘wings’ of the structure extending into the garden Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio

To connect the interiors and exteriors of the premise of the residence, U-glass has been extensively used in place of solid walls. This allows for more natural light to stream inside. The U-glass also helps distort movement, providing more privacy to the residents and adds to space’s atmosphere when seen from the outside.

  • The transparency between interiors and exteriors through the U-glass | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    The transparency between interiors and exteriors through the U-glass Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • The added vegetation around the building adds more privacy to the residence | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    The added vegetation around the building adds more privacy to the residence Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio

The design uses contrasting materials to enhance the interaction between the building and the residents. The matte finish of the white cement stucco plays against the glossiness of the U-glass. The cement has been chosen for the walls, floor, and the ceiling. The building has rocks and vegetation placed around the property to add an earthiness to the composition, along with using bigger sized rocks to hide structural elements and storing glass panels. This shields the interiors, leaving only the necessary and aesthetically pleasing parts of the building to be seen from the outside.

  • The building is revealed only partly through the surrounding vegetation | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    The building is revealed only partly through the surrounding vegetation Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio
  • Artificial lakes around the building | The Butterfly | 314 Architecture Studio | STIRworld
    Artificial lakes around the building Image: Courtesy of 314 Architecture Studio

To complement the composition, artificial lakes are implemented in the design to create a sense of serenity and seclusion. This gives the building a sense of being complete on its own, even in when surrounded by other residences. The lakes reflect the organic shape of the building, the U-glass, and the vegetation. There is an emphasis on the presence of natural elements throughout residence. Floating paths go across the lakes and the green cover connects to the ground floor balconies, offering an alternative, closer route to nature in all ways possible.

Project Details:

Location: Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece
Site area: 1957 m2
Project name: The Butterfly
Architecture office: 314 Architecture Studio
Lead architect: Pavlos Chatziangelidis

(Text by Shreeparna Chatterjee, editorial trainee at stirworld.com)

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