Yianna Bouyioukou, Architect

House Above a Vineyard

Inspired by the permanent dryer-shelters found on the vineyards of the Corinthian landscape, this off-the grid small house mimics in structure and proportion what has been an integral component of producing the place’s famous raisins. The clients is a nature lover, one that cultivates his small piece of land only to share its products with family and friends.

The traditional dryer-shelter consists of a wood or steel pitched structure, containing wires in tension, where the fresh grapes are hung. This process takes about 3-4 weeks following harvesting, and at the end the raisin is packed and stored.

Similarly, the house is an extension of this shelter, its only difference being the roof insulation and side enclosure. The program is very simple, just a living space with a kitchen and one bedroom framing one end and a cellar framing the opposite end, overlooking the owner’s vineyard below and the Corinthian gulf at a distant view, where the sun rises, exactly at the early hours of harvesting. When open, it becomes a camping tent in nature.

The house is on a 15’ module – similar to the dryer‘ configuration, allowing easy airflow and sunlight through the living space and through the shelter which is typically oriented east-west.

The owner’s desire was to live on this remote property in a very simplified way, close to the land and in a house that would be self-sufficient and tied to the place in terms of function and affection to his origins.

  • Location

    Gonousa, Korinthia, Greece

  • Size

    1170 sf

  • Site

    Rural, 2.6 acre

  • Program

    Residence (living/kitchen, 1 bedroom/bath, cellar) + Open Air Dryer Shelter