ochre-hued stone walls wrap three individual residences by VAstudio in cretan rocky hillside

VAstudio carves three houses out of cretan stone in greece

Set high on the slopes of Stalos, just outside Chania, Greece, KK3 Residences by VAstudio explores what it means to build with sensitivity in a place where landscape, climate, and cultural memory are inseparable. The studio embeds three individual homes directly into the rocky hillside, using local stone, lime plaster, and native vegetation to ground the project in the character of Crete.

From a distance, the buildings feel like a continuation of the earth itself. Their muted tones—ochre, clay, and pale stone—echo the dry, sun-washed palette of the surrounding mountains. The goal wasn’t to recreate traditional Cretan architecture but to reinterpret its essence.

all images courtesy of VAstudio

KK3 Residences respond to the contours of the slopes

Chania-based VAstudio references the solid, monastic qualities of the island’s older structures while introducing contemporary lines, expansive openings, and subtle detailing. Each of the KK3 Residences is slightly different in layout, responding to the natural contours of the site. Some stretch horizontally across the slope, others rise in a more compact vertical form. What ties them together is a shared architectural language based on handcrafted finishes, deep overhangs, timber ceilings, and courtyards that act as transitional zones between inside and out. These are homes designed for a slower rhythm, where outdoor lounges and shaded patios become as important as the interiors themselves.

set on the slopes of Stalos, just outside Chania

Thick Stone Walls Ensure Year-Round Insulation

Sustainability plays a quiet but crucial role in the KK3 Residences project. The orientation, thermal mass, and natural ventilation systems of the project reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling. The architects at VAstudio incorporate large windows to welcome cross breezes and frame expansive views of the White Mountains and the Cretan Sea, while thick stone walls provide natural insulation, maintaining a comfortable interior temperature year-round. The landscaping is deliberately restrained, with olive trees, Mediterranean shrubs, and native palms reinforcing the idea that the architecture is part of the ecosystem.

VAstudio embeds three individual homes directly into the rocky hillside