Proarh's Issa Grotto Hill House: A Masterpiece of Sustainable Design

Reviving Traditional Mediterranean Construction in a Modern Context

The Issa Grotto Hill House is inspired by the micro/macro climate and heritage of Vis island and the Mediterranean. The house is designed as a dug-in volume, a residential pocket between the stretch and the stone wall. This approach not only minimizes alterations to the terrain but also ensures 100 percent energy autonomy through the use of solar panels, photoenergetic cells, and heat containers made from stones from the site.

The project faced challenges related to the site's lack of infrastructure and the need to satisfy user needs for temporary habitation and olive farming care. The solution was a sustainable design that minimized costs, satisfied the client, complied with regulations, and expressed the architectural vision. The primary areas of the house are dug in, with only certain areas above terrain level, creating additional spaces.

The construction of the house began in October 2014 and is expected to be completed in spring 2016. The building process involved clearing a part of the site and creating a gravel road for vehicle access, a task that took almost three months. The bearing elements of the house are made of reinforced concrete, which also serves as a finished look in the interior.

The Issa Grotto Hill House is a reinvention of the Socrates megaron, with the stone wall reinterpreted as various types of composite walls. The design incorporates the recycling of rainwater for irrigation and house use, and materials that are compatible with the local area and weather conditions, ensuring the longevity of the structure and minimal maintenance.

The Issa Grotto Hill House was awarded the Golden A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award in 2015. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.