Mold Architects completes a cliffside home on Serifos
M Residence is a geometric house on the Greek island of Serifos, designed by Athens-based Mold Architects. The project was first conceived in 2011 but built only after new owners revived it more than a decade later. The design uses cut-outs and a split-level form to echo eroded coastal rock while opening rooms toward courtyards.
M Residence sits in Lia on Serifos, an Aegean island between Kithnos and Sifnos. Athens studio Mold Architects first drew the scheme in 2011, when it was among the practice’s earliest projects; it stayed unbuilt until new owners chose to proceed over a decade later. Founder Iliana Kerestetzi revisited the original concept with fresh eyes.
The finished design draws on local monastery-like massing, village cubic forms, and softer rural and dry-stone contours. Within a square plan, curved walls link seven courtyards while rooms angle toward views. Openings and split levels echo weathered coastal rock, making the house feel sheltered yet connected to the landscape.
The project could shape how architects and clients approach homes on sensitive Aegean coastlines, offering a model for revisiting shelved designs rather than starting anew. Island residents and visitors may see it as either a distinctive landmark or a reminder of development pressure, while designers may study its courtyard sequence and rock-like form. Its visibility could influence expectations for cliffside houses, but its actual social effect will depend on local planning, access, and how the home is used over time.