NV Residencies
Location: Chania, Greece
Year: 2020
Status: Completed
Area: 550 sqm
Client: Private
Located in the historic neighborhood of Halepa in Chania, NV Residences is a contemporary residential development overlooking the Old Port and the Cretan Sea. Designed by VASTUDIO, the project consists of two luxury villas that combine clean architectural forms with generous outdoor living and uninterrupted sea views.
The defining feature of the project is a series of suspended pools integrated across multiple levels. Rather than being placed only at ground level or on the roof, the pools become part of the architecture itself, creating a sequence of spaces connected by water, light, and views. Their reflective surfaces bring natural light deep into the interiors while strengthening the relationship between the houses and the surrounding landscape.
The villas are organized into clear public and private zones. Living, dining, and kitchen spaces open directly onto terraces and pools, creating continuous indoor-outdoor living. Bedrooms and quieter spaces are positioned for privacy while maintaining views toward the sea.
Materiality is deliberately restrained. Local stone anchors the buildings to the landscape, while timber introduces warmth and lime plaster reflects the changing Mediterranean light. Large glazed openings dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, allowing the architecture to remain constantly connected to its surroundings.
Throughout the day, the pools transform the atmosphere of the interiors. Reflections of water animate walls and ceilings with natural light, while in the evening the illuminated pools become calm focal points within the architecture.
Flexibility was an important part of the design. Each villa functions as an independent residence, but the overall composition also accommodates larger family gatherings or extended stays, adapting to different ways of living.
Environmental performance is achieved through passive design strategies, including natural shading, cross ventilation, careful orientation, and the use of locally sourced materials. These principles reduce energy demand while reinforcing the project's connection to place.
NV Residences is an exploration of contemporary Mediterranean living, where architecture, landscape, and water work together to create a calm and refined residential environment. Defined by its suspended pools, restrained material palette, and seamless connection to the sea, the project offers a timeless interpretation of luxury through simplicity rather than excess.
Beyond their visual presence, the suspended pools establish a unique rhythm throughout the architecture. Moving between levels becomes an experience defined by changing reflections, filtered light, and framed views of the sea.
Water is encountered repeatedly rather than confined to a single destination, reinforcing the connection between architecture and landscape while creating moments of calm throughout the daily routine. This continuous interaction with light and water gives the residences a distinct identity, where circulation itself becomes part of the living experience.
Every design decision was guided by the pursuit of timelessness rather than spectacle. Careful proportions, refined detailing, and a restrained material palette allow the architecture to age gracefully while remaining closely connected to its Mediterranean setting. NV Residences demonstrates how contemporary residential architecture can balance luxury with simplicity, creating homes that are both elegant and highly livable. Through the integration of landscape, water, and carefully crafted spaces, the project offers a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean domestic life that is immersive, adaptable, and enduring.