Architecture · 8 minute read
Designing with the horizon.
Studio Elara's creative director, Mara Elian, explains why every decision at Aurelia began with the landscape.
Words by Aurelia · Photography created for concept use
On the first visit to the peninsula, the design team spent more time listening than drawing. The wind changed at midday. Shadows from the olive trees moved slowly across the stone. The sea appeared different from every elevation.
The resulting architecture is not arranged as a row of objects facing a view. Each residence is embedded within the slope, creating a sequence of protected courtyards, framed glimpses, and moments of complete openness.
“The horizon is not decoration. It is a line that orders the whole experience of the home.”
Light as a material
Deep thresholds temper the strong summer sun while allowing lower winter light to reach deep into the living spaces. Limestone walls hold warmth at the edges, and bronze screens add privacy without interrupting the movement of air.
Rooms change gently across the day. This sense of time—made visible through light—is central to the quiet atmosphere of Aurelia.
A landscape restored
Construction footprints were kept compact to protect the established trees and natural rock formations. Native planting extends across green roofs and private gardens, helping the architecture recede into its setting.