Georges Batzios Architects’ Red Hills Project Brings Vertical Village Living to Attica

Summary

• Georges Batzios Architects designed Red Hills, an Attica residential tower featuring 14 floors of stacked, terracotta-toned volumes
• Thick, earthen-colored walls provide thermal mass and natural ventilation, offering a sustainable, bioclimatic response to the Greek climate

The Red Hills project in Attica, Greece, designed by Georges Batzios Architects, is a striking residential proposal that reinterprets the idea of vertical living through stacked, earthen‑toned volumes. Rising 14 stories above ground with two basement levels, the tower is defined by its rhythmic layering of offset red blocks, evoking tectonic strata while maintaining architectural clarity and coherence. By breaking the building’s mass into smaller, rhythmic cubes, the architects have managed to harmonize a high-density residential program with the surrounding landscape, creating a structure that feels more like a vertical village than a conventional tower.

The most distinctive feature of the design is its materiality and color palette, which directly references the reddish soil and clay-rich earth found in the Attica region. The façades are finished in a deep terracotta hue, achieved through specialized earthen textures that provide a tactile, organic quality to the building’s exterior. This rhythmic “stacking” of red boxes is not merely aesthetic; it creates a dynamic play of light and shadow throughout the day, ensuring that the building’s appearance evolves alongside the Mediterranean sun.

Functionally, the “Red Hills” concept prioritizes the intersection of indoor and outdoor living. The intentional shifting of the earthen volumes allows for the creation of expansive, private terraces and “pocket gardens” for each residence. These outdoor spaces are strategically oriented to offer panoramic views toward the Mesogeia plain and the Euboean Gulf, effectively extending the living quarters into the natural environment. Large floor-to-ceiling openings ensure that the interiors remain flooded with natural light, further blurring the boundary between the built structure and the landscape.

Sustainability and bioclimatic performance are integrated into the core of the architecture. The staggered arrangement of the blocks facilitates natural cross-ventilation, while the thermal mass of the thick, earthen-colored walls helps regulate interior temperatures against the Greek heat. By combining a bold, contemporary silhouette with a deep respect for local topography and climate, Georges Batzios Architects has envisioned a landmark where architecture, landscape and community coexist, offering a contemporary response to the challenges of urban living in Greece.