Perma Retreat in Serifos: excavated stone becomes architecture

Perma Retreat is a hospitality project by Greek studio MOLD Architects, built on the island of Serifos, in the Cyclades, and completed in 2026. The project comprises five residential units carved into a hillside, built by reusing the stone excavated during the site works themselves.

the project: five residences carved into the hillside

Perma Retreat is conceived as a diffused hospitality structure, made up of five independent units set into the natural slope of the terrain. The design approach prioritized integration with the island's existing morphology, avoiding invasive earthworks in favor of adapting the construction to the site's natural gradient, in keeping with Cycladic building tradition.

Each of the five units was positioned individually along the slope to preserve unobstructed sea views and maintain privacy between guests, a layout decision that required extensive on-site surveying before construction began. The staggered arrangement also meant that excavation for one unit's foundation often generated stone that could be immediately reused in the terracing or retaining walls of an adjacent unit, streamlining the construction logistics on a site with limited road access typical of small Greek islands.

the choice toreuse excavated stone

One of the project's most distinctive features is the decision not to dispose of the stone removed during excavation for foundations and terracing, but to reuse it directly in perimeter walls and retaining elements. This strategy significantly reduces both transport and disposal costs for excavation material and the need to source new stone from quarries outside the island.

terraces, water, and greenery: a livable landscape

The project incorporates stone terracing reminiscent of the traditional agricultural terraces of the Greek islands, historically used to prevent erosion and enable cultivation on steep slopes. These terraces today host pedestrian paths, green areas, and water features that accompany the transition between the different units.

sustainability and zero-kilometer materials in hospitality

The reuse of local stone fits within a broader sustainability strategy that favors zero-kilometer materials and low-impact construction techniques, particularly relevant in an island context where transporting building materials carries significant environmental and economic costs.

a replicable model for experiential tourism

Perma Retreat stands as a reference case for experiential hospitality, showing how a high-end project can combine contemporary comfort, respect for the landscape, and intelligent use of local resources - an approach that finds in natural stone one of its most effective design tools.

As boutique hospitality brands increasingly compete on authenticity and environmental credentials rather than sheer luxury amenities, projects like Perma Retreat offer a template that other Mediterranean destinations, and beyond, could adapt to their own local stone traditions and topography.

Photo Credits: Giorgos Sfakianakis - archdaily.com