top of page
Eric Grigorof Architecture and Design Portfolio
Create Your First Project
Start adding your projects to your portfolio. Click on "Manage Projects" to get started
Villa Carpathia
Project Description
During a visit to Romania, my ancestral country, I was inspired by the architectural heritage and traditional lifestyles in the Carpathian Mountains. This project explores how the cultural values and environmental characteristics of this historical setting could be used to inform a contemporary architectural concept.
A contemporary residence informed by the region's vernacular 'gospodarie' (homesteads) would be set on a plinth made from local stone to protect it from rain and snow. Rising above, a timber frame with a gently pitched roof relates to the region's meadows and forests and the slope of the landscape. Glazed walls open up views of the valley, shaded by a generous ‘cerdac’ (veranda) and deep eaves, as local builders had done in this region for centuries.
As in traditional houses, the living room and kitchen would be integrated as a single open space, where inhabitants would spend the most time. A fireplace would be used to warm up the room and provide a focal point. The connection between indoor and outdoor shifts from sliding glass walls, to the ‘cerdac,’ towards an open patio with a fire pit and pool, recalling the bonfires and wells in traditional Carpathian villages.
Proposed Location
The idyllic ancient landscapes of Romania's Carpathian Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for a modern lifestyle. The resilience of local traditions define the character of the villages, serving as a guideline for settling in to a historic environment.
Project Year
2025
Sketch of a traditional vernacular homestead in Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania.
bottom of page