Press Release
Izanagi Project Villas by Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects of EclÉde for hospitality, recreation, travel and tourism design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design category for Izanagi Project Villas by Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects of EclÉde. The recognition forms part of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Izanagi Project Villas
The Izanagi Project is a subterranean villa complex located in Lefkada, Greece. This development seamlessly combines luxury, sustainability, and design inspiration. Led by Eclede and G Architects, the project emphasizes earth sheltered energy efficiency, significantly reducing its environmental impact. Characterized by a minimal aesthetic and use of organic materials, the Izanagi project redefines harmonious living architecture, achieving natural cooling enhanced by Greek influences within a visionary Japanese architectural framework.
About Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects
Vassilis Siafaricas is a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of expertise in startups and established enterprises across diverse industries, including real estate, prop-tech, and mobile gaming. As the founder and owner of multiple real estate companies, he specializes in designing and developing environmentally sustainable projects in some of Greece's most exclusive and prestigious locations. In the tech sector, Vassilis co-founded several innovative startups, including a mobile gaming company recognized with both a Communicator Award and a Webby Award, achieving over 10 million downloads globally.
About EclÉde
Eclede is a leading luxury development company founded on an ethos of bespoke sustainable design and architecture. With a focus on unique, minimally intrusive and holistic designs, Eclede has become a specialist in architecture that seamlessly blends to t
Award Record
This recognition makes Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects of EclÉde a winner of 4 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2023 - 2024 and the 2024 - 2025 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Award
The A' Hospitality Design Award is an international hospitality design competition recognizing good hospitality designs by best hospitality designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to hospitality designers, architects, hospitality brands and hotel chains from all countries. Typical entries include hotels, restaurants, resorts, cafes, bars and cruise ships. The awarded hospitality designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/hospitality
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/171314
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/171314
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!171314
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/349390
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://shorturl.at/swMyQ
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Izanagi Project Villas
- Function
- Villas
- Category
- Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design
- Discipline
- Service Design
- Industry
- Food & Hospitality and Sports
- Colors
- Light Blue, Dark Slate Gray, Powder Blue, Light Sky Blue and Dark Olive Green
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Vassilis Siafaricas and Garchitects
- Country
- Greece
- Brand
- EclÉde
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #171314
Credits
- Team
- Vassilis Siafaricas, George Gougoulakis, Angel Blend, Vasilis Mastrogiannis and 47 Circles
- Image Credits
- Photographer Studio Trikaliotis, Izanagi Project, 2024.; Photographer Studio Trikaliotis, Izanagi Project, 2024. Video Credits: Video by Angel Blend, Izanagi Project, 2024.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The Izanagi Project is a subterranean villa complex in Lefkada, Greece, seamlessly integrating luxury, sustainability, and nature inspired design. Developed by Ecléde and G Architects, it employs earth sheltered architecture, ensuring natural cooling, energy efficiency, and minimal environmental impact. Featuring minimalist aesthetics, organic materials, and panoramic views, it redefines harmonious living, merging Japanese and Greek influences into a visionary architectural residence.
- Inspiration
- The Izanagi Project was inspired by the philosophy of coexistence between architecture and nature, drawing from both Japanese and Greek traditions. Named after Izanagi, the goddess of earth and creation, the project embodies harmony, balance, and sustainability. Our motivation was to redefine luxury living by integrating subterranean architecture, ensuring minimal environmental impact while enhancing thermal efficiency, passive cooling, and energy conservation.
- Research
- The Izanagi Project is based on applied architectural and environmental research, focusing on sustainable subterranean living. The goal was to design energy efficient villas that blend with nature while ensuring comfort and luxury. Using bioclimatic principles, the research analyzed earth sheltered structures, thermal insulation, and passive energy systems. Data was collected through climate simulations, material testing, and energy modeling. Experts in architecture, engineering, and environmental sciences collaborated to refine the design.
- Challenge
- The greatest challenge in the Izanagi Project was balancing subterranean architecture with luxury and sustainability. Structural reinforcement was crucial to withstand soil pressure while maintaining natural light and ventilation. Socially, shifting perceptions on underground living required a strong design narrative. Strict energy laws, material sourcing, and integrating A plus energy filtered windows, thermal facades, and tpo waterproofing tested production limits, demanding innovative, site-specific solutions.
- Realization and Technology
- The Izanagi Project was developed using bioclimatic design principles, integrating subterranean architecture for thermal efficiency and minimal environmental impact. The villas employ earth-sheltered construction, reinforced concrete structures, and locally sourced stone, ensuring durability and sustainability. Advanced geothermal systems, solar panels, and passive cooling techniques optimize energy use. The design follows parametric modeling and environmental simulations for precision and efficiency.
- Operation and Interaction
- The Izanagi Project operates as a self sustaining, subterranean living space, utilizing bioclimatic design to naturally regulate temperature and energy use. The earth sheltered architecture ensures passive cooling and heating, reducing energy demand. Standalone A/C systems provide individualized climate control, while A plus energy filtered windows and thermal facades enhance insulation. The integration of tpo waterproofing, solar panels, and geothermal heating optimizes efficiency, creating a high-performance, eco-conscious living environment.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in August 2024 and will conclude in 2026. It is situated in Sivota, Lefkada, Greece.
- Specifications
- The Izanagi Project features subterranean villas designed for energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact. A plus energy-filtered windows with Alumil Supreme Phos and s 630 profiles ensure superior insulation. Granite tiles r 9 for indoors and r 11 for the outdoors, to waterproofing membranes, standalone A/C systems, and certification guarantee durability and sustainability.
- Keywords
- Subterranean architecture, bioclimatic design, energy-efficient villas, sustainable luxury, passive cooling, geothermal heating, A++ energy-filtered windows, thermal facades, eco-conscious living