"Having been in Antiparos for 10 years, you can see how much has happened, " says Vaitsos.

WSJ: Community by Design | Architecture

"What Iasson is doing in Athens is truly inspirational, " says Vaitsos.

WSJ: Community by Design | Architecture

"It was always meant to be low density, which is the opposite of what most developers in Greece have done, " says Vaitsos of the generous plots rolling over the arid hills.

WSJ: Community by Design | Architecture

Vaitsos and his partners became consumed with finding new ways to sculpt the terrain and integrate the architecture into it, an obsession that even led to a modification in Greek building regulations, which were recently overhauled with an eye to conservation and sustainability: The government now awards bonuses to developers who top their buildings with earth.

WSJ: Community by Design | Architecture