This project is about renovating a 30-year-old summer house on a typical Mykonian rock with unobstructed sea and sunset views. The house, initially built in 1989, has grown through several additions to a charming but complex assembly of spaces. Due to its organic growth, it lacked flow and hierarchy in the interior and exterior spaces.
Our design strategy was that of acupuncture, focusing on small changes with maximum impact. By consolidating terrace levels and smaller rooms into bigger ones, we provided a wider variety of spaces in scale and character. Elements of the existing materiality were preserved, including the traditional exterior mortar, the wooden ceilings, and the carved wooden doors that were repurposed. The terrace paving, made from Greek stone from mount Pelion, was kept and expanded where necessary.
Meanwhile, classic materials were introduced, creating a well-balanced relationship between vernacular and minimalist architecture. Terrazzo floors in the interior complimented the exterior paving. The timber windows and shutters were painted with fresh aqua color. The bathrooms and kitchen feature explicitly classic Greek marble from the neighboring island of Naxos and Pentelikon marble from Attica. Our design choices, simple yet powerful, sought to bridge the authentic Mykonian character with a contemporary aesthetic that preserves the Cycladic spirit.
Architect: ARP – Architecture Research PracticeDesign Team: Argyro Pouliovali, Nora Delidimou, and Eva AlberiniClient: PrivatePhotographer: Yorgos Kordakis
