The post Casa Stavento I Residence in Plakias, Rethymno was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The touristic villa consists of 5 luxurious rooms and comfortable indoor and outdoor living areas. It has a total surface of 320 m² and a part of 44 m² that is buried into the ground, at a plot of 9055 m²

On the western ground floor are placed the living areas, which are in immediate connection with the natural landscape. The large openings on both sides of the building facades offer permeability and allow continuous and unimpeded flow with the surrounding space, both spatial and visual. In this way the outside space flows inside while at the same time there is constant visual contact with the sea. In the eastern volume of the two levels, there are the private spaces, which are placed by taking advantage of the favorable orientation and the view of the landscape.

Throughout the building, the openings are located almost theatrically, framing the view or the circulation of the building. With this way they intensify the contact between outside and inside, allowing the sea and the landscape to enter inside.

At a lower level along the main route, a slit in the ground leads to the two additional buried dormitories. They expand to the north in an enclosed protected courtyard, where the user, hidden inside the slope, enjoys privacy in the natural environment and unobstructed views at the sea.

At the end of the route, the pool area, the outdoor kitchen, and the dining area form an independent zone of outdoor living.

Mostly endemic plants were selected for planting, as well as olive trees. The goal is the smooth integration in the local landscape of “Apokoronas”.

The volumes of the building are covered with local stone so that they converse with the natural landscape. At the same time the corridor slit is underlined by white walls. The floors inside and outside are with the same material, which is pressed cement mortar, to ensure the continuity of interior and exterior spaces.

The study lasted 2017-2018 and the construction of the project 2018-2020. Both stages were developed by Archtify. The diligence in the design and implementation of the project enabled the consistency between the initial idea and the result.

The post K1 was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The two-storey house proposal in Mononautis in Agia Pelagia, Crete, combines modern and traditional elements in a contemporary project. 

Layout Design and Orientation
The whole complex is oriented towards the view. To the west, the part where we find the entrance, we have a more closed facade while on the other side of the building its interior unfolds towards the exterior. Approaching the entrance of the house, we encounter flower beds with plants. The openings are all simple, with ceramic elements that allow the rays of the natural light to enter, but at the same time they achieve the isolation of the occupants from the side of the road. 

The access to the houses is achieved either from the ground level or from an external staircase, which leads to the upper floor. The façade with the sea view hosts a spacious relaxation area with an elongated swimming pool. The openings of the façade are wide and allow a direct communication and access to the courtyard, which is the main reception area during the summer months. 

In addition, on the NE side of the house, we find a large patio that provides unobstructed view to the pool and the sea. The addition of a stone wall to the north façade protects against adverse weather conditions and reduces the view from the building nearby, offering privacy to the owners. The barbeque and the external dining area were designed with a similar logic, so that they can be operated throughout the year. 

Material Palette
Landscape integration is achieved with the choice of materials. Local stone has been placed in all parts of the ground floor, giving the impression that the building “emerges” discreetly from the earth. Respectively, the floor follows a clear logic with the use of neutral tones, to highlight the clean volumes of the house. In the patio and the pool area, organic materials are placed, as well as plants that thrive in the Mediterranean region. 

Ultimately, the water element is strong along the total length of the eastern side and promotes a sense of luxury throughout the complex. The management of the volumes, the choice of materials and the interior decoration give the feeling of a home of recreation and relaxation. 

Lefteris Tsikandilakis + Architects

TABARQ

The post Private Villa in Crete was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

This 2-bedroom apartment is organized around a central diagonal axis pointing to the sea view, which is the main highlight of the house. Initially it was a vacation home which later became a primary residence, after complete renovation.

The client wanted a house which could feel summery and relaxing all year-long, but remain sleek, elegant, and very functional. 

For this reason, the design concept is defined by the seafront textures, colors, and light, but interpreted in a more subtle, minimal way, to avoid usual narratives.  It could be described as “seaside chic”. 

A very important tool in the design was the use of perspective: Color harmonies and use of large frescoes on the walls make the spaces appear larger and connected to the exterior views. Other optical refinements such as the Frame TV (a tv set which looks like a work of art when not in use) add to the general feeling.

Georgios Kontaxakis

South Space for Photography

The post Apartment renovation in Chania was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Incorporated with harmony and discretion at the ground floor of a classical luxury hotel in Chania, Crete, the cellar invites the guests to discover it, with the minimal but interesting lines and the dark shaded glass facade. With more than 200 of the best Greek wine labels, it manifests how a space can functionally preserve and protect, yet aesthetically highlight itself and its content.

The space of 30 m² prior to the reconstruction, used to facilitate basic management offices divided by a plasterboard wall. The complete regeneration was mandatory not only for maximum organizing efficiency but also due to the thermal and humidity specifications that wine preservation demands. This is the reason that the separate wine tasting room was created, divided by glass, in order to achieve visual continuity, but at the same time secure higher temperatures.

The wine bottle’s shape and the initial space inspired the circular concept which encloses the guest with the warmth of wood and encourages wandering around the central table. The design idea is completed with the oak carved ceiling, in which the light is resembling the otherworldly atmosphere inside Rome’s Pantheon. This mystical quality is enhanced by the warm earthy colors, the different textures, the natural materials, and the low hidden lighting which highlights the product and gives the process of choosing an important significance.

The wine tasting room, has a more contemporary and minimal character and it constitutes the spatial transition from the exterior of the hotel to the core of the cellar. Also here, the space is developed around the table, which is created by prolonging one of the shelves of the wall. The linear lights are giving the rhythm, the glass showcases indicate the precious value and the wine is on stage.

Georgina Andrei

South Space for Photography

The post Wine Cellar at Minoa Palace was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

“kéras [Greek: κέρας]: the horn, hard permanent outgrowth found in pairs on the heads of certain mammals”.

Modern Architecture Referencing History

One of the main inspirations for this project is the «Horns of Consecration», a symbol of Minoan civilization. This geometry is translated in several design elements of the house.

Building Location

The plot is located 2,6km west of Agia Galini village, in the southern coast of Rethymno, Crete. The plot offers unobstructed views to the southern Cretan Sea, as well as to the small, uninhabited Paximadia islands. The building is positioned following the topography lines of the plot, where it drops to the sea. This allows for maximum views throughout the house.

Layout Design and Volumetric Arrangement

The house is formed by two main volumes, one housing the living areas (kitchen, dining, lounge, spa, exterior seating, and dining) and the other housing three en-suite bedrooms as well as the master suite.

The two volumes forming the house are curved, emulating the geometry of the symbol that inspired the design, the Minoan “horns of consecration”. Two curved exposed concrete slabs are placed above, sheltering both indoor and outdoor living spaces, seamlessly connected to one another.

The entrance to the house is located at the north side of the plot. A covered space will be created above the entrance door, using a floating slab resting on a pillar, inspired by the Minoan horns. The entrance to the house will reveal unobstructed views to the sea and the Paximadia islands through a large glass panel.

Tzagkarakis + associates

Tzagkarakis + associates

The post Keras Project was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

“Feels like home” was the driving concept for this project. The design maximizes functionality despite the small size of the space, confronting the need of the company to serve as many people as possible. Thus, by using a curve, two comfortable areas are created: A small one for the reception, and a bigger one as the waiting area. Moreover, another essential point was to keep an extrovert character, consistent with the need for the company’s brand to be visible from the main hall.

The different types of seating, such as the couch, the armchairs, and the chairs with tables, as well as two libraries -a smaller one, and one that covers the whole wall- give the impression of being inside one’s own living room.

Black marble on the buffet counter completes the space, enhancing it with a touch of luxury, which is a usual requirement in business lounges. Finally, the extensive glazing next to the armchairs completes the design by providing visitors with an endless view of the sea.

Eleftherios Tsikandilakis

Pentaprism

The post Goldair Lounge was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The guiding principle behind the design of the new museum and experience store, is the balance between financial sustainability, environmental performance, and social responsibility. The architecture highlights and promotes the history and culture of Crete concerning natural cosmetics, essential oils, and herbs, incorporating the local craft tradition with contemporary, industrial production methods. Natural materials such as rough local stone, and oak wood veneer on furniture, were selected corresponding to the first category; metal sheets on the double pivoting entrance doors, museum display cases, canopy, and roof, as well as plexiglass on the display screens, correspond to the second. Positioning the store at the center of the layout allows immediate access from the entrance, leaving the museum undisturbed, and establishes clear visual connections to the museological path.

KAAF | Kitriniaris Associates Architecture Firm

The post Best of 2020: Bioaroma was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 200m² house is located in Colymvari, in the outskirts of Chania, Crete, in a setting of exceptional natural beauty.

The intensely sloping ground and the orientation of the property towards a plain lush with olive groves, provided the basic design principles. The main concern was integrating the new building into the terrain and illustrating the landscape qualities (olive trees, rocks, dry bushes) in an architectural proposal.

The building evolves on three levels, aligned to the terrain contour lines, with access from the top of the property going downwards. The main house is divided in two levels. The master bedroom with its en-suite bathroom  is on the top one; the kitchen, lounge, sleeping quarters and bathrooms in the middle, and the bottom level accommodates the guestroom with independent access and outdoor area.

The first design gesture was the stone wall supporting the ground slope, allowing uninterrupted views from its one side for all main functions (rooms, kitchen, lounge) and keeping the secondary ones on its other.

The same wall defines the pathway to the building, integrating the outdoor stairs and creating an entrance to the house.

The resulting building is partially underground and horizontal, and progressively adapts to the ground and the landscape through an array of indoor and outdoor levels. This is further enforced with the bending of the volume, aiming at a smooth integration of the guestroom and its outdoor space into the terrain.

Distinct building volumes are linked under a single roof slab, which acts as shelter for the solid and void composition on the middle level, and more, as outdoor space for the master bedroom.

Moreover, as the house escalates downwards, its only visible element from street level is the planted roof over the garage and the entrance, minimizing the visual footprint.

Outdoor vital spaces, as well as the swimming pool, are organized in successive levels in an organic manner. Rocks and bushes blend into the built space, into the open-air platforms and the access points, composing a harmonious coexistence between architecture and nature.

The material palette follows the same spirit. Coarse terracotta-colored cement facing integrates the outdoor built elements into the landscape. The stone wall provides a background to the main building volume which, through its white plaster facing, stands out from the slope to converse with the Mediterranean landscape.

Parti Architecture

Parti Architecture

The post 29 ° Villa. was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 200m² house is located in the Ag. Onoufrios in Chania. The design was informed by the view to the mountains lying east and west and by the requirement for nearly zero energy building (nZEB).

The optimal south-western orientation is one of the bioclimatic tools employed, and the volumetric treatment of the building maximizes this exposure.

Specifically, the double L-shaped layout and the guesthouse volume, integrated inside the ground, maximize the southwestern exposure during the year, following the changing angle of natural light during the year.

Two main solar spaces are created in that direction: one with a shading cantilever and one with rotating louvers and a massive wall. Warming and cooling of those spaces is achieved with natural means, transposing the desired thermal mass to the other spaces of the house. The solar space behind a corner frame becomes a cool, sheltered open-air area during the summer months.

The water surfaces at the south-facing walls, the planted roof, protection from the western sun, the vertical cross-ventilated air duct and the small northern openings, as well as the roof openings with controlled shading, complement the two solar spaces for optimal performance. Concurrently, the photovoltaic panels, the solar ZNX production system and the vertical geothermal system contribute to the minimal energy footprint of the building. This way, near zero energy consumption is achieved, in accordance with the European Directive 2010/31/EE.

Parti Architecture

The post NUS House was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

This design makes part of a broader hotel renovation project in Stalida, Crete; it is proceeding in stages, to result in the creation of a high-end hospitality unit. The new architectural design is called to transform and complement the existing space in a creative, respectful manner. The present study proposes a multipurpose restaurant space accommodating different activities, also refurbishing its open-air surroundings.

The main idea creates four different places, kept together by the square and immediate sea and road access. Those include the traditional coffee shop, the bar, the Greek and Oriental restaurants. Introducing an all-encompassing architectural vocabulary, a dialogue is established, with Greek features highlighted. The image of a multipurpose space inspired by the Cretan village squares is further enhanced through additional elements: The use of timber and greenery, combined with earthy colors, harmonizes the spaces with their environment. The neighborhood feel and the lighthearted atmosphere are offered to patrons as a unique experience, imbued with the singularity of Greek culture.

Clear lines on the layout and appropriate equipment that frame each space, demarcate the individual units and maintain their direct communication.

Timber and stone, which are traditional building materials, are combined with contemporary ones, such as glass, merging old and new.

Lefteris Tsikandilakis

Michalis Christodoulakis

The post Cactus Paradise was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The villa is nestled among the gorgeous landscape of the suburbs of Heraklion. A triangular floor plan and oversized terraces set the stage.

The building is V-shaped; with this layout the structure maximizes the views, taking advantage of the southern sun exposure. This way, nearly all spaces provide a glimpse of the mountainous landscape.

The angles of the structure, the roof and its adjoining floors, recreate a dramatic force strewn over its rocky site. On the ground, one is drawn in and around the home, ending with a framed view of the picturesque scenery.

It’ s a Trap Space

Manos Vardas

The post VILLA PM was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The study is about redesigning an existing building and converting it into a house that meets all contemporary requirements. The main elements of the site are on the one hand the island of Spinalonga, at the east and on the other hand, the steep, vertical rocks towards the north.

The residence consists of a ground floor space, which includes the living areas and the pool on the patio, as well as a floor that accommodates two bedrooms with their bathrooms. A metal structure includes a WC and the staircase, through which one can access the first floor. Due to the limited space area, the main purpose of the design was to eliminate the boundaries between the living room and the patio. This is achieved by transferring the boundary from the existing building to the interior, by breaking the parallel, and by using a single flooring material indoors and outdoors.

The main materials of the composition are marble, wood, as well as local stone, a natural material that dominates the composition of the facade, forming vertical openings in different scales, translating elements of the region’s history and make them contemporary.

ENTOPOS Architects

The post Earthy tones was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.