Summer House in Oia, Canaves Hotel | Kapsimalis Architects

The existing house, which is located in the traditional village of Oia, in the island of Santorini, was renovated, while keeping unchanged its initial architecture.
The house faces East to the Volcano and to the Aegean Sea, as it stands on the cliffs of the Caldera.

The residence consists of two levels, a living area, a kitchen and two bedrooms with their bathroom areas at the ground level and a bedroom with its bathroom at the upper level of it. A part of its space at the ground level, is inside the volcanic earth, as a cave, common practice for the traditional architecture of the island. An internal staircase joins the two levels of the house through the space of the living room.

The property has two exterior entrances from the pedestrian street, one in the upper level and one in the ground level and through its main yard.

Main idea of the proposal was to maintain the existing traditional architectural elements
and to show up the diversity and the values of the interior cavernous forms and vaulted spaces.
The outer layer of the main building is preserved and subtly reformed, while the exterior yard is designed as a viable space with a pool at the edge of the yard and along its length, a protected semi- circular lounge area, a dining area under a perforated loose tent, an exterior shower and the addition of planting.
Regarding to the interior space, the vaulted or amorphous ceilings and curved walls of the existing house are mostly maintained, while at some parts, interventions were made in order the space to be adjusted to the functional needs of the residence and to be aesthetically improvised.

The intention of the project was the house to be preserved as an internal structure and to highlight its minimal and sculptural nature, while adding a sense of calmness and timeless aesthetic.
Concerning the interior of the house, off – white smooth plaster for the walls, large slabs of off-white marble for the floors, dark stained oak, off – white metal works, diverse kinds of marbles for custom furniture, terracotta objects & tiles, beige terrazzo, fabrics with different textures, mirrors, ceramic decorative pots and plates, lights made by opal glass, metal and marble, are the materials that shape the inner space and the objects that have been collected.

The outer space moves to the same direction, as the colour of the exterior wall is warm white and its floor is a continuity of the indoor floor. Furniture made by marble, metal, wood & terracotta, complete the overall feel.

The approach of the house’s remaking is to offer a simplicity and an air of lightness, using natural materials, muted colors that pair harmoniously with the existing forms of the exterior and interior of the residence, to emphasize to the importance of craftmanship and to upgrade Santorini’s traditional design.

Architecture: Kapsimalis Architects
Photographer: Yiorgos Kordakis
Photography stylist: Anestis Michalis