This had to be achieved not by copying or imitating traditional forms, but rather by drawing elements from the natural and manmade characteristics of the island and recomposing them in a free and creative way.
The design aim was to conceive and express the spirit of Ikaria as a place, in a foreign context and at a different building scale than that of the Aegean architecture.
The basic design concept, both for the interiors and the exteriors, was the creation of a ‘landscape building’, with references to the rock formations of Ikaria’s impressive landscape.
The proposed design is inspired by the impressive landscape of Ikaria, which is defined by rocky volumes that interact with vegetation, light and shadow, under the Aegean wind and sun.
As such, it draws from Aegean settlements, where clusters of homes are hanging from the cliffs and create organic groups and neighborhoods.
Organic forms provide a unique inhabitation condition, where hotel guests experience living temporarily inside a sculpture. Meanwhile, the facades are carved into the building’s volume, expressing, and announcing internal functions.