Location
The hotel is located in the peninsula of Akrotiri at a distance of 14km from Chania city center and 10km from the airport, near the famous village and beach of Stavros, where Zorba the Greek movie was filmed. Most of Akrotiri beaches are protected from the strong north winds of summer and are located in a short distance from the city, like Marathi and Kalathas beach. The area is also famous for its long history and heritage like the ancient city of Kydonia, the monasteries like Gouverneto, Agia Triada and Paxinos and the toms of Eleutherios Venizelos. Guests have the opportunity not only to visit the nearby beaches, but also to experience the spirited tradition and the depth of culture through their visit at the Old Town of Chania.
Design approach
The existing building is consisted of three main parts: the main building, the guest wing and the bungalows, that where combined in order to create a contemporary resort hotel that relates to the locality and origin of Akrotiri peninsula, while capturing its modern appeal. This complex arrangement gave the opportunity for the creation of a variety of rooms in order to satisfy the aesthetic patrons of each client, as well as for the creation of a multisensory experience among the built areas, the vegetation and the landscape. In order to create a characterful and intimate building with a sense of soft luxury, it was selected for all the areas (from the facades to the interiors) a natural color palette, wood and local plantation in order to bring tranquility and balance to the scenery.
Interior design & Lobby
The combination of all the natural elements and the earthy tones of the setting has provided the opportunity to create a visual language that points out the continuity between the landscape and the interior areas. From the guest rooms, where wood blends with travertine floors, to the common areas, where marble blends with rattan, give the feel of sophistication. In addition, all the handpicked pieces of design and furniture add more layers of complexity to the overall experience.
The lobby is located in a central point at the main building of the hotel, which offers uninterrupted views of the clear blue sea and sky of the peninsula. All the constructions and the elements in the lobby were carefully designed in order to frame the different qualities of the views and create a strong sense of natural and luxury look and feel. Its most distinctive element is the existing skylight, which was covered with bamboo elements that along with the vegetation beneath them activate different shadow patterns throughout the day.
Suppliers & Contributors:
Architects: Liakos Associates Architects (LAA)
Interior Design: Liakos Associates Architects
Engineering design: Dase Engineering
Lighting Design: IFI
Construction: Skarakis
Contractors: Melakis & Partners Α.Ε./ APAX Construction
Furniture: Arel Interior Design
