Design Anthology. Issue 9. June 2016.Santorini`s Cave

Natural Delight
Text / Michele Koh Morollo
DOSSIER
WANDERLUST
/ Restaurant,
/ Hotels,
Hong
Santorini
Kong
T
The Continental
he most famous of the Cyclades
As time passed, new buildings were introduced
islands, Santorini is one of the most
with frames and flat roofs, but many chose
/ Edmon Leong
photographed destinations in Images
Greece,
to retain the characteristics of the traditional
and a top choice among honeymooners. A
yposkafo. ‘Aspa, rocks and pumice were used
volcanic eruption in 1600 BC left the island
in a large number of houses that, although
with a crescent-shaped underwater caldera in
rectangular and free-standing, would implement
the middle of the Aegean Sea, where today
a vault structure within to bridge the interior
f picturesque
you asked villages
designers
whether
almost
exactlythe
the
same.
I was slightly
nervous about
cleave
to thethey’d
cliff ’s prefer
edge.
span
without
use
of concrete,’
says Filippidis.
toAlmost
start with
a
blank
slate,
or
a
fixed
set
of
all
the
green,
but
it’s
perfect.’
The
verdant
outdoor
as awe-inspiring as the island’s striking
The architect believes that cave-style houses are
parameters,
we’d
bet
that
most
would
say
a
space
that
surrounds
The
Continental
served
as
topography is Santorini’s unique architecture,
now especially popular among hoteliers because
blank with
slate.its But
not
Simon
Rawlings,
creative
inspiration
for
the
colour
scheme,
and
is
something
smooth-edged, whitewashed, vaulted
they constitute a local vernacular where organic
director
of London-based
Collins
Studio.
Rawlings says
is one emotions
of the firstand
things
that acomes
cave-style
dwellings David
that have
become
oneThe
of
geometry
heightens
evokes
designer
and
his
team
are
used
to,
and
in
fact
enjoy,
to
mind
when
he
thinks
of
Hong
Kong,
ather than
the island’s main tourism draws.
sense of the archaic.
working with historic spaces. Although the Thomas
the urban sprawl that visually dominates much of the
Heatherwick-designed
building
that houses
The Markos
island. The
shade of green,
whichofstarted
with the
Known as an yposkafo,
the traditional
cave house
Chaidemenos,
manager
Canaves
Continental
is
hardly
a
listed
property,
the
landlord
Italian-made
tiles
used
behind
the
bar,
was
of Santorini is essentially an archway carved into
Oia holiday properties, adds that cave-stylecarried
was keen
to
keep
the
original
structure
and
ceiling
through to the upholstery
in theprivacy
form ofand
customthe rocky cliff face of the caldera. ‘Santorini’s
accommodations
offer more
detail,volcanic
providing
the
design
team
with
an
enjoyable
dyed
leather.
The
colour
merges
well
with
the
outdoor
soil, aspa, has self-supporting structural
intimacy than standard rooms, and are especially
challenge.
area
and
transitions
beautifully
from
day
to
night.
properties that allow one to dig in without it
attractive to couples and honeymooners.
I
sinking inwards. Cave houses allowed for large
Collins
and his
studio
hired
project
interior
spans
on anwere
island
thatfor
hadthe
a scarcity
almostoftwo
years
ago,
before
his
tragic
and
untimely
trees, and thus no wooden beams to support
passing
July 2013.
greatly
missed
paragon
flatinroofs.
Most The
of the
villages
are built
on
of thethe
design
world
was
intimately
involved
in and
the
very steep inclinations of the caldera,
designcave
process
at fit
theseamlessly
beginning,inand
Rowley
houses
thischef
topography,
Leighminimising
still has some
of
his
original
hand-drawn
any new footprint from walls and
sketches.
foundations while maintaining maximum heat
‘The interesting architecture combined with
It’s the lighting
a signature
of DCS,
minimalistic
yet though,
stylish interiors
provides
an that
really
captures
the
imagination.
Cleverly
integrated
unparalleled experience and has without a
into Heatherwick’s
doubt
been a major wavy,
sellingribbon-like
point of theceiling,
island.’a strong
element within the space, glass celestial-like orb
pendants
hang
at justfeatures
the right
lending the
The
homes’
natural
areheight,
highlighted
space
a
cosmos-like
feel.
Other
light
fixtures
through simple design. Ioakeim Patsios and have
been deliberately
keeping
the focus at an
Anastasia
Patsiou,kept
who low,
recently
reconstructed
intimate
level.
the Cave Suite at boutique hotel 1864 The
insulation thanks to the thickness of the walls
Anyone
has visited
thesays
space
will Filippidis
see that the
andwho
the overhead
soil,’
Memos
of
layoutMPLUSM
of the restaurant
has
noticeably
changed
since
Architects, which was responsible
its former
incarnation.
Rawlings says
he spent
several
for the
2013 renovation
of Villa
Anemolia
evenings
in
the
previous
establishment
analysing
— two interconnected, cave-inspired luxury
what vacation
worked residences.
about the space and what didn’t.
Subsequently, the front bar, restaurant and kitchen
areas Historically,
have been reconfigured
to create
a surprising
the inhabitants
of an yposkafo
were
level of
transparency.
‘I
think
the
cleverest
thing
we
sailors or poor islanders without access
to the
did was
opening
up
the
length
of
the
restaurant,’
says
scarce construction material; thus, they made
Rawlings.
newinarrangement
allows
their The
homes
hollow spaces
dugeveryone
out froma
view and
an
equal
experience
in
the
dining
the island’s volcanic rock surface. Not room.
only did
Sea Captain’s House, explain that white is the
The soignécolour
interior
of Thefor
Continental
the perfect
preferred
scheme
cave-style isrooms
platform
to
showcase
the
skills
of
noted
British
because it allows the greatest possible diffusion chef
Leigh,
also light
in hisand
firstbrings
foray out
intothe
Asia,
who says the
of
physical
distinctive
all-day
brasserie-style
menu
at
The
Continental
traditional morphology and shapes of the was
inspired
by the
grand
Europe.
Leighasays it
shell.
Patsios
says
that cafés
in theoflast
three years,
is
very
much
an
extension
of
his
philosophy
on doing
growing number of old and abandoned yposkafo
fresh
ingredients
justice,
combined
with
houses have been renovated to the standardsaofstrong
sustainability
lot French,
a littleofItalian,
luxury
suites toethic.
meet‘It’s
thea growing
demands
with
a
British
sensibility,’
he
says,
which
is something
tourism, Santorini’s core industry.
the city’s multicultural dining scene has surprisingly
lacked attention
in the past.
‘It feels
likefurnishings,
it’s the restaurant
Much
is also
paid to
of
that
was
always
meant
to
be
in
this
which common prototypes can look outbuilding,’
of scale adds
Rawlings.
We agree.
and
too rigid
for the cavernous, undulating
these homes offer protection from gusty winds,
Rawlings,
first visit tosummer
what is the
studio’s
rain during
and thehisunrelenting
heat,
they
first completed
restaurant
in
Asia,
says
he’s
happy
also allowed inhabitants to conceal themselves
with the
outcome.
‘If you
looksometimes
at the renders
and the
the
from
the pirates
who
roamed
interiors of yposkafo-inspired spaces. For Villa
Anemolia, Filippidis and his team custom-
nearby waters.
designed many of the residences’ furnishings
(with the exception of some items from
Collection Harp, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni
for Roda). ‘We replaced all previous freestanding furniture and included built-in beds
that appear like a continuation of the cement
floor, new wardrobes that merged with the
walls, and a wooden sofa bed on the flanks of
the common living area. A large mirror next to
one of the wardrobe areas extends the oblique
geometry of the rooms,’ he says.
Aenaon Villas, used traditional quarter-sphere
uplight sconces to illuminate dramatic features
like domed ceilings and curved walls. They
furnished their villas with original wooden
dining and coffee tables in combination with
chairs, sofas and beds from Italian designer Paola
Navone’s Ghost Collection. ‘If architectural
elements are properly organised, a simple design
concept works extremely well with such spaces
because the curves and contours of the walls
can be showcased,’ says Giorgios. ‘This clean,
straightforward approach also means that the
incredible views outside are not upstaged by
overly embellished interiors.’
Giorgos and Alexandra Alexiou, a husband and
wife who own and designed the award-winning
Previous page: Boutique hotel the 1864 Sea Captain’s
House overlooks the Aegean Sea from the Greek island
of Santorini. Image by Vangelis Paterakis
54
70
The clean, crisp interiors of the 1864 Sea Captain’s
House. Image by Vangelis Paterakis
71
Top: Aenon Villas’ living area features a fireplace and
enviable views with no need to move from the sofa.
Image courtesy of Aenon Villas
Bottom: The entrance to the 1864 Sea Captain’s House
rooftop terrace. Image by Vangelis Paterakis
Top and bottom: A terrace overlooking the surrounding
rooftops and a bedroom showing the modern minimal
restoration at Villa Anemolia. Images courtesy of
MPLUSM Architects