Country House Renovation in Mykonos

For the project of the country house in Mykonos, the aim was to design a hospitable home with elements of traditional Cycladic architecture of farmhouses, adapted to the modern and personalized needs of its owners. This was a young couple who, along with the house, asked for the creation of a semi-independent guest house.

The property is located far from the main town (Chora), in a quiet spot – secluded and elevated. The characteristics of this particular location are the well-known preserved rocks of the island and the slope of the ground, facing the view. The landscaping of the surrounding area is not dense. Instead, following the freely placed rocks, corresponding paths with small stops were created, each of which serves a different function.

Based on the needs of the owners and the morphology of the surrounding area, our team followed two main design axes: on one hand, the introspection and privacy that the young couple wanted for their space, and on the other hand, the use of earthy, matte and warm colors.

To achieve this introversion, two rocks located at a relatively short distance from each other, played an important role in the building’s structure. They were therefore used as an initial boundary between the exposed surroundings and the house, creating a small intermediate space, so that the entrance to the house was not directly revealed as soon as one entered the plot. Secondarily, the building “embraces” the small courtyard facing the view side by orienting the main openings in this direction, giving the feeling of an inner courtyard.

The guesthouse was set to be semi-autonomous to ensure the privacy of the couple and the guests, without being a separate, isolated building. To achieve this, the design team created separate entrances for the main house and the guesthouse and united these two parts of the building with a small internal patio, which connects them while providing the necessary distance between them.

Inside, we created spaces that serve all the basic functions of a house: living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and guest room.

The feeling of the traditional Cycladic rural house was conveyed through the simplicity of the spaces, as well as the warm and earthy colors and materials used inside. Small but essential details were also selected and incorporated at different points in the project, such as, for example, the elevation of the floor to mark its different functions, inspired by traditional houses where beds and living rooms were elevated.

In terms of the choice of materials and color palette, the aim was to create a warm, friendly atmosphere, while also adding a thoroughly unpretentious luxury – so much so that the sense of warmth and “home” is not lost.

For the floor material, we used ceramic square tiles in matt brick color with thick grout. In contrast, the masonry is non-smooth and sand-colored, while the roof is a modern interpretation of the traditional wooden ceiling, with light-colored reeds. The choice of specific materials and shades was made to highlight the flooring as much as possible, which is the characteristic element of the house.

The intense flooring also defines the corridor that leads the occupant from the common areas of the living room and kitchen to the interior patio, leading to the guest room.

The color of the bedroom area matches the masonry, defining its private use. The wardrobe is open but elevated so as not to reduce the space, to separate its function while still adding value to the room, creating the feeling of a small living room. Similarly, the shower in the couple’s personal bathroom was raised and defined, again adding value, while also creating a sense of “embrace” to the person bathing. Both of these areas of the home are particularly important to the couple, as they are the two main functions of the house, relating to their personal grooming and care. This is why our design team decided to give them a more mystical and ritualistic form and aesthetic.

The element of wood prevails in the details and small surfaces of the house, such as the kitchen counter, the seats and the bed, referring to the aesthetics of the village without copying it. Although wood was the hallmark of older farmhouses, it is now a material associated with luxury and high aesthetics, making it the common denominator between the two. By using it in this way, the team has therefore managed to ensure a perfect balance between the intimate, welcoming space and the modern, luxurious home.