Summer Story
Single Family House for Kokosalaki | Architecture
At the foot of the Lefka Ori mountains in Crete, a French couple decided to house their large extended family and spend their summers in a pure Cretan environment. The large arched entrance leading to an enclosed courtyard revives memories of the Venetians who left their mark on the island. The goal was to create a typical Cretan home - simple, distinguished, and very proud, and combined it with a contemporary design approach, to create a home as if it had always been there.
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Summer Story by Natalia Kokosalaki
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Single Family House by Natalia Kokosalaki
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Natalia Kokosalaki Summer Story
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Natalia Kokosalaki Single Family House
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Summer Story Single Family House Media Articles
Our Summer Story articles are prepped and available in these languages: Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Hindi, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese and Russian, ready for your use.
Unique Properties
At the foot of the Lefka Ori mountains in Crete, a French couple decided to house their large extended family and spend their summers in a pure Cretan environment. The large arched entrance leading to an enclosed courtyard revives memories of the Venetians who left their mark on the island. We wanted to create a typical Cretan home - simple, distinguished, and very proud, and combined it with a contemporary design approach, to create a home as if it had always been there.
Tags
Summer house, Crete, Greece, Traditional, Minimal, Slow living
Production Technology
Environmental and site analysis dictated the orientation of the house in relationship to the prime views and the position of the sun. Local stone and ocher were used in the construction, and all built in furniture was built by local craftsmen. In keeping with the traditional Cretan architecture the windows, doors, and shutters are all made of wood.
Design Challenge
The client wanted to incorporate both the traditional architectural language of the area, but use modern construction techniques in order to create a home that fits into the landscape, to make it feel as if it has always been there.
Project Duration
Construction of the house in Roustika, Crete, was completed in 2018.
Operation Flow
The large stone arched entrance connects the outside with the inner courtyard and acts as a central focus point for the house, promoting the idea of indoor and outdoor living.
Research
Type: Environmental analysis. Objectives: To orient and integrate the design into the site. Methodology: Solar and wind analysis using computational tools, view selection and framing from site visit. Data Tools Used: Energy Plus weather data for analysis and solar paths; historical wind data; site visits and research on local architecture. Participants: Full office team. Result: Environmental analysis optimized the design, historical research allowed for selection of construction materials and methods. Effect: The design respects the local architectural language, integrating it fully in its environment, and promoting local artists and craftsmen.
Inspiration
The brief was composed as if it was a first page of a novel, narrating a summer day in this imaginary Cretan house and its rural environment. It describes the various spaces of the house and the surrounding large garden. Immediately, the direct relation between inside and outside became the focus of our concept. Cretan life is well connected with the earth, the outdoors, the olive trees, and we were keen to sustain this throughout our design.
Image Credits
Photographer: George Messaritakis
Project Overview
Summer Story Single Family House has been a Bronze winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Bronze Recognition
Natalia Kokosalaki was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Summer Story Single Family House.
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