Kapsimalis Architects unveil cubist-shaped hotel in Fira, Santorini

The Neo Hotel, standing on the outskirts of Fira in Santorini, surrounded by a bustling residential area, boasts a distinctive architectural narrative. Its L-shaped plot offers views of the sea to the North and East and the village to the South and West. The building comprises two floors and a basement, housing 12 rooms on the ground floor, 8 rooms on the first floor, and various facilities in the basement like the reception, restaurant, spa/gym, and more. Access to the hotel is available from the village via a public street and from the east side via a public pedestrian path leading to the reception area. Open staircases and passages connect the floors, seamlessly blending private and public spaces. The design goal of Kapsimalis Architects was to create a composition of room-cubist prisms inspired by the village’s white cubist architecture and Tetris-like shapes. This creative reinterpretation integrates the building into its residential environment, provides desired views, and meets modern hospitality needs, resulting in a unique architectural identity. As the architects describe, “Blocks of rooms in the shape of a square, rectangle, L, Z & T are stacked horizontally and vertically, fit, touch or mismatch, forming equivalent voids of outdoor spaces with various viewpoints and passages of natural light”. Inside, each room features a compact bathroom, kitchenette, and fixed furniture, along with decor that extends into outdoor spaces. In the basement, color dominates the communal areas, creating a cohesive interior.