KP Office revives 19th-century Hydriot house with light touch and local craft

Athens-based KP Office has completed the sensitive restoration of a 19th-century stone house on Hydra, transforming it into a modern home while preserving its historic character. The three-year project focused on minimal intervention and careful craftsmanship. Layers of plaster were removed to reveal original stone walls and hidden murals, which were then restored. The house’s original layout was largely maintained, with living spaces on the ground floor, bedrooms above, and an attic opened up to access a rooftop terrace. A secondary ruined structure on the property was left untouched and turned into a raised patio, surrounded by olive and mulberry trees. Traditional features -from a rainwater-collecting sterna to marble sinks and wooden floors- were reclaimed or rebuilt using local materials and techniques. Custom woodwork, handmade tiles, and restored furnishings ground the space in the island’s vernacular tradition, while subtle updates make it suitable for contemporary living. Rather than erase the past, KP Office allowed time to remain present in every detail. The house stands as a quiet dialogue between history and modern life, a space where age is not hidden but celebrated.