The Greek Foundation
  • Architecture
  • Interiors
  • Design
  • Art
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Graphic Design
  • Gastronomy
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • All Stories
  • Shop
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
The Greek Foundation
0 Shop
  • Architecture

Maina by Z-Level Architecture

“Maina” is a tower-house residence in Exo Nyfi, an abandoned traditional settlement in Eastern Mani, Peloponnese, that was designed in accordance with the vernacular housing types in the conservation listed settlements of the area.

Mani is a special place. Its turbulent history, rugged natural beauty and distinctive architecture provide visitors with an unforgettable experience.
It is a rare and most valuable asset of Greece that is now beginning to be embraced by all, including many people from outside Greece, who wish to settle in the area or to spend their summers there. Exo Nyfi, in particular, is an abandoned traditional settlement with stone towers. In this village John Kassavetis shot his film “The tempest”. Positioned on the hill the house looks out over the Mani landscape with views of olive groves and the sea. The aim of the design was to renovate the tower-house and to convert it into a holiday villa that would exude a primordial spirit of place. The residence was designed to function as a starting point and a place to familiarize oneself with the natural beauty of Mani as well as its cultural wealth, helping in this way to shed light on the traditional settlements in the area and help bring them back to life, as they have slowly been abandoned with the passage of time.

In shaping the outdoor areas, a different vocabulary was utilized from that of the building, in order to set up an interactive relationship between the direct physical and historical landscape and the building’s new intended use. The original building was maintained as a long narrow volume, which unfolds perpendicularly to the topographic contour lines of hillside, as do the other houses in the settlement, looking out to the sea and the east. There is a new addition that comprises a second long narrow volume added adjacent to this old building, maintaining the same vertical relationships with the landscape relief. All three levels of the residence constitute single spaces, while the suitable placement of openings ensure natural light and ventilation during the hot Mani summers. This gives rise to either a single holiday villa or two independent units: the katoi and the anoi. Each level has independent access to the outdoor areas, and is designed individually according to ambient sunlight and the natural landscape.

The conversion of this Mani tower-house to an ecologically-minded holiday villa is intended to leave a light footprint on the long history of the building and to open up a dialogue between travelers and place. The project received an honorable mention in the 2015 Domes Awards “13 best built works in Greece of 2010-2014”.

Creative
Z-level Architecture
Related Stories
View Post
  • Architecture

The Grid House in Evia by Neiheiser Argyros

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Creative studio in East London gets transformed by Bureau de Change

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Interiors

Waterfront apartment renovation by Studio Nonpareil

View Post
  • Architecture
  • Gastronomy
  • Interiors

OOAK architects join forces with Yiorgos Kordakis, Celebrating contrasts at Imperfecto Restaurant

View Post
  • Interiors

Federica Scalise designs tiny house in Alimos that makes the most of every square inch

View Post
  • Architecture

Block722 reveals ‘O Lofos’ holiday retreat on the eastern side of Crete, Greece

  • Shop
  • Stories
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Terms

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT