Stone house in Mani by hhharchitects

In reconstructing this traditional house in Mani, hhharchitects aimed at preserving its existing stone shell and at the same time clearly differentiate any new interventions. A lightweight steel construction – both in correspondence with and at distance to the massive stonewalls – allows visual contact between the different levels and highlights the interventions performed. The main staircase consists of two parts, one made out of marble and the other out of metal; it connects the three internal levels of the house and leads into the every-day dining and living space of the second level. The ‘outbuilding’ is in direct contact with the main volume of the house and bears a dome that was reconstructed into a bedroom. Directly above it, the kitchen communicates with the dining room and the sun terrace (‘Liakoto’), which was expanded via metal cantilevers to create an outdoor seating area. The loggia leads to the surrounding areas via a metal staircase. The old wooden gate, leading to the inner courtyard of the house, was paved using local sandstone (‘kimisiri’). An external staircase connects the courtyard and the sun terrace, where the main entrance and living space of the house are.