Tainaron Blue Retreat

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

TAINARON BLUE RETREAT

Kostas Zouvelos, Kassiani Theodorakakou

ARCHITECTS
Kostas zouvelos, kassiani theodorakakou

PHOTOGRAPHS
George Meitner

YEAR
2014

LOVATION
Lakonia, greece

CATEGORY
Houses

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

Text description provided by architect.

The towers, these imposing tall and narrow prisms, are the most stubborn and absolute expression of Mani building.

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

On the outskirts of the settlements, the "xemonia" were erected in order to defend or expand the land property.

They served to control, exclude or drive out the opponents, but also to transfer the pressure from the main settlement to new territories.

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

Tainaron Blue Retreat is a representative sample of traditional xemonia of the South.

The tower – now transformed into a small guest house – is facing a similar construction, which had also been a strong fortified complex.

Both together, they controlled the road to the area around Tainaron.

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

The war tower is built on solid ground and rocks known as "rizomies", at a strategic spot that offers an amazing view of the sea and the hinterland.

The restoration of the traditional building solved form issues in relation to the old texture of the masonry, so that the final look of the tower gives the impression of a building that emerges from the rock, upon which it is founded.

The grouting internally and externally was done with real "kourasani" or Roman mortar (a combination of Theraic soil, ceramic powder, lime and a special shade of river sand) and minimum amount of cement, which enhances the static adequacy of the masonry and ensures durability.

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

The conversion of the tower into a guest house had to overcome considerable difficulties.

The reason was the need for a high degree of adaptation to the specific characteristics of the regional architecture and at the same time the demand for accommodation in rooms with modern aesthetic perception.

Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner

The four floors, with their relatively limited interior spaces that comprise of three bedrooms with bathroom and shared kitchen, breakfast and reception space, are organized along a vertical axis, allowing guests to have the unique experience of moving through narrow openings ("waterfalls"), wooden stairs or rocks protruding from the walls and arches ("steps").


Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Tainaron Blue Retreat


Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner
Tainaron Blue Retreat
© George Meitner


Tainaron Blue Retreat
Elevation
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Elevation
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Elevation


Tainaron Blue Retreat
Floor Plan
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Floor Plan
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Floor Plan
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Floor Plan
Tainaron Blue Retreat
Floor Plan