Monastery House Embraces Rugged Landscape With Perfect Blend of Tradition
Monastery House is in Greece, designed by Etsi Architects. Perched high on a mountain, it provides stunning views. The house is a combination of styles, merging traditional and modern aesthetics. Its design reflects the clients’ love for local architecture and addresses their security needs, offering spaces for individual use as well as communal areas, including a meditation space for Buddhist practices. This architectural approach creates a unique identity in its natural environment.
About Monastery House
A Plot High On The Mountainside With Spectacular Views
The plot of land they purchased was set high on a mountainside offering spectacular views, which can only really be compared to travelling on an aeroplane, peering down on the village and the sea below.
Making Space For Each Generation And Individual Security
Our task was to create a space for the family to come together whilst also making room for them each to have individual space within the complex. Due to the remote and rather wild location of the house, security was an important issue to our clients. A meditation room was also a request– a space where they could practise their Buddhist beliefs.
A Building That Looks Rooted In The Surrounding Landscape
The aim was to build a home that looked like it belonged in such a rugged and remote setting, and blended well with the natural environment. It was also important to create a space that felt homely and secure.
A Design Inspired By The Monasteries Of Greece
We envisioned a building that was very much like the many monasteries that can be found throughout Greece. A walled compound that would have separate structures inside, offering the clients both the individual space and security they were searching for.
An Open Plan Space Created From External Walkways
We designed the inner compound to provide an openness that you probably wouldn’t expect if you were looking from the outside walls, with each separate area being accessed only via external walkways. A feature that is only possible in the Greek climate.
A Combination Of Traditional And Modern Building Styles
Our clients had a particular love for local traditional stone buildings with tiled roofs, but were also drawn to a more modern flat-roofed building with its minimalist aesthetic. We therefore created a home with a combination of both styles. Using the modern style for the individual areas such as the bedrooms and the kitchen, and the traditional in the communal building which contained the living area and the meditation area below it.
A Family Home Created To Look As If It Was Always There
The project was a great success and we are delighted with the results. We have created a family home for our clients that is not only safe and secure, but also looks as though it was meant to be, as if rooted in the mountain landscape.
A Monastery Inspired Retreat For Buddhist Religion Practice
By using the idea of a monastery as our guide, we have been able to create a retreat for them to practice their Buddhist religion – making it very much their own. The design offers the perfect balance between the openness of the walkways and the sanctuary of the surrounding walls.
A Fusing Of Modern And Traditional Styles Unique To The Area
By fusing modern and traditional building styles, we feel we accomplished something a little unique for the area – and a project our clients can be proud to call their home.
Photography courtesy of Etsi Architects
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