A Historic Fortress in Greece Becomes a Ruggedly Handsome Home

September 13, 2022

A Historic Fortress in Greece Becomes a Ruggedly Handsome Home

Etsi Architects reversed a renovation that turned it into a motel in the ’60s, uncovering beautiful stonework and enhancing its connection to the sea.

Built as a fortified customs house the complex originally offered segregated protected storage spaces on the lower level and guarded trade areas upstairs. Connecting buildings and levels while revealing the original character of the building was our biggest challenge.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners.

Project Details:

Location: Kardamyli, Greece

Architects: Etsi Architects / @etsi_architects

From the Architect: "Our task was to turn a listed historical building into a modern family home, while simultaneously respecting its place in the local landscape, history, and community. Its location in the port of Kardamyli since the 18th century makes it a focal point for the area and we wanted to honor that. After briefly being resurrected as a motel in the 1960s, it had been partially buried in concrete and fallen into disrepair, giving us the perfect opportunity to reimagine it as a home while preserving it for the future.

"Because of its role as a fortified customs house, the building, formerly known as the Teloneio, was originally designed for protection, with goods storage on the lower floor and defensive barracks space above. We needed to open up and connect spaces across both floors in both buildings, adding features to make it feel like a home.

"Our challenge centered on three main areas. First, we revealed the stunning 18th-century stonework, turning short squat buildings into tall slender ones by carefully excavating from the surrounding concrete. We then restored the shell in keeping with the original fortified Mani architecture. We also restored the roofs and added keyhole windows in the lower floors to add light and air and to make it livable. Second, we wanted our clients to be able to move freely within and between spaces. Until this point, although the two buildings were attractively offset with a sheltered courtyard between them, all rooms had separate access from the outside. We connected the rooms within each building, added a staircase with a bold cut of the main vault, created access to the outdoors on the south side, and linked the two buildings together. Third, because we see ourselves as "progressive regressionists," we used local materials including marble floors from nearby Itilo quarry, olive wood furniture and veneers, and local pebbles for the entrance mosaic, employing traditional techniques for the pointing and repairs.

"We achieved a historical restoration and an elegant second home that maximizes the sea views, with a flow between internal and external spaces. Four bedrooms, an office and three bathrooms across two buildings, and an open plan kitchen/dining/living area for a modern family to enjoy. The project also transformed the local community, overcoming reservations in restoring a beloved landmark and becoming a visitor attraction. It went above and beyond what we and our clients hoped for."