dimitra rafa upgrades solstice luxury suites in oia santorini, greece

located in oia village on the island of santorini in greece, ‘solstice luxury suites’ is a hotel designed by architectural practice dimitra rafa. the construction began on january 2016 and ended in june 2016, and it consists of small cave-like structures and one aboveground studio. all them have courtyards that were designed to follow the natural slope of the landscape. the outdoor spaces offer relaxation areas that allow an ample view so that the visitor becomes one with the surroundings of this unique scenery.

skewed pergolas frame the view
all images by george ventouris

the architectural study, interior design, creation of custom furniture and lighting as well as te construction supervision of all spaces was done by dimitra rafa. overall, the renovation intends to revitalize the existing shell, highlighting the traditional morphological elements of the cycladic architecture with the us of a modern language. this dialogue between old and new is encountered with the juxtaposition of tradition materials and techniques such as cement screed with new ones such as ceramic patterned tiles. the screed is mainly white, respecting the island’s characteristic identity and also black in the outdoor spaces, referencing the color o the volcano’s rock formation.

view of the room 

the presence of stone alludes to the volcano and can be found on the interiors as single architectural elements or as the main construction material of the retaining walls. on the interior, the aim is to create a unique but flowing atmosphere in each room, which is achieved through the design of custom made elements. every piece of furniture is either custom made or selected to serve this purpose. a characteristic example is the perforated wooden panels in the shower that allow light to create unique patterns during each time of the same.

details of the custom elements

the same principles are followed in the design of the courtyards where the custom white wood pergolas are skewed in order to follow the landscape’s contour lines. the pergolas are clad in white wood, canes and blue rope, a clear reference to the aegean blue see. the way of living in each room also varies depending on the visitor, as the built-in benches and beds create a free environment. the intention is to create an overall experience, where the visitor will feel a familiar relationship with the space based on his own personal interpretation.

stones are used throughout the house as architectural elements

master suite 

custom lighting highlights the traditional arches 

juxtaposition of traditional and new materials 

light creates unique patterns through the perforated wooden panels

interior view of the studio 

bathroom

pergola clad in blue rope in harmony with the aegean blue sea

project info:

title: solstice luxury suites
location: oia village, santorini island
project year: 2016
design and construction manager: dimitra rafa
senior architect: dimitra rafa
architect: matina galati
photos: george ventouris 

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