The Well House

Completed in 2005 by Eleni Tsigarida and Aiolou Architects, this house is situated in the village of Lower Doloi, in Western Mani.

The restoration of the property included the creation of an independent guest annex bedroom with an en-suite shower room, and the addition of a bathroom and storage room for the main house.

The annex room meets the main house in a common courtyard, with a central old well. The aesthetics of the interior of the annex and of the refurbished and extended house contrast the stone that dominates on the exterior, creating a white canvas on which wooden elements, built-in or not, project. The intention is to create a soft and cozy feeling that reflects the traditional village house.

An important part of the restoration was the redesigning of the landscape, where a variety of different seating and walking areas were proposed, giving a choice of options depending on the weather and the hour of the day. The garden is orientated to the south with stunning views and therefore the design integrated both a covered veranda between the added bathroom and storage room and a freestanding pavilion with a bamboo roof, to provide shade and prolonged access to the views for outdoor summer life. The materials, construction elements and techniques are traditional to the area – stone walls of 50 cm thick, timber windows and byzantine ceramic roof tiles. These were often purchased from derelict buildings and integrated into the house in order to create the desired aesthetic.