In Diapori of Lemnos, two adjacent, stone-built, traditional buildings, with sea view, were reconstructed and redesigned, with respect for their history and identity. These are two rectangular planned buildings of 90 and 45 sq.m. The large building was not considerably damaged over time, while the second one, in its final phase -before its reconstruction-, had lost much of its roof, resulting in a particularly bright space, an element that we wanted to preserve. Although in the traditional settlements of Lemnos the private yard space is absent, in this case, there was the intention to turn the large building into a holiday home, while the second building would counterbalance the lack of a private yard in the main house.
In order to preserve the old form of the buildings, their original openings were maintained. Frames with large glass panels were added to the cottage, while the former window was transformed into the main entrance with metal shutters made of corten – similar to the initial ones. The modern corten material delivers its rust, without deteriorating over time. Along this opening, the relief arch and the stone frame, that were surrounding it, were fully preserved. The openings of the second building are covered by metal bars.
In the main house, walls, floors and ceiling form a light-colored off-white interior shell made of cement mortar, covering most of its interior surfaces. In the rest space, the only visible stone wall is dominant, comprising the fireplace. In this part the wooden beams of the roof are revealed. The interior is illuminated through the openings of the facade and through a new roof skylight.
The main area of the house consists of the living room, the kitchen space and a higher level, which houses the bedroom, providing an unobstructed sea view through its large openings. In both levels, a linear corian kitchen counter extends and turns into a seat on the upper step level. The private space consists of the bathroom-WC and the dressing room. Hidden linear lights, running through the beams, the recessed curtain’s cove and the bench, create an atmospheric effect. The interior cypress beams and the log table seats are combined with the wooden outer pergola made of chestnut, which is covered with willow shade panels.
Leaving the main building, the visitor follows two stone patios that lead to the adjacent building with the inner courtyard. This roofless building extends on two levels, the ground floor and the new elevated level of the loft. The walls of the yard were jointed and reinforced with resins and connected at their top by a perimetric concrete beam, while maintaining the trace of the old damaged roof. Inside, the courtyard, - to the left side of the entrance – is comprised by a level with the dining area, the living room and the barbeque space. On the right side, there are stone steps you can sit on. These steps lead to the concrete staircase whose rectangular prism is covered by thin chestnut logs. This staircase leads to an outdoor loft, a "balcony" that is part of the inner courtyard, functioning as an elevated observatory of the sunny Greek seaside landscape.
Metal, glass, stone, wood, alang leaves, white fabric, rattan decorations and planted ceramic pots combine modern and traditional elements, giving a refined and harmonious result to both buildings.