Restoration of two cavehouses in Santorini

The project is located in Vothonas, a traditional settlement on the island of Santorini, with lots of cave houses built on the top of ravines. The project consists of two renovated cave houses that have separate entrances through a common yard. The house on the west side is of approximately 65 sq. m. and the house on the east side of 43 sq. m. The original shape of each space was for the most part preserved. The living areas are at the front side of the house and the bedroom is at the back. The two rooms are divided by a wall which is a replica of the façade. It has the same openings, allowing the back bedroom to be indirectly illuminated and ventilated through the front. It is a typical artifice in vernacular Cycladic architecture which helps to preserve even temperature across the year.
The walls and built-in furniture are covered in white pozzolanic material to create a pure and clean ambience feeling. The smooth edges and organic forms of the inside, along with the whitewashed materials, create a continuous form that reflects the light and unifies the different shapes. Contrasting the bright white color of the built elements, the accessories are specifically selected in order to create a pop of color and differentiate the two independent residences.