TERRA MARE

RESORT IN SYROS

Terra Mare resort is developed on a remote, seaside, amphitheatrical plot characterized by a strong southward slope and a view of the unbounded Aegean Sea. Main challenge of the project was to meet complex functional requirements, considering the morphology of the terrain and the importance of minimizing the alteration of the natural landscape.

The project comprises of three thematic-morphological units that form a spontaneous composition of a point, a line, and a plane. The end result is a three-leveled habitation cluster that combines subterranean and terrestrial accommodation structures.

At the highest point, the plane is created, the communal outdoor living space for all residents. The carving of an arched retaining wall forms an "embrace." The wall serves as a receptacle for vertical movements (ramps and stairs) as well as for the submerged living and communal spaces. The presence of the wall facilitates the configuration of the courtyard, the level where three independent guest units and the communal swimming pool are located.

Centrally positioned on the site is the line, a strict submerged rectangular building that houses two autonomous living spaces, with the possibility of unification or separation of their outdoor space. Thanks to the recession of the building in relation to the long shading cantilever on its façade, the structure’s presence is minimized. The final result serves as a gentle backdrop to the complexity of the superimposed structures.

At the lowest level, in direct proximity to the sea, the point is found. An independent submerged guesthouse isolated and concealed from all. Here one can stand and perceive the tranquility of nature and the sounds of the waves. With the aim of vanishing, the building is constructed to the maximum possible extent from natural materials directly from the place where it is erected. Only the circular courtyard remains visible, a platform looking outwards to the Aegean expanse.