Renowned Greek architect, Aris Konstantinides, once wrote in one of his essays: «Architecture grows on the earth it exists and is directly related to it, just like the tree and the shrub». Much later Zaha Hadid, the «iron lady» of architecture, stated in one of her interviews that «people think that the most appropriate building is a rectangle, but the earth, the universe and the world in which we live in is not a rectangle». Right from the beginning of our design journey, this is exactly what concerned us: How would it be possible, in terms of design, to combine both the sense of Place where the building will be implemented, namely Greece, and the contemporary, elegant, cosmopolitan style that we wanted and felt ought to be part of the architectural «concept».  Our aim was, therefore, to find a sense of balance between these two «complementary» experiences that ought to be conveyed in the proposed architecture, on one hand the idiom of Space- the greek tradition and atmosphere in its wider sense- and on the other hand the expression of an architectural language that looks to the future, contemporary in its conception, unique, «valuable» in its image, able to cover multifaceted needs and provide comfort conditions of a high level.

The design preceded research, followed by recording and analysis of all the individual parameters relating to our chosen design approach. Our particular design method allowed important components to be highlighted that ultimately determined both the form of the building and landscaping, as well as their organisational structure. The proximity of the site to the sea set off a series of «narratives» that relate to the «water world» of our country, and much more, like the curvaceous ripples formed on water, the sand dunes of the coast, the white curved wind sails on sailing boats, the view towards the horizon, nature, the unique Grecian light. Furthermore, the elegant outlines of the mega yachts, as well as their decks that appear «built» on top of each other forming perimeter «terraces» that open out to the view. And from the sea we «travelled» to the abundant white of the cycladic tradition, to the characteristic curves of the domed chapels on the islands and the whitewashed serpentine folds of the walls that harmoniously blend into the natural sculpture of the landscape.

Alongside the above themes, that on first reading are cognitively reminiscent of Greece, a second series of «narratives» is overlaid, that are of most importance, and relate to contemporary design and the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Right from the outset, our aim was to design a building that would not only be cleverly organised to accommodate the complex functions that it would welcome, but at the same time would touch the soul of the user, leading him to unexpected experiences. We must not forget that architecture is a communicative art. Nowadays, people who falsely believe that buildings only have a functional purpose are far from sparse. In this way, however, architecture is at great risk of being considered «voiceless» and to get caught in the decline of «neutral boxes». When we started working on the competition, the idea of creating a building that would feel both familiar and at the same time inventive in its conception particularly intrigued us. A place where the unique characteristics of our country and the contemporary cosmopolitan atmosphere could co-exist invigorating both the senses and feelings.

Thus, the variations of natural light in the folding elevations, the elegant environment, the visual sense of near and distant views and the altering appearance of the landscape depending on the time of year, establish a set of visual relationships that become apparent both from the interior and exterior of the building. We propose the pedestrianisation of the coastal road (Iliou Street) and the extension of the design to the coastal zone, up to the sea, in order for the private and public realm to connect organically and aesthetically together comprising a totality that will add value both to the building and its surroundings. In this way, the composition will become a mediator between the user and the wider natural environment, in a narrative field on which different flows of investigations and experiences will ultimately meet.

The sculptural building volume is reminiscent of a «seascape painting» that constantly transforms, creating unique sculptural forms without a trace of pretence in their form. The mild ripples, the peaks and troughs, give a unique feeling, powerful but simultaneously delicate. The «skin» of the terraces embraces the existing orthogonal structural frame creating a flowing «surface» of successive zones (terraces), whereby from their every point a panoramic view of landscape is revealed. The composition that we created in our proposal stages expectations of a «journey», where the urban and natural elements, the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the idiom of place, the organised and imaginative syntax, harmoniously co-exist in space and time.

The architecture we envisioned is choreographed in our design through a pallet of precise and simultaneously subtle moves, every one of which relates to the sense of «adventure» that the «story» we want to tell unfolds. Our ultimate goal is to create iconic spaces – indoor, semi-outdoor and outdoor – every one of which will exhibit unique character, style and a cosmopolitan quality- spaces that are tangible, spaces with substance, materiality, texture and of subtle acoustic - all of which are qualities that have nothing to do with abstract notions but, rather, with extensive experience. The «story» that we «painted» in all three dimensions of space refers to a place of elegance, magnetism and dignity, qualities that offer the user unique «imagery» that acts upon his body and soul.