Area: 400 sqm

Design Team: Marialena Tsolka, Alexia Vassiliades, Yvette Wolbers, Iris Skiathiti

Construction Team: Marialena Tsolka

Set high above the bay at Ornos on the island of Mykonos, the V&V house represents a shining illustration of architectural tradition and modernity in perfect union. Demonstrating the essence of craftsmanship in interior design, the residence was completely re-imagined and remodeled following an immersive creative process. Our team lived and worked on site during the construction, sourcing materials and making by hand many of the interior details. The result maintains the essence of its original island aesthetic and charm but is infused with a thoroughly contemporary sensibility.

Set across a steeply sloping site, the original house, built in early 1980s, has been enlarged significantly by excavating into the hillside to create additional guest bedrooms and by removing internal walls to create a more fluid open-plan arrangement. The residence is centered around an expansive al fresco kitchen and dining area, the perfect terrace for entertaining, and framed beneath a series 30m wooden beams that traverse and cover the space. The western aspect of the terrace showcases the breathtaking landscape below that capture in full the rich visual tapestry of the bay and the Aegean Sea across to the wild, unspoilt island landscapes of Rineia and Delos beyond.

Across the facade, blue accents resonate, from the painted front gate to the balconies and wooden window shutters, shimmering radiantly against the pure white render of the exterior. Reclaimed and recycled wood features throughout the interior, with tables and other furniture, carved panels, full-length mirrors and other decorative details offering a rich visual demonstration of the island’s craft traditions and history. Hanging textiles add further warmth to the cool surface textures of the smooth rendered walls and floors.