Adopting a storytelling-based approach to architectural design, the Stones & Walls team has redesigned the interior of Minos Palace Resort in Crete. Their aim was to create an emotionally engaging and sensory-rich hospitality experience, marking the evolution of a traditional hospitality space into a curated world of longevity, wellbeing, and meaningful experiences.
A major challenge was introducing an element of surprise into a historically rigid, rectangular building. Constructed in the 1980s, the resort posed significant structural limitations, from immovable load-bearing columns to outdated circulation logic. Breaking free from this established grid was both a technical challenge and an innovative ambition.
A pivotal intervention was the reimagining of the entire entrance sequence. The original staircase was replaced by an extended ramp, while the reception level was lowered and redesigned at eye level to match the outdoor plane, so that, upon entry, guests are immediately aligned with the horizon, the architecture, and the open sea. This spatial alignment creates an immediate moment of revelation, where the boundaries between built space and natural vastness dissolve. Non-gender restrooms reflect a commitment to inclusivity while Nao’s facilities are also accessible to the local community and staff, promoting a culture of inclusivity and care.
The transformation of Minos Palace Resort represents a redefinition of luxury through the lens of wellbeing, longevity, and meaningful experiences. Conceived as ‘The place of wellbeing’, the project responds to the rising global shift toward lifestyle evolution and evidence-based wellbeing, where emotional, physical, and spiritual renewal become the foundation of a curated resort experience through architectural storytelling.
The brief was to reimagine both the communal areas and the wellbeing spaces as immersive, restorative and secure environments for personal transformation. The masterplan was divided into two phases: the renovation of the Reception, Lobby, Restaurant, and Pool Lounge, followed by the creation of the resort’s emotional core, Nao.
When designing the spaces, the objective was to translate a journey of self-discovery into an architectural language, a metaphorical transition from external exploration to internal self-reflection. Expansive outdoor panoramas and tranquil interiors offer a sensory path, while an earthy color palette strategically reinforces this narrative with tones that evoke serenity.
Drawing inspiration from the spiral, the resort’s symbol- the design intentionally disrupts the building’s rigid rectangular grid, introducing nature’s organic forms and aesthetics to evoke emotional and sensory experiences.
To balance minimalism with warmth, we incorporated soft lighting, natural textures, and gentle curves, making the design both sustainable and inviting. Polished concrete, soft plaster, expansive glass walls and custom metalwork were selected for sustainability and tactile appeal.
Outdoors, the integration of water and fire features required precise engineering to maintain both safety and elegance. Dense landscaping with bamboo creates natural sound barriers and visual seclusion. Lighting was equally intentional; floating lanterns and pathway lights ensure a serene and immersive experience.
Merging modern architecture with the natural and cultural context of Minos Palace reinforces the resort’s core purpose: to serve as a space for human renewal and visual harmony. The seamless integration of nature’s aesthetics into the existing structure establishes a dynamic dialogue between built and organic, interior and exterior, function and emotion.
At Nao, four pavilions, including a central temple housing a meditative Buddha—guide guests through a symbolic journey inspired by Southeast Asian philosophies, while surrounding gardens echo the biodiversity of Crete’s native flora and pollinators.
Curved, textured walls, sculptural free-form furniture, and varying floor levels resembling geological fractures all create a dynamic yet cohesive atmosphere.
Materials such as polished concrete, soft plaster, and custom metal fixtures ensure both durability and sensory richness.
Further refining the guest journey, restaurant and bar service flows were discreetly optimized to enhance both efficiency and connection. Serving points were strategically placed to support intuitive circulation, while an open kitchen station fosters transparency and direct interaction with guests—creating a more immersive dining experience.
Lighting played a central role in enhancing atmosphere: floating lanterns and pathway lights cast a diffused, calming glow, while outdoor water and fire elements were engineered for both aesthetics and safety.
Dense landscaping with bamboo and other flora offers natural soundproofing and privacy.
Sustainability is embedded in every aspect.
The design embraces timelessness with raw, natural materials and collaborates with local artisans to source and fabricate custom pieces.
Large sculptural elements were developed using advanced geometry tools to minimize material use and production waste. Indigenous marbles and other locally sourced materials were chosen to reduce environmental impact and limit the transport of heavy structures.
Through this lens, architecture becomes a medium for connection with the self, others, and the natural world. The project challenges the conventions of luxury by shifting focus from material excess to inner richness, offering a transformative guest experience that is tactile, emotional, and ultimately, deeply human.
Facts & Credits
Title Minos Palace
Typology Interios, Hotel, Renovation
Location Crete, Greece
Status Completed, 2025
Interior Design STONES AND WALLS
Design team Afroditi Bonatsou, Pavlos Karagiannis, Sotiria Fasoi Mylona, Eleni Kousouri, Vily Rapanta, Myrsini Syrigou
Landscape design Greenways Hellas
Lighting Design Lightinspace
3d Visualisation Studiotaf
Construction team Ιωσηφέλης – Παππάς Α.Ε. (οικοδομικά), zenergy (ηλεκτρολογικά)
MEP LDK Consultants
Wellness Consultancy Moss Wellness
Styling STONES AND WALLS
Photography Loukianos Arnaoutakis, Traianos Pakioufakis, Miltos Dimas
Text by the authors
Take a look at another project by STONES AND WALLS ‘Aeonic Suites and Spa Accommodation in Mykonos, Greece’, here!
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