The award-winning architectural studio ArchZone achieved international recognition in 2025, receiving the Silver Award at the IDA Design Awards in the category Conceptual Interior Design. ArchZone was founded in 2004 by Zoi Antoniadi, Architect (NTUA) and has since earned significant distinctions, including awards at the GADA Awards and Luxury Awards.

The project involves the architectural plan and design of a boutique hotel unit in Tinos. What follows is a presentation of the unit’s interior design and the way it has been integrated into the natural landscape.

The unit comprises a 50 m2 ground floor with vestibule and a 27 m2 attic. A general floor plan was drawn as a proposal for the configuration of 13 accommodation units on a 15-acre plot. The design concept centered on dovecotes, highlighting their architectural and cultural significance. 

Design concept – description:

The design was based on the study of historical and morphological elements of the dovecotes. ArchZone analyzed the structure, morphology, and function of these unique constructions.  The proportions and volume of the hotel unit reflect those of a typical dovecote.

The morphology of the shell itself is reminiscent of a dovecote. The entrance has been fitted with clostra, the perforated detail adds a strong geometrical element. This choice, too, is a nod to the dovecote façade, which was the birds’ entry point.

The other aspects are mainly solid, creating an interesting antithesis with the façade. The units interact with the natural environment in an interesting way, taking into account the geographical location and the orientation. The units are integrated into the plot facing the sea, which is 200 m away, at the southern part of Tinos. 

A dominant design element was the ground morphology of the Tinian landscape and its characteristic dry-stone walls.

Apart from highlighting the dovecote architecture, ArchZone aim was to bring the visitor closer to the natural environment via agritourism. Cultivation and the relationship with the land is part of this process. Water is another important design element, given that the dovecotes were always located near running water and springs. The private pools schematically follow the dry-stone walls and evolve across the space.

The unit’s total floor area is 77 m2. The entrance is marked by a vestibule between the special clostra construction and the façade glass, creating privacy. Shading is controlled by the user.

The curved lines and natural materials are harmoniously integrated into the natural environment, creating a nest-like ambience.

The unit has an open-space configuration. On the ground floor, the living room is a central point of reference, followed by the dining room and the kitchen. The circular staircase leads to the attic and the bedroom, with its open shower and a WC.

The side walls feature a rough interior surface as well as characteristic recesses and openings, reflecting the original function of the dovecote, which was to welcome the birds into the space. Planting has been incorporated into the interior to emphasize the earthy element.

These holiday units resemble a sanctuary and are conducive to seclusion. They promote serenity and isolation and offer the visitors a unique atmosphere that helps them relax and reconnect with themselves.

Facts & Credits
Project title Dove’s Nest | Boutique Hotel Unit in Tinos island
Typology Conceptual Interior Design
Location Tinos island, Greece
Awards IDA Awards – Silver Award
Architecture ARCHZONE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE
Design Team Zoi Antoniadi (Architect), Dimitra Dimitriou (Interior Designer), Daphne Destouni (Interior Designer)
Visualization Ines Maria Briza
Text by the authors


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