Located directly on the shoreline and in close proximity to the town of Aigio, the existing structure—a long- abandoned beach bar—was repurposed by Minάs Architecture into a series of autonomous hotel suites. The design approach prioritized adaptive reuse, maintaining the original shell of the building while completely reconfiguring the interior to accommodate the new hospitality program.
A central objective of the project was to integrate the architecture into its coastal context, both visually and materially.
To achieve this, natural materials were used extensively, reinforcing the connection between the built environment and the surrounding landscape, and creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
For the interior finishes, the material palette was curated to evoke simplicity, raw texture, and visual coherence.
All wall surfaces were finished with Kourasanit, a natural mortar composed of volcanic ash, lime, and stone aggregates, selected for its durability, tactile quality, and subtle earth-toned appearance that echoes the local geology. Brushed natural oak was used for all wooden elements, including flooring, built-in furniture, and interior cladding.
Its warm tone and visible grain add softness and warmth, balancing the roughness of the mineral finishes. In the bathrooms, monolithic stone basins were custom-fabricated to further emphasize material authenticity and craftsmanship.
Together, these materials establish a restrained, cohesive aesthetic that respects the site’s character while offering a refined, contemporary spatial experience.
In terms of color, similar tones were used for both walls and floors, creating a sense of monochromatic continuity that enhances the inherent qualities of the materials.
In terms of the exteriors the primary architectural addition consists of pergolas installed on the terraces on the ground floor. A secondary vertical wooden screen system was added in front of sections of the original façade. Composed of evenly spaced vertical wooden slats (lamellas), this layer acts as a permeable skin that modulates sunlight, reduces visual bulk, and introduces a tactile, natural element to the external appearance.
The spacing of the slats was carefully calibrated to allow filtered daylight and unobstructed views from the interior, maintaining a strong visual connection to the seascape while ensuring privacy and solar control.
Facts & Credits
Project title Contextual Reuse: Transforming a Coastal Shell into Seaside Suites
Typology Interiors & FFE
Location Loggos, Aigio
Architecture and Interior Design Minάs Architecture
Design Team Minas Konstantinou, Vasileios Vavouyios, Kymothoi Makropoulou, Afroditi Kalpiri
Year of completion 2025
Wood Furniture & Carpenter Argurakis Handmade
Photography Valentina Vagena
Text provided by the architects
READ ALSO: INTERIORS WE LOVE: Self the place in Volos | by blanc studio