RESTORATION OF A TRADITIONAL BUILDING TURNING INTO MELANOPETRA BOUTIQUE HOTEL EMPORIOS, NISYROS

Melanopetra is uniquely situated in the core of the preserved traditional village Emporios in Nisyros, at an altitude of about 400 meters above the caldera. It is an atmospheric two apartment boutique hotel built-up around 1850 and totally restored in 2015 under due diligence with respect to the Nisyrian architecture. The high-quality restoration preserves and reveals all the traditional elements using only eco-friendly primary materials, especially the local black volcanic stone that gives the house its special character and name. 

The architectural intervention attempts to integrate modern minimalist design into the ageless aesthetic of traditional form. The simplicity of the design, structural transparency and the purity of forms and volumes, in harmony with the particular local idiom, are used to highlight the plasticity of the small spaces. The interior spaces combine textured white-washed walls of visible limed stone masonry, screed surfaces and wooden beams to create an oncoplastic set of white and earthy colors harmony displayed by smooth natural and artificial lighting. The uncluttered white minimalistic interiors are highlighted by laid-out levels with built-in furniture and modern equipment. Visible stonework of black volcanic rock with filled joints dominates the exterior of the house, visually unifying it with the landscape. The outdoor spaces comprise of coated built-in levels, steps, and stone sofas, all integrated in rock formations, bringing a sculptural quality to the natural geometry. The raw structural simplicity and the consistency of materials and engravings on all levels aim to a smooth transition from the exterior to the interior and from the natural to constructed item. It is about a discreet architectural gesture resulting from a respect towards structural authenticity and the use of ageless materials, and giving prominence to traditional elements through simple means of expression. The restoration project was implemented through European co-financing as a contribution to the sustainable development of the island. It has been published in several architectural Magazines such as EKmagazine (GreekConstructions), GreekArchitects, TheGreekFoundation, etc. Melanopetra is the first and only boutique hotel in Nisyros offering a luxury as well as authentic accommodation and is known all over the island for its striking design and concept.