On Antiparos, an Old Building Gets a New Lease on Life
ARP Architects modernizes an old winemaking building without squeezing out its soul.
Wine has been made in Greece in one form or another for over 6,000 years, through the time of the Trojan war, Sparta, and the golden age of Athens. Many translations of Greece’s most famous tale, The Odyssey, describe the Aegean Sea as “wine dark,” pottery used for wine has been found all over the mainland and islands, and traditionally people gathered at sites all over Greece to crush the fruit under their feet in large vats.
One of these sites is on Antiparos, part of the Cyclades Islands southeast of the Greek mainland, which attracts tourists for its laid-back atmosphere, ocean views, and iconic white buildings. With the site no longer used for its original purpose, Athens-based firm Architecture Research Practice (ARP) was tasked with renovating and converting the Patitiri (Greek for winepress) into a holiday home.
The structure was completed in 1936, but unlike many similar buildings, it has no official conservation status dictating how it can be altered. ARP decided to treat it as if it did, preserving the stone exterior and making only minor alterations to improve the structure and condition. Other than the addition of a reclaimed marble sink and a custom marble table, from the outside the building appears much as it has done for the last 90 years.
Inside, the firm was able to be more liberal with the renovations, nevertheless maintaining as much of the original material as possible. To complement the existing stone and tile, the materials chosen were solid oak, painted white, and marble from the nearby island of Naxos. The interiors are simple, allowing the original stonework to take centre stage, particularly the arched entranceway to the living room.
The windows allow plenty of natural light to flood the space, and the predominantly white interior reflects and enhances the sunlight to create an easy, airy feeling that links the interior to the large covered patio facing the sea.
This patio is the clear heart of the home. Partially enclosed by the remains of stone walls weathered over time and the same white oak used for the roof, the space is equally useful for eating, entertaining, or a quiet moment alone gazing out at the sea.
Patitiri is a prime example of modernizing a building without gutting its soul, and of responsible architecture applied to a building that has long been part of an ancient community.
Photographs by Giulio Ghirardi.
