Antiparos Katikia 1
The residence is located at the “valley” of Antiparos, surrounded by an environment of agricultural character, gentle topography, sparse buildings of small scale, natural vegetation coexisting with crops of olives and vines. This is a reconstruction of the traditional building type of “katikia” with respect to the natural environment and traditions of the island.
The house evolved from the ruins of an elongated farm house, a layout knows as known as traditional “katikia”, placed on the edge of the plot at the top of a small hill. The interior of the “katikia” was composed of small individual single room, each for every different function, according to the needs of its residents.
The basic methodology was the preservation and evolution of this traditional typology in order to provide an architectural product of "history and memory" while serving the modern aesthetics, serving the needs of the owner and the contemporary "rural" everyday life.
One could describe it as small, simple, low, modest, rough, vernacular, a house that remains close to earth and embraces its users. These elements provide with a sense of tranquillity and develop a simple lifestyle that covers basic needs.
In this context, the plans were adapted on the existing premises and retained basic elements of traditional architecture, like the exterior oven, the small openings, the recesses in the trowelled plaster, the small heights, the thickness of the walls, the stone gutters, and of course “simple traditional” materials.
At first glance, the house is characterizedby the “stone masonry”, which consists of the existing stones of “katikia”, integrating perfectly into the natural “dry” landscape of the island. The masonry evolves to internal paddock that embraces the exterior “protected” yard of the house, highlighting the white plastered volume that hosts the kitchen and living room. A free- standing stone wall in conjunction with the stone building of the bedroom creates a seating area framing the natural topography of the northwest side of the valley.
Raw wood, smooth cement and recesses of the interior walls replace regular cabinets and are the key elements of the aesthetics. Inside and out, the house is “paved” with traditional forged cement in the colour of sand, combined with traditional, white roof beams.
The simplicity and harmony of materials are amplified and supplemented by the inclusion of old marble sinks in the areas of bathrooms and kitchen, the custom made shutters separating the kitchen and living area, and by the iron casted table . These elements designate the coexistence of old and new in total harmony, preserving at the same time the small scale, being loyal to the traditional principles reconstruction.
The one level layout along with the linear switch of spaces with the kitchen as a central axis and the direct connection with the bigger in size courtyard are the elements that make the house simple to use.
What make the residence so special is the proportions and dimensioning of 'traditional' “katikia” and make it differentiate from a modern summer residence.
