Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale by Natalia Kokosalaki

Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale by Natalia Kokosalaki is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award di Bronzu in Disignu d'Architettura Competition Category.

BronzuArchitettura· 2023

Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale

by Natalia Kokosalaki

Client: Kokosalaki | Architecture

A' Design Award di Bronzu Winner in Architettura Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale

Summer Story hè una casa unifamiliale in Roustika, in Creta, à i piedi di e muntagne di i Lefka Ori. A casa hè stata custruita per una coppia francese, per accoglie una grande famiglia allargata in istate. Un grande ingressu in arcu di petra conduce à una corte chjusa è ricorda l'edifizii veneziani di l'isula. Sò state impiegate petre lucali è ocra, mentre chì i purtelli, e porte è i scuretti sò fatti in legnu. I mobili incorporati sò stati realizati da artigiani lucali. E forme tradiziunali cretesi sò unite à un approcciu cuntempuraniu, cusì chì a casa pare esse sempre stata quì.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award di Bronzu

Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Bronzu, una ricunniscenza assai prestigiosa attribuita à i disegni eccellenti chì si distinguenu per a creatività, l'ingegnu è l'acutezza. I vincitori di Bronzu sò artefatti largamente abili è sorprendentemente creativi chì autenticanu a vasta sperienza, l'imaginazione è l'ingegnosità di i so disegnatori. Si aspetta chì Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale sia un oggettu assai apprezzatu, ammiratu è caru, rimarchevulemente prufessiunale è innuvatore. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Bronzu incorpora e migliori pratiche di l'arte, di a scienza, di u disegnu è di a tecnulugia è hè eccellente per l'attinzione à i detaglii. Summer Story Casa Unifamiliale suddisfa splendidamente i bisogni, tocca i disideri, incanta i sentimenti è chjama a curiusità.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: At the foot of the Lefka Ori mountains in Crete, a French couple decided to house their large extended family and spend their summers in a pure Cretan environment. The large arched entrance leading to an enclosed courtyard revives memories of the Venetians who left their mark on the island. We wanted to create a typical Cretan home - simple, distinguished, and very proud, and combined it with a contemporary design approach, to create a home as if it had always been there.
Dimensions & Packaging: 250 square meter building on a 4700 square meter plot of land
Tags: Summer house, Crete, Greece, Traditional, Minimal, Slow living
Production Technology: Environmental and site analysis dictated the orientation of the house in relationship to the prime views and the position of the sun. Local stone and ocher were used in the construction, and all built in furniture was built by local craftsmen. In keeping with the traditional Cretan architecture the windows, doors, and shutters are all made of wood.
Design Challenge: The client wanted to incorporate both the traditional architectural language of the area, but use modern construction techniques in order to create a home that fits into the landscape, to make it feel as if it has always been there.
Research: Type: Environmental analysis. Objectives: To orient and integrate the design into the site. Methodology: Solar and wind analysis using computational tools, view selection and framing from site visit. Data Tools Used: Energy Plus weather data for analysis and solar paths; historical wind data; site visits and research on local architecture. Participants: Full office team. Result: Environmental analysis optimized the design, historical research allowed for selection of construction materials and methods. Effect: The design respects the local architectural language, integrating it fully in its environment, and promoting local artists and craftsmen.
Inspiration: The brief was composed as if it was a first page of a novel, narrating a summer day in this imaginary Cretan house and its rural environment. It describes the various spaces of the house and the surrounding large garden. Immediately, the direct relation between inside and outside became the focus of our concept. Cretan life is well connected with the earth, the outdoors, the olive trees, and we were keen to sustain this throughout our design.
Project Duration: Construction of the house in Roustika, Crete, was completed in 2018.
Operation Flow: The large stone arched entrance connects the outside with the inner courtyard and acts as a central focus point for the house, promoting the idea of indoor and outdoor living.
Team Members: Architect: Natalia Kokosalaki
Image Credits: Photographer: George Messaritakis