Interviews with G2 Lab

Zagorochoria is a unique region recently recognized by UNESCO for both its extraordinary natural landscape and its remarkable stone-built settlements. These villages are defined by a strong architectural identity, where stone architecture and the surrounding environment exist in complete harmony. Visitors who travel to Zagorochoria do not simply seek accommodation; they seek an authentic experience deeply connected to the spirit of the place.We believe this reflects a broader shift within the hospitality industry. Travelers increasingly value destinations that offer genuine local character rather than generic luxury. They are looking for places where architecture, culture, history, and landscape form a coherent experience.At Oreno Mountain Retreat, our goal was to create a building that feels naturally rooted in its setting, embracing the architectural language and materials of the region. This contextual depth transforms the guest experience, creating a stronger emotional connection with the destination. The result is not only a memorable stay, but a deeper understanding and appreciation of the place itself.

The environmental constraints of the site were not obstacles but valuable design parameters that helped shape a stronger architectural solution. From the beginning, our objective was to minimize excavation and integrate the building naturally into the existing terrain. The organization of the ground floor was carefully planned so that all primary shared spaces face the landscape, allowing them to benefit from natural light and views. Areas with limited access to daylight were allocated to service and support functions, reducing the need for unnecessary openings and interventions.Local regulations and the architectural character of Zagorochoria encouraged a unified building volume rather than a fragmented composition. Initially, this presented a challenge, as the hospitality program required distinct functions. The solution emerged through the introduction of the central stone arch, which visually divides the building into two interconnected volumes while maintaining a single architectural entity. This approach significantly reduced the impact on the landscape compared to multiple separate structures and ultimately led to a more coherent and contextually sensitive design.

From the earliest discussions with our clients, we established a clear design principle: Oreno Mountain Retreat should fully respect the architectural heritage of Zagorochoria while offering a contemporary hospitality experience. Our goal was to create a building that feels as if it has always belonged to the place, following the local architectural language, materials, and proportions with absolute respect.At the same time, we wanted to avoid a common approach found in many traditional mountain hotels, where the heavy character of the exterior is replicated indoors. Instead, we used the same local stone both outside and inside the building, making it the element that connects architecture, landscape, and interior experience. Stone appears throughout the suites and shared spaces, creating a continuous dialogue between exterior and interior.To balance authenticity with contemporary comfort, we paired these traditional materials with clean lines, carefully crafted wooden elements, and a restrained design language. The result is a warm and welcoming atmosphere that remains deeply rooted in local tradition while providing the refinement and comfort expected from a contemporary hospitality environment.

One of the most defining aspects of designing in Zagorochoria is that every architectural decision must be fully resolved before construction begins. The region is governed by strict heritage regulations, and projects are reviewed by architectural committees that evaluate everything from geometry and proportions to materials and detailing. As a result, the design process demanded a high level of precision from the earliest stages, leaving little room for improvisation during construction.The moment that ultimately strengthened the project was our decision to visually articulate the facade without fragmenting the building volume. While local architecture traditionally favors monolithic forms, we sought to introduce a clearer distinction between the building’s functions. The solution emerged through the central stone arch, which connects two visually distinct parts while preserving a single architectural entity. This gesture allowed us to enrich the composition without compromising the coherence required by local regulations, resulting in a more balanced and architecturally expressive project.

Although the name G2Lab originates from the initials of its founders, Giannis and George, the word “Lab” has always been the most important part of our identity. From the beginning, our vision was to create a laboratory of ideas, perspectives, and experiences rather than a studio centered around individual names. Over the past fifteen years, this philosophy has evolved into a multidisciplinary team where different personalities, skills, and design sensibilities contribute to a shared architectural vision.The Oreno Mountain Retreat project benefited greatly from this collaborative approach. The project required attention at every scale, from the overall architectural composition and landscape integration to the smallest interior details. Some team members focused more on architecture and spatial organization, others on interiors, materials, and guest experience. What united these contributions was a common design philosophy. This collective process is reflected throughout the project, where every space, detail, and material decision contributes to a coherent and carefully crafted hospitality experience.

Receiving the Bronze A’ Design Award is one of the most important recognitions in our studio’s history and a significant validation of our design philosophy. What makes this distinction particularly meaningful is that Oreno Mountain Retreat is not a project that seeks attention through iconic or futuristic forms. Instead, it demonstrates that architecture rooted in local heritage, cultural identity, and respect for place can be equally relevant and valuable in contemporary design.The project reflects our belief that preserving architectural traditions does not mean compromising modern comfort or hospitality standards. On the contrary, it proves that contemporary experiences can be created within an architectural language that respects history, local materials, and regional character.We believe it is extremely important that internationally recognized awards highlight projects of this nature. Such visibility encourages clients, designers, and developers to appreciate the value of context-sensitive architecture and helps reinforce the idea that preserving local identity is not a limitation, but an opportunity to create meaningful and enduring places.

For our studio, every project is unique and every place has its own story to tell. We do not believe in applying a predefined architectural language regardless of context. Instead, our design process always begins with understanding the character of a place—whether it is located in a city, on an island, by the sea, or in the mountains.The most important lesson from Oreno Mountain Retreat is not a specific formal solution, but the value of carefully reading the site and allowing architecture to emerge from its cultural, environmental, and spatial qualities. Principles such as restraint, material continuity, and respect for local identity are not tied to a particular architectural style; they are tools that help us create meaningful and authentic places.As G2Lab continues to evolve, these principles will remain central to our work. However, their expression will always be shaped by the unique conditions of each project, ensuring that every design develops its own identity while remaining deeply connected to its context.

The moment when this philosophy becomes most tangible is the arrival sequence. Guests enter through a traditional stone gateway and follow a narrow stone pathway framed by the stone walls of the landscape design. This gradual approach introduces the architectural language of Zagorochoria before they even enter the building. The experience culminates at the central stone arch, a defining threshold that connects exterior and interior space.Once inside, visitors continue to encounter the same materials—stone and wood—that shaped their journey outdoors. The transition leads naturally toward large openings that frame the surrounding mountains and landscape, creating a constant dialogue between architecture and nature. A similar experience unfolds in the spa, where stone surfaces, natural textures, and carefully positioned openings maintain visual contact with the environment.These moments were intentionally designed to blur the boundary between inside and outside, allowing the building to feel less like an object placed in the landscape and more like a natural extension of it.

One of the most important lessons we learned from Oreno Mountain Retreat is that designing within a culturally significant landscape requires understanding the reasons behind its architectural rules rather than simply following them. Before drawing any line, a designer must study the history, climate, construction methods, and way of life that shaped a place over time.Today, construction technology often seeks to eliminate every visible structural element, creating increasingly large openings and seamless glass surfaces. In Zagorochoria, however, traditional architecture is defined by restraint, proportion, and relatively small openings. At first, such limitations may seem restrictive, especially to young designers who imagine uninterrupted views of the landscape. Yet the real challenge is to transform these apparent constraints into meaningful architectural qualities.Oreno taught us that serving a place is different from merely referencing it. Referencing a place means borrowing its visual elements; serving a place means understanding why those elements exist and allowing them to shape the experience of the building. Through this approach, architecture becomes not an object imposed on its surroundings, but an authentic continuation of them.