Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán by Giannis Efthymiadis - G2Lab

Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán by Giannis Efthymiadis - G2Lab is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award in Dearadh Fáilteachais Competition Category.

Cré-umhaFáilteachas· 2026

Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán

by Giannis Efthymiadis - G2Lab

Client: Oreno Retreat

Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award Winner in Fáilteachas Category

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The Design

About Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán

Is óstán é Oreno Mountain Retreat atá suite i Tsepelovo, Zagori. Leanann an foirgneamh an tírdhreach máguaird trí athléiriú a dhéanamh ar phrionsabail áitiúla comhréire, ábhair agus ordlathais spásúil. Cuireann ballaí cloiche ualach-iompartha agus córais dín adhmaid teicnící traidisiúnta i bhfeidhm de réir caighdeáin chomhaimseartha. Feabhsaíonn mais theirmeach ard an éifeachtúlacht fuinnimh, agus treoraíonn oscailtí rialaithe solas an lae agus aeráil. Laghdaíonn comhtháthú isteach sa bhfána an tochailt. Cruthaíonn an dearadh atmaisféar ciúin, snasta atá fréamhaithe i gcuimhne agus i gceardaíocht áitiúil.

The Recognition

About the Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award

Bhuaigh an dearadh Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award, aitheantas an-ghradamach a bhronntar ar dhearaí sármhaithe a mbíonn cruthaitheacht, aireagacht agus géarchúis mar shaintréithe acu. Is déantúsáin ghlic agus chruthaitheacha go suntasach iad buaiteoirí Cré-umha a dhearbhaíonn taithí fhairsing, samhlaíocht agus acmhainneacht a ndearthóirí. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an dearadh Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán ina rud a bhfuil an-mheas air, a n-ardaítear agus a ghráitear, atá thar a bheith gairmiúil agus nuálach. Ionchorpraíonn an dearadh seo a bhuaigh Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award na cleachtais is fearr san ealaín, san eolaíocht, sa dearadh agus sa teicneolaíocht, agus tá sé sármhaith as a aird ar mhionsonraí. Sásaíonn an dearadh Oreno Mountain Retreat Óstán riachtanais go hálainn, bainíonn sé le mianta, cuireann sé draíocht ar mhothúcháin agus tarraingíonn sé fiosracht.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This design explores architecture as an extension of place rather than an imposed object. Oreno continues the Zagori landscape by reinterpreting local principles of proportion, material, and spatial hierarchy. Its strength lies in balancing memory with contemporary living, solidity with openness. Through restraint, material continuity, and controlled light, it creates a quiet, refined atmosphere rooted in authenticity.
Dimensions & Packaging: Constructed with load bearing stone walls and timber roof systems, the building employs traditional techniques adapted to contemporary standards. High thermal mass improves energy efficiency, while controlled openings optimize daylight and ventilation. The integration into the slope minimizes excavation and enhances environmental performance, supported by passive design strategies.
Tags: stone, wood, heritage, environment, local, fireplace, wellness, interior
Production Technology: The design was developed through analysis of Zagori architectural principles proportion, material logic, and spatial hierarchy, rather than formal imitation. Local stone and timber systems informed both structure and envelope. Iterative modeling and section studies ensured integration with the terrain, while light and material continuity were refined to create a cohesive, atmospheric spatial experience.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was integrating Zagori historical and social context with modern hospitality standards. Internally, respecting local architectural memory and community traditions guided design decisions. Externally, strict heritage regulations, limited construction technologies, and site constraints demanded careful material selection, precise geometry, and iterative modeling to achieve a balance between authenticity, comfort, and environmental integration.
Inspiration: The inspiration for Oreno emerges from the quiet continuity of life in Zagori. It draws from the memory of people and their rhythms. Gatherings in village squares, the echo of music across the mountains, the slow passage of seasons. Tradition is not treated as a fixed image, but as a living presence, embedded in craft, in material, in proportion. Stone and earth become both structure and story, grounding the hotel in its place, while the spirit of local life shapes spaces that feel familiar, warm, and enduring.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2023 in Tsepelovo, Zagori and finished in Janaury 2026
Team Members: Giannis Efthymiadis
Konstadina Papagianni
Giwrgos Efthymiadis
Maria Kamenou
Dimitra Gakou
Image Credits: Photographer Dimitris Spyrou