#988 Tou Panou

“Tou Panou”, is a restoration project commissioned to breathe new life into a dilapidated house.

Centrally set in the seaside village of Kardamyli, the property was originally constructed in the 60s; originally, a two-storey building with no internal staircase, 3 bedrooms and four bathrooms. Upon stepping through the entrance, one could feel the heavy, tired presence of the house. There was a labyrinth of wires and pipes running in and around it, rotten floors, crumbling balconies, and scared walls.

Our goals were as follows

Unite the two levels with a central internal staircase to allow for better flow and circulation around the house.

Highlight existing elements of the home like the external staircase. Open up spaces and maximize natural light. And most importantly, bring functionality, beauty and life back into the home.

Remove any unnecessary architectural features, such as perimetrical balconies and external shelters. Define a new entrance and rearrange the spaces that remained.

All the floors, internal walls and networks had to be rebuilt, and a central cooling and heating system was installed. Limewash was chosen for the walls as it’s more breathable and organic. The main entrance is now central and opens up to the internal staircase made of solid oak and concrete. The ground level contains three bedrooms with ensuite as well as a dressing room leading to the master. One bedroom has a separate entrance from the main building making it perfect for guests. The kitchen was relocated to the upper floor with open plan to the living room. An office and bathroom also reside on this level.

Throughout the home many windows were enlarged to maximize the natural light and give way to more view of the sea. The light-coloured walls and the oak features give off a warm and airy feel. The original mosaic floors could not be salvaged but, wanting to pay tribute, mosaic floors were relayed in the kitchen and spill out onto the upper terrace, the landing for the external staircase. Here an outdoor dining space was created with built-in bench seating and a solid iroko table. A pergola shields tenants from the sun as one sits here and gazes upon the Taygetos Mountain peak. External lighting and cobblestone floors were used to unify the outdoor spaces. This balcony can also be reached by an old staircase, on which the original stone elements have been exposed.