renovation by bobotis+bobotis breathes life into 1910 house in tinos island, greece

within the falatados village in the greek island of tinos, architecture firm bobotis+bobotis has completed the restoration and renovation of a private house that was originally built in 1910. the residence was designed with respect to the traditional local architecture, keeping the basic components intact, while converting some of the old functions into elements of modern use.

all images by ioanna roufopoulou

the dwelling by bobotis+bobotis architects spreads over two main floors, set on separate levels. the bottom floor (called ‘katoi’) with an area of 65 sqm, is located at the level of the main cobbled path of the village, where two different entrances allow access to the dwelling. the upper floor with an area of 75 sqm, connects to the same street, as well as to the garden on the protected northern side of the house.

following the standard tinian house layout, the architects chose to make some adjustments in order to accommodate the desired housing needs. the kitchen and the bathrooms were formed to be larger, while an old winepress was converted into an elevated bed with storage space. in the upper floor, which has a height of about 5 meters, a metal beam was installed to support the open loft with a double bed.

the living room, in direct connection to the bedroom and the kitchen

in the garden at the back of the house, and in direct contact with the kitchen, a daybed was created, protected from the gusty north winds of the island. from the garden, there is also access to the roof, on which seating levels were created with panoramic view to the surrounding villages and the exomvourgo mountain, where the venetian fortress of the island is located. 

to prevent wall moisture from appearing, the team at bobotis+bobotis created a ‘kontouto’: a naturally ventilated double-shell between the ground and the masonry, trapping water that eventually evaporates. all living areas, on both levels of the house, are heated with the help of a specially made wooden stove, through pipes that distribute the hot air.

all works for the refurbishment were created by local people – the majority of the furniture was acquired on the island to support the local market

the kitchen area was transformed to fulfill the owners’ needs, providing direct access to the garden, which is planted with various island herb and spices

the ‘katoi’ area (in this case, the ground level) with direct access to the main street of the village

the ‘katoi’ level used to serve as a storage area, or house the winepress (which, in this project, was transformed into a bed)

project info:

name: house in tinos
architects: bobotis+bobotis architects
location: tinos island, greece

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom