Kamari Home
A couple, both artists, who have resided on the island for several decades, have decided to build a home on the island. They searched extensively for the perfect location to realize their vision. Together, we restored a neoclassical building in Parikia, the capital of Paros, which presently hosts their Art School. We have a shared understanding of art and life, and thus they commissioned me to design their home. They desired a simple house that harmonizes with Cycladic architecture, yet appears ancient despite being a new construction.
The house is designed around a central courtyard, featuring a small cistern to introduce water into the space, as well as a wood-fired oven for baking bread and pizza, sheltered from all winds. The two blocks of the dining-kitchen and living areas are arranged in a symmetrical order, albeit somewhat unorthodoxly in a V-shape, with the aim of achieving optimal placement in relation to natural light and views both to the southwest and northwest. The corridor that connects them is arched, reminiscent of the arched chapels scattered throughout the Cycladic landscape. It is also high so that the heat generated by the interior of the house can be collected and naturally ventilated by the two small windows placed for this purpose on the north and south walls.
As always, local stone is the predominant feature, and its construction reflects the wisdom and tradition of the local architecture. The construction will incorporate marble elements, as was done in numerous homes and monasteries on the island since ancient times.