The Tower at Santa Maria by Gem Architects

ByJon Dykstra Houses

The whole view of the house at night.

Architecture: Gem Architects

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About Studio

“We owe to the fields that our houses will not be the inferiors of the virgin land they have replaced. We owe it to the worms and the trees that the buildings we cover them with will stand as promises of the highest and most intelligent kinds of happiness.”
Alain de Botton

We are interested in reading about topos, the specific landscape, and nature. We believe in buildings that relate to their environment and emerge from it, creating new structures and new ways of comprehending space. We try through the form and functionality of our buildings to envelop the people living in them with directness, poetics, and optimism.

Contrast between the monolithic North West façade and the mass fracturing toward the South East.
The contrast between the monolithic North West façade and the mass fracturing toward the South East.
The old house was made up of chambers with separate entrances that were all united into one enormous, imposing bulk.
The old house was made up of chambers with separate entrances that were all united into one enormous, imposing bulk.
To give the structure a bioclimatic character, the outside insulation is wrapped around the armature of the concrete components.
To give the structure a bioclimatic character, the outside insulation is wrapped around the armature of the concrete components.
Walls between the rooms on the first level are being taken down to make room for a single living, dining, and kitchen area.
Walls between the rooms on the first level are being taken down to make room for a single living, dining, and kitchen area.
An amazing view of the sea is revealed by new French windows in the dining area.
An amazing view of the sea is revealed by new French windows in the dining area.
By producing sharp edges and simple shapes, its geometry is refined.
By producing sharp edges and simple shapes, its geometry is refined.
The interior design's color scheme consists of slim black steal structures, brut wood surfaces, white mat breathable hues, and concrete floors.
The interior design’s color scheme consists of slim black steel structures, brut wood surfaces, white mat breathable hues, and concrete floors.
This floor and the bottom floor, which has two bathrooms, are connected by a new staircase.
This floor and the bottom floor, which has two bathrooms, are connected by a new staircase.
The color scheme of the space is composed of white and breathable hues.
The color scheme of the space is composed of white and breathable hues.
Concrete floors and a white interior color scheme are included in this bathroom.
Concrete floors and a white interior color scheme are included in this bathroom.
In contrast to the other bathroom, this one has a black color scheme, which distinguishes it.
In contrast to the other bathroom, this one has a black color scheme, which distinguishes it.
An outdoor lounge with a stunning view of the ocean that is situated on a deck.
An outdoor lounge with a stunning view of the ocean is situated on a deck.
A concrete courtyard on the south-western side of the home, empty of the unnecessary, exudes peace.
A concrete courtyard on the southwestern side of the home, empty of the unnecessary, exudes peace.
Activities like outdoor living, grilling, dining, and lounging take place around a pool and a pergola.
Activities like outdoor living, grilling, dining, and lounging take place around a pool and a pergola.

The property is situated in the North East part of the island facing Naxos. The existing hotel from the 90s comprised rooms with independent entrances all gathered in a massive dominating volume without internal coherence.

All decorative elements are stripped out; cuts and additions reveal and promote the characteristics which are considered important: the breaking of the mass towards South East in contrast to the monolithic North West façade. Verticality is enhanced leading to the notion of “the tower”.

After the extensive repairs on the armature of the concrete elements the building of 350 m2, gets rapped with exterior insulation to give a bioclimatic character. Its geometry is purified by creating sharp edges and minimal shapes. A central core has been created as a home.

On the first floor, the walls among the rooms are being demolished to create a unified living; dining, and kitchen space. A new staircase connects this floor with the ground floor where 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms lay. On the second floor, three guest rooms are created gathering their independent entrances.

New French windows in the dining space reveal an extraordinary view of the sea. They connect the interior with an exterior lounge sitting on a deck. On the South West side of the house a concrete courtyard, a pool, and a pergola are hosting outdoor living, barbeque, dining, and lounge activities.

Concrete floors, but wood surfaces, white mat breathable colors, and thin black steel structures comprise the palette of the interior design. Stripped out of the obsolete the space radiates tranquility.

By Jon Dykstra · See their LinkedIn.