Costa Navarino Residences: What Inspired the Architects

Costa Navarino Residences homeowners enjoy indoor-outdoor living spaces that echo traditional architecture while simultaneously transcending traditional architectural boundaries.

By the Stories Team

Did you know that freehold properties are located in select areas of Navarino Dunes? Seaside villas by The Dunes Beach are sure to catch your eye in the Sea Dunes neighborhood, and if you prefer panoramic views and villas nestled among olive trees, then Olive Grove and Valley Greens will be the neighborhoods of your choice. Each Costa Navarino Residence is meticulously designed to integrate harmoniously with the natural surroundings. Spacious interiors, private pools, and modern amenities create a comfortable and elegant living space.

These residences go hand in hand with a new way of life. Owning property here comes with a wealth of added perks, including privileged access across the resort’s facilities and leisure activities, ample golf and tennis time, bespoke spa therapies, and more than 40 restaurants and bars. Beyond the opulence and comfort, owning a residence at Costa Navarino means becoming part of a vibrant community where every decision has been informed by a genuine respect for the environment and the local community. This unique combination makes Costa Navarino Residences an ideal choice for those seeking a refined and sustainable lifestyle.

The award-winning architects enlisted to create the homes used their vast knowledge of Greek architecture throughout history and took inspiration from Messinia’s past, its materials and its natural environment. Here’s how:

K-STUDIO

OLIVE GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD

Boasting a uniquely privileged location, these villas are nestled among rich natural landscapes of olive groves, cypress trees, and local herbs emerging from the dunes, just steps from their thresholds.

To harmoniously integrate the villas into the Messinian landscape, while creating a distinctive identity for each one, K-Studio drew inspiration from two linked but separate sources. The first of these is the distinguishable exoskeleton of classical Greek architecture, as seen in shrines nearby, where the enclosed core is surrounded by an exterior structure (or stoa) that allows the building to enjoy a smooth transition from indoors to outdoors through a perimetrical façade that softens the building’s outline. They also took into account other features of a classical temple: its geometric purity, its rhythmic repetition of elements of elegant proportions, and its absolute symmetry. On the other hand, the folk architecture that developed in Messinia is characterized by organically complex arrays of irregularly shaped stone volumes, from which emerge piazzas, courtyards and kalderimis (cobbled pathways).

The fusion of these two architectural worlds gives rise to a system of well-defined orthogonal modules that create intricate relationships in the form of negative spaces, courtyards and passages.

THYMIO PAPAYANNIS AND ASSOCIATES

ROLLING GREENS NEIGHBORHOOD

The new community of vacation homes between the signature Dunes Course and the verdant slopes of Messinia showcases how sensibilities sourced from local vernacular architecture can inform contemporary design, all while minimizing the environmental footprint. Thymio Papayannis and Associates created a master plan that included all 43 residences, 14 of which were of their architectural design, and, in doing so, established a seamless continuum between what they built and the natural landscape.

The villas are gently integrated into the topography, enjoying unobstructed Ionian Sea views over the olive groves surrounding the golf courses. Natural materiality endows spaces with character, functionality and comfort. The composition features simple volumes and includes patios and courtyards with loosely defined boundaries, allowing the landscape to breathe freely.

All entrances open onto a patio, connecting functions and volumes. The living areas, master bedrooms, verandas, and pool areas are open to views and the surrounding garden. Exposed stonework, plaster, wood, terrazzo and bare concrete, combined with native plant varieties, help integrate the new homes into both their natural and cultural contexts.

ZOUMBOULAKIS ARCHITECTS

VALLEY GREENS NEIGHBORHOOD

The aspiration to create a soft and immersive environment that was in balance with the surrounding landscape gave rise to Valley Greens. Celebrating the essence of Mediterranean living, indoor and outdoor spaces intertwine to create a serene sanctuary. Three modules consisting of four residences, were developed on two levels. The ones on the upper level are in a terraced relationship, sloping more towards the north than the residences on the lower level; all of them are aiming for the most favorable placement within the natural terrain and the minimal possible interventions on the natural environment. Particular attention has been paid to ensuring that all areas of the residences directly relate to the surroundings and also afford the maximum possible privacy.

Crafted with an emphasis on simplicity and sophistication, the villas boast a characteristically understated elegance that complements the beauty of the valley. Stone walls, reminiscent of the region’s native architecture and craftsmanship, are in harmony with the lush greenery. With neutral tones and natural textures, the interiors exude tranquility, while the outdoor terraces serve as private oases where residents can relax and unwind amidst the serene landscape. From the shaded dining area to the inviting poolside lounge, every corner of Valley Greens offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

KOKKINOU-KOURKOULAS ARCHITECTS & ASSOCIATES

VALLEY GREENS NEIGHBORHOOD

Claude Levi-Strauss’s concept of “the raw and the cooked,” together with the notion of “to see and not be seen,” were two pairs of oppositions that inspired Kokkinou-Kourkoulas Architects & Associates’ designs in the Valley Greens. The first notion relates to the materials of which the spaces are composed. All applied materials are considered raw and unprocessed, unlike their cooked counterparts, the highly processed and composite materials of contemporary urban life. This reversal signals a different approach to the act of habitation – a more primitive and relaxed one.

The second concept also caters to the desire to break away from the intensity of daily life. Residences are placed in such a way as to integrate them within the landscape and maximize views while, at the same time, cutting them off visually from all other neighboring buildings. This concealment of buildings through a kind of camouflage has been achieved through collaboration with the landscape design office of Elli Pangalou. The residences gain a sense of privacy and, at the same time, a connection with the natural world in full view from each house.

Designed to eliminate the frenzied pace and pressures of everyday city life and to enable instead a time for relaxation and the enjoyment of nature, they blend perfectly into the countryside.

ISV & K-STUDIO

SEA DUNES

The primary inspiration for the architecture of these homes comes from the landscape of Messinia, with its vineyards, olive groves, reed beds, and abundant greenery, the sea and extensive sandy beaches, as well as the rich local culture whose history stretches back to antiquity. This architecture is seamlessly integrated with its surroundings while still prioritizing comfortable living and the enjoyment of life. Stone and wood find balance in features such as pergolas, green roofs and walls painted in earthy tones, creating a distinct aesthetic for the low-rise residential complex. Large sliding glass doors allow natural light to flood the interiors and facilitate a seamless flow between indoor areas and outdoor spaces such as terraces.

To make the most of Messinia’s gentle climate, considerable emphasis has been placed on the residences’ courtyards, designed to be sheltered from the wind and sun and equipped with seating areas, outdoor fireplaces and dining spaces. Water features such as pools add to the ambiance, while advanced construction technology also ensures high insulation performance and incorporates soundproofing and energy-saving systems, aligning these homes with contemporary sustainability standards.

POTIROPOULOS+PARTNERS

OLIVE GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD

The design concept of Potiropoulos+Partners is driven by the dialectic relationships forming the triptych of nature, memory and form. The core inspiration for this project was the olive tree, which poses as a compositional center of gravity. Solids and voids frame the sacred tree in diverse ways, accentuating the experience of space that one gets from the building.

Stone, mud and wood are intertwined in a powerful narrative sequence and follow a distinct formal articulation, pushing the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship. The building’s design aims to create varied spaces – open-air or interior, oriented towards a view or introverted, formal or intimate – that underline the project’s diverse use of spatial qualities.

Both passive and active sustainable strategies were incorporated. A thorough study of the building’s orientation was made, to take advantage of natural lighting and prevailing winds. Innovative systems and the use of both green roofs and materials with high thermal mass and insulation properties all work to minimize the building’s environmental impact.

BUERGER KATSOTA ARCHITECTS

ROLLING GREENS NEIGHBORHOOD

The 19 Rolling Greens villas by Buerger Katsota Architects are set in the unique landscape of the Rolling Greens neighborhood. Innovative design and sustainable construction have created unique vacation homes that embrace their views, adapt to the scale of their landscape, and are in complete harmony with the surrounding environment.

The architecture of each single-story villa is an exercise in horizontality. Its residential space exists between the horizons of a solid platform and a cantilevered roof. The latter, flat and partly covered in plants, is essentially the building’s fifth façade. It complements the surrounding vegetation, incorporates solar panels and skylights, contributes to the thermal comfort of the residence, and provides generous shaded spaces for all-day outdoor living.

A relaxed sequence of spaces unfolds on a single level between private and social areas. The villa is an interplay of interconnected surfaces and closed volumes, uniting indoors and outdoors in a continuous experience. The outdoor living space offers a generous sunbathing area with a swimming pool and panoramic views of both the golf course and the Ionian Sea beyond it.

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