NOUS SANTORINI GREECE

Posted in Projects, Uncategorized on 22 November, 2022

Hugging the hillside comes a property designed with materials and a colour palette that honour the ground it rose from.

YES! Hotels Group has been making waves on Greece’s hospitality scene for years with its dedication to boundary-pushing art and design. It made its debut with Semiramis, a playful retro-pop-infused property envisioned by Karim Rashid and followed this with the aesthetically triumphant NEW Hotel by the Campana brothers. Then came Periscope, a bold foray with contemporary Greek art at its heart.

Now the group has now grown beyond its Athenian home, with the opening in July of its newest property, and the first on an island. Noūs Santorini is nestled atop a hill in the stunning region of Messaria at the centre of Santorini, overlooking the Aegean Sea. Here too, art and design are paramount as the property reimagines Cycladic traditions.

Artworks by young Greek artists augment the simple, geometric architecture of private bungalows, each with their own pool. Scents of lavender and rosemary waft through the air from the hotel’s aromatic gardens. There is an emphasis on casual elegance, with defining features including spaciousness, perfectly balanced light and an overwhelming sense of rejuvenation.

Taking stock of its surrounds, Noūs Santorini adds contemporary accents to the white-washed Cycladic architecture typical of the Greek islands. The property is situated in the center of the island, resting on a hill overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Lush gardens, designed by Doxiadis, give way to nested bungalows that mimic the slope of the landscape and reflect the staggered structures that abound in traditional Cycladic architecture. Overseen by Divercity Architects in collaboration with MplusM Architects, the buildings feature simple, lines, with both interiors and exteriors harmonising with the surrounding landscape.

Window shutters are clad in willow, referencing the island’s many wineries, while the latticed masonry in corridors finds inspiration in the porosity of the land. Lamps fashioned from volcanic stone are a direct nod to Santorini’s volcanic history. The property’s defining colour palette – saturated with natural red and grey earth tones – has been extracted from three of the island’s most famous beaches, Vlychada, Ammoudi, and Kamari. These hues and natural materials are accented by design pieces from modern icons, including Dosh and Levien, Konstantin Grcic, and Faye Toogood, as well as artworks by 15 young contemporary Greek artists and collectives curated by Nadia Argyropoulou.

The property has 121 guestrooms, suites and bungalows. Many accommodations include private pools, terraces and gardens, encouraging guests to linger longer, while all room categories embody the overarching ethos of spaciousness. Luxe materials, such as marble and soft wood, were used in bathrooms alongside mosaic tiles, custom flooring and bespoke vanities, while burnt timber accents and volcanic stone wall sconces connect guests to the surrounding landscape.

A traditional way of braiding vines locally inspired a selection of rooms, all of which feature organic, locally produced bath amenities.

Noūs Santorini is a member of Design Hotels™ who represent and market a curated selection of over 300 independent hotels in more than 60 countries across the globe. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, and thought-provoking design and architecture.

Ancient wall paintings in the nearby village of Akrotiri are referenced in The Oasis, which surrounds the main pool and outdoor common areas, and features an oleander grove, palms, and local and exotic plantings. The prehistoric frescoes depict rivers and subtropical landscapes, and in addition to The Oasis, such scenes are also brought to life in an array of grasses and herb garden.

The sprawling Noūs Spa is rooted in the principles Ef Zin—the Greek concept of well-being—and is defined by a holistic approach to self-care. Spa treatments and facilities, such as the indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, steam bath and cold tank, are complemented by an outdoor hot tub, meditative fire pit and yoga area. A concept store offers Greek and international design and art.

www.yeshotels.gr/nous-santorini