Vacation Garden With a Room by Alexandros Fotakis + Nicoletta Caputo

A Harmonious Retreat in Nature Vacation Garden With a Room is a serene architectural project nestled in one of the central valleys of Kea-Kythnos, on the edge of a sparse oak forest. Designed by Alexandros Fotakis and Nicoletta Caputo, the garden transforms the landscape into a spacious open-air house with minimal interventions, preserving the natural movements and spatial qualities of the terrain.

Landscape Design & Outdoor Spaces

The garden incorporates small rest areas, stone terraces, clearings, steps, and passages that seamlessly blend with the natural environment. Some terraces were carefully repaired, while others were redefined using pre-existing materials, continuing a centuries-old tradition of landscape organization. Endemic fruit trees are strategically placed, and a new path follows existing traces, guiding visitors through the garden with subtle, punctuated elements instead of continuous surfaces.

The Room:

Simple, Thoughtful Living The main volume retains the imprint of a pre-existing stable, maintaining a strong connection with the surrounding landscape. Designed for a family’s holiday use, the interior offers practical solutions for simple countryside living: a raised bed-storage unit, a marble sink-window, a hearth-kitchen counter, and an extendible bathroom. The new structure introduces two distinct outdoor spaces with unique spatial qualities, orientation, and shading, complementing the oak forest while respecting local architectural traditions.

Craftsmanship & Local Materials

The project is a product of close collaboration between architects and local craftsmen. Local materials, traditional construction techniques, and “spolia” from previous constructions are thoughtfully incorporated, creating a continuous dialogue between past and present. A construction charter guided the process, defining ethical frameworks and design principles, allowing details to evolve organically on-site and establishing a collaborative character between architect and builder.

Vacation Garden With a Room exemplifies the seamless integration of architecture, landscape, and craft, offering a contemporary yet contextually rooted holiday retreat.