hospitalitystyle.com

(December 2010) posted on Wed Dec 08, 2010 EST

MKV Design weaves threads of Greek history and culture through this eco-friendly retreat in the new Navarino Dunes development.

By Mary Scoviak, editor and Megan Krause, assistant editor

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In an off-kilter world, symmetry has more aesthetic appeal than ever. London-based MKV Design took direct inspiration from the reasoned proportions of classic Greek architecture, borrowed some Byzantine brilliance and modernized both with eco-flair to create the interiors for Starwood Hotels & Resorts' new Greek resort, The Romanos.

Located in the mixed-use Navarino Dunes development, the 321-room five-star property shows that classic is anything but boring. Like most of today's high-end resorts, this one is informed by its natural setting. But MKV Design's team looked beyond just sea and sand, drawing in influences from the undulating hillsides, the wetland habitats and the numerous species of indigenous plants and trees. Materials are noble: pale local stone that forms the envelope, bronze, leather and internally exposed local timber.

“As a design company that always seeks to take its cue in its resort work from the natural environment as well as from the region's traditional architecture and history, we had a great deal to inspire us,” says Maria Vafiadis, MKV's managing director. “The Messinia region of Greece's Peloponnese is one of the richest in terms of natural beauty and culture of anywhere in Europe. For Greece, it is the place where legend and history merge from ancient times through the centuries as part of the Byzantine empire and, finally, the overthrow of the Turkish rulers and independence. It is also the place where the sacred art of hospitality is enshrined in native stories.”

Working from the master plan, Vafiadis and her team developed simple but monumental forms that refer either to ancient Greek or to Byzantine architecture. They used soaring volumes both in public spaces and suites to send a luxury message. “Take the entrance lobby of The Romanos, for example. Its proportions are a modern interpretation of an old Greek temple. But, at the same time, its scale serves to frame the view towards the Ionian Sea for that all-important moment of arrival. It acts as an orientation device for guests as they move around the site,” she says.