A dialogue with light and the sea

With its three thin « fingers » of land extending into the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, the Halkidiki region in eastern Greece is still relatively unknown as a tourist destination, its treasures just waiting to be discovered. The westernmost strip of land, the Kassandra peninsula, is the most developed area and is renowned for its long sandy beaches, crystal clear water and fresh green pine forests. Located on the east coast of the Chaniotis seaside resort, the Ostria Sea Side Hotel offers the perfect blend of hospitality and atmosphere for a wonderfully relaxing holiday. Overlooking the golden coastline with direct access to the sea, the resort stands out for its clean, minimalist design following a comprehensive renovation project carried out by Spexa Sa Consulting Engineers. The team of professionals from the Greek company, which specialises in architectural and technical design of hospitality facilities as well as work planning and implementation services, created a building whose exterior engages powerfully with the intense summer light and the unique blue of the Greek sky. The simplicity of the lines is reflected in the functional choices aimed at ensuring the utmost comfort both inside the hotel, where there are 32 guest rooms and a restaurant, and in the outdoor spaces. The outdoor area in particular offers a variety of amenities for guests and also plays an important design role in connecting the hotel to the sea. It is well equipped and has a swimming pool with waterfalls and water features as well as a large solarium. The meticulous attention to detail in the design of this fairly spacious area is evident in the almost exclusive use of ceramic materials, chosen for their rough, material texture and a colour that blends in perfectly with the surrounding natural landscape. The peaceful atmosphere is reflected in the intense turquoise blue water of the swimming pool, further enhanced by the decorative white pebbles and the porcelain stoneware poolside paving. The Cross Over collection from Century, chosen in two different shades of grey, Ocean and Forest, breaks up the uniformity of the surface. Its high technical performance and resistance ensures the maximum safety for guests of all ages. As the architects explained, the linear, repetitive layout of the tiles aims to « instil a sense of order in a fairly unstructured area ». As well as surrounding this blue « artificial sea », porcelain tiles are used throughout the hotel as a way of linking together all the outdoor areas and creating a visually united whole. Planet, the other Century series chosen, is used in the two colours Saturn and Neptune with the aim of continuing the interplay of light and shadow sought after by the architects throughout the project.