SEPTEMBER 2019 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK 181ESCAPEWORDS: CAT OLLEY PICTURES: CLAUS BRECHENMACHER, REINER BAUMANN
LOCATION Zakynthos – the third largest of Greece’s
Ionian cluster – is a tale of two islands, with as much a reputation
for tranquil bays and tavernas as for the boisterous nightlife of its
south coast. Luxury retreat Olea All Suite Hotel, the island’s first
true design hotel, is firmly in the former camp. Perched on a hillside
in Tsilivi in the east, the expansive hideaway is a haven of space,
quiet and still waters. Yet it’s not your typical whitewashed Grecian
wonder; striking architecture and a masterful use of natural
materials make this a thoroughly modern escape, for peace-seekers
and design lovers alike.ARCHITECTURE Deepest, lushest Zante, as the
island is known to locals, might not be the first place you’d expect
to find a Brutalist gem, but there’s no mistaking the hints of
architectural heritage in Olea’s intersecting blocks and swathes of
ecru-coloured plaster. Less Brutalist is the resort’s sense of flow,
and it’s evident that care has been taken to maximise privacy whilst
maintaining an open, indoor/outdoor feel. At the heart of its low-
slung landscaping lies a vast 4,000 square metre pool with 93 cubic
suites, some stacked, running along the edge of the waterline.
The design and concept come courtesy of Athens- and Stockholm-
based architecture practice Block722architects+, which created the
space for Xenos Hotels and has several contemporary Grecian
retreats in its portfolio. The transition from the suites and terraces
to the communal spaces, including a trio of slick restaurants, spa
and even a yoga pavilion, is seamless. ‘The most important thing to
us was how the guests would experience their surroundings,’
explains Katja Margaritoglou, the firm’s co-founder and interior
designer. ‘The design connects the indoors with the outdoors in a
way that helps them explore the resort in its entirety.’DESIGN Olea’s indoor spaces are designed to slot harmoniously
into its surroundings, but take more inspiration from the island’s
rocky interior and rugged coastline than its cerulean-blue seas. ‘The
idea was to introduce a resort that embraces everything that makes
this island so wonderful, but in a contemporary way,’ says Venia
Xenou of the Xenos group. This is Grecian minimalism all grown up,
with layers of tonal, earthy colour in shades of stone, sand and linen,
as well as abundant wood. Bamboo, rattan and grasses are used in
inventive ways – to screen skylights and terraces for ultimate privacy;
to thatch roofs; to shade an open-walled restaurant from the sun- and add a touch of tropical flair. The Presidential Suite’s vast 105
square metres and sweeping island views might just offer unparalleled
Mediterranean magic. From £141 per night (oleaallsuitehotel.com).
‘THE IDEA WAS TO EMBRACE
EVERYTHING THAT MAKES THIS
ISLAND SO WONDERFUL, BUT
IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY’