Architect's Villa: Versailles

Born from the Bones of an Ancient Sheepfold

This vacation home rental in Greece is a new house was born from the bones of an ancient sheepfold. It has been given a stylish makeover by an artist and architect couple, with respect for the traditional building style of the region and without any synthetic materials.

Located on the island of Kea, which is an hour by ferry from the mainland, it sits on a large, elevated plot of land of 40,000m2 with two other independent houses (Architect's Villa: The Haven is also available for rental here).

The walls of the house are its most striking feature (apart from the dramatic views, of course). Made entirely of stone and over a meter thick, they not only keep the house cool, but they form a great backdrop to the interiors.

There are more than 300 trees, shrubs and flowers on the surrounding land, all planted by the owners: olive, fig, pear, almond, apricot, mulberry, oak, eucalyptus, pine, cypress, cob, roses, laurel, rosemary, and many more. And best of all, chemicals have never been used.

Two stone terraces look out over the landscape of olive trees and grazing land, where you may see goats and even wild horses. The 360-degree views across the Aegean Sea take in islands such as Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos and Tinos, and at night the house offers the perfect vantage point for contemplating the starry sky in total silence, far from the rest of the world.

This vacation home rental in Greece is constructed of stone throughout and comprises one functionally independent space of 70m2. There are a further 70m2 of terraces, surrounded by 40,000m2 of private land.

The house is a contemporary dwelling with an open-plan design, with an adjustable futon double bed that can be separated by a curtain for privacy. The sitting area has sofas on which two adults or children can sleep, again with a convenient curtain divider.

The rustic kitchen is fully equipped. The bathroom has a shower and WC. Right next to the house are two stone terraces, one with a pergola, open-air kitchen and dining area, that looks out over the sea, olive trees and grazing land.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

As the houses are made of stone, it gives an unequaled freshness during the summer and so there is no need for air conditioning. There is heating and an indoor fireplace, a TV, and a fire extinguisher. There is an independent laundry, which was a former small stable, and an outdoor parking space.

AROUND

The property is located near Agia Mavra or Velado, on the eastern part of the island, a region that is home to the only ancient oak forest in the Cyclades islands. This is the greenest part of the island.

Only 3km by car from the house, there are two beaches. Orkos beach is quiet and perfect for snorkelling, while the more remote Psathi beach is even more secluded. The main village of Chora Ioulida is about 7km away. The owners recommend the archaeological site of Karthea and the museum in Ioulida. There are many hiking paths.

LOCATION

Kea, Greece. Kea, Greece. Kea has no airport. Due to its close proximity to Attica there is only one way to reach the island of Kea: by taking the boat from the port of Lavrio. The trip lasts approximately 1-1,15 hour. You can reach Lavrio by car from Attica Road or Poseidonos avenue or you can take the bus or the taxi from the International airport of Athens, Eleftherios Venizelos (38 km). Kea can also be reached by boat from the island of Kythnos.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through fall