Nestled into the quiet Mirabello Bay, the seaside town of Agios Nikolaos has been a destination for tourists for decades, gaining popularity in the middle of the 20th century. Today, half a century later, many of the early hotels are starting to show signs of age. Hotel Niko transforms one of the old, midcentury resorts into a destination fit for the future.
Transform and adapt
3XN has been assigned to transform a 3-star hotel to a contemporary 5-star hotel on the Greek island of Crete and is developed for the international real estate firm Hines.
The 1970s sea promenade hotel named Hotel Niko has undergone a complete transformation that consists of energy-efficient renovations and updates of the façades, while keeping the existing load-bearing concrete structures. Furthermore, the interiors is refurbished to allow the hotel to meet today’s standards of comfort and design.
Rhythmic façade expressions
3XN´s proposal for the redesign of the façade has been to keep as much as possible of the existing loadbearing structure and avoid cutting into the concrete.
The façade composition of the hotel which is simple yet expressive. The chosen horizontal concept combined with the repeating architectural motif reinforces the slightly curved existing façade which gives significant expression and “collects” the hotel as one building.
This makes the hotel stand out from the adjacent buildings along the promenade without being intrusive. The delicately curved balconies flowing along the full length of the façade add to the look and feel of this 5-star hotel façade.
The façade by main entrance to the hotel lobby and reception area is pulled back from the building line and is double high, this gives a hierarchy in the façade architecture and marks the entrance, additionally this gives space for guest unloading or loading luggage when entering or leaving the hotel. This is important due to the narrow pavement condition along the façade.
Reinventing the interiors
Inside, Hotel Coral will undergo reviving redesigns. The existing rooms will be refurbished to meet the 5-star classification requirements and new rooms have been added to the layout.
Furthermore, the essential common areas of the hotels will also be redesigned. Natural daylight from the double height façade windows and atria will flood the bright and welcoming lobbies and reception areas as well as the open space corridors, which provide an overview of the daily life at the hotel.
Inspired by the way we feel the sea, air and sand, heavily connected to our senses. Enriched in local materiality and craft, the palette is warm, modern and light. The materials and finishes are soft to touch, neutral in colour and are evocative of tactile fabrics. Furniture and fixtures are carefully curated to create a relaxed ambience.
This adults only hotel is not complete without a sky bar. Cleverly positioned on the ninth floor, it is home to an intimate pool setting, outdoor bar, private alcoves and lounge settings. Both terrace and pool are clad in natural-coloured stone tiles, paired with a natural wood creating a calming experience, free from distraction.
“Injecting new life into interior spaces brings exciting opportunities and difficult site challenges to create unique, special spaces acknowledging a building’s past. These types of projects consider sustainability and reduce the building’s carbon footprint. It is always a joy to step into an existing building and evaluate closely with our clients, the opportunities present,” 3XN Interior Team
