Oreno Mountain Retreat is located in Tsepelovo, within the Zagori region, within a landscape intensely imbued with cultural and natural beauty, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The design approaches tradition as a structural principle rather than a visual motif, reinterpreting local architecture through its proportions, geometry, and materiality.
The composition takes the form of a solid stone volume with clear axiality and symmetrical organization. The use of local stone on the facades, wooden roofs with slate tiles, and architectural details such as recesses, small balconies, and carefully proportioned openings create a harmonious continuity with the traditional village context. The building integrates seamlessly into the natural slope of the site, maintaining a low visual impact on the landscape.
On the ground floor, shared hospitality spaces are arranged - lobby, reception, spa, and the restaurant Meratza. Named after the local tree, the restaurant functions as an autonomous gastronomic experience within the complex, reinforcing its connection to the local environment and cultural heritage. The spatial layout allows controlled sightlines toward the surrounding mountains while maintaining the sense of intimacy and retreat characteristic of traditional stone architecture.
The reception area features a fireplace that acts as a social and spatial anchor, around which the seating area is organized, reinterpreting the notion of the “hearth.” The wellness area is conceived as a monolithic environment of material continuity, where controlled lighting and a restrained, earthy palette foster a calm, sensory atmosphere. Natural stone, water, and clean, horizontal lines define a setting of internal serenity.
The seven suites on the upper floor are organized with clear geometries and subtle differentiation between the sleeping and living areas, without the need for rigid boundaries. The architectural composition emphasizes the continuity and honesty of materials: stone and earthy surfaces provide a solid foundation, while wood and woven textures introduce warmth, intimacy, and discreet luxury. Lighting, primarily indirect and carefully detailed, highlights the textures and geometric articulations of surfaces, enhancing the perception of the space and refined luxury.
Oreno Mountain Retreat balances the local architectural memory with contemporary hospitality, creating a hotel that resonates with the Zagori landscape while meeting the standards of high-quality accommodation. It is a warm and welcoming refuge, rooted in the mountain, that does not compete with it but follows its natural flow.
Team:
Architectural design : G2lab
Interior & Concept design: G2lab
Lighting design : G2lab & Luminart Antoniadis
Construction : ETGroup
Photo credits: Dimitris Spyrou
Materials Used:
Lighting : Luminart Antoniadis
Ceramic tiles : Labrou Ceramics
Outdoor firepit : Tsokas fireplaces
Wooden surfaces : Nousias bros - EGGER
Hammam : EffePerfectwellness
marbles : Nikou marbles
wooden floors : Rountos wooden floors
beds : Dreamstrom
sofas : Dreamstrom
curtains - fabrics : Dreamstrom
Electrical materials : ΚΑΥΚΑΣ - LEGRAND
Indoor & outdoor furnitures : ALMECO
Carpets : Βιοκαρπετ
Decorative items : MAISON, ASTIR
