Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Crete

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about crete

Project • By Urban Soul ProjectHotels

CHORA at Domes of Elounda

CHORA is the new extension of Domes of Elounda, part of the Autograph Collection, introducing a quieter, more intimate hospitality experience shaped by the Cretan landscape. The project comprises seventeen independent guest units and a communal area with a restaurant and outdoor pool, balancing a sense of retreat with a more social side of the project. Mara Lazaridou, Stefanos Malamas Mara Lazaridou, Stefanos Malamas Mara Lazaridou, Stefanos Malamas The architectural composition unfolds as a series of single-storey, stone-built volumes that settle naturally into the terrain. Patios, planted paths, private plunge pools and outdoor living spaces establish a continuous dialogue between architecture and landscape. Drawing on the... More

Project • By Grammiki aHousing

Mochlos Luxury Villas | Interior & Exterior Design in Crete

The residence is located in Mochlos, eastern Crete, set against the dramatic terrain of the Sitia Mountains and opening towards the sea. It is the first completed residence within an overall design for three independent villas. Comprising approximately 150 sq.m. of interior space, this first residence was completed in 2024, while the two additional villas are planned to be realised at a later stage. The distinctive topography of the site became a key parameter of the overall design composition.  The form of the building, its materiality and the design of the surrounding outdoor environment were developed to allow the residence to sit naturally within the rocky Cretan landscape while maintaining a continuous relationship with both... More

Project • By OFFICE SKOHPrivate Houses

House PE in Schinaria, south Crete

Carved into a hillside of southern Crete, the house is born from the intersection of two offset compositions. The lower mass rests within the hillside; above it, a lighter volume crosses the void, forming a bridge that defines the entrance and mediates between ground and sky. OFFICE SKOH OFFICE SKOH Material austerity—plaster, stone, and glass—anchors the structure in its context, allowing light and wind to animate its surfaces. The pool, discreetly positioned behind the main volume, withdraws from the prevailing north winds and extends the horizon of the dwelling into the landscape. OFFICE SKOH OFFICE SKOH OFFICE SKOH Neither object nor excavation, the house acts as a precise calibration between inhab... More

Project • By OFFICE SKOHPrivate Houses

House ME in Asomatos village, Crete

Rising amid an olive grove on the south part of the island of Crete, the orientation of the house has been determined by the landscape itself. Assembled as a linked series of standalone rooms around a poolside courtyard, the house is slightly touching the landscape, providing a calming living environment for a family from France. OFFICE SKOH Caption An adjacent pergola is roofed with natural wood. The surrounding built volumes are placed on overlapping concrete slabs, which give the appearance of floating above the soil. The minimal material richness of the building is derived by the stone walls and the traditional white stucco, made by local artisans. Caption Caption More

Project • By Natalia Nerantzaki Architect | Interior DesignApartments

Apartment in Heraklion, Crete

This apartment in Heraklion, Crete, built in 1974, required complete renovation after remaining untouched for nearly five decades. Despite the need for modernisation, the apartment's inherent qualities were immediately apparent: high ceilings, original terrazzo floors and a long corridor that gave the space a natural elegance requiring only careful enhancement. Vasso Paraschi The guiding principle for the project was preservation; with this approach came unique challenges - most notably, the entire electrical system had to be routed through the walls to avoid lowering the ceilings. The most significant spatial intervention involved relocating the kitchen from the private quarters to what was previously the sitting room. This move all... More

Project • By Paly ArchitectsPrivate Houses

villa ousia

Technical Description A residence situated on a hillside above a settlement, integrated into the landscape and in dialogue with nature. Three distinct parallelepiped volumes, slightly offset from one another, are connected by two transparent glass passages. The central, tallest volume is made of stone, while the two adjacent, equally tall volumes are coated with an “earth”-colored plaster. George Anastasakis George Anastasakis George Anastasakis The first volume contains a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, an office, and a shared WC. The central volume includes the entrance and the shared living areas—kitchen, dining room, and living room—in a single open-plan space. The third volume houses the mast... More

Project • By IO ArchitectureBars

The Batch

IO Architecture studio envisioned a coastal café in Heraklion as more than just a place to grab a quick coffee or snack. IO Architecture We aimed to create a dynamic space that would serve as a social hub throughout the day, catering to various needs and moods of the bustling city. Inspired by the vibrant energy of urban life, we carefully selected materials such as concrete, wood, metal, and polycarbonate to infuse the space with a contemporary, street-style aesthetic while ensuring functionality and durability. IO Architecture Despite the compact footprint, we strategically designed the layout to incorporate essential elements like a café laboratory, kitchen, and a cozy retail area, seamlessly guiding guests thro... More

Project • By IO ArchitectureBars

Arkouda Bar

A space where warm ambiance meets playful character. Designed with intention, Arkouda bar blends existing architectural elements with a contemporary eye for materials and custom design. The result is a bar café that feels both familiar and fresh. Vintage floors, soft lighting, industrial details and clean lines create a glowing interior that invites you to relax, connect, and stay a while. The open layout connects inside and outside seamlessly—bringing the street energy in, while offering a calm and cozy escape out. Vibrant selected artwork brings a poetic touch to the space. Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis More

Project • By IO ArchitecturePrivate Houses

Top Tier

The residence is located in the suburban area of Heraklion, Crete. The purpose of the renovation was to refresh the space, aiming to give it a warm and welcoming identity. We wanted the space to embrace everyone who enters, to open the heart and mind, offering a sense of freedom and harmony. Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis Loukianos Arnaoutakis The feeling of an open space is preserved, where functions flow gently and light fills every corner. The kitchen, with its island, becomes the heart of daily life, while the materials and tones are chosen with respect for the environment and the history of the home. Loukianos Arnaoutakis... More

Project • By TAKA + PARTNERSHotels

MITSIS BALI PARADISE

On the northern coast of Crete, in the picturesque village of Bali, Rethymno, lies the MItsis Bali Paradise hotel complex. The project focuses on the redesign and aesthetic enhancement of the hotel, aiming to cultivate new guest experiences while improving functionality. Perched on a steeply sloping landscape, the hotel enjoys proximity to the region’s beaches and offers unobstructed views of Bali Bay, which remains sheltered from the northern winds. TAKA+PARTNERS Bali Paradise holds the distinction of being the first large-scale hotel in the greater Bali area, over 50 years of continuous and successful operation. A defining feature and distinct advantage of the hotel is its exceptional gardens, its signature green element. Tree... More

Project • By zeropixel architectsHousing

Mylopotamos House

The study concerns a traditional two-volume building extending over two floors, with an enclosed courtyard area and orchard, in the area of ​​Mylopotamos, specifically in the traditional settlement of Margarites. The construction of the building dates back to around 1900 and its construction material is stone, with a wooden roof and clay roof tiles. In the building, various construction elements of the period and the region were observed, such as battlements, recesses in stone walls and traditional fireplace cookers. zeropixel architects The ground floor had various levels and was used to store oil and wine as well as to house animals. The basement openings did not coincide with the ground floor openings, resulting in the loads creati... More

Project • By zeropixel architectsHousing

Casa Coo

The project concerns the renovation study and then its implementation, in an existing stone house of 1931 in the mountainous Mylopotamos of Crete. The house consists of two floors, a ground floor with a terrace and a basement, twice the size of the space, which extends both in the area of ​​the main use of the house and in the terrace, creating a long narrow space, without natural light and ventilation. zeropixel architects In the area of ​​the ground floor, the old bathroom that existed was replaced by blocking the relaxation towards the veranda, with the dining area. At this point, the slab was removed with undisturbed cutting and a floor was created from metal blades, where in combination with the handmade metal glass, plenty of li... More

Project • By zeropixel architectsPrivate Houses

Villa Olo

In a study area adjacent to the beach of Palaiochora, south of Chania, we were asked to design a holiday home that will host the owner's family during the winter months and will be rented out as accommodation during the summer months. The aim of the design was to meet the needs of the owners but also of the visitors in the summer, offering them comfort and luxury. zeropixel architects Taking advantage of all the buildability of the plot, where we were forced to place the building in a small part of it, due to legal limitations, we designed a stone-built two-level house with basement, swimming pool and rooftop. The combination of stone walls made of local stone, perpendicular to each other, starting from the ground and becoming the par... More

Project • By zeropixel architectsResidential Landscape

Cave House

The project concerns the creation of a new residence on an existing plot in a small settlement, just outside the city of Heraklion. The needs and experiences of the two owners, as well as the morphology and orientation of the study area, led us to the design of a stone-built undercut residence with a swimming pool and underground spaces. zeropixel architects Approaching from the road, one can see an olive grove with a slight slope, an artificial lake ending on a cliff. The building was placed hidden in the relief of the ground and on the edge of the cliff. It consists of three wings of different orientation and different views. In the middle wing where the main entrance is located, it houses the day areas, kitchen, living room, dining... More

Project • By zeropixel architectsResidential Landscape

Villa on the Rocks

In the Apokoronas Region, on a hilltop with a panoramic view of Souda Bay and the Cretan Sea to the north, and the white mountains to the south, we were asked to design a holiday home that also serves as a short-term rental accommodation. The goal was with a simple design, to offer quality and comfortable spaces, privacy between users and the feeling of luxury (since it is intended as an investment property). Zeropixel architects Zeropixel architects   With simple design moves, separating the private zones from the user osmosis spaces, both on the interior and the outdoor space, offering maximum views to both sides. The view to the north and the south allowed us to achieve transparency, ideal views but also shading - natura... More